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stephen_arvidson's review
5.0
Urban fantasy author Caitlin Kittredge pens a sophisticated dark horror worthy of high rank in the blood-chilling echelon of illustrated fiction most recently occupied by Joe Hill’s Locke and Key, Tim Seeley's Revival, and Steven T. Seagle’s House of Secrets.
Eve Coffin is a disgraced ex-cop and last scion of the venerated Coffin clan whose heritage dates back to the Salem Witch Trials. With a legacy so embroiled in secrets and old-world mysticism, Eve flippantly likens her family to “the Kennedys with more madness and murder.” Shortly after surviving a cranial gunshot wound, Eve promptly returns to Coffin Hill, a sleepy New England hamlet and home to the ancestral Coffin mansion where evil lurks in the surrounding foothills—an evil unleashed years earlier by Eve and her friends after a night of debauchery and black magic. Sandwiched between the present-day narrative are flashbacks to Eve as a libidinous and transgressive teenager courting dissension of the paranormal variety, her misbehavior emboldened by a contentious relationship with her (literal) witch of a mother. A decade later, Eve realizes this dark force is still at large after several local teens go missing in the same haunted woodlands in which Eve and her friends performed that fateful incantation. To vanquish this unresolved curse, our reformed bad girl must own up to her mistakes and come to terms with her supernatural ancestry.
Coffin Hill is a devious little read, in the manner that the story rebounds back and forth from the eerie to the truly terrifying before finally settling somewhere in a land that is altogether disturbing. Kittredge makes good use of classic horror tropes—decrepit mansions, insane asylums, creepy forests, and a murder of ominous crows—that somehow feels fresh. Iñaki Miranda’s evocative artwork is superbly suited to Kittredge’s twisted imagination. The impudent characters are exceptionally rendered and easily distinguishable, their facial expressions both subtle and expressive as the story demands. Miranda includes several legitimately terrifying splash pages that give full reign to the horror-blanched phantasmagoria. Dynamic layouts and slick coloring deftly capture the story’s gothic ambiance. Much of the plot unfurls at a disoriented pace, courtesy of the chaotic paneling and illusory visuals that tell Kittredge's story in a way that's innovative and strangely seductive.
Kittredge brings a sure touch to Eve's character, dramatizing her internal monologues with angst and razor-sharp sass. There’s a voluptuous grace to Eve in spite of her pale visage and headstrong demeanor. She’s passionate and unapologetic, and seems dead-set on upending her family’s sordid history. Eve Coffin is a total babe, albeit lonely and directionless, who lives fastidiously through the most recklessly negligent version of herself.
Kittredge's plotting is perhaps too ambitious for the title’s meager page count. In attempting to illuminate Eve’s current dilemma with regards to her ancestors' long-standing involvement in witchcraft, the execution comes off a bit muddled at times, but the loose-wheeled timeline ultimately succeeds in building intrigue. As Volume 1 draws to a close, readers get the sense that there are many as-of-yet unseen elements, but Kittredge appears to know where the story is headed. Coffin Hill is refreshingly original and peopled with unconventional heroes brilliantly flawed and even more unsettling for that.
Well-concerned parents, take heed: Coffin Hill contains mature content that may not be suited to immature and developing minds. There’s some brutal violence, strong language, and a little bit with the nudity. Only “young-at-heart” readers need apply.
Eve Coffin is a disgraced ex-cop and last scion of the venerated Coffin clan whose heritage dates back to the Salem Witch Trials. With a legacy so embroiled in secrets and old-world mysticism, Eve flippantly likens her family to “the Kennedys with more madness and murder.” Shortly after surviving a cranial gunshot wound, Eve promptly returns to Coffin Hill, a sleepy New England hamlet and home to the ancestral Coffin mansion where evil lurks in the surrounding foothills—an evil unleashed years earlier by Eve and her friends after a night of debauchery and black magic. Sandwiched between the present-day narrative are flashbacks to Eve as a libidinous and transgressive teenager courting dissension of the paranormal variety, her misbehavior emboldened by a contentious relationship with her (literal) witch of a mother. A decade later, Eve realizes this dark force is still at large after several local teens go missing in the same haunted woodlands in which Eve and her friends performed that fateful incantation. To vanquish this unresolved curse, our reformed bad girl must own up to her mistakes and come to terms with her supernatural ancestry.
Coffin Hill is a devious little read, in the manner that the story rebounds back and forth from the eerie to the truly terrifying before finally settling somewhere in a land that is altogether disturbing. Kittredge makes good use of classic horror tropes—decrepit mansions, insane asylums, creepy forests, and a murder of ominous crows—that somehow feels fresh. Iñaki Miranda’s evocative artwork is superbly suited to Kittredge’s twisted imagination. The impudent characters are exceptionally rendered and easily distinguishable, their facial expressions both subtle and expressive as the story demands. Miranda includes several legitimately terrifying splash pages that give full reign to the horror-blanched phantasmagoria. Dynamic layouts and slick coloring deftly capture the story’s gothic ambiance. Much of the plot unfurls at a disoriented pace, courtesy of the chaotic paneling and illusory visuals that tell Kittredge's story in a way that's innovative and strangely seductive.
Kittredge brings a sure touch to Eve's character, dramatizing her internal monologues with angst and razor-sharp sass. There’s a voluptuous grace to Eve in spite of her pale visage and headstrong demeanor. She’s passionate and unapologetic, and seems dead-set on upending her family’s sordid history. Eve Coffin is a total babe, albeit lonely and directionless, who lives fastidiously through the most recklessly negligent version of herself.
Kittredge's plotting is perhaps too ambitious for the title’s meager page count. In attempting to illuminate Eve’s current dilemma with regards to her ancestors' long-standing involvement in witchcraft, the execution comes off a bit muddled at times, but the loose-wheeled timeline ultimately succeeds in building intrigue. As Volume 1 draws to a close, readers get the sense that there are many as-of-yet unseen elements, but Kittredge appears to know where the story is headed. Coffin Hill is refreshingly original and peopled with unconventional heroes brilliantly flawed and even more unsettling for that.
Well-concerned parents, take heed: Coffin Hill contains mature content that may not be suited to immature and developing minds. There’s some brutal violence, strong language, and a little bit with the nudity. Only “young-at-heart” readers need apply.
spiderkitten's review
3.0
Coffin Hill wasn't bad but it is very much a "teens who shop at Hot Topic play at witchcraft and it backfires" story so far. Nothing anyone who has read/seen a witchcraft themed story hasn't seen before. The main character Eve, seemed very immature for the "adult" in the story, even when they weren't flashing back to the past. And look, I don't want to be too critical because the Art was fantastic, and there were moments where the artwork made it genuinely creepy and I really did want to like this. But, there are better "witchcraft" themed comics out there.
droar's review
2.0
Blllerrgh, I did not particularly enjoy this book. It has some promise (cursed-ish family line, Salem witches, angry teen witchcraft, spooky old house) but it fails to deliver anything interesting plot or character wise. Honestly, it reminds me of the terrible 'sexy' Grimm's Fairy Tales graphic series: the cover is beautiful but the internal art is not, the plot is lacking and heavy handed, and there is a dire need to draw women scantily clad or totally naked with little reason. I will not be seeking out the follow up.
fantasmariana's review
3.0
Buenas ideas aunque no tan bien ejecutadas cómo podrían haberlo estado... en momentos hasta me pareció algo confuso. Vamos a ver qué tal sigue la historia.
verosevreads_'s review
1.0
The story line and setting did sound promising: Eve Coffin is the heiress of one of New England's oldest and richest witch bloodline.
However the characters were lacking in depth and the overall interactions between them seemed extremely flat. What was most annoying to me was the corny,"teenagy", remarks and dialogues.
It is pretty difficult to understand what is happening since the events are not flowy and are not explained well. The ending is the most unnerving. We don't even know who the deceased detective is. Why is Eve under arrest for his murder? This does not intrigue the reader nor does it want us to read Volume 2.... It is simply annoying.
However the characters were lacking in depth and the overall interactions between them seemed extremely flat. What was most annoying to me was the corny,"teenagy", remarks and dialogues.
It is pretty difficult to understand what is happening since the events are not flowy and are not explained well. The ending is the most unnerving. We don't even know who the deceased detective is. Why is Eve under arrest for his murder? This does not intrigue the reader nor does it want us to read Volume 2.... It is simply annoying.
citrusbergamottttttttt's review
3.0
All the girls who work at my local comic store strongly recommended this, and unfortunately I couldn't get into the story no matter how hard I tried. Nevertheless, I am going to get the second volume to see if it gets any better.
thecatwood's review
3.0
Witches are so hot right now. Coffin Hill's first arc is pretty good, though I was more interested in the back story and the history of the Coffin witches than the ongoing action. Maybe with the next arc, some of the storytelling that seems weak will prove to be purposeful leads - but as is there are a lot of unanswered questions that feel less like teasers and more like dropped plot. There were a few times when the story telling was unclear and disjointed, and I had to go back to figure out what was happening. The art is very pretty, in that horror, dripping with blood way. I'll keep reading. 3.5 stars.
mckenzierichardson's review
4.0
Amazing artwork. This was a really cool graphic novel. Some parts were a little confusing to me, but I loved the back and forth between the present story and flashbacks. A lot going on, which is slightly overwhelming, but most of it is tied up by the end. Definitely looking forward to the second volume to learn more about adult Eve's backstory. If you like witches and lots of blood, check this one out. Pretty graphic images, but well-done so they do not come off as gory.