The Red Mother Vol. 1

by Jeremy Haun

[Quirky Cat]

The Red Mother is a new horror graphic novel series, and guys – this series has me hooked. I've been reading it in single issue format, and holy cow. It's haunting and disturbing, and totally not afraid to show the gruesome side of horror.

Written by Jeremy Haun, and illustrated by Danny Luckert, The Red Mother Vol. 1 is about to begin a terrifying journey like no other. Enter Daisy McDonough. She was happy with the life she had, the free time, the friends, the boyfriend. All of it.

That is, right up until the moment when her life flipped upside down. In a single stroke, Daisy lost her boyfriend. And one of her eyes. A brutal attack nearly cost her anything, and she's still learning the consequences of it all.

The Red Mother Vol. 1 is the beginning to a truly dark series. Daisy is seemingly randomly targeted, and that event changed her life forever. While I have my doubts about the randomness about the attack, there's no denying the damage that was done.

I want to emphasize the dark and graphic part here, as this is not a series that shies away from gore. If you have any issues with eye injuries, don't read this series. Seriously. Many of the title pages reference this, and it is a strong theme throughout.

I love how twisted and dark this series is. I love that I can't quite seem to guess what is going to happen next, or why Daisy was targeted in the first place. It's been a fascinating read, right from the start. I honestly can't get enough of it.

There are tones that feel almost achingly familiar from this series, and yet that has actually helped to enhance the feeling of wrongness. It's quite cleverly done, intentional or not. It certainly worked to make it strike a chord with me.

The artwork is fantastic. Heavy uses of red when needed, naturally. I find myself more interesting in the alternate imagery, instead of the 'real world' that Daisy sees. Again, I imagine that was done with intent. I just have so many questions about what is happening here, and who can blame me?

I'm further ahead in The Red Mother, since I've been reading the issues. Yet I still strongly recommend this first volume, and all the mystery it brings with it. It's captivating and horrifying, in a way that is impossible to look away from.

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