Written by: Steve Niles
Art by: Christopher Mitten
Publisher: Dark Horse
Cal McDonald is back in Criminal Macabre: The Third Child. Steve Niles and Christopher Mitten are picking up exactly where they left the story last fall in Criminal Macabre: The Eye of Frankenstein.
Currently, Cal is dealing with some heavy baggage, as he has been turned into the one thing he hates most in the world: a monster. It’s clear that, among all of the blood and guts that come along with a horror comic, a lot of deep, personal issues are going to be some of the main focuses of this arc. Cal has to come to terms with his new identity, and from the first few pages of this issue, it seems like we’re starting in his past.
Niles tells a good story. We have a conflicted protagonist and his posse of ghouls, who is continuing to hunt monsters even after he has been turned into one himself. Parts of the plot may feel a little predictable, but it’s a clear story with a lot of intrigue. I’m unfamiliar with Criminal Macabre up until this point, but this issue contains just enough of everything to lure me in: action, creepy baby monsters, and a lot of emotional turmoil. Since Niles is exploring Cal’s past, it will be interesting to see the difference between a young Cal and this new, mopey, angry, monster Cal.
There is one negative thing about this comic, and it’s that I can’t stand the artist’s facial renderings. Christopher Mittens has clean, sharp lines and there is a ton of detail in his work, but the faces lack depth and character. It’s hard to tell who characters are from one page to the next, with Cal McDonald being the exception. I want to like the style, with the colors all dark and muted and line work a little wild, but the lack of detail in the character’s faces really kills it for me.
Criminal Macabre: The Third Child contains the potential to be a solid story with a lot of action as well as in-depth character development. But, if you’re a fan of a lot of the hyper-realistic art that’s been coming out of comics lately, this might not be the comic for you. Hopefully, as the story continues Mittens will nail down a little more consistency in his characterizations and then the whole thing will be a worthwhile pick.
