We’ve all heard of ghost stories… but what stories do the ghosts themselves tell us? The concept of ghosts wanting to “confess” and tell their story isn’t new. We’ve seen this concept over and over as the driver of so many stories. Often, the need to tell the story is a way for the lost soul to find peace and rest. Ghostlore #1 seems to be going that direction with an opening chapter that’s tragic and a bit jarring.

Created by Cullen Bunn and Leomacs, Bunn handles the writing duty as we meet a dysfunctional family in a small town. The father is a pastor at the church with a supportive wife, a rebellious daughter, and a son who stopped speaking. In what feels like an afterschool special prompt, the jarring part, the story unfolds in tragedy as a car accident leads to deaths and unsettled spirits all around the trapped family.

Ghostlore #1 is an interesting beginning that feels a bit like an afterschool special drama in so many ways. It’s not Bunn’s strongest debut but he does an excellent job of setting things up. It also feels like a start that is done in a way to take advantage of its premise. With spirits around them, there’s a chance to tell so many stories from here creating an almost anthology feel. Whether this is where the series goes remains to be seen but overall, it’s a debut with potential.

Leomacs handles the art with color by Jason Wordie while Brian Hurtt and Bill Crabtree provide art for one particular section. The art is interesting, veering away from scares and gore and sticking to the “sad” feel of the comic. There’s a morose vibe to the story that the art depicts, down to the choice of color. It’s all good though nothing really jumps out. It feels held back a little bit with potential to do more with the emotion of the story. Ed Dukeshire‘s lettering is solid giving the living and dead their own style adding to concept of the series.

Ghostlore #1 is an interesting start that has some potential. While it doesn’t completely excite, there’s a concept that could play out in interesting way telling stories of various styles and delivering a bit of an emotional punch with each. As an opening chapter, the comic falls a little short in its excitement but it’s not enough to turn off reading further issues. Overall, the jury is still out on the series as a whole but there could be something intriguing there.

Story: Cullen Bunn Art: Leomacs, Brian Hurtt
Color: Jason Wordie, Bill Crabtree Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read

BOOM! Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle