Comic review: Beyond Belief #1- A Safe Place

Writers: Ben Acker & Ben Blacker
Art: Phil Hester & Eric Gapster
Publisher: Image Comics
Released: 22nd April 2015

In my recent review of Drones #1 I talked about comic books creating a safe place where the world doesn't exist, a friendly place where you can bury your head in the sand and have a fun filled time in fantasyland immune to the world around you.

I’m not trying to be unkind here. I’m just creating an image, and trying to encapsulate what comic books are trying to do.

Drones #1 didn’t work because it was creating a comedic fantasy world with too many real world nasty realities. Those real world realities destroyed the fantasy world and what was left was a distastefully flippant book about US Imperialism and drone warfare and how anybody who resists is a ‘terrorist.’ When you bring real world concerns into your comic book narrative it can get quite tricky, especially when you are making light of those concerns as was done in Drones #1.

Beyond Belief #1 is a better book than Drones #1 because the fluffy fantasy world that it creates remains intact from beginning to end. It’s a head in the sand book, and the real world does not get a look in. It doesn’t really matter if I like that world or not, what is important is that the book has created it’s own space, and within that space a fantasy narrative can take place that people will either enjoy, or reject.

The book is about two loved up ghost busters. They drink, they quip, and they use their love of each other to banish the negativity that feeds evil spirits. They exist in comic book neverland, so no mobile devices or Internet, or anything else that could date their adventures to any particular decade are apparent. Their clothes are old fashioned, they are posh, and the guy has the kind of moustache usually only seen on old movie stars from the 1930’s. It’s all very twee, very cosy, very cute, self-aware, and nice. The dialogue is clever, the two lead protagonists bounce off of each other, enjoying each other’s company, and you’d have to be a real cold-hearted curmudgeon to say something nasty about it.

The art, although it’s a story about ghosts and evil spirits, is in perfect step with the tone set by the narrative and dialogue. It’s friendly art, there is no threat here, it’s a book that you could give to your kids, and it would probably make them smile, as it’s all very deliberately light, silly and humorous.

Ghosts have never seemed friendlier or less threatening, and as you follow the adventures of the two loved up protagonists you never for one panel feel that they are in any danger of coming a cropper. They’ll beat the ghosts, have a drink, and move on to their next adventure.

If you want a friendly comic book about nice people then you’ll love Beyond Belief #1. It is inoffensive, light heated, head in the sand comic book fun. The book does what it is supposed to do. It creates that safe comic book fantasy safe place, and if you want to join these nice fantasy people then jump right on in.

There’s nothing offensive here, but nothing vital or particularly thrilling either. It’s a nice book, for nice people, reality is banished and I’m not going to be the horrible guy who kicks down the door shouting about real world nightmares. The book is a safe place, and there’s nothing wrong with that.


Rating: 7/10 (A safe place comic book with nice characters and witty dialogue)

Blitz Review: Witchfinder ‘The Mysteries of Unland’ #1- Monster detective fun

Writers: Kim Newman and Maura McHugh
Artist: Tyler Crook
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Released: 18th June 2014

If you like a slice of Victorian era, gothic, detective/monster genre action then this is the book for you. It begins formulaically with a murder victim on the slab, the mysterious manner of his death explained, and the reluctant detective being sent to the typically strange village where the ensuing drama will unfold.

Unlike many detective books where the mystery has supernatural beginnings that eventually prove to be very human, this book makes a point of introducing the supernatural elements early, thus informing the reader that this story will include both the criminal and the supernatural.

The artwork is imaginative, well coloured and atmospheric throughout, and the tone is of a suspenseful detective thriller, of a mystery to be solved by a famous detective.

A standout moment, both in terms of art, and as a story-telling device, is the moment when a Police Constable gives his own theory on the murder. For a few pages the coloured art switches to black and white and it’s illustrated in a style reminiscent of a Jack the Ripper era tabloid newspaper. It’s a lot of fun, and it works very well, breaking up the story with an amusing interlude, before letting the narrative get back on schedule as we follow the detective in his further enquiries.

I very much enjoyed this book, and will read the next four issues as a bit of escapist, detective, gothic monster fun. There are no underlying themes or issues to be overly concerned with here. It’s set in a no-time past. The characters exist to service the narrative. They are clichés, but largely harmless.

The story is essentially warning about snake oil salesmen. Don’t expect originality, and don’t expect any socio-political insights into the nature of this, or any other reality. This is a detective book set in Ye-Olde-England, semi-mythological times. If you like mysteries, detectives and gothic stories then you’ll probably like it, and the art is pretty decent as well. I don’t have any problem with this kind of comic book. It’s fun. That’s all.
Rating: 8/10