Published by Image Comics, Home Sick Pilots Vol. 1 is written by Dan Watters with art and covers by Casper Wijngaard.
Collecting issues #1-5, Home Sick Pilots Vol. 1 is available in print and on digital now where all good comics are sold. Grab your digital copy from Comixology right here.
Synopsis
In the summer of 1994, a haunted house walks across California. Inside is Ami, lead singer of a high school punk band—who’s been missing for weeks. How did she get there? What do these ghosts want? And does this mean the band has to break up? Expect three-chord songs and big bloody action as Power Rangers meets The Shining (yes really), and as writer DAN WATTERS (Lucifer, COFFIN BOUND) and artist CASPAR WIJNGAARD (LIMBO, Star Wars, Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt) delve into the horrors of misspent youth.
Review
If you’re craving something different for your latest comic fix then look no further than Home Sick Pilots. It ticks all the boxes with its mix of horror, action and mystery alongside excellent storytelling. It’s definitely a book that needs to be seen to be believed.
This collection, bringing together issues #1-5, starts off like any teen-horror film with the token troubled teens dragging their way through life. At this point I did like the fact Home Sick Pilots are a wannabe punk rock band (I love a bit of punk rock) and as the story continues the friends definitely fit that classic “punk” mould.
The main story follows the titular Home Sick Pilots, a tight group of friends and wannabe punk stars in high school: Rip, Buzz and Ami. All is well until Ami suggests putting on a gig inside the local haunted house. But this isn’t just any old haunted house, it’s the Old James House or the “house that kills people.” Is this just high school folk lore? Or is there something not right about that creepy house? From what we know so far, Ami might just hold the answer.
The story plays out in a very graphic style, leaving little to the imagination with Wijngaard using his artistic talents to his best, bringing the words of Watters story to life in brutal and gory detail. The colours are mesmerising with lots of purples and black tones really giving that creepy, edgy feel to it. It all works together perfectly. I feel that Home Sick Pilots would make an awesome film and pray for the day it ever gets brought to life on the big screen.
Watters brings the book to an epic conclusion in the final part with plenty of stunning visuals to keep you begging for more. We are left with a huge cliffhanger and an even bigger question of what will happen next? I am definitely looking forward to issue #6.
Verdict
I absolutely loved Home Sick Pilots and would go as far as saying it’s my favourite read so far this year. Definitely recommend to any horror/thriller fan, pick it up find a quiet spot and hide there all day and enjoy, you won’t regret it.
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