THE MAMMOTH

Four experts tackle a mystery in the forests of Kasbro County, and what they find is far weirder than they could ever have imagined in Tobin’s graphic novel.

The action commences with a bang, literally, when a decrepit house collapses. Dead at the scene is Olivia Boucq, a surveyor investigating strange geological activity. After Olivia’s funeral, the other members of her team—Mason Bryke, Kokoro Eto, and Jess Waynelle—are questioned by the sheriff, filling in readers on the backstory: Various disasters in the local Broke Tree Valley area have killed hundreds of people over the centuries, but none have been seriously investigated until now. The trio proceeds to get very drunk and share memories; Jess confesses that she and Olivia were in a relationship. Things take an unexpected twist with the return of Olivia—or a walking-dead version of Olivia, seemingly placid but on some kind of mission. Now, her friends must protect this strange new Olivia and figure out where it is she needs to go. They are visited by innumerable other members of the undead (none as aware or poised as Olivia), who guide them all toward a mysterious “mammoth” figure. There are plenty of unexpected scrapes along the way, and much palpable heartache and pathos as Jess tries to hold on to her connection with her girlfriend (“I miss you, Olivia. I miss you so much”). This graphic novel collects five single comic book issues into one taut and compelling story that combines elements of black comedy, horror-thrillers, and an X-Files paranormal vibe. Enticing images by Susini and robust, lively dialogue provide a solid base from which the intricacies of the story unfold. The visual presentation is contemporary and sleek in its layout—easy to read and optimized to propel the narrative forward. The artistic style varies slightly to reflect scenes depicting playful banter, freaky horror, or romantic flashbacks. The tone is irreverent and the content is quite adult, including a lot of drinking, swearing, and violence.

A fast-moving and entertaining supernatural graphic novel.