Available at Boom-Studios.net

Writers: Michael Alan Nelson, Johanna Sotkes
Artist: Christopher Possenti
Colors: Stephen Downer
Letters: Johnny Lowe
Editor: Bryce Carlson
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Release Date: July 2010
Pages: 28
Price: $3.99

“An all-new ongoing Lovecraft-inspired supernatural horror series with a decidedly modern spin from superstar writing team Michael Alan Nelson and Johanna Stokes! A cruise ship comes to port, hundreds are aboard dead – but why? Clayton Diggs is a pharmaceuticals salesman who discovers his sister has committed herself to an insane asylum; she’s checked herself in, fearing she’ll hurt herself or someone else. All across the world, ordinary people in an ordinary world find themselves drawn by fate to see darkness and despair unlike anything they ever could imagine. Meanwhile, a cult makes its move, believing that there is a great one sleeping that will hear… The Calling! Cover by Criminal’s Sean Phillips and Federica Platti!“

Artwork: 4.0 out of 5
This is a great looking issue. While it’s not rich in detail, the character designs have a great look and feel to them. They are nice and consistent from panel to panel, and there are even some great details in the backgrounds. The colors work well to showcase the mood and even help get the fear flowing with the gruesome images. Overall a great looking issue.

Story: 4.5 out of 5
This is by far the selling point on this issue. I can’t go too deep into it, but how freaking scary is that ending! So the start of the story had me a little confused, but as it went on I start to get a good feel for it. Nice character building throughout, you get a good sense of most of the cast. But all of that is just on hold when you reach that final page.

Dying Breath: 4.5 out of 5
Now in all honesty who really gets scared reading a comic? Sure I might have as a kid, but nowadays I am in it more for the genre and storytelling. So for a book to send goosebumps shooting up the back of my neck, I am all for a standing ovation on this one. Great artwork and one hell of a hook at the end of this one is pushing this to the top of my must read list for 2010. I can not wait to see what happens next. Amazing work with this first issue.

If you would like to buy or know more about The Calling: Cthulhu Chronicles #1 you can find it at Boom-Studios.net.

Review by Dan Royer

Tags | boom studios, cthulhu, cthulhu week