Review: Gideon Falls Vol. 1- The Black Barn

Quick Summary

Pros: The mystery is compelling and is structured in a way that makes it addicting. The story is filled with suspense and tension. The characters are interesting and their personal struggles are compelling. The artwork is highly creative and makes the entire reading experience better.

Cons: Nothing significant.

Overall: If you combine a tremendously compelling mystery with highly creative artwork, the result will look something like this comic. This volume kicks off a new series that is already providing to be a fantastic read. The story is great, the characters are relatable, and the artwork takes everything to the next level. If you like horror or conspiracies, you should absolutely read this book.

Story

Gideon Falls Vol. 1: The Black Barn, by Jeff Lemire, is an incredibly compelling dive into the complex mystery surrounding Gideon Falls. The comic follows various characters as they investigate the Black Barn, an enigmatic entity that is possibly a force of great evil. This investigation slowly allows readers to piece together clues in a way that is both additive and satisfying. It also fills the story up with moments of tension and suspense, since readers are never sure what the Black Barn will do next. The overall experience is fantastic and makes turns this volume into a very promising start to a series with tons of potential.

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The Black Barn follows the story of two separate characters as they uncover the mystery behind the Black Barn. At first, this journey of discovery is light and only hints at some sort of larger scheme. However, as the volume progresses, the characters are attacked, robbed, and nearly killed as they continue their pursuit of the truth. The final chapter allows readers to see the Black Barn itself and fully embraces the cosmic/demonic forces that this Barn represents. The entire journey is well-written and is fraught with excitement the entire way.

The most compelling aspect of this comic is the conspiracy itself. Lemire makes it clear from the start that something is wrong in Gideon Falls but the reader is constantly unsure what exactly this something is. As the story progresses, readers get small hints, here and there, that clue them in on what is happening, while never fully answering the main question. This search for mystery gives the book a very addicting quality and kept me interested throughout my entire read.

The conspiracy also helps fill the book with a constant sense of suspense and apprehension. The reader is never fully sure what is going on but they do know that some form of malevolence is present in Gideon Falls. This knowledge makes it seem like anything or everything could happen next, putting the main characters in a perpetual state of danger. All of this helps build an awesome level of tension throughout the book and make the reading process even more fun to experience.

The Black Barn isn’t just about conspiracy and horror, it also has a heavy human element. The characters in this book are each struggling with some sort of problem, whether it be addiction, mental illness, or trauma from the past. Seeing this come out in each of the characters is interesting and gives more reason to become invested in this book.

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Art

The artwork in The Black Barn is every bit as compelling and high-quality as the story. Andrea Sorrentino’s work is equal parts beautiful and haunting. Some pages contain impressive landscapes that showcase the beauty of the wilderness just outside of Gideon Falls. Other pages show the evil and darkness of the Black Barn itself and add a bit of horror to the book. Either way, everything looks great and impresses visually.

However, the best part about Sorrentino’s work is the way in which he uses the comic book medium to its fullest. Unorthodox layouts and skewed perspective help add to the sense of unease that the storyline is already building. There are also moments where the panels seem to come to life and contribute to the story, rather than just being containers for snapshots of the action. This is a comic book that shows what comic books can do, which is an incredible sight to see.

Continuity

Gideon Falls Vol. 1: The Black Barn is the first volume in a brand new comic series and has no connections to previously existing comics.

The story here continues in Gideon Falls Vol. 2: Original Sins (Review).