Ghostlore Vol. 2

Ghostlore

by Cullen Bunn, Leomatics (Illustrator), Jason Wordie (Colorist)

The spirits have more stories to tell in this episodic supernatural horror from The Empty Man writer Cullen Bunn!

Harmony and Lucas have split apart, driven to separate paths after the tension between them grows. Harmony wishes to help the ghosts she encounters, and Lucas is fearful, ready to battle them off. After parting ways, each will have to take a different path in the hope of finding Emily’s ghost. Now each of them will be put to the test in ways they never imagined; can they reunite despite their differences and face a growing, imminent threat? Collects Ghostlore #5-8.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics

128 pages, Paperback

Published April 16, 2024

About the author

Cullen grew up in rural North Carolina, but now lives in the St. Louis area with his wife Cindy and his son Jackson. His noir/horror comic (and first collaboration with Brian Hurtt), The Damned, was published in 2007 by Oni Press. The follow-up, The Damned: Prodigal Sons, was released in 2008. In addition to The Sixth Gun, his current projects include Crooked Hills, a middle reader horror prose series from Evileye Books; The Tooth, an original graphic novel from Oni Press; and various work for Marvel and DC. Somewhere along the way, Cullen founded Undaunted Press and edited the critically acclaimed small press horror magazine, Whispers from the Shattered Forum.

All writers must pay their dues, and Cullen has worked various odd jobs, including Alien Autopsy Specialist, Rodeo Clown, Professional Wrestler Manager, and Sasquatch Wrangler.

And, yes, he has fought for his life against mountain lions and he did perform on stage as the World's Youngest Hypnotist. Buy him a drink sometime, and he'll tell you all about it.

Visit his website at www.cullenbunn.com.

Reviews

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghostlore has definitely improved in its second volume. Harmony and the Reverend have gone their own ways, just as Harmony indicated in issue #4. Now the Reverend is following her; he wants his daughter back. Harmony, on the other hand as made new friends after getting to a new city (absolutely not New York) and being saved by a punkish girl called Dani. The supernatural is even more present now than it was. The same people who are looking for the Revenend are now after Harmony and her friends in a wild game of cat and mouse. It is a quickly developing story, but this is getting more grisly.

The distinctive styles for the almost happy Harmony and the messed-up Lucas are so well done. He is the hunter now and it shows. I love the differences in the colouring and mild style changes for the setting of the stories. It's effective, shows the sharp difference between the now and the then. It is smart storytelling.

I love some of the alternate covers, particularly issue #6 covers by Ariel Olivetti and Dani Pendergast, respectively and Dani's issue #8 cover (with colors by Tamra Bonvllian). They all have different vibes but do well to tell their story. I appreciate that some of the alternate covers are from the perspective of the ghosts.

This volume collects issues #5-8. Presenting them as chapters, following the formatting previously used.

[Cornerofmadness · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting evolution of where the first book left off. It felt better paced than the first volume (but still we're not really in Harmony's head enough. While I don't need the story to dwell on it, it seems so unlikely she's spared zero thought to the car accident that killed her mom and brother while she was driving)

Harmony is half mad with all the ghosts trying to tell her a story and the first half of this volume revolves around that. She is found and taken in by others who can also hear the ghosts and try to help them. THey live communally on a farm and Harmony finds a measure of peace there until someone sends people there to force them to work for him or else.

The second half revolves around her father Lucas who is trying to find Harmony. He too hears the ghosts and also runs across the group trying to strong arm the ghost-sensitive into working for him (to do what we're not entirely sure but it has something to do with the mysterious 'the storm.') The group Lucas deals with has no subtly whatsoever, even less than the ones after his daughter. They straight up murder an entire diner to get his attention and that's when we can see what Lucas can do at this point.

I'm still with the mixed feelings here. It's interesting enough but on the other hand I'm glad I'm getting this from the library and not my own wallet.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Review for all 3 volumes]

Ghostlore's an interesting idea. A father and daughter lose their wife/mother, and develop the ability to see ghosts. The father uses that power to force them into servitude, while the daughter hears their stories and allows them to move on. Of course, their power attracts the attention of a powerful figure who wants to use it to bring about the end of the world. Business as usual.

The other interesting idea's one we've seen before, a different artist turns up each issue to draw the stories that the ghosts are imparting.

I think the problem with both these ideas is that they're kinda flat overall. I literally cannot remember any of the guest artists across the series, and while the two main characters split up and come back together a few times over the twelve issues, the actual 'lesson' that they're learning as they go along doesn't really feel earned by the end. It feels like this is how the story was supposed to end, so it will, but even the characters don't seem entirely convinced.

The secret's in the execution, no matter how good your ideas are, and while Ghostlore's definitely readable, it never really becomes more than that.

[Xena Haynes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Volume 2 of ghostlore continues the story of Harmony And Her father. As they both navigate their new found abilities of speaking to the dead. After running away from home Harmony finds a new family that takes her in and makes her feel like she belongs. While Lucas her father is set on a path of finding Shane in the hopes that he can protect her daughter from harm.

While the artwork is beautiful I feel like the story and characters aren't jumping off of the page in terms of dialogue. Whereas the first issue was a great start there isn't much build up from Harmony's old life to the new life she is navigating now. I feel more connected to the stories the ghosts tell than the characters that we are supposed to be rooting for. However, this story is still an interesting one and I hope that further issues will build on Harmony and Lucas as people.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 stars for the art
In a similar vein to my review of the first volume, this is a bit of a mess, the whole 'lore' is a confused mess of demons, ghosts and the afterlife (?)
Lucas is chasing after Harmony who left home at the end of volume 1. There is no mention here about Harmony still looking for Emily, her Mum's ghost, mostly because as soon as she steps off the bus she bumps into fellow phantom seers (well, one in particular at first, Dani).
There's also Shane (never seen) who is also looking for others that can see the ghosts (and demons) whilst everyone keeps talking about the coming Storm (not the Steve Bannon kind methinks).
I hope Cullen Bunn can pull all this together in the next volume, as it appears it's probably the last...

[Rahul Nadella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Much like sacred texts, Ghostlore can feel complex and confusing. Ghostlore did not offer a lot of plot in this volume but had some really cool visuals at certain parts. Not sure how I feel about it. I still don't fully understand what is going in with this book, but this volume had some wild stuff going on. That scene in the diner was ruthless. Leomacs brilliantly brings this story to life visually with art filled with beautiful details and emotion. It's interesting to an extent, but really doesn't wow me in any way. The problem, however, is that other than the set up for a conflict between the two sides, there's still a lot that we just don't know about w hat's actually going on.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

You never know what you are going to get with Cullen Bunn but I quite liked this. Each issue alternates between Harmony and her father. Both of them can talk to ghosts and help them move on. Both are being hunted by a faction of others who can talk to ghosts but force you to join them or be killed. Harmony is young and just wants to help people. Her father is looking for her and will do anything to protect her.

[Cristian Marrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still slow. A better build on the characters. Less side stories from the ghosts/spirits. Two sides are being recruited for the great battle. Still needs better development on the back stories of dad and daughter.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review is for all three volumes read consecutively.

Redemption and Forgiveness fight against Hopelessness and Despair in another classic by Horror Master Bunn.

[Riccardo Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really interesting ideas about death or at least afterlife