‘The Lonesome Hunters Library Edition Vol. One’ (review)

Written and Illustrated by Tyler Crook
Published by Dark Horse Comics

Man, Tyler Crook’s artwork is just stunning here. It is really out of this world. Every project that I have seen him work on is really something else. I have loved it ever since I have seen it on the Hellboy spinoff series B.P.R.D. It has been one stunning art job after another with him.

This book is no different except to say that the artwork has only become more and more beautiful. The watercolors are brilliant and the whole thing just works in an unprecedented way. The story isn’t half bad either!

This Library Edition collects all of the material that has been published thus far. It is a wonderfully designed book with a lot of heft to it.

The story begins with Howard, who is an aging monster hunter who is out of practice.

In the first story we are introduced to him. We get to see some of his past cases and who he was as a person. I automatically enjoyed where this was going.

The thing is, Howard isn’t very good at his job, not even when he was at his absolute peak. He is a flawed hero at best who is also a bit incompetent.

We also get introduced to Lupe, who is experiencing a sort of haunting in her apartment building.

A lot of this first story is about the set up in the apartment building, which is almost too much set up. Some of the information, as beautifully as it is drawn, comes off as repetitious. It also feels a bit drawn out.

Still, Lupe is a very well developed character and we get to see her go up against these monsters.

The rest of the story in the first arc is basically about Howard and Lupe coming together to fight these monsters. We get to see them meet and determine that they both are on the same side and have similar goals. And then, we see them fight. The book happens to go by fairly quickly. As soon as you start to really sink your teeth into it. It is over. I am glad that there was a second part of this story because it almost feels like you’re cheated a bit in this first arc.

Speaking of that second arc, let’s talk about that.

It is called “The Wolf Child” and it greatly expands that first story in a pretty major way. Howard and Lupe have a powerful sword in this second arc that they have to get rid of. This sword was a plot point in the first arc that carried over to this one. They go on the road to get rid of it. It is when they are forced to make a stop in a really weird town that things start to get more than a bit out of hand.

Lupe befriends a child in town who is wearing a wolf mask.

She does a bit more exploring and she finds out that there is a war happening between the townspeople there and some deadly and scary beasts. Howard and Lupe get involved into the proceedings of this town and find themselves caught over their heads in the battle. A lot of things aren’t what they seem, and the pair find their friendship put to the test because of it.

At the same time, Howard and Lupe’s characters really develop in this story.

Their motivations become deeper and you start to see new shades to both of them. This all leads to a big conclusion of the story that felt a bit like it was a finale. I enjoyed it very much but was a bit disappointed because I wanted there to be more world building to it all. The world Crook created is very rich, I would love to see it explored some more.

I am hopeful that Crook gets the chance to explore this world some more. The two arcs that he has given us so far have been entertaining and also a bit abrupt. I feel he has a bigger picture and plan in mind for this series of books. I just don’t know what it is yet.

I hope he gets an opportunity to show us.

RATING: B