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Haunt #1

Reviewed by Joshua Rathbun

Written By: Robert Kirkman
Layouts By: Greg Capullo
Pencils By: Ryan Ottley
Inks By: Todd McFarlane
Lettering By: Richard Starkings/Comicraft
Colored By: Fco Plascencia
Published By: Image Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 2009

It's weird to me how exciting some creative teams can sound. For instance, tell people you have Robert Kirkman and Todd McFarlane working together. Sound good to you? I thought so. Brought together on this project is Todd's favorite penciller, Greg Capullo and throw in Kirkman's Invincible artist, Ryan Ottley, and you get Haunt, an action/horror/espionage tale from Image Comics.

Haunt is the tale of Catholic Priest Daniel, who's brother Kurt, a military man, was tortured and killed after a mission that involved the murder of a mad doctor and the rescue of some freakish victims. Somehow, his deceased brother haunts him and together, they form a gruesome, murderous superhuman.

This book definitely feels a lot like reading Spawn, another book associated with Todd McFarlane. Military grunt? Check. Symbiotic-style suit? Check. Gruesome retribution in the form of a bizarre superhuman? Check. What sets it apart is the talents of Kirkman, who's penned a unique and interesting story. With the strong old-school Image feel, this can be the kind of work that either works or doesn't work for people. I grew up on the original Image books and enjoy them a lot. This is Image 2.0 in that respect. Also, this book had a lot of special variant covers. With the high numbers on this book, were it being purchased for the team or concept, or that of the many covers?

The unique collaboration of Greg Capullo's layouts, Ryan Ottley's pencilwork and the final touch of Todd McFarlane's inks truly create a visually stunning book for any reader to paw over. Personally, I enjoy a book that's not so overly complex that it makes a story hard to follow. Haunt is monthly from Image Comics.

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Reviewer Bio

Name: Joshua Rathbun
email: josh@theropestore.com

Review Bio: Salt Lake City resident Joshua Daniel Rathbun has been reading comics longer than he can even remember and enjoys a bevy of different tastes in comics. When not writing up reviews for Comic Related, he can be found on Twitter (http://twitter.com/JoshuaRathbun) or at his comic book blog located at www.4thdownandhelltogo.com and appreciates feedback, both good and bad at josh@theropestore.com or on the Comic Related forums. He also sings for the Salt Lake band, Dogwelder.

Been reading comics: Over 20 years.
Favorites: Preacher is the all-time favorite.
Websites: joshrathbun.livejournal.com - theropestore.com - 4thdownandhelltogo.com