Something I hadn’t made explicitly clear in my review of The Creep #1 is how essential #0 was. Without it, the disoriented reader would feel the wrong side of an exposition dump. I implore you to seek them out, if you haven’t already done so. The Dark Horse miniseries is one of the best new reads of 2012.
The ‘slow burn’ technique isn’t particularly popular in comics, however, when utilised correctly, it’s magnificent. The mystery concerning the two teen suicides deepens as Oxel continues to investigate. Whilst a troubling case for Oxel, it seems his search for the truth is also one for catharsis. And it is the emotional depth of The Creep which makes it so different to everything else on the shelves at present.
In this issue, Arcudi further explores the difficulties Oxel experiences due to his acromegaly, however this is tempered – there are situations in which Oxel benefits from his appearance and exploits it fully. Interviewees are more likely to talk to him – “they figure if anybody can understand trouble, it’s me. Or maybe they think I’m too stupid to understand anything”. His shambolic nature, which only aides in snaring his target, is reminiscent of Peter Falk’s Columbo. And whilst the self-pity remains, it’s not as prominent as in the first issue – Oxel is no longer going through the motions. Case accepted, he intends to solve it, no matter the cost.
The issue opens and closes with more hallucinatory sequences and it is these panels were Case’s impressive art shines – his watercolour effects convey Steph’s Father’s delusions perfectly. I cannot fault the art in this book. Neither can I wait to see what Case does next.
The cover art for this series so far has been immense; Frank Miller provided the cover for #0, whilst Mike Mignola supplied the art for #1. Ryan Sook (numerous B.P.R.D. titles) continues that tradition. Having seen the solicits for issue 3, due for release November 14, Tonci Zonkic’s efforts are to surpass all so far.
The bleakness of The Creep is comparable to Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream. Arcudi has created a comic as tense as anything I’ve seen or read in recent times. It’s a credit to the medium. I’m running out of superlatives to describe this miniseries and this issue only marks the halfway point.
Check out our 4 page preview below. The Creep #2 is released on October 10th, 2012.
Mark Brassington 