Harrow County (Dark Horse Comics) – Comic Series Review

Harrow County Feature

Harrow County – 2015-2018 (Dark Horse Comics) – Horror, Fantasy, Thriller

Author: Cullen Bunn

Art: Tyler Crook

Series Contents: Harrow County #1-32

Harrow County is an absolute banger of an independent book that deserves your attention, especially if you are into horror themes and dark fantasy. It is a gripping and enthralling read, full of energetic and novel takes on familiar ideas and themes. It works on so many levels and forces the reader to care about what is at stake through an emotional core. While it ran for a few years and completed its main story, there are a few spin-offs to also check out if you enjoyed the main run’s 32 issues.

Harrow County Cover

Story:

The tale is one of magic, darkness, and mysterious forces, all told in the small southern U.S. town of Harrow County, set during the 1930s. Emmy lives on a farm with her father enjoying her peaceful rural life. However… she has horrible dreams and a sickness appears to be afflicting the farm’s cattle. The lands are surrounded by swamps, all full of spooky creatures and apparitions.

Emmy winds up in the web of these varying entities, which all begin pointing to an old prophecy about a long-dead witch Hester Beck. As Emmy’s nightmares seemingly turn to life, how will she navigate all these threats, and keep her and her father safe?

When I went in to read Harrow County for the first time, I knew absolutely nothing, however had read a bit of the author’s work in the Marvel universe. The premise sounded solid, and the reviews were quite strong, so I took the plunge.

While there are typical horror elements presented in a flurry during Harrow County, the mythology built around them almost always features a fresh twist on a familiar element. There are countless unexpected surprises, interesting tweaks and shocking emotional tugs. The tension of the story keeps the reader desperate for more, however it is well balanced with fun and pure creativity.

The writing is absolutely excellent and constantly interesting, as well as building on prior themes and plot points. It progresses naturally and continues to introduce new ideas and threats. Despite the horrors, the story remains optimistic and charming. There are explorations of a plethora complex themes, and it is easy to wonder how you yourself would handle the nefarious situations.

Protagonist Emmy is a smart and interesting young girl, but some of her friends like Bernice also steal the show at times. It’s hard not to root for good overcoming evil, and the evil is truly scary at times.

Art:

The art is absolutely magical, and matches the story’s words beat for beat. I can’t imagine how long it takes to do each panel and page, however there are some awesome extra content in some of the collections which focuses on the art production and the many steps it took to place all layers on the large spreads.

I cannot imagine a better art fitting the story, and the almost dreamlike visual appearance of the story matches its nightmare vibe. The horrors are horrific, but it’s all so beautiful to look at.

Reasons to Read:

Harrow County should not be missed, as it is a timeless tale of growth, learning, family, friendship, good versus evil, and more, brimming with creativity and gorgeous art.

Similar Titles:

The Sandman; Something is Killing the Children; Locke & Key; The Autumnal; Babyteeth; The Nice House on the Lake; The Department of Truth

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