Indie Spotlight - The Crying Boy: Book Two

Rob takes an early look at The Crying Boy: Book Two...

Niall O'Rourke's suburban horror continues with The Crying Boy: Book Two. Still haunted by the strange happenings within her apartment, Nadia seeks help from local mystic Irene Borisov. But is this enough to save her son from the entity that's taken a hold on him? 

It's been a while since I last stepped foot inside of Niall O'Rourke's creation - and a lot has changed. While the creative team of O'Rourke, Rob Moran, and Justin Burch remains, the comic has been picked up by publisher Sumerian (formally Behemoth). What this means is that while O'Rourke works on The Crying Boy: Book Three, the series is going to be released to a much wider audience. However, in the here and now we find Nadia and Samir getting dragged deeper into the nightmare that stalks their apartment. 

The Crying Boy: Book Two picks up straight after the previous episodes conclusion. Needing answers to what Samir is going though, Nadia contacts resident mystic Irene Borisov who's attempting to contact the otherworldly presence. Taunting Irene, the demonic presence tells her that the current situation has happened multiple times in the past, and that there's nothing she can do to save Samir. To drive this point home the presence - through Samir - gives Irene a slap that  breaks their connection. After this Samir retreats back to his bedroom and the haunting embrace of the Crying Boy picture. With no answers a frustrated Nadia asks everyone to leave.

The other part of this issue takes the reader to the stormy streets of Philadelphia as a new character is introduced. We're shown Father Murray as he's in mid-sermon to a packed congregation. He mentions the importance of redemption and righting past mistakes by doing good deeds rather than simply saying sorry, while his flock lap up every word, there's one person who doesn't look too pleased to be in Father Murray's presence. As the congregation leaves, Murray is then accosted by this stranger who turns out to be a figure from his troubled past. 

O'Rourke then takes us further back as Father Murray recounts his past dealings with this stranger. We soon learn that the person in question is the distraught Mother of a child who's also been taken by the Demon inhabiting Nadia's apartment. In seeking out Father Murray, Mrs. Burke implores the Preist to seek out Nadia and redeem himself by helping Samir - something he couldn't do to her daughter. 

As Father Murray prepares to head to New York, we jump back to Nadia as things then take a drastic turn. Much like the ending to the first issue, the concluding page ends on an almighty cliffhanger. As Irene Borisov attempts to remove the painting from the building...well you'll have to find out. But what I will say is that it makes you want to return for the next part! 

O'Rourke writes The Crying Boy as someone who has a real grasp on the horror genre. Taking inspiration from The Exorcist we get the familiar feelings of unease, as O'Rourke then ratchets it further with his spin on proceedings. Away from the horror, we also get a few moments of world-building as Father Murray, and the (still unnamed) Demon make their appearances. What’s striking here is that we still don’t know what the demon is - and more importantly what its plan is for Samir. Meanwhile, Father Murray is a perfect link to past events while keeping the story firmly in the present. From his speech to his congregation to his failure of protecting Mrs. Burke’s child, we know that his story is going to be one of redemption. But the real question is how far will he fall before? 

Last time out and I had heaps of praise for Rob Moran's artwork. Thankfully that praise carries over to this issue too. Moran brings O'Rourke's script to life through his detailed character work and atmospheric backgrounds. Even when we're not explicitly dealing with the Demon everything - and everyone - is affected by its presence, which Moran effortlessly portrays in his character's anguished faces. The portrait of the Crying child also adds plenty of horror in such a way it's as much a character as it's a link from the Demon to Samir.

Overall and The Crying Boy: Book Two continues to offer the nightmare-filled horror that started in Book One. O'Rourke continues to entwine the reader in his story by introducing new pieces to the board while dropping small teases as to the Demon and its wider goal. Add page after page of hauntingly beautiful art by Rob Moran, and The Crying Boy: Book Two is one story not to be missed! 

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