Comic Review: Hollow Heart #1 (Vault Comics)

New from Vault Comics, the innovative title Hollow Heart has a unique angle:

“El” used to be human, but is now a jumble of organs in a bio-suit. In serious pain, El is aided and befriended by a stranger, leading him to want more from his meagre existence!

All in all, Hollow Heart is a queer horror story from writer & letterer Paul Allor (Guardians of the Galaxy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Tet), and artist Paul Tucker (Nobody Is In Control, Tet). The creators compare it to Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water, “but darker”.

Heavy on colours and mass shapes in black, the visuals are well composed for this space drama. Paul Tucker gives us a long series of thin horizontal and vertical panels. What we can see of El’s head is a bit shocking (and the front cover of Hollow Heart is amazing!), so we can almost imagine his predicament. Life at what price?

The story is heartfelt and sensitive, allowing us to get to know the characters. I think the first issue could have compressed the narrative a little more and pushed us further along with a greater sense of urgency, but the stage is now set, things are happening, and the reader is primed for the next issue.

Vault Comics, Hollow Heart, $3.99 for 20 pages of content. Adult