Paul Tobin and Arjuna Susini are the writing/artist team behind The Mammoth, a comic book about some terror who has terrorised Broke Tree Valley since the 1800s. Just what lurks here may well be the same evil that permeates Aokigahara in Japan. Although the cover paints this world as located somewhere in North America, no forest is as legendary as that! As for how huge it is depends on whom you ask, and what readers interpret from the first few pages.
The first question I had concerns where this valley is located? Is it the Appalachian Mountains or somewhere closer to Massachusetts? This inquiring mind wants to know, as life in that small town makes up most of the narrative in the first issue. I was drawn to this title because of the imposing cover, and that the beast looks like a giant-sized mummy!
Another thought I had includes me asking what kind of force has that power to slough down an old house and cause Olivia’s death? The sketch of her head getting flattened suggests something stepped on her and that’s a great way to get me to continue reading! Apparently, her friends know something, but when they’re being grilled by local authorities about what they rule as a homicide, this group of investigators need to cover their tracks!
As for what they’re not telling is that they believe some kind of supernatural force has awakened. Whether it’s from the Kalapuya people, at least a Google search has helped answer my first question. This tale is set in the mysterious mountain byways of Oregon! While I know some areas are steeped in various supernatural lore, including that of a haunted Crater Lake region and the nearby Mt. Shasta, just why this particular spot is of interest is because of all the ghosts that linger here. After two members of this surviving team have an encounter with a bunch, I’m wondering why they are asking, “help me find my way.”
These aren’t simple lost souls, and the question of why they are trapped here will have to be addressed in the upcoming issues.
The artwork is great. Susini’s style focuses on giving readers a sense of calm before the storm. The depth of her designs lean on just giving us a world that looks a little rustic, and as when the supernatural come wandering in, I like how they start to lack features. It’s a neat way to present how ghosts tend to look when accidentally photographed. They rarely ever have any distinguishing features, and I have to give this artist high praise for delivering a look that even ghost hunters can recognise.
As a result, I’m looking forward to seeing how this mini-series will play out. When there’s the possibility local indigenous lore plays a role, my final query concerns whether the behaviour of this entity is that of a friend with some connection with a member of this group, part of nature acting on instinct or a foe? When considering the Pacific Northwest is famous for its Bigfoot sightings, I hope the answer is not as easy as that. Oh, and I’m fairly sure this giant is not an undead version of Paul Bunyan either.
4 Stars out of 5