LitPick Review
Witchland, written by Tim Mulligan and illustrated by Pyrink, is a tale of new beginnings, suspense, and horror. The comic follows a family of three: Van and Jared, who are partners in marriage, and their adopted daughter Ali. When Jared gets a new job in Richland, Washington, the family decides to relocate to support the opportunities that come with Jared’s new position. They finally have a house of their own, have higher income, and can make a fresh start from past vices. However, Richland is not quite as it seems. Jared’s new job has him working in the town’s infamous nuclear power plant, which underwent a fallout several decades in the past. On top of that, there are strange rumors spreading of a witch who curses the people who steal from her pile of sticks. Will Ali, Van, and Jared achieve the life of which they’ve all dreamed? Or will sinister forces hinder their opportunistic pursuit?
Opinion:
Mulligan and Pyrink collaborate well in setting the theme of Witchland as dark and moody. With Pyrink’s gritty art style and Mulligan’s use of suspense, the graphic novel slowly unfolds a grim and terrifying tale. The variety of angles that are used in the illustrations simulate motion in such a way that it encourages the reader to continue to the next panel. However, it is sometimes difficult to ascertain the action occurring in certain panels. The dialogue is written such that each of the three members of the family have distinct personalities, ones in which the reader can become easily invested. Even so, there are times towards the climax of action where it seems the dialogue tries to tell the reader about what is going on instead of showing them. After all, illustration is one of the perks of the format of the graphic novel. There are many pop culture references in the dialogue, drawing readers from multiple generations. The graphic novel contains continuous themes of violence, gore, terror, strong language, and reference to alcohol, making it suitable for a mature adult or young adult audience. Witchland, despite its minor shortcomings, is a quick and mysterious read for mature audiences who prefer works in the supernatural genre.
