Book of Lost Souls - Mobile Edition

Marvel Comics
Book of Lost Souls
By Gareth Atha
March 19, 2006 - 07:23

Marvel Comics
Writer(s): J. Michael Straczynski
Penciller(s): Colleen Doran, Dan Brown, Dave Sharpe

Trade Paperback Cover

The Book of Lost Souls is a new comic book series which follows Jonathan, a young man who lived a troubled life over a century ago, but who has been transported to the present after attempting to commit suicide. His new purpose in this time, and perhaps his punishment for attempting to kill himself, is to “save” the Lost, as he sees fit.

The writing in this series is very similar to Neil Gaiman’s in The Sandman, and a lot of the art work is also similar. The stories told in each edition so far have been varied, but the atmosphere is always created with the same dark storytelling that made The Sandman so popular. The character’s speech is well written, fast paced, and interspaced here and there with well thought out dry humour.

Colleen Doran is the principal artist on the series, with Dan Brown as colourist and Dave Sharpe doing letters. The quality of the artwork is superb, with Dan Brown choosing darker shades and strong, bold outlines to emphasize the Noir atmosphere laid out by Straczynski’s writing. Overall I would give this book 4.5 out of 5, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a slightly darker comic book series than your usual “masked hero” fare.