The reason why this book has been a guilty pleasure of mine is because of the unabashed and unapologetic nature of the horror contained in the story. In this issue, the opening page portrays one of the Blue Ash police officers investigating the strange happenings on the outskirts of town. The officer, set in shadows and colored against a burnt yellow tones, states that he has a bad feeling about the missing chief. As an answer to his premonition, the next page is a near full page depiction of the police chief brutally sacrificed in ritualistic manner on an altar surrounded by candles.
I do not appreciate all of the psychologically driven horror that leads one to wonder if the main character is going insane or dreaming. No, I like art such as Drag Me To Hell where the evil exists and the end seems doomed. Satan’s Hollow worked the past five issues because it followed that format. While there is little mystery, writer Joe Brisha goes for that feeling of hopelessness as more and more victims fall to the demons in the Hollow.
Allan Otero does a hell of a job (sorry, couldn’t help it) on the illustrations. The book features a demoness in a slinky Diablo style outfit. One demon dons a red cape and a Nazi officer’s hat. Some of the best uses of colors get worked into this book, too. The aforementioned yellow shades of the first page set the tone of the book. In good symbolic manner, Sandra, the protagonist wears the puritanical white denoting her innocence. Fran Gamboa and J.C. Ruiz complement Otero, and the benefit to us readers is a well-planned and entertainingly executed horror tale.
Satan’s Hollow has been a refreshing bit of original content that utilized its story so well with its illustrations and colors to make a great book and a shit-your-shorts scary story.
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Satan’s Hollow #5 (of 6) Writer: Joe Brisha Art: Allan Otero Colors: Fran Gamboa & J.C. Ruiz Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment Price: $3.99 Format: Mini-Series; Print/Digital
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