Rob reviews Bear Skin...
Bear Skin is a graphic novel that took me by surprise. What starts like a typical crime story, soon evolves into something that's more akin to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Thing and the video game, Dead Space.
Currently seeking crowdfunding via Kickstarter, Bear Skin is heading into its final 11-days seeing its modest £3,731 target being smashed by nearly £4000! (Figures correct at time of writing) Thankfully I've been given an advanced look at the finished product via pdf, and it's certainly a unique graphic novel...
Set within Grantsville, West Virginia, Bear Skin follows a delusional guy as he makes his way into a seemingly normal diner. What follows is anything but normal as he changes into an adult-sized bear suit, to then slaughter the diner's patrons - the only survivor being a child. While this opening sets Bear Skin up to be a typical crime drama, it soon turns into something far more.
Much like a typical horror, Bear Skin relies on the unknown to tell its story. While I will try to refrain from major spoilers, it's worth noting that this review will probably contain some minor plot details...You have been warned!
It soon transpires that our antagonist is the novel's protagonist and he's dealing with some major trauma. Writer, Jason Pell delves into the causes of this trauma via a series of unsettling flashbacks that shows just what may be lurking inside a child's closet. It's here where Bear Skin changes its theme and becomes more sci-fi than horror. When the REAL enemy arrives, the citizens of Grantsville turn to this bear-suit wearing maniac for help. But as the body count starts rising, how do you defeat an enemy that could be your friend, neighbour, colleague, or even yourself!?
Set over 80-pages, Pell and artist Jok (no, not that one) craft a pretty brutal tale of seemingly ordinary families fighting for their very survival. It's a tale filled with plenty of dread that doesn't go away. Even after the stories conclusion, you're left with the burning question of what's next?
Pell's writing comes at you at quite the pace and is filled with small teases as to what's going on. Everything feels raw as you dragged along on this journey. Oy You're never fully told what is happening within Grantsville, which makes each page turn ever more exciting. Every scene is portrayed in a similar vein to a Hollywood movie as Pell switches between various viewpoints to build the story. This other side is seen between a mom and her daughter, as well as a local police officer. To an extent seeing things transpire from the duel perspective keeps everything grounded as much like these characters - the read also doesn't fully know what's going on.
Once the 'Lovecraftian' inspired nasties make their appearance, the genre-swap is fully revealed which gives you a real WTF! moment. The scenes set within the town's supermarket is a real call back to Steven King's The Fog. There's a lot of tension portrayed here even as Jok keeps his supernatural terror to the shadows - for now!
Our reveal of this terror comes soon afterwards as the fight within the supermarket spills out into the streets. There's a lot of macabre imagery as Jok has his monsters erupting from within seemingly ordinary people, to then attacking whoever is nearest in a blood-soaked rampage. It's pretty gruesome which is all backed up by some pretty detailed art. Every scene is filled with great attention to detail that builds Grantville incredibly well. Characters are similarly drawn in a way that grounds them to this twisted reality.
All in all, Bear Skin is a terrific read that captivates you from the first page. Jason Pell has crafted a superb supernatural horror that's been grounded within our reality. Each page turn sends you further into this dystopia as Pell and Jok brings this dark, twisted, vision to life. The genre-swap also adds a brilliant twist and is defiantly one that I was not expecting. If you're a fan of The Thing, The Walking Dead, Halloween, and many, many more, then you'll be mad to miss out on Bear Skin!
Rating - 9/10
Why not check out the Bear Skin campaign page by clicking here!
Rob Lake - For more comic book chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev
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