Leroy Douresseaux on HARBOR MOON, an Original Graphic Novel

HARBOR MOON - OGN

ARCANA

 

WRITER/EDITOR/PRODUCER: Ryan Colucci

WRITER: Dikran Ornekian
STORY: Brian Anderson
ARTIST: Pawel Sambor
ART ASSIST: Nikodem Cabala
ART DIRECTOR: Karol Wisniewski
ISBN: 978-1-897548-95-0; paperback
140pp, Color, $19.95 U.S.

Published by Arcana, Harbor Moon is a new original graphic novel (OGN). It is the production and brainchild of writer Ryan Colucci. Part small town mystery and part horror comic book, Harbor Moon tells the story of a man who travels to his father’s hometown only to find a conspiracy of dark secrets that is decades old.

The story focuses on Timothy Vance, a lone wolf type. He receives a mysterious phone call from a man claiming to be, Andrew O’Callaghan, his long lost father. Tim follows the call to out-of-the-way Harbor Moon, Maine, but the residents of this sleepy town don’t take to strangers. In fact, some of the townsfolk get downright violent with Tim, and even Sheriff Roland Sullivan seems reluctant to help him.

Tim does find a sympathetic townie in the form of Kristen, principal of the local high school (among other things). She gives Tim some information, but it is clear that Kristen, like everyone else, is holding onto an incredible secret. As Tim begins to discover that he has something in common with the residents of Harbor Moon, danger from inside and outside the town threatens everyone.

Anyone can read Harbor Moon and pretty early into the book figure out that the creative talent behind it is new to producing a graphic novel. A reading of the entire text will also tell you something else: when they do get more experience, these creators will be scary because Harbor Moon is a damn good read.

Sometimes, the art, by Pawel Sambor, does not clearly convey the story or action, and the figure drawing is a little awkward in places. For the most part, however, the compositions are exciting, the graphic storytelling electrifying, and the shimmering colors make the art jump off the page.

There are times when a writer telling a mystery story is a bit too vague and oblique in his attempts to string the readers along by keeping them guessing. In Harbor Moon, writers Ryan Colucci and Dikran Ornekian do that to an extent, but their story is still exciting. The first half of Harbor Moon is a sort of detective story rich with suspects and subplots. The second half of this graphic novel explodes in a fury of blood splatter and shocking revelations. From beginning to end, this dark tale is a joyous race.

There are some faults, here and there, but the book rises above them. I guess that the best thing I can say is that I didn’t want Harbor Moon to end.

Readers who like Ben Templesmith and Vertigo comics will want to give Harbor Moon a try.

B+

http://www.harbor-moon.com/