Szymon Kudranski’s latest tale, published by Image Comics, Blood Commandment, may sound like a wholesome father-son story. However, it unfurls as a survival horror set in the woods — a story that delves deep into emotional terrains, making it a mature horror experience beyond mere scares and gore.
Written by: Szymon Kudranski
Art by: Szymon Kudranski
Letters by: Marshall Dillon
Overview
Ezra Connely and his 14-year-old son, Wil, inhabit the woods, where Ezra teaches him about hunting and survival. With Ezra’s wife no longer among them, Wil seeks answers, from questions about faith to that of his mother’s passing. Ezra, burdened by his own dark secrets, dodges these questions as best he can.
Review
For those acquainted with Kudranski’s work, the art is predictably exceptional. He masterfully weaves tension from seemingly mundane elements — a metronome ticking with an old sheriff’s perturbed gaze, or a panel where only a finger on the trigger and the trepidation in a deer’s eyes are visible. Tension permeates every frame.
Yet, amidst this tension, we witness a poignant scene: a loving father passing down the art of hunting to his son, Wil, a 14-year-old with questions about his father’s faith and the elusive normalcy of teenage life. Some may argue that Kudranski tends to over-elaborate plot points or indulge in lengthy dialogue. While this trait is evident in his other 2023 series, Something Epic, it lends a deeper insight into the characters’ emotional landscapes. It enriches the authenticity of his characters within the awe-inspiring universes he creates.
Returning to Blood Commandment, the tension persists from the opening page until the final. When the monster finally bares its fangs, the experience is both exhilarating and bone-chilling. Kudranski crafts an atmosphere that is both foreboding and unsettling, perfectly encapsulating the horror essence of the comic.
Final Thought
Blood Commandment embarks on a promising journey. It exudes the essence of a horror project with a beating heart, leaving ample space to navigate Ezra and Wil’s odyssey through the whirlpool of terror. Kudranski has set the stage for a journey full of intensity and emotion.