Review- CHASING THE DEAD

CHASING THE DEAD (IDW, 2013; Softcover)

Collects Chasing The Dead Nos. 1-4 (cover dates November, 2012- February, 2013)

Writers: Joe Schreiber (original novel), adaptation by Matthew Scott and Tim Westland

Artist: Dietrich Smith

Colorists: Sendol Arts and Matthew Scott

The gist- The story starts 20 years ago in Gray Haven, Massachusetts. Phillip and Sue are playing in the park, a dangerous proposition when there is a child killer on the loose. None of the victims have been over the age of twelve...which is exactly how old Sue is. A car pulls up and a man with a knife gets out. Phil manages to knock him down and stab him to death with his own knife. Rather than call the police and get their parents, they decide to hide the body.

Boston, present day. Sue is the head of a real estate firm, putting in long hours and a long commute. She ended up marrying Phil, who has left her a year ago. On her commute home to Concord, Massachusetts, she receives an Unknown Call on her cellphone. She answers and blows the caller off. Sue arrives home, where her babysitter and daughter are waiting for her. She changes clothes and comes down the stairs, only to find her sitter and daughter missing. Then she gets the phone call. A call from a man who has kidnapped them. He tells her she has twelve hours to complete a task for him or he will cut her daughter's throat. He gives a bizarre list of items to bring with her. He also knows the layout of her house, as he instructs her on where things are as she is trying to find them. She is told if she calls the police or tries to get help, he will kill her daughter. 

Needless to say that the killer and his motives are the mystery, and I won't go any further into the story for fear of ruining any of the plot reveals. I am all about the joy of discovery, both for you and for me.

Chasing The Dead is enjoyable stuff. The coloring and the artwork seem to get looser toward the end of the book for some reason. In any case, this a great done-in-one book that I couldn't put down until I finished it.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4.25 out of 5.

The OCD zone- The covers are featured in a cover gallery in the back of the book instead of in their “proper” chapter marker locations.

Paper rating: 5 out of 5. Very nice grade coated stock, a bit glossy.

Binding rating: 4 out of 5. Glued binding.

Cardstock cover coating rating: 5 out of 5. IDW changes the coating on their trade paperback covers all the time. This time the lamination has a sufficient thickness that makes me happy. I like to keep my books looking as new as possible, and trade paperbacks should be able to be handled repeatedly on your shelf without looking beat to Hell.

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