REVIEW: ‘The Red Mother,’ #6

The Red Mother #6 is published by BOOM! Studios.  It comes from the creative team of writer Jeremy Haun, artist Danny Luckert, and letterer Ed Dukeshire. As the issue opens, the familiar terrifying visage of the Red Mother has been replaced by a strange building slowly coming into focus. Meanwhile, it seems like things are finally going back to normal for Daisy. She speaks to her therapist about the new job she will be taking in London and moving on. The therapist writes her a prescription and wishes her well. After a brief period of packing and saying her goodbyes Daisy gets on a plane and leaves for London.

Three weeks later the story picks up with Daisy acclimating well. Her work with Leland and his mysterious puzzle box is moving briskly. Together the two have solved over a third of its mysteries. But outside of her idyllic job and new life the dark machinations of the Red Mother continue. Unfortunately for Daisy, it appears that her troubles are far from over.

Any good horror story needs a false ending, and The Red Mother #6 proves that this one is no exception. Haun’s script is light on the familiar creepiness of past issues, but the oppressive dread remains. But this dread is only possible because of the strong foundation this story is built on. If someone who was unfamiliar with the series were to open this issue they would likely feel as though very little happens. But for fans of the series all of the harmless panels feel much more like sinister foreshadowing. By the time the ending lands, the foreshadowing seems to have paid off. Despite this, however, it would have been nice for some of this foreshadowing and dread to have been a little more overt in its portrayal.

The art and colors from Luckert continue to be a boon. Daisy and the other characters are wonderfully expressive and her heartbreak and fear always feel authentic. The motif of the color red and its use in creating proximity to the Red Mother appears to be continued. Additionally, there are some much more clear and visible references to the lingering unease through the art, and finding them is a treat. Meanwhile, Dukeshire’s letters remain clean, easy to read, and uncluttered.

The Red Mother #6 is a strong continuation of the series, though it does feel a little scant on the action. Thankfully the creative team has done such a fine job of making everything feel off that even slower issues like this one remain eerie. The narrative seems to be shifting toward a distinct Rosemary’s Baby-style narrative, and I can’t wait to see what happens next. While it may seem like this issue would be a solid jumping-on point for new readers, too much is lost without having read the first five. That said, if you’re a fan of this series, there is a lot to enjoy here. 

The Red Mother #6 is available now wherever comics are sold, and via our affiliate link at Comixology.