Otherkin by Marco Vito Oddo and Victor Costa

A mysterious individual arrives in London. A librarian has a boring evening shift turn into a chaotic life or death struggle. A sadistic killer stalks them both – and behind the killer lurks a bigger conspiracy and a mysterious entity named The Wizard.

Welcome to the world of Otherkin. The occult lingering at the edges of our unwitting society ready to devour it and held back only by the bold actions of a few. Unconventional sorcerers wielding magic in a desperate attempt to resist. Sigils and shape shifting against the rich, powerful and intensely evil.

Writer Marco Vito Oddo skillfully builds up the layers of plot with shocking twists and drama pushing the narrative forward. The character of the librarian Lorelei is interesting both in her interactions with Alex and in the hints about her past. She lacks the magical skill of Alex but is more streetwise and is surprisingly adept with knuckle dusters for a librarian. I anticipate interesting revelations in future issues.

Mike Mignola’s art style looks to be a key influence. The stylised character designs from artist Victor Costa especially with regards to faces works well in the Otherkin world. Good use is made of colour – the shapeshifting yellow form taken by protagonist Alex stands out against the more subdued browns and greys of rainy London nights. Panels accentuate the feeling of vertigo, of things spinning out of control.

If you are, like me, a fan of Hellblazer and the trickster mage John Constantine you will see echoes of his scouse charm here. If BPRD and Hellboy are more your cup of tea then you should definitely enjoy Otherkin with both books depicting Lovecraftian otherworldly horror and magic grounded in real world drama.

Otherkin is an entertaining read and the art is of a high standard. If you have not been reading this book then now is your chance to jump on board. Otherkin issue 5 is currently funding on kickstarter taking the book to new continents as the nature of Alex and the struggle against the Wizard come into focus.

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Catch up with the world of Otherkin at their website