The Good
The horror genre isn’t for everyone. In terms of film, they are too often hit or miss, more so on the miss. Trying to bring horror elements to comics is even more difficult. Capturing the essence and vibe required doesn't always come across in the comic format.
With WYTCHES, you can feel the horror and trepidation. Part of it may be the concept. You need to have a really creepy idea that plays with the reader's imagination. How many different versions of witches have we seen. Snyder and Jock are giving it a slightly different take. The idea that you could pledge someone to them in order to try to acquire something for yourself is a freaky idea. Being introduced to a seemingly innocent family in the last issue makes it even worse. As a father myself, I couldn't imagine what this family is going through and it does leave a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. That shows that, as a writer, Snyder is making his point. You have to care about characters in horror stories. You have to want to root for them otherwise when doom and gloom come around, it wouldn't matter.
Jock's art obviously plays a big role in conveying that sinking feeling as well. With Matt Hollingsworth's colors, you get sucked right in. The splotches of color gives the story a creepy feel. When reading, I actually felt my face starting to cringe a little in slight disgust. That doesn't happen often. At least not for the right reasons as in this comic.
The Bad
The only bad thing is the sinking feeling you get. You know someone isn't going to make it. You find yourself sitting around, hesitant to turn the page out of fear that someone is going to get butchered or something. The funny thing is, this isn't really a gory comic or anything.
There were a couple times it felt like the story was jumping around a tiny bit. But it didn't affect the reading comprehension or enjoyment.
The Verdict
Comic can't always be bright and cheerful. Scott Snyder, Jock, and Matt Hollingsworth are taking us down a dark path while introducing us to a different world of witches. It's not often a comic can reach inside you and affect your emotions. We have the feeling of some really bad and gruesome things coming even thought this isn't a super violent or gratuitous comic. If you want a comic that's going to take you to a darker place, you'll want to read this. We are becoming immersed in the lives of an innocent family and it's been so easy to actually care what happens to them. If you're looking for a book that will give you goosebumps or fill you with dread, get on board with this one. Each month I feel hesitant to open the book and turn the pages but at the same time, I can't resist. Just try not to read it alone at night.