Once in awhile, a truly memorable OGN drifts past. So is the case of The Down River People, an original graphic novel published by Archaia, an imprint of BOOM Studios. It’s the Catch Of The Day, or even Catch Of The Week!
Writer Adam Smith immerses us in a deeply touching story of a young man named Myers Carpenter. Myles’ father has recently passed, leaving the operation of his unlicensed backwoods dive bar to Myles. The bar is a riverside enterprise, just scraping by. In the wake of Myles’ father’s death, Myles has a lot to catch up on. Grieving, grappling with business issues, growing up. Plus, his estranged mother and her new husband appear in the picture, conjuring up old memories and revealing some seriously creepy goings-on.
I really enjoyed The Down River People. It’s a gripping story, and artist Matthew Fox gives it the unique visuals it needs. Fox’s drawings are quirky, thick of line, and heavy of shape. The predominant colours are blacks, blues, purples, and browns. This limited palette is put to full use, with the story weaving in and out of the nearby river, up on its banks, and swirling around in the hills nearby. It’s kept spooky by use of shadow and a beautifully accomplished dreamlike rhythm in speech and panels.
Wonderfully appropriate lettering in a ‘hand lettered’ style by Mike Fiorentino.
The Down River People is highly recommended.
BOOM! Studios, Archaia imprint, $19.99 for 212 pages of content. Assume Teen rating.
Newsdesk