LOCAL #12 REVIEW

[B. Schatz]

Reviewer: Brandon Schatz bschatz@pulphaus.com
Quick Rating: Great
Title: The House That Megan Built

Megan looks into a mirror.

Story: Brian Wood
Art:Ryan Kelly
Lettered by: Douglas E. Sherwood
Publisher: Oni Press

Since reading this issue of Local, I’ve nearly listened to every song the Thrills have committed to CD. I have done nothing else but stare at the computer monitor, trying to will a review into existence. This tack is clearly not working, so I’ve started to type. I have no idea what I will be talking about. The issue, definitely, but what about the issue? That’s the hard part.

I could talk about the writing. Which was good. If there’s one thing Brian Wood knows how to do, it’s evolve a character Actually, come to think of it, that’s a stupid thing to say. Who only knows how to do one thing? And if the only thing Brian Wood can do is evolve a character, then how did all the plot points come together. How did the dialogue ring true. Heck, how did he even write the comic?! These would all be valid questions if Brian Wood was only capable of doing one thing. Unfortunately, he’s capable of much more. Again, I am left with nothing to write about.

The next move would be to talk about Ryan Kelly’s art. It, too, is very good. But beyond that... what do I really know about art? Okay, anatomy, I understand. If Megan suddenly had an elbow located in a funny location, it would’ve sucked me right out of the story, but... that didn’t happen. My eye travelled along the panels, unencumbered by anything to pressing. The town scenes made me feel like Megan was strolling through town. The country, and the house? Similar concept, just replace the part about “strolling through town” part with something that applies to the space being in the country makes you feel. But let’s see... anything else? Not really. I didn’t have a problem with the art. It evoked time and place, kept a flow through the story as actions occurred seamlessly between captured moments. When space was needed for information to hit like a hammer, space was used - and to great effect. So I guess there was something to talk about there.

Now what else. Some personal thoughts would be nice. Nice, but I don’t feel like that would be entirely appropriate. Which is odd, because this is a review. My personal thoughts on the matter should be included somewhere, somehow. Thing is, it just feels off to comment at this point. Along the way, sure. It felt right. Watching a life in progress, it’s fun to give your two cents. You get to see a character progress and change, and that’s exciting. But now, we’re at the end of the story. Not for now, but forever. The scripted life of Megan McKeegan ends here. There shouldn’t be much left to say on the matter. And there isn’t. While this certainly isn’t the end of Megan’s life, it’s the end of something, and I can’t begrudge her for that. I can’t tell her that her thoughts are right or wrong. That probably speaks to how the character was crafted by both Wood and Kelly... that she feels real enough that you want to respect her for reaching an end on her own terms. But it still makes a full review a bit of a task to write.

So this is what you’re getting instead. A pattern of thoughts attached to the pages of a comic book. For the record, I loved this series, and the ending... it felt very natural. While I’m tempted to go back and read through it now that everything has been said and done... I’m definitely going to wait. It will be my treat for when the cold of Canadian winter sets in around September when the hardcover comes out. You could do far worse than adding this book to your Previews order this month.

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