TWITCHLAND

The concluding volume of Mulligan’s World of Witchland supernatural horror graphic novel trilogy.

With the toxic wasteland of Richland, Washington—site of a billion-dollar nuclear cleanup and remediation project—as backdrop, Van and his daughter Ali have seen their fair share of tragedy living in Richland. The city’s proximity to a nuclear reactor has led to numerous recent radiation-related sicknesses and deaths. After Van’s husband—who worked at the power plant—died under questionable circumstances, Van has finally moved on and come to grips with his life as a widower. But with 50 million gallons of “toxic shit” still buried underground, Van and his friend Jennifer (a former power plant employee) are questioning their decision to remain in Richland. When one of Ali’s friends (Brett) appears to become addicted to a new drug decimating the community, Ali and her father—along with Jennifer’s daughter Linda—join forces to investigate Brett’s bizarre transformation. What the amateur sleuths discover not only has links to the nuclear waste tanks but also has the potential to destroy countless lives. While the horror storyline with its mutant bogeymen isn’t exactly original, the power of this narrative comes from the well-developed cast of characters, who bring emotional intensity, dynamism, and authenticity to the story. Additionally, the distinctive illustrations by Pyrink perfectly complement the story’s thematic impact (their utilization of contrasting color, in particular, is noteworthy). Scenes in the local doughnut shop, for example, are depicted in vibrant yellows, pinks, and oranges while sequences at the nuclear reactor site and in shadowy back alleys feature unnatural greens and purples. Lastly, the (timely) subject of the country’s drug overdose epidemic was woven into the storyline with an interesting supernatural twist, and Richland itself was based on the real city of Richland with its dark history.

A disturbing but engrossing read that deftly uses fiction to make relevant real-world social commentary.