Review: “The Eye Collector’ #4 Continues To Embrace The Weird

There’s weird and then there’s The Eye Collector.

Weird, of course, is relative. My weird may be normal to you. And your weird could be outlandish to others.

The good news is that this series is starting — starting, mind you — to make some semblance of sense. It continues to be beautifully and effectively drawn by GMB Chomichuk, whose illustrations have been the story’s high point.

The story, on the other hand, has been nebulous at best. Written by Chomichuk and Jonathan Ball, The Eye Collector centers around youngster Nathan and Clara. Nathan’s parents, a bizarre pair if ever there were one, are working with the titular collector who is invading Nathan’s sleep. Clara, who has no other friends, comes over to the house to play with her friend, who has been absent from school. Not exactly a complicated plot.

But Comichuk’s illustrations amp up the anticipation of the horror to come. When combined with the sparce, stilted dialogue, it’s effective — even when we really don’t know what is happening here.

The pacing also contributes to the story’s oddness. Nearly one-third of this issue focuses on Clara’s loneliness at school, while the closing third is Nathan’s family preparing dinner for the collector. It’s not exactly the makings a typical comic book.

Of course, The Eye Collector is anything but typical, which is probably why its loyal readers remain loyal. No heroes in capes will arrive at the last minute to save the day. In fact, a happy ending seems pretty unlikely at this point. But out of the ordinary — whether you call it weird or odd or bizarre — is clearly what this creative team is going for. Whether you embrace that is up to you.

The Eye Collector #4 — written by Jonathan Ball and GMB Chomichuk, illustrated by Chomichuk, and lettered by Lyndon Radchenka — is currently in comic book stores and on digital platforms from Image Comics.