Review – DC Horror Presents – The Conjuring – The Lover #1
Review – DC Horror Presents – The Conjuring – The Lover #1
Written by: Rex Ogle, Scott Snyder, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick
Art by: Denys Cowan, Garry Brown, Dave Johnson
Published by: DC Horror
Available: 2nd June 2021
Bonus Material: Silver Age Mock Adverts
Synopsis
The terrifying debut of the tie-in to The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It begins here, with a story that’s bursting at the seams with clues about the new film. Meet Jessica. Jessica just returned to her freshman year of college after winter break, bringing with her the anxieties of last semester’s poor grades, the awkwardness of facing a boy she wishes she’d never slept with, and an undeniably unnerving feeling of being watched. She soon comes to realize that something evil made her its target, and it will not rest until it has her in its unholy grip. But why did this sinister presence set its sights on a seemingly normal college freshman? Read this nerve-racking tale, creepily crafted by Conjuring screenwriter David L. Johnson-McGoldrick and Rex Ogle with heart-stopping art from Garry Brown and chill-inducing covers by Bill Sienkiewicz, to find out!
Writing
The main story, written by Johnson-McGoldrick and Rex Ogle, opens with a disturbing montage of a ritual involving various occult offering and culminates with the heading of a goat while a figure chants to a photo of Jessica. In 1981, Jessica is hesitant to return to college after having a nervous breakdown last semester, but her helicopter mother isn’t having any of it. Jessica is surrounded at college by young, free teenagers acting like teenagers but she isolates herself and pines for her friend Katie who has taken a gap year. As she walks around the campus studying she is watched from the shadows by unknown supernatural threats. It’s a short first story and we’re left on the edge as the story pauses for…
A clever parody for retro pulp comic back page ads for decoder rings and ghost vision fit the ’80s-vibe. The decoder rings gives clues to the up coming movie and also warns you not to send a dollar and one human eyeball in for the specs.
The second tale—Tales from the Artifact Room: The Ferryman by Scott Snyder and Denys Cowan. This spins out of the real-life Museum of haunted artefacts that the Warrens kept. A man begs a taxi driver to hurry as he doesn’t have much time before someone he loves dies. He then relays a “Creepshow” style tale of him stealing the coin from a corpse on a dare. He’s warned that the coins are for the Ferryman to take souls onward and if you steal them he’ll come for you. The next morning his parents are found dead and death seems to follow him as he grows up, the Ferryman wants his coin back. Can he find the coin he used to buy a useless toy as a kid? It’s a fun quick story with a good little sting in the tail.
The issue finishes with another parody advert for the old Atlas bodybuilding adverts, this time using possession as a method to handle bullies.
Artwork
Garry Brown’s creepy visuals in the haunted college tale but a sense of dread and foreboding and even attempts a jump-scare with a mouse while red glowing eyes and hands claw just out of range. The colouring, panelling and lettering work well and the whole issue has a 1980s pulp comic feel. The variant covers are amazing video nasty covers from the 1980s which again suits the vibe.
Overall Thoughts
Licenced titles can become niche but this will please comic fans and movie franchise fans alike. The main story is a slow burn gradually increasing tension, while the quick second tale leaves a smile as you close the book. 3/5 stars for both stories and artwork, but what do you think?
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