The Tormented # 1 (2024)
Writer: Chuck Austen
Artist: Pat Olliffe
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Jodi Wynne
Rating: 
This week I will look at the first issue of “The Tormented” from Wimzi, Inc/Comixology Originals; This series marks the second collaboration between writer/veteran animator Chuck Austen and artist Pat Olliffe since their series “Edgeworld”, Now they deliver a series that dives deep into the paranormal aspects and no doubt will keep you on the edge of your seats.
The series introduces us to Ryan Auster, the son of legendary ghost hunters Vera and Adam Austerhölle. Unlike his father, mother, and sister, Ryan never had the gift to “see” the paranormal, so they’d leave him behind whenever they went out to investigate. Ryan, however, was hiding his abilities, terrified of the consequences of his supposed “gift,” and the parents who gave them to him. One night, his entire family is suddenly and brutally murdered, leaving Ryan to be raised by various foster families. Now, as an adult, Ryan finds himself the host of an online cooking show until it gets canceled, so when his pushy producer discovers his family history, he’s unexpectedly sold as the host of a brand-new ghost-hunting reality TV series.
This is a story that’s been told millions of times but this premise, however, has a fresh and imaginative feel to it that leans heavily on the supernatural element to great effect while we get to see the dark and tortured world that Ryan Auster lives in. While some aspects of his childhood were shown throughout the issue, It would have been nice to revisit some parts of Ryan’s early life to get the full scope of his hidden abilities as well as show the fractured relationship with his family. Still, for the most part, Austen’s writing shines when it comes to genres such as this one while highlighting how creative he can be without the use of a superhero. It’s also worth noting that lately, Austen has been doing a terrific job of getting into the psyche of the characters he writes so that the readers can get a better understanding of their personalities but he never makes them feel like they’re caricatures that I feel is a strong and positive plus for a series such as this one. Pat Olliffe once again brings his polished artwork to the forefront that fully complements Austen’s script which shows what a powerful collaboration they have. Horror fanatics will enjoy this series with ease and thanks partly to its creative team, reality TV and the notion of ghosts may never be the same again.
Well, that’s it for me this week. Thanks for sticking around and I will see you all next time.
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