Houses of the Unholy
Review
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Sean Phillips
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: August 14, 2024
Page Count: 144
Format: Graphic-novel
Brubaker and Phillips venture into horror territory with this gripping tale of cult survivors and buried secrets. With its eerie atmosphere and expertly crafted mystery, Houses of the Unholy stands as one of the duo's finest collaborations to date.
Houses of the Unholy
ReviewWriter: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Sean Phillips
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: August 14, 2024
Page Count: 144
Format: Graphic-novel
Brubaker and Phillips venture into horror territory with this gripping tale of cult survivors and buried secrets. With its eerie atmosphere and expertly crafted mystery, Houses of the Unholy stands as one of the duo's finest collaborations to date.
For a long time now, Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips have been a pair in comics you can trust to deliver something special. As the duo many consider the quintessential creators in the crime noir genre, the pair have arguably never released a bad book together. But while they've explored plenty of dark and mind-bending stories in the past, their latest graphic novel, Houses of the Unholy, could be their most terrifying work yet. This new comic takes the duo's signature noir style and adds a cultist twist, exploring the strange yet fascinating era of the Satanic Panic. So, whether you’re a longtime fan of their work or curious about joining the hype train, there’s plenty about this horror comic that will seep into your mind.
As one of my most anticipated new graphic novels of the year, I couldn’t wait to dive into this one. So. with that said. keep on reading for my full review of Houses of the Unholy!
Overview of Houses of the Unholy
The story follows Natalie Burns, a survivor of the "Satanic Six" during the 80s. While still dealing with the trauma of her childhood, she works as a private investigator who rescues kids from falling into cults. But after one job goes awry, she finds herself entangled with the old demons she thought she had left behind. With the help of FBI Agent West, the two set out to uncover the truth behind what happened to Natalie and the other survivors.
Image: Image Comics
Review
Right from the jump, Houses of the Unholy delivers a much more eerie vibe compared to the other works by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. It's a keen and introspective look into the hysterical nature of the Satanic Panic era that swept through the United States in the 1980s. Told from the perspective of the protagonist Natalie, the narrative uniquely flip-flops between present events and her reflections about her traumatic past. Houses of the Unholy is exactly the type of comic to dive into if you've ever found yourself curiously investigating the fascinating but terrifying nature of cults and the supernatural. And in true Brubaker-Phillips form, the graphic novel is a slow-burn story that methodically dissects its characters and the mysteries that bind them together. While some twists are a bit predictable, the dramatic storytelling of Brubaker is still gripping throughout.
The best comparison I can make is that Houses of the Unholy is like a mix of True Detective and the A24 film Hereditary. The storytelling leads your mind to think of many different theories and possibilities while simultaneously subverting expectations. Was Natalie actually possessed by demons as a child? What’s causing her past to come back and haunt her? Those are just some questions you’ll constantly be asking as dive deeper into the graphic novel’s intriguing narrative. As you can expect from a work by Brubaker and Phillips, unraveling the truth about the characters and the case makes reading the comic feel like such a thrill ride.
Image: Image ComicsWhile it should go without saying, I want to point out how much the Phillips brothers kill it in the art of this graphic novel. The coloring by Jacob Phillips is particularly excellent, and his work elevates the book’s mood so much. The rich color palette of deep reds and melancholic purples drastically sets the tone every time the story goes from chapter to chapter. While “visual feast” is somewhat of an overused phrase these days, it’s what best describes the experience of reading Houses of the Unholy. Even for a comic with such a dense script, the art stands out so much that going through the graphic novel is a breeze. It’s the type of comic worthy of several read-throughs just to pick up on all the details to find throughout the book.
Image: Image Comics
Final Thoughts
Houses of the Unholy is undeniably another hit from Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. I'll even boldly claim the graphic novel as one of my favorites already from the acclaimed duo. Just like how it is every time they put out something new, it’s incredible to see creators be so consistently at the top of their game. Even as someone who came in quite late to the Brubaker-Phillips hype train, I now find myself eagerly awaiting whatever new story they have cooking up next. Houses of the Unholy is a graphic that will terrify you while keeping you glued on every page.
Why You Should Read Houses of the Unholy
- The story is a gripping horror thrill ride with plenty of eerie twists and turns.
- Its story is like a hellish mix of True Detective and Hereditary.
- The art team of Sean and Jacob Phillips kills it once again.