EVIL CAST (COMIC) – INDIE HORROR COMEDY AT ITS FINEST

Recently published, Evil Cast, follows the adventures of two podcast presenters, Kyle and Noah. They research and investigate mysterious and supernatural events, usually debunking them. But when they are forced to confront an old rival their world view comes crashing down and the genuine supernatural forces barge in. What follows is a rollercoaster of mystery, intrigue, gore and violence that the two unlikely heroes could never have been prepared for.

Evil Cast is intended as a bit of a love-letter to classic supernatural horror and horror comedy of the past decades. This is most apparent in that each issue’s cover is based of a different classic horror film (Evil Dead, The Fog, Aliens, and 28 Days Later). However the story itself doesn’t directly reference any of these, and the influence and inspiration they have drawn on is a lot more subtle. The narrative was actually one of the freshest stories I’ve read in a while, and really showed the diversity of details and characters that can be used to effect in this genre.

Though the content is quite grim, and occasionally gory, the art style (by Erico Orlandi) keeps things light and removes a lot of the detail from the more visceral scenes. Though I know for some people this might be a detractor, I found it served the overall tone of the story. This isn’t a Hellraiser or Nightmare on Elm St story, so it isn’t about how various characters die gruesomely. Death and dismemberment in Evil Cast is about establishing the stakes of the situation that the characters are in. The primary focus is the complex story, the characters, and their interplay. High detailed gore would have only detracted from this, and would have played against the more comedic elements.

Could help but chuckle at this scene.

Kyle Stück’s writing has done a great job of establishing each individual’s voice, while not drowning them in cliché. Everyone is consistently characterised, and even the minor and short-lived characters feel like they have depth and dimensions beyond what is specifically shown.

Overall this is a wonderful and enjoyable tale. The tension is solid, the comedy lands, and the mystery endures. Evil Cast drew me in and I can’t wait for the next volume.

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