By: Brandon Siefert (writer/letters), Lukas Ketner (art), Andy Troy (colors)
The Story: Dr. Morrow has been infected by a deadly parasite that necessitates some calls for magical help.
Quick review: Usually when I review Witch Doctor, I wax poetic – or try to – about the stunning artwork of Lukas Ketner. We’ll get into some of the artwork below, but it would be unfair to not give a mention to the clever and fun story that is being written by Brandon Siefert. There are a lot of parallels to other popular franchises like House, Harry Potter, Ghostbusters and Hellraiser. I’m sure there are some cynical people out there who disparage anything as being a “knock-off” of some other franchise, but that really isn’t fair as there really aren’t any novel ideas and it all comes down to how well the creators execute of their story of choice.
In the case of Witch Doctor, you’re getting an intelligent and arrogant – but strangely likable – central character from House, the rich cast of otherworldly powers you could have found in Tobin’s Spirit Guide from Ghostbusters, a magic emporium straight from Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and a guest appearance by the Cenobites from Hellraiser. Now, if I had written this story it would come off as a bunch of derivative drivel, but the Siefert/Ketner duo give the story such snappy dialog and clever characterizations that you appreciate the similarities to other fictional tales rather than being annoyed by it. You know how you read the dialog is some comics and come away impressed: “Wow, that was really snappier than the other comics I read this week!” Witch Doctor is like that.
As for the art, sheesh–someone from the Artists’ Union may visit Lukas Ketner and give him a warning blow on the wrist because he’s making a LOT of professional comic artists look like chumps. I say that in jest and I know that isn’t his goal, but it is really hard to read Witch Doctor and not be grossly disappointed in most other comic art. What’s so impressive about this issue is how it doesn’t really play to Ketner’s biggest strengths of drawing funky, insectoid demons. Much of the issues revolves around Dr. Morrow and his buddy Gast searching for cures to Morrow’s condition in an open-air market and Ketner comes up aces. It’s amazing how capable he is. I mean, you see a lot of young artists who have potential and can draw ONE thing really well because they spent all of high school drawing the same sexy lady (or insectoid demon) over and over during history class. You can tell that Ketner LOVES to draw the demonic stuff, but he’s also mastered all the other little tricks of cartooning, scene layout, perspective….. It’s awesome stuff.
Conclusion: I hate to call things “must read” because internet hyperbole is annoying, but Witch Doctor is as good as it gets in comics right now.
Grade: A
– Dean Stell