Vinyl #1

Vinyl #01

Image Comics 2021

Written by Doug Wagner

Illustrated by Daniel Hillyard

Coloured by Dave Stewart

Lettered by Ed Dukeshire

An unsettling tale of psychopaths, sweet love, and a serial killer named Walter. When Walter’s best friend, the FBI agent charged with his capture, is kidnapped by a death cult of all-female sunflower farmers, Walter finds himself deep within an underground labyrinth filled with secrets and monsters...but are their monsters more horrific than his?

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect out of this one but the boys certainly do not disappoint. This is crazy and has one of the best lines i’ve ever heard, “he’s crazy as a soup sandwich”! Right from the get-go we’re treated some of the most amazing dialogue that sets up the story beautifully. I like that this doesn’t waste any time getting into the sory at hand either, there really is something to appreciate about that. I love the fact that this is as humorous as it as it as well because while the situation is extremely serious this kind of humour is the glue that holds it all together and it turns into something much more intriguing and interesting to read.

I am very much enjoying the way that this is being told. The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented exceedingly well. The character development is mindbogglingly bloody brilliant thanks to the dialogue, the character interaction and how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances that they encounter. The pacing that we see is superb and as it takes us through the pages introducing us to the characters, the story and the world which they inhabit keeps the reader glued to the pages.

I greatly appreciate the way that this is being structured as well as how the layers within the story emerge and grow. These layers contain the characterisation that goes with slight backstory between Walter and Dennis as well as introducing us to the various other characters in the book. It is where we see the extra bits that add more depth and complexity to the story as well and it makes this seem so much more grand. The way that everything works together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is beautifully achieved.

The interiors here are utterly marvellous. The linework is sensational and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create the detail work that we see is bloody brilliant work. The faces, facial expressions and body languages that we see really does further the characterisation nicely. The backgrounds that we see not only enhance the moments but they also work within the composition of the panels to bring us this great depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a stupendous eye for storytelling. The colour work is equally as brilliant to see. The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work show a master colourist in action. Just the overall imagery that we see throughout this book is phenomenal and it just brings the story to life in some stunning ways.

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Dennis’ regular meetings with Walter have forged a friendship that one may value more than the other but I can guarantee you now that the tides will change after this story is over. Dennis will indeed find himself indebted to the serial killer in ways he never would have thought possible. This is so smartly written with great dialogue, humour and creepy bits that are brought to life through the artwork with such aplomb. Vinyl will be unlike anything you could possibly expect it to be and it will turn your summer into something spectacular.