Che Grayson pens a story about a journalist whose career has gone dark and needs a spark. Dark Spaces: Good Deeds #1 is from IDW.
Yes, Jean needs a new angle, a shot at the bronze ring, to get her somewhere, anywhere in her floundering journalist career. So, she’s off to Florida, to the olde city of St. Augustine. It’s their 450th Anniversary, so let’s now understand that the year this takes place is 2015.
At the same time, a mother and daughter are ALSO relocating to St. Augustine, but their visit is a permanent move. They’re reopening an abandoned diner. Our story involves the intersection of these two separate journeys.
Che Grayson sets the tone of Good Deeds as a gothic horror tale; spooky visions occurring at night, one-night stands occurring with strangers, creepy landlords who like to drop in without notice. The dialogue is strong, direct, and interesting.
And it’s a good read, if a bit confusing. Watch your step, because the author’s first name is Che, one of the character’s first name is Cheyenne, all the women tend to kinda resemble each other, and therefore we get confused as to whose day we are observing. It all runs together at times.
Artist Kelsey Ramsay has a nicely expressive line style, with shaggy edges to the brush, delivering funky, spiky shapes and nicely rendered people features. It’s eclectic and fascinating. Okay, sometimes we puzzle over a panel, wondering what’s happening: is that an arm or a tree, that sort of thing. My second reading of this book was better than my first.
Colourist Ronda Pattison keeps a pale palette, which is a bit puzzling considering the Florida story location. The colours are heavily greyed down, desaturated. Except for the dream sequences.
Lettering is by Shawn Lee, editor Maggie Howell.
There you have it: in the first issue, the stage is set, the drama is underway, with plenty of conflict and suspense. It’s Dark and Good! Check it out!
IDW, Dark Spaces: Good Deeds #1, $3.99 for 26 pages of content
Newsdesk