Boston Metaphysical Society (http://bostonmetaphysicalsociety.com/)
Written: Madeleine Holly-Rosing
Artist: Emily Hu
Colorists: Gloria Caeli and Fahriza Kamaputra
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Step back into the age of engineering and invention to the late 1800s. Where men like Alexander Bell, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla and Harry Houdini are revolutionizing the paranormal hunting field, through the artistic style of steampunk. Boston Metaphysical Society is a mixture of genres (steampunk, spirit chasing, and murder mystery) coming together in what felt like a natural setting. The illustrations of the comic really enhanced the chosen time period; the turn of last century by adding the look of aged film over the panels; making everything dull and faded. The steampunk nature of the comic wasn’t the full hardcore steampunk you see at conventions (everything including clothes needs to be steam powered) but more of a modern take of other devices and technologies being a byproduct of that steam power technology.
Now, the story that we follow is not centered on those engineering and revolutionary minds mentioned earlier, but we instead focus on an ex-detective Samuel Hunter (Hunter was his name? Might as well called him Samuel Ghost-chaser). Also the focus is the daughter of his dead partner Caitlin O’Sullivan, who is the poor-Southie-Irish-American (stereotypical Boston), and their tech/science expert Granville Woods. His character adds another dynamic to the story with all the other “professionals” refusing to work with a “colored.” What was really neat about this read was the clear definition of personalities and morals each person possessed, that I came to understand and identify with the characters in only a short amount of time. The murder mystery side of the plot was very exciting as well. I enjoyed seeing how a steampunk world in 1895 would handle an evil entity from another dimension, and all the odd and unexplained deaths that people began pinning on this evil. The entire time while reading this collection, I felt like the time period and alternate reality was often the star, as the colors and detail convinced my mind I had been transported to this era. Also the references to actual Boston locations as well as actual historical figures helped me believe this was not just a comic, but well thought out and great story.
Through a few twists and revealing of ulterior motives, the story becomes much more complicated than the first Ghostbuster’s movie (track ghost, corner ghost, and capture ghost). Caitlin is a medium, and she can sense when spirits are around. She can also sense the aura of these entities, and if they’re malevolent or otherwise. As the story continues on, Caitlin begins to unravel a few secrets (pertaining to both the spirits and the people she works with) and discovers a few auras that she may not have wanted to know about. This “Shifter” (evil entity from another dimension) that the B.E.T.H. (Bell, Edison, Tesla and Houdini) and Hunter/O’Sullivan/Woods are after, may be something more than everyone is prepared for. Each issue leaves you with a good cliffhanger to make sure you need to read on to find out what happens with the spirit, or just what everyone’s ulterior motives truly are. Boston Metaphysical Society is a journey to a new and exciting world full of mystery and intrigue, enough to satisfy any comic book reader.
*Editors Note: To find Boston Metaphysical Society visit their website: http://bostonmetaphysicalsociety.com/
issue 4 of the comic will be release on July 10th.