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COMIC REVIEW: FTN reviews The Occultist #2

December 2nd, 2013 by Irwin Fletcher Comments

Written by: Tim Seeley
Art by: Mike Norton
Colors by: Allen Passalaqua
Published by: Dark Horse Comics

The second issue of The Occultist is almost a complete 360 from issue #1. But never fear it is just as awesome!

Rob Bailey finds himself with a rare day off from training (Mr. Charles was off dealing with “personal” issues) and at first it seems like he may spend his free time dwelling on being friend zoned by Anna Melendez, his police officer partner, however an astral form named Luka has other ideas. After their meeting in “spirit form” he travels to Rhode Island to meet Luka and her friends Sam and Malcolm. He meets them in an old closed chapel where he is introduced to the “Will of Wisps” which are almost like glowing tinker bell’s. What they are and what they do isn’t revealed in this issue, but it’s bound to come back up.

All 3 of Rob’s new friends have the ability to project their astral forms, so together they go on a journey, I guess you could call it a “spiritual journey”. They are attached to their bodies by a thing called the “silver cord”, it’s sort of like their life line. On their journey they travel high above the Earth and visit other planets moons and spend time observing the Sun (I guess ozone doesn’t affect the silver cords). Little does Rob know what he’s in for… Teenagers today do all sorts of crazy things just for an adrenaline high, and astral form college kids are no different. But instead of snorting condoms or trying to choke themselves to the point of passing out (all real things, completely stupid and dangerous, but real… DISCLAMER: DO NOT DO THOSE THINGS EVER!!), these 3 sever their silver cords and then Robs purposely and travel to purgatory where they allow the “black lining” to take control of them and strip them of their “sevenfold constitutions”. Sound stupid? Good cause it is. While they made it out pretty much unharmed this time, something tells me in the future one of them won’t be as lucky. After they come back to Earth they leave the chapel and everyone crashes at Luka’s place. She however has an idea of her own and she decides to show Rob some more “adult” things you can do in astral form… I’ll just let you imagine fact for yourself.

Meanwhile, back in Portsmouth, Rob’s partner Anna is visiting her boyfriend who is in the hospital and has been in a coma for the last 4 years. You can tell she is really torn about something (maybe she does have a thing for Rob after all), and she has a decision she feels she must make.

I must say that I really enjoyed this issue, but with all limited series I’m really beginning to wonder how all of this stuff Seeley is starting is going to be completed in the next 3 issues. I’m definitely looking forward to it that’s for sure. He has yet to let me down with anything and he better not start now!! Like all of his comics it has the occasional humor that I love and have come to expect from his writing.

Mike Norton is the perfect artist for this title. His artwork fits it perfectly and he manages to break away from the revival style most readers probably know him for. I love how with each title he does he manages to draw in a new style that is completely unique to that story. It’s something the comic industry needs more of, if you ask me.

My favorite part of this issue is how Tim and Mike manage to bring in another Dark Horse title (X) into the Occultist. While I don’t think X has anything to do with this series, it was nice to see a plug for it up on a television screen in the early pages, not everyone probably caught it, but I did (they can’t fool me!)

This title is unlike anything else Dark Horse has out right now. I would love to see it be a continuing series and not just 5 issues, but I guess I can’t have everything. (I can dream though!!)

4 out of 5 nerds

I'm an LA journalist who really lives for his profession. I have also published work as Jane Doe in various mags and newspapers across the globe. I normally write articles that can cause trouble but now I write for FTN because Nerds are never angry, so I feel safe.