Comic Review: Penny Dreadful #1

Being a fan of the horror TV show Penny Dreadful, I was very interested to see how they could adapt it into a successful comic book format. I am happy to say they started off with a bang, combining a lot of blood and gore into a very good looking comic that does a lot of things right to really pique the interest of the reader. I have a few complaints but for the most part, this first issue was a lot of fun.

The story centers around a group of people who fight all things that go bump in the night. This particular tale is about the attempted rescue of Mina Harker from her master, who just happens to be Dracula, while fighting his diverse army of demons and wolves at the same time. It is somewhat of a familiar story but it is hard not to love the classic monsters, especially when Dracula is involved. (Although he is usually referred to here as simply ‘the master’)

While the action is great and really gets the reader involved in the story, the characters themselves are left shrouded in mystery. As I have kept up with the TV show, I know who they are and their backgrounds but for someone just starting out with the comic might find themselves a little lost to who these people really are. Still, writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns, with the help of Andrew Hinderaker and Chris King, creates an air of mystery that is compelling enough to move past that and keep the reader intrigued.

The art in this comic is very interesting. Artist Louie De Martinis creates a world using some strange but vivid coloring that combined with shadowing makes for a wonderful look. It actually makes the comic look mysterious and strange, which is the perfect kind of atmosphere for this story. The characters themselves look good and done in a way that makes them appear to have a dark edge to them.

Overall, this first issue of Penny Dreadful was a success. Action packed with a great look, it has a lot going for it that should draw a larger crowd of interested readers. In terms of the characters, it might be a bit confusing at first for those who have yet to see the TV show but I believe they are intriguing enough for the reader to be less frustrated and more interested in who they really are.

I highly recommend you give this comic a read, especially if you have an interest in the classic monsters of horror. I’m curious to see where the creators intend to take this series and I’m really looking forward to the next issue.

Four out of five stars