Published: October 11, 2023
Publisher: Image Comics & Syzygy Publishing
Writers: Ethan Sacks & Naomi Sacks
Artist: Marco Lorenzana
Colour Artist: Andrew Mossa
Letterer: Jaime Martinez
Cover Art: Joe Quesada, Richard Isanove
Editor: Chris Ryall
Synopsis;
Cleo, an adopted 16-year-old Japanese-American whose depression drove her to near-suicide, is trying unsuccessfully to reintegrate back into her old life. But her struggles are just beginning as she encounters an increasingly terrifying succession of ghosts. Is she losing her grip on reality…or is the explanation much worse?
The review;
A Haunted Girl launches with 6 covers. Joe Quesada chips in with the A and D covers for issue 1. The A cover being a wonderful and striking illustration that will draw any reader in, and the D cover is a mono version of the same image. Fico Ossio brings us the B cover with a stunning depiction of the comic’s main character Cleo being stalked by a spider type creature. Cover C is by Ryusei Yamada, which also features Cleo, with a manga stylisation. The next variant is a Walking Dead themed cover by Jeffrey Edwards and series colour artist Andres Mossa. Completing the roundup of covers, is the haunting Bird City Comics store exclusive cover by Daniel Kamarudin.
Okay, let me address the fact that this is not a Star Wars comic that I am reviewing. This project from Ethan and Naomi Sacks is something I have wanted to support from day 1. Whether that be purchasing a copy in a comic book store, or by using my own social media to promote it when I heard more about the project and the subjects it addresses. Ethan is an important writer in the Star Wars universe with many titles to his name, including my personal favourite, Bounty Hunters. In the week where we have celebrated World Mental Health Day, I didn’t want to deep dive into the story in this review, but I want readers to be guided towards adding it to their pull lists and read it for themselves.
The story centres around a sixteen-year-old girl, Cleo Newman. She is in a dark place with her mental health and finds herself in Westchester Hospital, New York being treated for her depression and anxiety. But there is an underlying story that slips into the plot that may add a more sinister edge to where she finds herself. I am sure that the fact that she is adopted will play a major role and who is this mysterious character her father is in contact with?
Cleo’s dad is a character I have warmed to immediately. Spelling happy with only one P as he run out of space while decorating her birthday cake was a proper chuckle moment, but you get the feeling of his caring and compassion for Cleo. He is suffering too, seeing his baby girl go through her own personal hell. Their conversation through the bathroom door reinforces this feeling. I am sure that the fact that she is adopted will play a major role and who is this mysterious character her father is in contact with?
We close the issue with a strange being floating towards Cleo. Prone after injuring her knee, she has found a glowing ball, is this like the one she finds in the first set of frames, no doubt issue 2 will help us find out.
Marco Lorenzana is an artist I have very little knowledge of, but I do love what he has done. His illustrations are clean cut, but he expresses the motion of a character so well. This is complimented by excellent colours from Andres Mossa. Mossa is another artist I have little to no exposure to, but this has left me craving more of his work. Lorenzana and Mossa seem to have a connection, not unlike that of Paolo Villanelli and Arif Prianto on Bounty Hunters, and if you have read what I have said about that pairing previously, you will know how highly I regard them as a duo! I also need to give a shout out to the letterer, Jaime Martinez. Awesome work that blends so well with the art of Lorenzana.
I was treated to a preview copy of the comic and loved every page. I didn’t know the full background behind the story until I read Ethan’s notes at the back. I must admit reading that left me shocked and in awe of Ethan and Naomi, but I also admit to welling up when the words sank in.
This is a powerful and bold comic which deals with modern issues quite brilliantly. I too have suffered with depression and anxiety and experienced the parallels of Cleo returning to her High School, this is exactly how I felt returning to my place of work after an extended period of absence. The mind is a fragile place, and we need to take care of our mind’s as well as the minds of others with our own actions. Hopefully the days of when you needed to tough it out and plough on with life regardless of where you were at mentally are well and truly gone.
I can only congratulate Ethan and Naomi in how they have managed to get to where they are now. Friends and family all play their part in this journey and hopefully the comic book community can carry them along on their journey on the crest of the wave of love for this series.
Availability;
A Haunted Girl is a 4-part mini-series published by Image Comics. This issue retails at $4.99 and is available via comiXology and comic book stores.
