Coffin Bound, Vol. 1: Happy Ashes

Coffin Bound #1-4

by Dan Watters

Cars! Guns! Entropy! Izzy Tyburn has promised the world that if it won't have her in it, it'll have nothing of her at all. Chased by an unstoppable killer, she's re-treading her life, leaving nothing behind but burned rubber, ash... and the sun-scorched bones of those who get in her way. Ride shotgun on an existential road-trip through the tangled web of a blood-splattered life.

Collects COFFIN BOUND #1-4.

"If you like Dan Watters' work on Lucifer, this is even weirder..." -Neil Gaiman

"Wholly original. Fresh concepts and characters pop up on almost every page, courtesy of Watters' mind and Dani's art. This is a series to keep your eye on." -Entertainment Weekly

"It's a gleeful of literary grindhouse comic that brings to mind Milligan's Arthouse Pulp and notes of Pretty Deadly. Out in August. Pre-order now." -Kieron Gillen

"Dani is quite a discovery: the work is very inventive and actually very careful but the line is alive and organic-the ink just spills down and branches into the right places. And the language style Watters launches here is just wonderful-I summon Milch because it's eccentric and neo-antique like his Deadwood speech, rippling with character and drunken with its own pleasure... Coffin Bound is a damned joy." -Warren Ellis

"A Lynchian crime chase desert noir fever dream with its own messed up internal logic. Fun." -Rob Williams

"An acid drenched road trip, seeping violence and weirdness of the best kind. Definitely one to check out." —Ollie Masters

"Gorgeous and odd and very much its own unique monster. I am jealous at its filthy strangeness." —Ivan Brandon

"A gore-splattered—but poetic—road trip with one of the strangest stripper scenes in comics." —John Harris Dunning

"Dreamlike, mythic, relentless and strange." —Kurt Busiek

"Excellent. Like finding a weird Alex Cox meets Jodorowsky road movie you didn't know existed. Literate, full of ideas & complimented by Dani's Guéra meets Pope-ish art." —Iain Laurie

"Pure Doom. Watters spins a fantastic Kerouac-Ian fever dream with Dani dropping some story chops, solid gesture and moody blacks. It's a great hook that will take you Under. Coffin Bound Rules!" —Andy Belanger

"Your lessons of life delivered at the end of a muzzle by a choir of grindhouse philosophers laced with the wisdom of dead birds. I can hardly think of another story so fully infused with Dan Watters and Dani aesthetic." —Ram V

"Coffin Bound is a distillate of madness. A slice of apocalyptic dreamtime cut with engine smoke, acid nihilism and dirty juju. This is some top-class necrofuel, my friends, and you need it in your brain-tank pronto." —Si Spurrier

"Coffin Bound is a comic with a strong pulse that bleeds all over your hands while reading. You should give it a read." —Declan Shalvey

"So fun! Dani's art is gorgeous (as always!) and Brad Simpsons' colours are ridiculously nice. I just want moreeee." —Emmeline Pidgen

"Call your local comic shop now. Make sure they get this for you. Trust me." —Matthew Rosenberg

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Graphic Novels Comics, Fantasy, Fiction, Comic Book

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 7, 2019

About the author

Dan Watters is a UK based comic book writer. His first book, LIMBO, was released through Image Comics in 2016. He has since written THE SHADOW at Dynamite Comics, and ASSASSIN’S CREED and WOLFENSTEIN for Titan Comics.

Currently he is writing the relaunch of LUCIFER for Vertigo’s Sandman Universe, as well as DEEP ROOTS for Vault Comics. Deeply rooted in London Town, and firmly of the Devil's party.

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 2 out of 5]

A woman tries to erase herself from existence before a hitman catches up with her. It's all very existential. The problem with this is there are no rules and not enough story. Characters arbitrarily die or survive impossible scenarios like being swallowed by the earth. It's trying real hard to be a 90's Vertigo title but often just comes off as pretentious. A story can't be replaced with flowery drivel.

DaNi's art channels some Eduardo Risso along with some older horror artists like Tom Mandrake. It's sometimes very good and others just scratchy sketches. I'm confounded by it.

[Dev · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book from Edelweiss

I read the first 3 issues of this and then kind of skimmed through and looked at the art for the last 3. The art is gorgeous but the plot doesn't make a bit of sense and there doesn't seem to be any kind of reason or explanation for anything that's going on. If I had realized when I requested it that this was the same author that did the new run of Lucifer I wouldn't have even tried it, but at least now I know that this is a pattern for him.

[Craig · Rating 1 out of 5]

Literally the only thing this has going for it is DaNi's artwork and even that is so close in style to that of Eduardo Risso that it's basically a direct lift. The story(?) is pretentious twaddle that makes no sense.

[Cale · Rating 3 out of 5]

This really feels like Beckett in Graphic Novel form. A woman trying to shed her past before the EarthEater takes her; a blinded Cassandra; strippers who strip flesh rather than clothing; A poet killer; a man with a bony vulture head. It's all very strange, accentuated by a very distinctive art style and narrative approach. Existentialism fills the pages, but there manages to be a surprising amount of story filed between the musings on whether someone can remove all traces of themselves from the world.
It's heady stuff, and I'm not ashamed to admit I didn't get all of it. Or even large portions of it. But there's enough of a low-level plot and characterization to carry even us dullards through the story with some level of enjoyment. The art is a large part of that; it's a very unique look. I was also surprised that this wasn't a one-and-done volume - It could have been a very satisfying single volume, but the last pages leave open further opportunities.

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exceptionally Cool

In lots of "concept" graphic novelsyou have to wade through a fair amount of psycho-babble, mystical garble, and faux heavy philosophizing. Not to complain, most of that stuff at least comes with interesting art.

But this book, (which collects all four issues in its story arc), is distinguished by the fact that it makes sense and its flights of fancy, poetry, and deadpan heavy cross-talk, are smart and interesting. Our heroine, Izzy, is as tough as femmes come, and has hard-boiled totally nailed. The skeleton vulture who rides with her is as dry as his bones, and is the soul of understated wit. The Eartheater who has a contract on Izzy is implacable, but has the complex evil appeal of the very best noir villains. Even the secondary and supporting characters each bring something new, and disturbing, to the picture.

The story, generally speaking, consists of Izzy avoiding the Eartheater. The narrative follows a fairly linear path, but is punctuated by wild and often surreal digressions, ( example: a stripper who strips off her skin). It's all fascinating, and you could probably mix up and rearrange the episodes without doing much harm to the overall narrative. Basically, Izzy is just traveling through a scorched, violent, dark world, and taking things - be it grace, death, or decay - as they come. We are each of us, after all, coffin bound.

Dan Watters also wrote the "Lucifer" spinoff for the new "Sandman" series, and that has the same smart, coherent, mature, unnerving and yet subversively funny style. Even if you aren't generally inclined to be a fanboy, this is an author whose name I'd look for.

The art perfectly complements the story. It is jagged and sketchy where appropriate, but switches to impressionistic when that suits. What's happening is always clear, even when the action is fantastic or exaggerated. The colors capture the dry dusty desolation of the backgrounds and give the project an understated noir feel without going too dark. (Instead of "noir" we can call it "brun" or "marron". Even the blood looks like rust.)

So, I was grabbed at page one and poured over this. A very happy find.

(Please note that I had a chance to read a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

[Ben Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coffin Bound is a wild romp that hooked me from the very first page and never let up. The art is bold and captivating, and it works well in creating the outlandish atmosphere the story requires. The writing, with its quirky diction, great one-liners, and contemplative musings, also does a good job of fully immersing the reader into this weird world. Like Izzy I recognise that we are all in this life bound for the coffin, but before you go, I highly recommend you checking out this entertaining and provocative graphic novel.

Full review at Beyond the Veil (https://gobeyondtheveil.co.uk/comics/...).

[RG · Rating 1 out of 5]

No plot

[Alex Sarll]

A weird road trip across the dusty backroads of imagined America, like some fool commissioned Samuel Beckett to write the TV adaptation of Unknown Armies. Izzy, haunted by an anthropomorphic vulture-ghost thing which knows not why it haunts, retraces the steps of her life, attempting to erase all the traces she's left upon the world, but only creating more in the process. She is pursued by the EarthEater, at once unstoppable force of nature and comic relief. Locations include a strip club where the dancers remove their skin, which still comes across as profoundly transgressive even to a British reader who recognises the idea from a Robbie Williams video; it helps that the art is so seamily glamorous even as it festers, like Frank Miller tag-teaming Risso on a Modesty Blaise tribute. The dialogue is gnomic and circumlocutory; the mood, doomed. It will never hit big, and it knows it, and that's another reason I like it so much.

(Edelweiss ARC)

[Devon Munn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely one of the weirdest comics I have read. Makes sense it's very existential

[Δημήτρης Μπ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Οπτικά, η δουλειά που έχει κάνει η "δική μας" DaNi είναι υπέροχη. Τα μοντέλα των χαρακτήρων είναι καλοσχηματισμένα και το πρόσωπά τους ιδιαίτερα εκφραστικά. Η παρακμή και η σαπίλα του κόσμου του Coffin Bound ξεχειλίζει μέσα απ' τα διάφορα πάνελ. Υπάρχουν σκηνές οι οποίες πραγματικά με σόκαραν απ' τον τρόπο με τον οποίο έχουν σχεδιαστεί.

Το σενάριο απ' την άλλη, δεν είναι όσο καλοδουλεμένο θα ήθελα. Έχει πάρα πολύ περιττή, κατά τη γνώμη μου, φιλοσοφία και η πληθώρα των διαλόγων και των σκέψεων με κούρασε. Κατάλαβα τον παραλληλισμό του κόσμου του Coffin Bound με αρκετά από τα προβλήματα της σύγχρονης ανθρωπότητας, όπως η ατέλειωτη ματαιοδοξία, το κυνήγι της αθανασίας και η μη αποδοχή της φθαρτότητας της ανθρώπινης φύσης, και την βρήκα ενδιαφέρουσα σαν ιδέα, αλλά θα μπορούσε να μας τον είχε παρουσιάσει με λιγότερη φλυαρία.

Βέβαια θα υπάρξει και συνέχεια στην σειρά, οπότε πιθανώς να βελτιωθεί στον δεύτερο τόμο αυτής.

[Theediscerning · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretentious rubbish.

[Jacob A. Mirallegro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really dig Dani's artwork that made the book for me. The coloring by Brad Simpson is also an incredible fit for her style.
The world it creates is also engaging in itself, moreso than the characters or story I thought. There's a lot of visually crazy pages and concepts that narratively are pretty plainly given to us like it's just normal in this world. It feels very focused in the momentum which made it easy to read these 4 issues in one sitting.

[Matty Dub · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved everything about this arc! Such a well thought out story, it’s deep and meaningful and execute perfectly. The script is snappy full of wit and is at it’s best when Izzy and Vulture are chatting. Overall it has a very Pretty Deadly vibe except in this book, you’ll know what’s going on. The art by Dani is gorgeous, a mix of Wes Craig and Paul Pope. It pops off the pages!

[Diana-christie Biancardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the script and the art!!

[Nell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry, in graphic novel form. Stunning.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Individual issue reviews: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4

Total review score: 2.5

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only reason this review has any stars is because the art was fascinating, the idea of strippers who take off their skin was intriguing, and the idea of the Earth Eater was great - just not fleshed out enough or utilized enough to make this a 3 star review.

Izzy is a lazily written protagonist that we’ve seen in every gritty 1980’s reboot movie and comic. She has to fix the past to disappear and find peace, all while wearing fishnets and kicking ass.

The problem is, I don’t care. I wasn’t given a reason to. Other than her one relationship with Cassandra, for an undefined amount of time that seems really short, we don’t know her and we have no reason to emotionally invest in her motivations to erase herself from the physical and emotional spaces she has tarnished.

The biggest issue I have with this comic is the buffalo bill rip off of Paulie. Paulie is an feminine pimp who helps his skin-peeling strippers replace their skin. He is a narcissist with no redeeming qualities, is neither funny nor terrifying, and - like Izzy - speaks in a forced, proper, and stilted manner that detracts from the story more than it adds.

Again: the art is great. The idea of the skinned strippers and the death eater are intriguing, even if they are poorly executed. However, the characters, storyline, and dialogue of this comic are trite, half-thought out, and not worth anyone’s time:

[Brandon Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was reading a borrowed copy of this from the library. After finishing the second issue I bought both trades, something I never do. This is a new favorite. The story has a mythic, magical realism quality to it. People speak poetically and philosophically. Metaphors are made literal. It’s a bit like Sandman meets Fury Road. Dani’s art channels Frank Miller and Eduardo Riso and adds to the dreamy abstraction of the world.

[Marquise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read, fun, and beautiful panels to go along with the sometimes charming dialogue. I recommend anybody to give this one a chance especially if you like gritty surreal stories with a flair for the dramatics.

[Ahmed Munna · Rating 4 out of 5]

বেশ অদ্ভুত একটা পটভূমি নিয়ে গড়ে ওঠা গ্রাফিক নভেল কফিন বাউন্ড। ইজি নামের একটা মেয়ে হঠাৎ একদিন সকালে ঘুম ভেঙে দেখে তার সামনে শকুনের মাথাওয়ালা একটা কিছু বসে আছে, কথা বলছে। কেউ একজন নাকি চাইছে ইজির মৃত্যু হোক। এরপরই কারা যেন আসে ওকে খুন করতে। সেখান থেকে বেঁচে ফিরে ইজি সিদ্ধান্ত নেয় নিজের পুরোন অতীতকে পুরোপুরি দাফন করে দিতে, যেটির ফলে আজ তার উপর ঘুরছে মৃত্যুর পরোয়ানা। শুরু হয় শকুনের মাথাওয়ালার সাথে তার যাত্রা। মাঝপথে আসে এক অন্ধ সুপুরুষ, এক খুনে কবি আর তার ক্লাব; যেখানে স্ট্রিপাররা পোশাকের পরিবর্তে খুলে দেখায় নিজের দেহের চামড়া!

গ্রাফিক নভেলটির মূল আবহ গড়ে উঠেছে মানুষের অতীত এবং ইচ্ছা-আকাঙ্ক্ষা নিয়ে। কিভাবে মানুষের সিদ্ধান্ত তার স্থানকালে প্রভাব ফেলে, তার অবস্থানকে নাড়িয়ে দিতে পারে। আবার একইসাথে উঠে এসেছে মৃত্যুর মতো গম্ভির ব্যাপারও। মানুষ চায় না আচমকা মরে যেতে, চায় না নিজের যৌবনে ধরাধম ত্যাগ করতে। কিন্তু মানুষ যে আবার বুড়োও হতে চায় না। তার মানে কী মানুষের অবচেতন মন আসলে নিজের শেষ হয়ে যাওয়াই দেখতে চায়? অমর হওয়ার ইচ্ছা-সাধনা, এসবই কী ফাঁকা বুলি?

আবার এই গল্পটাকে একদিক থেকে একটা সাধারণ রোডট্রিপ ড্রামা বলেও চালিয়ে দেওয়া যায়। জায়গা থেকে আরেক জায়গা থেকে যাওয়া, মাঝে কিছু ঘটনা ঘটে যাওয়া, শেষটায় এসে একটা রেভেলেশন। সেদিক দিয়ে চিন্তা করলে গল্পটা বেশ ছিমছাম। সুপারন্যাচারাল জিনিষপত্রের মিশ্রণে গল্পটা ভিন্নকিছু হতে পারতো। কিন্তু লেখক ড্যান ওয়াটার্স বেশী আড়ম্বর করেননি। তিনি ছোটখাটো কিন্তু বেশ সুন্দর একটা পটভূমিতে গল্পটা সাজিয়েছেন। এতে করে থ্রিলারের দিক থেকে গল্পটা যেমন স্থির এবং শক্ত, ড্রামার দিক থেকে দেখলে তেমনই অদ্ভুত আর অচেনা।

আমি যেটুকু বলেছি গল্পের প্রসার তারচেয়েও বেশী, কোন সন্দেহ নেই। আমারও মানতে লজ্জা নেই যে আমি হয়তো তার বেশীরভাগই বুঝতে পারিনি। তবে আমি যা বুঝতে পেরেছি তার পেছনে অনেকাংশে কৃতিত্ব থাকবে গ্রাফিক নভেলটির শিল্পী দানির প্রতি। গল্পের মধ্যে একটা বিষণ্ণ, মৃতপ্রায় পৃথিবীর আভাস পাওয়া যায়ম যেটা তার নিপুণ অংকনে হয়েছে ওঠে বেশ বাস্তব। যার ফলে অংকন হয়ে উঠেছে গ্রাফিক নভেলটির সবচেয়ে গুরুত্বপূর্ন দিকগুলোর একটি। এছাড়া চরিত্রগুলোকেও বেশ যত্ন দিয়ে গড়েছেন তিনি। ইজির পাংক গথ ভাইব, আর্থইটারের বিশালদেহী আচরণ, শকুনমাথার রহস্যজনক অবির্ভাব; সবখানেই আছে তার তুলির দারুণ সব কাজ।

চরিত্রদের ক্ষেত্রে বলতে গেলে আবারও ড্যান ওয়াটার্সের কাছে ফিরে যেতে হয়। এই গ্রাফিক নভেলে অংকনের পাশাপাশি গুরুত্বপূর্ন আরও একটি দিক হলো সংলাপগুলো। প্রতিটি চত্রিত্রই নিজ জায়গার থেকে গল্পকে এগিয়ে নিয়ে গিয়েছে দারুণ সব সংলাপের মাধ্যমে। তবে সংলাপগুলোকে শুধু জেনেরিক এক্সপোজিশন করার জন্যই ব্যবহার করা হয়নি। বরং সংলাপগুলো তুলে ধরা হয়েছে চিন্তার খোরাক হিসেবে। বেশ ভাবার মতো কনসেপ্ট নিয়ে চত্রিত্রগুলো কথা বলেছে, প্রশ্ন তুলেছে। এতে করে সংলাপগুলো যেমন পেয়েছে ভিন্ন একটা মাত্রা, তেমনিভাবে চরিত্রগুলোও পেয়েছে তাদের যথাযথ স্থান। মাত্র চারটি সংখ্যার মধ্যে এরকম ডেভেলপমেন্ট করাটা বেশ কঠিন এবং ঝুঁকিপূর্ণ। কিন্তু লেখক তা করেছেন বেশ ভালোভাবেই, সাথে পুরো গল্পকে দিয়েছেন এক অলীক আবেদন।

ইমেজ কমিক্সের গ্রাফিক নভেল সবসময়ই আমাকে মুগ্ধ করে। কফিন বাউন্ড তার ব্যতিক্রম হয়নি। বরং আমি বলবো, এটি বিগত একবছরের মধ্যে আমার পড়া সেরা গ্রাফিক নভেল। কাজেই সবাইকে বলবো আমি এটি পড়ে দেখার জন্য। তবে পার্টিকুলারলি যারা সুপারন্যাচারাল এবং রোডট্রিপ ঘরানার গল্প পছন্দ করেন, তাদের জন্য এটি অবশ্যপাঠ্য। সাথে চোখ জুড়িয়ে দেওয়া অংকন তো আছেই। নীল গেইম্যানের মতো লেখক এটির প্রশংসা করেছেন। আশা করি এতে আর কমিকটি নিয়ে সন্দেহের অবকাশ থাকে না।

[Clint · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really, really enjoyed this, much more than I expected. I dismissed it when it first came out based on its apparent Suicide Girls-type “fishnets and hot rods” aesthetic, but it’s actually much weirder and more strikingly original than that.

Each of DaNi’s pages is a uniquely stylized vision of inky scribbles and sleekly memorable character designs, and Simpson’s neon-tinged coloring fits it well. Together, they perfectly envision Watters’s existential story of a woman seeking to obliterate all earthly evidence that she ever existed before a supernatural hired killer (EarthEater!) can close out his contract on her. It’s written in a tone that’s equal parts philosophical and funny and macabre and menacing, and I love its odd (and oddly reaffirming) sum.

The heavily stylized narrative voice and offbeat world-building remind me of Simon Spurrier, where if it doesn’t work for someone, they’ll likely pull out angry accusations of pretension, but for those that it clicks with, it’s a treat!

“Are you sure that thing works?”
“I wouldn’t like to stake my life on it.”
“But that’s exactly what you’re doing.”
“I said I wouldn’t like to.”

“All gone now. Only photographs. They hurt, you see? The photographs. But watch. It rises as smoke, see? The pain. All gone. Nothing to remember. Happy ashes.”

“And so what of the memories you cannot erase? Are they not you, too? … I know these things, and you cannot take them from me. These are a part of you too. They are a part of me.”

“And gone you are. A trace among traces. But are there others like you? Thoughtless, uncaring marks made in passing—a trail, mapping out the life that’s a sad sum of their parts?”

“You should find another gun that does not fall apart.”
“I will. When I do.”

“Is this how it ends? It simply goes on and on and on and then stops. I knew it would, yet I thought it would be otherwise. I thought there’d be a slowing. Not an abrupt halt.”

“Paulie was the first who wished to show me the truth at all. For that I will owe him indefinitely.”
“Indefinitely, then, will he collect.”

“I have done a terrible thing.”
“I have done several. Were I you, I wouldn’t make it a contest.”

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series easily became a top favourite of mine. I read this first arc as it came out in single issues, and I was always brimming with excitement for release day each month.

The art is incredible, Dani's linework/inking is amazing and the colorist (Brad Simpson) did a fantastic job bringing it all to life. The composition of each page and the way the panels flow is so visceral it's like film. (I'm currently working on my own graphic novel and keep this comic close by at all times for inspiration and reference).

The story, A+

It's so weird, in this fantastic non-explanatory way. It's hard for me explain, but I like the way it just IS. Like, THIS is the world they live in, these are the things that happen, and it's weird and it makes sense. Hopefully others who read this comic know what I'm trying to get at.

The main character, Izzy, was an instant fav. First because she looks cool, then as you read it she becomes very cute and endearing, and is also a badass.

There are also some prime comedic moments throughout the book, and the overall pacing of the story is very good. Dan Watters is a great writer, and I'll definitely have to read more of his stuff.

I don't want to say much more, other than: READ IT.

[OmniBen · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Zero spoiler review) 3.75/5
When all you buy and read is hardcover collections, you are inevitably going to miss out on little independent gems like this, that for whatever reason, aren't ever going to be released in a prestigious, oversized hardcover. And it's a damn shame to, because artwork like this really would look rather spectacular in oversized format. It might not be to everyone's taste, but the highly stylised, scratchiness of its nature, combined with the perfect use of colour and tone really helps to give this story an identity it would sorely lack with some more clean and conventional artwork.
The narrative is rather vague, yet still very interesting. With the world we are slowly being drip fed being as intriguing as it can be slightly annoying at times. Whilst the abstract nature of the story lends it an air of mystery, I can't help but feel a more straightforward format would have been to the benefit of the story overall, and probably resulted in a higher score on this site, for what its worth. It might not be for everyone, but this unique and mature little tale certainly had me turning the pages. 3.75/5


OmniBen.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very slow start for me. But I eventually got around to it. It's essentially about people who are in some way or another dead inside. Most of the time they distract themselves with trivial means. For Paulie, he's a poet who's little more than a self-starving artist. He tries to find sensations to share with others but this hedonistic sadomasochism is just another high. Then there are those body parts finders who want to perfect themselves by surgically attaching pieces those pieces to themselves. They all want to find meaning by being something to be remembered by all while feeding their delusions of grandeur. Then there's the lead character Isabella who after a lifetime of bad decisions wants to erase her very existence. Unfortunately committing an act of suicide hurts everyone around them with the voids they leave behind. Not to mention even when everything ends, there's always something left behind. Because maybe there is no bigger meaning, just what everyone has to learn to live with.

[John Hartford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a weird one.

I picked this book up because I'm a huge fan of Dani's art and she delivers some stellar pages. You can see a number of influences in her work but I think she does something all her own. I just keep flipping back through the book to look again and again at her work.

The story was really out there and gave me early vertigo vibes. It's this weird mix of pulp, crime, supernatural and magical realism. I really dug it even though it's not my usual cup of tea.

This book is very weird. It goes places and does things I wouldn't have ever imagined. I mean the villian is a 'Dread Poet' whatever that is.

For all the weirdness this book brings I loved it. Especially Dani's pencils.

[Amit Verma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have got mixed feelings about this.
Being a dark horror violence story it was bound to be gory.
But It was above my liking.
There are scenes of people cutting themselves, cutting others and scooping eyes out.
Characters are mostly ghastly with deviated personalities.
I liked character of vulture turned into skeleton and trapped in a cage the most.
It was original character.
Story is about a girl who is bravely expecting her fate as eartheater follows her.
It was little too heavy, dark, graphic and complex for me.
There would be particular group of readers for such stories.
I can't recommend much to others.
Thanks edelweiss plus and publisher for review copy.

[Doctor Action · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was unusual, and unpleasant. It was nearly very cool but there was a lot of pointless, inexplicable horror and, unfortunately for me, it wasn't fun. I find horror/gore fine, as long as it has a joyful/fantastical edge. Deadpool movies, Evil Dead, Tarantino, etc. This had a cold, sadistic quality to it that was genuinely unsettling. It was quite impressive for that, and it did feel genuinely different, which is great, but I wouldn't read any more. Story-trying was compelling enough but holey. It had a bad-dream-like atmosphere which I found impactful and disturbing.

I did love Dani's art. It was cool, full of energy and attitude. I'll read more with her art.

[Ondřej Halíř · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tak trochu Lynchian road trip zkřížený s estetikou filmu Mandy. Prakticky jde o to že po hlavní hrdince jde nájemný zabíják Eartheater který si rozumí se zemí která mu říká kde je jeho target apod.
Do toho tu pak je poeta který vlastní nightclub ve kterém si tanečnice uřezávají kusy své kůže, která jim pak doroste. Jo a ještě abych dodal, hlavní hrdinka tu má sidekicka kostru supa který je v kleci a ta klec je nasazená na lidském těle.

Tohle by asi na popis stačilo, kresba tuhle surreální atmosféru slušně umocňuje a i když komiks je místy docela složitý (autor místy používá docela těžší angličtinu) tak jsem si tenhle podivný road trip fakt užil.

[Paul Allard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Horror comic series - entertaining but too wordy

Izzy is fleeing from the Eartheater in this series of supernatural creatures and people, meeting strange characters along the way. The story moves along well and there is some characterisation but it’s a cumbersome script which is probably profound but not particularly interesting. The artwork is easy enough and quite good. There’s more to come but I don’t know if it’s worth the effort.

[Mindy Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

a woman realizes she's being hunted by a monster and begins to set about burning her past to the ground so that when her killer catches up with her she'll be effectively erased from the world. this summary doesn't do this book justice - it was a bloodsoaked, violent, disturbing, beautiful, thoughtful, morbidly GREAT TIME! gorgeous art, lovely words. absolutely one of the best things i've read this year, 5/5.