Two Graves #1 is a horror comic published by Image, written by Genevieve Valentine, art by Annie Wu and Ming Doyle, colours by Lee Loughridge and letters by Aditya Bidikar. A young woman and a man with a veil of smoke for a face set out on a road trip, leaving bodies in their wake.
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Two Graves #1 is a story filled with mystery. An uncomfortable opening starts up an unnerving plot that quickly shows our first death. Valentine has us asking questions from the very beginning when the man with the face of smoke appears. It is unsettling as both the main characters seem unreliable. Their mission seems extremely dark, but there is a quiet, melancholic tone. Two Graves #1 isn’t obsessed with or celebrates death, but it is a constant reoccurrence. It is clear that there is a higher level to the story than just these two. The Persephone Myth is explained and introduced explicitly, and the fantastical element of the show can turn it into more than a myth. There are glimpses of supernatural parts that are fascinating and creepy. It appears that much of the story has already unfolded before the start of the comic, leaving us demanding answers.
At the centre of the story are these two very different main characters. One is human, or so we think. She seems uncomfortable around what she and her companion are doing, but not as much as she should be. Every sentence hints at a history not seen yet. From the first conversations and captions, she seems religious and mindful of heaven and hell. Then there is the figure that obviously draws attention, this being of unknown quantities. He has the power to kill with a touch; we know that. But besides that, this creature is a really gravitating figure. Narration comes from both characters, giving conflicting perspectives on what is happening. They don’t all make sense yet, and the conversations between the pair are often very awkward. This denotes that they haven’t been together yet, although anything seems possible in this comic.
The spectacular artists involved bring some gorgeous yet enigmatic work to the series. Doyle and Wu are very different in their styles, yet they work terrifically together. What I love about having two artists in this book is that you get a different interpretation of the characters in the same comic, although they two can change their own minds. This is most noticeable in the man with a veil of smoke for a face. From one artist is this swirling mass of indiscernible features and haunting to look at. Then from another are eyes and a mouth, which can depict genuine emotions. Neither one is more powerful, but it creates variations in the scenes. The shading in his jacket is phenomenal and distinct from Emilia’s, who also has a terrific design. Much of the locations are a wide landscape. Both art styles could be considered quite harsh, which seems to fit the atmosphere of the comic.
The colours can be dark, but there is a surprising amount of light included. This is where the prettiness of the comics comes in when the sun is coming up, and the pages are filled with stunning and unique tones of warmth. How that light plays with the mysterious figure and his smokey face changes depending on the lineart. It changes the structure of his head at times, drawing the eyes towards the actual details etched on his face. The shades and the tones shift and vary as the comic unfolds, which always keeps the book updated and fresh. The two separate caption boxes for the contrasting narrators and the fonts are both aesthetically pleasing.
Two Graves #1 is a comic filled with death and questions. We are taken quite far into a world with characters that are yet to be understood, but it is very easy to want to follow them further. How far the mystical nature of the story goes is hinted at with actual images of Persephone, so it is hard to know what to expect. The almost constant threat of death or potential death between the protagonists raises eyebrows, and the rest of the story means that they will never go down again.
Two Graves #1 is available wherever comics are sold from November 9th.
Two Graves #1
TL;DR
Two Graves #1 is a comic filled with death and questions. We are taken quite far into a world with characters that are yet to be understood, but it is very easy to want to follow them further. How far the mystical nature of the story goes is hinted at with actual images of Persephone, so it is hard to know what to expect. The almost constant threat of death or potential death between the protagonists raises eyebrows, and the rest of the story means that they will never go down again.
