THE LADY OF THE LANTERNS WILL LIGHT YOUR WAY

From software's bloodbourne is a game I have played a bit. Not well and I have not put in the time to be engrossed in the lore. I have enjoyed, what I played. So when free comic book day came around, with a free bloodbourne comic; I was intrigued. So I scurried to my local comic store to give it a read. Bloodbourne is right up my alley when it comes to comics. A gothic horror, with sci fi/steam punk undertones.

Now titan comics has started a new Bloodbourne four issue miniseries with the lady of the lanterns. Written by Cullen Bunn, Art by Piotr Kowalski, and Colours by Brad Simpson. All three seem to be in some sort hive mind, with how well the three aspects work so well together.

Lady of Lanterns starts with a nursery rhyme, great way to set the level threat for th main antagonist. Two children, Lucien and Vivian are waiting for their father to return home. When a hunter by the name of Barnabas enters their home injured, only to be followed by a werewolf sent by the lady of lantern. After disposing of the beast, Barnabas tells the story of his meeting of the lady. That's how far I will go with the story, before I enter spoiler territory.

Cullen Bunn has written a stunning tale, filled suspense and violence. It grabs you by the throat and doesn't let up, for a second. Bunn shows he isn't scared to shock you. When he allows you to have a reprieve from the flowing of blood, it is only to build up to something worse, another monster whose only wish to pill more blood. It is glorious.

Piotr Kowalski's art, is muted with great use of stark shadows. I love how the monsters are always in the dark, and the heroes of the piece are usually well lit. Things like that gives the artist their own bit of narrative input. Kowalski's art isn't as detailed as some other artists, but the minimalistic look fits the gothic horror of bloodbourne. Letting your imagination fill in the blanks.

The colours, Brad Simpson's use of a restricted pallet creates a tense and foreboding atmosphere. This just another example of how these three are in absolute sync. Lady of the lanterns goes from a good horror comic based on a game, to a claustrophobic, tense and great horror comic. Lady of the lanterns could have been a comic just for the Bloodbourne fans. Bunn, Kowalski, and Simpson have created a masterpiece horror comic.

Get this on your pull list if you are a horror comic fan, whether you heard of Bloodbourne or not.

Out this week on the 2th July 2022