Hellbound
Written by Victor Gischler
Illustrated by Riccardo Burchielli
Dark Horse Books
October 6, 2015
Reviewed by Jess Landry
If the grittiness of True Detective and the supernatural elements of The X-Files got together for a gory little satanic ritual one evening and ended up having a graphic novel demon baby, that beautiful thing would probably look a lot like Hellbound.
Agents Mirchandani and Brew are the black sheep of the FBI – they take on the cases no one else wants. When they’re assigned to investigate a string of murders along Route 5 of the US’s east coast, they quickly discover that the bloodless bodies and horrific displays of torture aren’t the work of a commonplace serial killer, but of something more than they could ever imagine.
Brew and Mirchandani fit the partner stereotypes pretty well: Brew is a reckless womanizer, someone more concerned with getting laid than saving the day; and Mirchandani is the by-the-book, level-headed cop looking to do something right in the world. What takes Hellbound up a notch is that Mirchandani is a person of colour, something that we often don’t see in the whitewashed world.
The story doesn’t shy away from racial tensions either as there’s more than one instance of slurs being thrown Mirchandani’s way. Another formulaic trait of Brew is his loyalty, and it never falters from his partner. He’s there to throw any insult back the way it came as Mirchandani is not the type to retort.
Hellbound starts with a full-on True Detective vibe. All we know is that there have been some “unconventional” murders along a highway, and we play detective along with Brew and Mirchandani. As the story unfolds, it becomes something so much more than just a serial killer story. When one character is revealed to be something more than initially thought, that’s when the proverbial shit hits the fan. From that point on, Hellbound switches from gritty cop drama to supernatural bloodbath.
To call the artwork gory would be an understatement. There are scenes of torture, bodies strung up by what’s left of their bits, and a dinner spread that doesn’t look very appetizing. But as graphic as some moments are, the gore never feels out of place. All the blood and guts, no matter how plentiful, fit right at home in the storyline.
The colour pallette sings the gritty tune of the story wonderfully. A strong use of dark yellows, greens and earth tones give Hellbound a muddied feel that couldn’t be more appropriate. When the story switches from present to past, there’s a break in the style. The present is drawn like most comics of today, while the past feels more like rich oil paintings. Sometimes a style break can upset the flow of the story, but if anything within the pages of Hellbound, it elevates the book from simple graphic novel to coffee table art book (if you’re awesome and like having that sort of art on display).
My only gripe with the story is the representation of female characters. There are two strong women in this graphic novel, but they’re used more as the butt of Brew’s chauvinistic jokes and objects for him to try and bed. They also find themselves in situations that make Hellbound seem a little desperate to add the “sexy” factor to a story that was doing just fine without it – specifically a scene involving Ramirez, a police officer who helps Brew and Mirchandani with their investigation. After taking a shower, walking around her house naked (with a few gratuitous ass shots), and finally putting on her bra and panties, she’s attacked by an evil entity. And so begins the underwear fight scene.
Aside from that, Hellbound is a very strong graphic novel both story-wise and art-wise. It’s highly recommended for those who don’t shun away from a little blood and guts, and who appreciate a solid, dark story.
