Review – Joe Golem Occult Detective #2 (Of 5) (Dark Horse Comics)

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writer: Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden
Artist: Patric Reynolds
Release Date: 2nd December, 2015

In the first issue of Joe Golem: Occult Detective, we saw our protagonist rescue some children from a water dwelling monster called ‘The Rat Catcher’. It was an outstanding start to the series and I tipped it as a potential best of the year candidate. However, subsequent reads of other titles since have changed my thoughts on what my “best of the year’’ will be, but I still maintain that this one is certainly on its way to becoming a classic. Standard Mignola, really.

This issue picks up from where the previous issue ended – there’s a monster on the loose in Lower Manhattan, and it wants the children. Naturally, Joe isn’t about to let that happen without a good ol’ fashioned showdown. However, Joe’s also having an existential crisis, with the visions he experiences as sleeps intensifying. Are they connected to his past life? Is his mentor hiding secrets from him? But, on the bright side, there might be a little spark between him and his lady friend, Lori blossoming in midst of the panic epidemic.

Much like the first issue, I have nothing but high praise for this second chapter. The momentum continues without missing a step, and it’s action-packed from the get go. Mystery unfolds just the right amount, dropping just the right amount of little hints here and there for us to speculate on. And it ends on such a huge cliff hanger that it makes picking up the next issue essential; in fact, it cannot come soon enough. Much like the monster kidnapping kids, Mignola and Golden take us deeper into the world of Lower Manhattan and introduce us to the horrors it entails.

Patric Reynold’s artwork is still stunning, particularly in an issue with so much action that he finds himself responsible for carrying a substantial chunk of the story on his own for much of the duration. I’m really happy that it’s not weighed down by needless exposition through inner monologues; to be able to tell a story through visuals alone is no easy feat, but Reynold’s makes it a breeze to follow and utterly striking to look at.

Overall, this is yet another home run for Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden – knocking the ball out of the park yet again. Pure and simple: Joe Golem: Occult Detective is pulpy, supernatural fun and a must read for fans of monster mysteries.

Rating: 5/5.

The writer of this piece was: Kieran Fisher
Kieran Tweets from @HairEverywhere_.