Comic Book Review: The Creep #0
Image via Dark Horse
Wow. Where do I start with Creep #0 out of Dark Horse?
I’ve had this comic in my possession for a little while and held off on reading it for some unknown reason (Maybe it was the Frank Miller cover. Don’t completely hate his work, but I’ve never been a fan). I mean, I’m a big fan of Creep’s writer, John Arcudi, so I don’t really know why I waited so long.
But I just got around to actually reading Creep #0 and this is a damn fine comic.
Creep #0 tells the tale of a private investigator going by the name of Oxel. His world is tipped on its end when an old flame reaches out to him to investigate her son’s alleged suicide.
Image via Dark Horse
So what makes Oxel different from any other noir style PI from so many stories? What sets Creep apart from all the rest? Well, for starters, the protagonist suffers from acromegaly.
Creep #0 has a lot of the characteristics of noir that we love so very, very much: the cynical, brooding outlook of the protagonist? Check. Said cynical, brooding outlook of the protagonist expressed to the reader by his internal monologue? Check. The dame in distress? Check. The overhanging, gloomy mood? Check. Bleak urban locations? Check.
Image via Dark Horse
I loved a couple of things about Creep #0. Firstly, I didn’t mind having to work a bit and actually read (and in one case re-read) the conversations held between characters. Not only did the conversations feel real, they were packed with information that you have to actually absorb. Sure, there’s a time for a comic where you don’t have to take in everything, but I didn’t mind in the slightest that I had to think about what was actually being said (and what wasn’t being said).
Image via Dark Horse
I also really enjoyed Jonathan Case’s artwork. I’m unfamiliar with his work, but his work here is gritty and urban and suits the story perfectly.
But what I really enjoyed about Case’s work is something simple and often overlooked: panel borders. Case uses a simple but effective technique when blurring the lines between the reality of Oxel’s world and fantasy or flashbacks. The regular pages of Creep #0 have clear, hard panel lines, but when Oxel remembers or imagines something, the lines aren’t so straight and the colors bleed outside of the panels.
It’s a simple technique but very effective.
Creep #0 appears to be the launch pad for an ongoing comic, and not only does it introduce every character and mystery we’ll need so far, but it’s hooked me to keep an eye out for future issues.
Get on board with Creep #0 because this is going to be an exciting detactive tale that’s going to get a lot of buzz.
