Review: The Red Mother #12

The final issue of this loss leading to horror book comes to a close this, and what a ride it has been with clever horror tropes used effectively throughout to create a tense feeling of seductive inevitability.

After issues of hints and teases Daisy is finally face-to-face with The Red Mother. Will Daisy succumb to the Red Mother, who can use Daisy’s desires against her, to help Daisy see Red Mother eye to eye, so to speak.

Jeremy Haun delivers a wispy type of script for this final issue that still packs a punch. After eleven issues, there may be a couple of non-surprises but they are done with great skill and act as a sort of payback for the the readers investment in Daisy’s life. The dialogue the two characters has the ability to draw you in; Red Mother’s spell weaving tone especially. Daisy’s dialogue on the other hand has that caught in the headlights feel. Horror has certain beats to hit and Haun hit them right up until the end.

The art is provided by Danny Luckert who also supplies the colors. That will explain the heavy dose of red. The figure work could be described as static; the colors fill the page accentuating the emotions of the conversation. There then is the rub, this is one book with one conversation, yet Luckert drips the pages with moments that adds nuance to just one conversation. Luckert maintains the readers attention throughout the book. The art may look simple at times, but that is the juxtaposition of art and storytelling ability. Letters are provided by Ed Dukeshire with a trim font that doesn’t impede the art. Dukeshire also looks at coloring word balloons per character.

For a non-horror fan like me, enjoying this book came as bit of a surprise. True, there are a couple of tropes in play, but they are done extremely well, which should please the horror tinged Vertigo fans out there.

Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Letters – 5 Stars

Overall – 5 Stars

Written by; Jeremy Haun
Art by; Danny Luckert
Letters by; Ed Dukeshire
Published by; BOOM! Studios

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network