Writer: John Lees Artist: Dalibor Talajić Colorist: Lee Loughridge Letterer: Sal Cipriano Cover Artist: Kaare Andrews
Thanks to AWA Studios for the review copy!
Hotell is a new four part horror series about a creepy hotel where the O and T are not lit and someone has added an L…spelling HELL. Get it? HOTELL seems to be an anthology series, with each issue telling a different creepy story taking place at the hotel, introduced by the hotel manager, a la Tales From the Crypt.
Issue one tells the tale of a pregnant mother on the run from her abusive boyfriend. When she checks into the ‘Hotell’ strange things start happening. Like many stories, the issue starts with a reference to bad things that happened before whisking us back to that story. This is a hit or miss approach, but the introduction was just creepy and mysterious enough to build interest without giving any real details about what happened. The issue also relies on one of my least favorite storytelling techniques, the dream sequence. While I tend to think of dream sequences as a storytelling crutch, in this case, it takes a disturbing surprise turn that redeems itself.
Despite its gimmick title, this is a well crafted book. Hotell’s creepiness will satisfy horror fans. It effectively makes you feel uncomfortable. Perhaps the best endorsement I can provide is the fact that after I wrap up this review, I am going to read issue 2. If it isn’t apparent by the cover (which lets you know it is for mature audiences), parental discretion is advised as the issue has violence, nudity, and curse words.
HOTELL #1 is now available.
Check back tomorrow for my thoughts on HOTELL #2 which came out today.
Have you read the title? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter.
[…] HOTELL #1 review – Hotel, Motel… (Lees, Talajić, Loughridge, Cipriano, Andrews,… […]