Now to the question of whether the makers present us with a warmed-up copy. Style and flair are definitely copied by Gideon Falls, but why not if it fits the story. It doesn't bother me in the slightest, on the contrary: I'm happy to see this unusual style again. The re-chosen look fits the horror setting like the onomatopoeia fits the comic strip. Narratively, Lemire takes it slowly.

Are you a big fan of the Sorrentino and Stewart style or Gideon Falls? If so, The Passageway is most likely your next Graphic Novel! ( )

Sets a Lovecraftian tone for what is to come, but isn't much fulfilling on its own.

A geologist comes to a remote island lighthouse to investigate a mysterious deep hole that has appeared in the rocky soil. He repeatedly flashes back his mother's mysterious death as he deals with the mysterious lighthouse keeper. Birds mysteriously flock around the hole. Mysterious things happen, like eyeballs popping up everywhere. Or are they?

But what's it all mean? It's a mystery.

This reminds me too much of Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach Trilogy, which starts cool and mysterious -- and features a lighthouse to boot -- but never ends up going anywhere. I'm very pessimistic about this getting better. ( )

THE BONE ORCHARD MYTHOS: THE PASSAGEWAY is the start of Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino's new shared horror universe being published via Image Comics. Technically, this is the second release following a FCBD 2022 issue, titled PRELUDE: SHADOW EATER, but this is the first major release in the series.

John Reed, a geologist, is called to a remote island to investigate a mysterious, seemingly endless hole that has developed there. Once there he meets Sal, the caretaker of the lighthouse on the island. It’s pretty clear early on that something is not quite right with Sal, who has lived alone on the island for twenty-five years. John’s first night on the island is haunted by nightmares of his past, and the next day takes a turn for the worst when Sal’s true nature comes to light.

Much like PRELUDE: SHADOW EATER, the reader is not given much to go on with the story, having to fill in pieces of the story ourselves, which works to a degree. Everything happens so fast here, we aren’t given time to develop a connection to any of the characters, so it’s hard to feel concern for John, or really question what’s going on with Sal. I think if this OGN had been a little longer and we were given time to connect with these characters, the story would have resonated better.

Sorrentino’s art carries most of the story here, and is appropriately creepy AF. You really get a sense of the isolation being on this island would give you, and the horror imagery is really well done.

Overall, a good start to this concept. THE BONE ORCHARD MYTHOS will be continued later this year with a 5-issue miniseries called TEN THOUSAND BLACK FEATHERS, followed by another OGN, TENEMENT, in early 2023.

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Although it is book 1 but it has a definite horror element. The only drawback was that the plot felt like a silent movie. I had only pictures to understand the whole matter. It would have been excellent if it had some dialogues. I would love to give the book 4 stars. Awaiting eagerly for the second book. ( )