Review by Svetlana Fedotov
With the tagline ‘horror comics like a motherfucker’ and an avatar of a dinosaur with a metal jaw, the indie comic company Attackosaur may come off as another small fish in a big pond, but what it lacks in size, it makes up in quality. Boasting a small collection of single shot horror works, the publishing company is slowly stirring waves among the small press market and with comics like The Watchful Sea, it’s easy to see why. A Lovecraftian tale of deep sea monsters and unfathomable madness, the twisted tale harkens back to that primordial fear of the unknown and why some things are never meant to be seen by human eyes. While it’s easy to brush off this work as another attempt to capture the Weird Tales spirit, trust me, it definitely does justice to the genre and is well worth the read.
The story opens up with the funeral of our protagonist, one Dafydd Thomas, as his family stands at his grave, oddly unconcerned with his passing. As his daughter opens up a letter addressed to her, we soon learn of the hellish nightmare that drove him away from his family. Once upon a time, Thomas was just another fisherman scraping a living together from the dwindling shores of his village. One day, the ship travels past its usual spot and finds an oasis of fish among the mysterious rocks of the far shore. As they begin hauling in their riches, they capture a mysterious figure in their nets, one that is not entirely dead. Unbeknownst to them, this creature is unlike anything ever seen before and those who come across it are quickly burdened with the madness of the ocean.
The Watchful Sea is just as much of an ode to old horror as it is a new addition to the tome of the bizarre. A beautiful throwback to a very particular time in the entertainment of terror, the work also manages to stir up new fears that we thought were long gone. It great exploration into the unknown nature of the world; that strange tingle in the back of your head that tells you something is just a bit askew. It’s good, is what I’m saying. I gotta admit, I was completely worried that was going to be another failed attempt at a spooky story, full of silly tropes and monologuing leads, but I was pleasantly surprised. The writer Martin Smith (who writes all of Attackosaur’s works) does a great job of bringing the ‘lurking fear’ aspect to the forefront of the work while still tying it back to the main character, creating a solid anchor between the two.
Thankfully, the art by Nicolás Giacondino is just as good as the writing. It’s a wonderful mix of old print style and modern indy, creating an excellent companion to the story. The subtle usage of shadows to prevent ever seeing the creature in its entirety is a clever way for the reader to fill in the blanks with their own nameless terror. It’s pretty fantastic.
If you’re interested in picking up this work, your best bet might be online at attackosaur.com. If you are a UK local, it might be in stores, but I wouldn’t quote me on that. Either way, definitely check out The Watchful Sea, hell, check it all out. These guys are going places.