Advance Review — ‘Plague House’ #2 Drops A Bomb On Readers

When you’ve read comic books for a long time it’s easy to become a bit jaded. Nine times out of ten – probably more than that actually – you can see where things are headed in a given series or storyline. So when you actually get surprised by something, it’s a genuine treat.

That’s the case in the second of four issues of Plague House, which follows a group of unsuccessful amateur ghost hunters who finally stumble onto the real thing. After the first installment, it became clear that writer Michael W. Conrad could take the story in a number of different directions. The one he chose is a magnificent surprise.

It is so shocking, though, that writing a spoiler-free review is more difficult than usual. Here’s what can be revealed: The second issue picks up a few weeks after the debut chapter. After discovering real ghosts in the McCabe house, dad Orin – who slaughtered his family in the house with a hammer – is killed in his jail cell.

The trio of ghost hunters – Holland the skeptic, Jacob the man of God, and Del the believer – have now discovered other spirits. Interestingly enough, each ghost receives some measure of closure soon after encountering the three. Saying anything more would give too much away.

Dave Chisholm continues to pull triple duty as artist, colorist, and letter. As with the first issue, his coloring is the real standout here. From reds to purples to greens, nearly every panel has a dominant hue, which signifies the overall feeling – whether it’s horror, anger, or mystery. Chisholm’s linework is strongest when depicting the surreal, and there’s plenty of that here.

The creative team has managed to surprise – no shock – readers in this issue. That’s no small task. But an even more difficult challenge will be to continue to shock their audience while bringing this story to a satisfying conclusion.

Plague House #2 will be available in comic book stores and digital platforms tomorrow from Oni Press.