UFO lore with The Red Book, the third instalment from James Tynion IV and Michael Avon Oeming. Following Blue Book and its sequel Blue Book: 1943, this new entry shifts focus to Russia and Asia, presenting cases steeped in myth and mystery. Many of these events are already familiar in the West thanks to media fascination, yet Tynion and Oeming elevate them—not by forcing a shared narrative, but by subtly implying a deeper, unseen connection.
The issue opens with the Tunguska explosion of 1908, suggesting that perhaps something arrived with it. I particularly liked how this moment is revealed—it puts the reader into a viewpoint that slightly recalls Star Trek’s opening line: “Space, the final frontier.” But instead of seeking out new life and new civilizations, what’s presented here is what can come crashing to Earth. Although this intro is very short, that’s because there’s not a lot to say about this incident!
From there, the narrative moves to the infamous Dyatlov Pass incident, portraying it through the unnerving lens of something unknown stalking the ill-fated campers. What sets this retelling apart is its attention to real-world detail—names, notes, and identities often glossed over elsewhere. These specifics ground the story in realism without dulling its sense of enigma.
Rather than indulging in sensationalism, the comic maintains a careful ambiguity. It never declares whether a yeti, alien, or other force is responsible. What’s suggested is nearly clinical. What makes this retelling work is the historical context—it explores whether the authorities even have time to investigate. That restraint gives The Red Book its strength, making familiar stories feel freshly eerie.
Overall, The Red Book #1 reads like an anthology of unease. It uses historical enigmas as its backbone, balancing respect for the facts with creative reinterpretation. The mood leans toward cosmic indifference rather than overt horror, quietly unsettling readers and letting them draw their own conclusions.
The included “True Weird” segment varies in tone but complements the main story. In this issue, a fictional account of four children from Voronezh encountering an alien stands out—chilling, strange, and stylistically distinct. Its eerie ambiguity makes it feel like a ghost story told around a dying campfire.
As for what’s next, one can only hope Tynion and Oeming tackle the infamous “Well to Hell” legend. The sounds supposedly echoing from its depths may have mundane explanations—perhaps wind resonance—but the mystery remains irresistible. And should a demon ever climb out, well, that’s when it’s time to run.
4 Stars out of 5
The Red Book’s Tale Versus The True(?) Story of Dyatlov Pass
