Comic Review | The Autumnal: The Complete Series

Following the death of her estranged mother, Kat returns to her hometown in Comfort Notch. However, beneath the town’s quaint, idyllic exterior, there may be a sinister force at work. Now Kat must uncover the mystery behind the town’s dark past before it’s too late.

The Autumnal: The Complete Collection by Daniel Kraus (writer) and Chris Shehan (artist) is an eerie read that blends ecohorror with folk horror—portrayed through wonderfully atmospheric and, at times, grotesque artwork.

Going into this series though, I think it’s important to note that this is slowburn. The majority of the story does not quite deliver the levels of body horror that the fantastic issue covers suggest. Instead this is a slowly creeping horror that builds up to a devastating and chilling end.

At its heart, you’ll find a story about trauma and a mother’s anger and love. We see as Kat a struggling single mom trying to take care of and protect her daughter, and that’s what I think makes the story so compelling.

All in all, The Autumnal is a perfect fall read that’ll have you seeing leaves in a whole new light.

Thank you, NetGalley and Vault Comics, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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