Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

Drumhellar #1Drumhellar #1
Image Comics
Rossmo & Link

This is a strange book and I knew that coming in. This comic book is about the paranormal and supernatural and the lead character, Drum, and how he's drawn to it. The book establishes a bunch of characters in this issue, which is helpful and it sort of explains an origin for Drum as well. The book just doesn't do enough to jump out from the crowd though in this opening issue. It's a well executed book with nice artwork but the ideas in this issue might feel like you've read them before.

Drum is a character with special abilities and he knows it. He is followed around by cat-ghost named Harold and he interfaces with a woman named Padma for various reasons. Drum also likes to investigate things that get him into trouble and that's what seems to be the premise of this book.

The comic feels like a trip and that is obviously the intent. That works both for and against the book. The book has a lot of mystery and the creators are banking on the strangeness of this issue to pull you into their mystery. However, it's a gamble and if there isn't a bit of a payoff issue by issue then you run into a situation with the never-ending mystery, such as with Morning Glories. That seems to have a smaller appeal than what you are aiming for I'm guessing.

Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle ReviewsThe artwork is fantastic. Sometimes when you have one artist that takes the reins like you have here you get an incredible looking comic book and that's what you get with this book. It's unique but not odd. It's detailed but it allows room for imagination on many panels and pages. I loved the art in this book and that alone is worth the price of admission.

Drumhellar is an odd book. It's a character book and that works well. However, this issue read too much like the opening to a trade collection and it drops too much of a mystery in the process. I'm not entirely sure what the book is about and that could be a problem. I'm in for another issue to see where this is headed.

3 out of 5 Geek Goggles