Duppy '78by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 7 Normally, I would give my own summation of the plot, but the back cover of the comic says it better than I can: "A re-imagining of Jamaican and Rastafarian ghost stories, told in the context of a 1978 gangland drama." If you're looking for a horror story that's unlike anything you've come across before, Duppy '78 fits the bill.There's a glossary in the beginning of this comic, and you will most certainly need it. In fact, I would stick a finger in between those pages for easily reference. The story is set in Jamaica in 1978, and it's full of Rastafarian language. Parts of the story are a bit hard to follow, especially when it seems to jump scenes, but if you stick with it the whole picture continues to fall into place. By the end of the comic, I'm pretty sure I understood the story and its nuances. For certain, I know the ending creeped me out! And it was appropriately tragic. I appreciate the roles the kids play even more because they're kids. The art fits the story, as does the coloring. It's not pretty, but it's not supposed to be. This comic is full of angry, dangerous men and scared people. It's not pleasant to look at, but it gets the point across illustrating the literal actions and the appropriate feel for the setting and involved parties. The character designs are well done, and it's easy to distinguish between them. The Duppy (ghosts) are the stuff of nightmares, and we're presented a few different ways of seeing them, but even then they are scary! Casey Seijas has done his research. The story comes across as viable as well as frightful. While it doesn't fully explain how the Duppy come to be, what it does provide is interesting. This comic may not be for everyone, but it's definitely something different -- a little gang violence, a little horror story, and a little secret culture. It's a dark underbelly story that will make you glad you're not faced with this as a reality of your comic-reading life. Written: October 29, 2013
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