"Morning Star #1" Comic Review

Aaron Teller has a tough job. He's an agent of Morning Star, an agency backed by the Vatican tasked with protecting our world from supernatural creatures. His latest case takes him to a hospital in New Orleans where a patient has vanished leaving the remains of two orderlies painted all over the room. There is evidence of a Nuksu portal, which means Teller's day is about to go from bad to worse.

It will be tough to read a book like Morning Star and not make a comparison to B.P.R.D. There are definitely some similarities in terms of the task of both groups, however the big difference here is Paskel Millet's artwork. Everything is very clear and out in the open. Nothing is hiding in the shadows. This may result in less intrigue or mystery, however it delivers on the scares with some insane creatures.

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Millet showcases an array of monsters in this debut issue, ranging from the distorted to the almost human. The latter is even more unsettling, as you can see how this was once a man and is now some twisted abomination. Limbs are too long and spindly. Strange growths pop out like spikes or odd bones in all the wrong places. It's some solid body horror that will send a shiver up your spine.

The pencils are very clean with some incredible detail. This really comes in handy with the more gore-filled scenes, such as the decimation of the two orderlies at the hospital. Blood and viscera are shot everywhere as these poor men look on in shock. This is the split second before their lives end.

The sterile environment of the hospital really makes the blood pop. The vibrant red stands out on the page as the only sign of life in this otherwise dreary white room. It's ironic that this life-giving liquid all over the floor and walls means that two men are dead.

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The concept of Morning Star is quickly established in this issue. Writer Massimo Rosi seamlessly introduces each of the main characters and how they work within the organization. This comes through not as a boring role call, but organically through the story. Some of the dialogue does become a little redundant, particularly the bit about the Nuksu portal. Teller tells about five other people that as he makes his way throughout the office. Since we, as the reader, already know this, it's very repetitive. Granted, this could be a statement about how no one listens to Teller, but I don't think that's the case.

Morning Star carves out its own unique spot in the supernatural monster hunting genre. It brings a lot to the table and hits the ground running with an attention-grabbing initial case. I'm excited to see where this goes next.