REVIEW: Regression #2

Story: Cullen Bunn
Art: Danny Luckert
Colors/Letters: Marie Enger
Review: Art Bee

Recently one of my favorite comic series, Nailbiter, ended after 30 issues. I was truly heartbroken with the loss of such a decent horror/suspense title. The sad reality is…stories end. Good ones end too quick, and horrible ones don’t end soon enough. Luckily, for people like me, we have a new series to fit that spot with Regression.

Adrian Padilla, the main character, is suffering from hallucinations and nightmares mostly of insects pouring out of drains, faucets, people’s eye sockets, and bodies. Molly, his gorgeously-drawn friend, introduces him to a hypnotist/comedian, Sid. Adrian is subjected to a process called Regression Therapy…
Guess where the name of the comic book comes from?
Let’s just say that some things are locked away for a reason.

In this issue we find the police are investigating a bizarre murder involving torture, a strange symbol, and bugs. In addition to the corpse, Adrian is dealing with the fallout of his “therapy” session with Sid, and by dealing, I mean bewilderingly struggling. I truly don’t want to say more about the actual story so as to not spoil the suspense.      

Bunn has sculpted a masterful beginning to his creation. In the back of the first issue, he explains the story was birthed from some of his father’s hypnotist sessions and some of the stranger cases. Bunn uses Adrian to build head-spinning suspense with his struggles and confusion. It is incredibly easy to get sucked into Adrian’s life and be worried for him. Do you know what amazes me the most about the main character? I am interested in and worried for his welfare without knowing very much about him. That, my friends, is writing craftsmanship.

Aside from the masterful writing, the artwork is some of the best I have seen in the last year of new comic books. Luckert has a stupendous talent for facial features and expressions without using many lines. Additionally, his portrayal of Molly has me enthralled. She is gorgeous!
The artwork is something very special, so at the very least, pick up an issue to just look at the art.
Thus far my favorite work is a double-page image of Adrian’s regression therapy in the first issue. Luckert spent quality time on this image, and a print would be an incredible asset to own.

My excitement for this new series is very hard to contain. Regression is a fresh taste of horror in a mostly neglected comic genre. If horror is your cup of Joe, here is your Starbucks; if not, come in and have a latte.