Ghosted is a supernatural/horror graphic novel that really delivers.
The story follows Jackson T. Winters, a criminal currently in prison. Winters is busted out of prison by a female gun-for-hire at the orders of a wealthy collector. The collector wants Winters to steal something — probably the most unusual object he’s ever been asked to steal: a ghost. Without having many options, Winters agree to the job and puts together his own team and insists on his rules. Two members of the team (the gun for hire and the clairvoyant/medium) are sent by the wealthy backer. Others include a famous ghost-hunter team from a television show, a perennial doubter (who doesn’t believe in ghosts), and a petty thief.
While it appears mostly a horror tale (just look at that cover), it really starts out as a noir mystery, and even though the setting for the theft is a haunted mansion, we’re more than a third of the way through before we get our first glimpse of a ghost (and what a glimpse, and what a great set-up!). Even once we have ghostly encounters, the noir mystery remains, it simply adds another level, the ghost story. It’s quite a brilliant bit of plotting and writing.
The end comes as a bit of a surprise in the last portion of this graphic novel, but it’s a sweet sense of retribution; the perfect ending for this story. My only real question … how can there be a volume 2?
The art by Goran Sudžuka and Miroslav Mrva is perfect. From the banal prison sequence, to the noir collector’s home, to the eerie haunted house with swooping ghouls, I couldn’t have asked for a better collaborative graphic novel. This drew me in and with every panel I looked at and read, I enjoyed my stay. I most definitely want to see what else is in store for Jackson Winters, or for the Ghosted title.
Looking for a good book? This noir, ghost story graphic novel is the perfect blend of story that will keep you interested, and art that will draw you in. Recommended!
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Ghosted, Volume 1: Haunted Heist
author: Joshua Williamson
artists: Goran Sudžuka and Miroslav Mrva
publisher: Image Comics
ISBN: 1607068362
paperback, 144 pages
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