Image; $4.99  

Adam Jaeger is a young man carrying some serious trauma. Something terrible happened to his mother, and then years later to his brother, Felix. Adam has been trying to move forward with his life and ventured out into the world of higher education. He was emboldened to attend a party with other students that took a terrible turn when everyone at the party – everyone but Adam – was slaughtered.  

Adam wasn't certain that he was the one who killed everyone, but he had flashes of transforming into something animalistic and tearing his schoolmates to shreds. His fears were confirmed when he threw up an eyeball the morning after the party.  

Disoriented by the horrors he believes that he committed and the connection he feels toward wolves, Adam wants to find answers to his questions. Standing in his way is his overbearing, bully of a father who only wants Adam to do what he says, and a pair of police detectives that are circling Adam.  

Joshua Williamson is so good at writing layered stories and horror. Despite the fact that Adam likely killed dozens of people, the reader sympathizes with him. He is confused and frightened by his connection to wolves, and doesn't want to hurt people, putting him firmly into the tragic monster category of classic Universal monster movies. Williamson obviously understands the complexity of that kind of character and how scariness, sadness, and bravery can be weaved together.  

Leomacs and Pip Martin are similarly doing a great job on the art in this book. Wolf imagery and the wildness of nature are ever present, either overtly or setting the tone in the background. Their art also brings Adam's father, Henry's own monstrousness to life as he menaces and scowls at everyone.  

So far, this is a good addition to Image's Universal Monsters line.  

–Amanda Sheriff