GHOSTBOX

Sisters inherit a mysterious box from their late uncle in Carey’s graphic novel.

When sisters Chloe and Jan Peace inherit their uncle’s cottage in Cornwall, they have no clue that contained within is an object that will change their lives forever: the ghostbox. On the outside, the object resembles a standard music box—a battered antique destined for an online auction (“There’s got to be someone out there who gets hot for this kind of thing”). Inside is a universe full of captured spirits who power the box’s enchantments. Said power has made the box a coveted item by a clan of eldritch shapeshifters called the Estival, who will stop at nothing to obtain it and feed on the power of human souls (this is the only way the ancient Estival can return to power and prey on the beings—including angels and humans—that opposed them). As the bodies stack up around reluctant hero Chloe, attracting the attention of local police, she must fight to guard the box from the Estival and ensure the safety of the souls inside. Carey’s epic introduction to this series is decidedly involving and overwhelmingly atmospheric. The naturalistic, accessible prose avoids falling into melodrama, as some comics have a tendency to do. The characters are all diverse and fascinating, offering various perspectives on a cosmic plane that exists in dialogue with the real world. Aspects of realistic mystery narratives and police thrillers are deftly incorporated into more grandiose fantasy and horror storylines, resulting in a compelling blend of realism and fantasy. Raimondi’s artwork is naturalistic and detailed, incorporating surrealism in moments that provide a counterpoint to the more grounded scenes, throwing the reader into a world that feels tipped on its end. The result is a truly immersive first volume of what promises to be a contemporary comics masterpiece.

An action-packed, spine-tingling story that will consume the souls of all who read it—in a good way.