“The Lycan” Issues 1-5 [Review]
Howooo Lycans of London… well, at least, of Britain’s isles
I feel like there aren’t enough werewolf stories. Which is wild to me because werewolves are pretty awesome. Cool, primal, and tragically savage beings, they’re a perfect metaphor emblematic of the change happening within our bodies. A beautiful metaphor for the monster within.
That’s why The Lycan, the latest comic from ComiXology Originals, caught my eye. Featuring a story from actor Thomas Jane (the Punisher from 2004) and writer David James Kelly (Logan), scripts by Mike Carey (Lucifer, The Unwritten), and art by Argentinian artist Diego Yapur (Titan Comics), along with colors by D.C. Alonso (Spawn: Bloodletter), The Lycan is what happens when you blend historical fiction with werewolves. Then draw it in homage to Joseph Clement Cole and Frankin Booth, two of the greatest pen and ink artists during the turn of the 19th century.
The story takes us back to 1777, on the Isles of Britain, at the precipice of multiple English wars (the American Revolution and the dawn of the Anglo-French war, take your pick!). When a group of international big-game hunters with some ‘rare game’ aboard get stuck on a remote British island, they’re offered help to leave by the island’s own populace, so long as they help with a… creature problem of the island’s own.
This setup is tense and gothic, full of foggy cliffs and candlelit monasteries. It also features some of the most elaborate line work I’ve ever seen.
Now, a lot is thrown at the reader all at once, as characters are introduced in rapid fire, and settings shift at least 8 times in issue one alone.
It could’ve definitely used more breathing room, as there’s dialogue-heavy exposition and accents that at times felt more distracting than immersive.
For a short series, a lot of relationships are introduced in rushed time, and the emotionality could have hit harder, as I’m not entirely empathetic with the entire cast of characters.
That said, I’m a fan of Mike Carey, as The Girl with All the Gifts and Lucifer are some fantastic reads. Yet, The Lycan feels different. It takes a little while to cook and come together. Much more literate than your usual comic.
Also, for a comic called The Lycan, I also had one glaring issue: there’s barely any lycan! At least, in the first few issues.
Without spoilers again, I must stress, be ready for a slow burn of a read, one that picks up midway when reveals are had, horror goes splatter, and the suspense finally starts to bite.
Where the book then shines is in its art. Yapur’s line and ink work is career-defining, calling back to some of the greats mentioned in a style he’s made very much his own.
Splash in D.C. Alonso’s brooding dark color palettes, and what you have is a pretty great period piece of a gothic horror comic with stormy seas, shadowed cliffs, and a visually macabre and desolate, maritime horror environment. I just wish the story more consistently matched that mood, as it feels like something better suited for dialogue in a movie at times.
In the end, The Lycan is good. Ambitious and atmospheric with a unique take on the werewolf myth involving nuns at a castle-turned convent-turned fortress again. If you love moody, gothic horror, it’s worth a look.
Christian Angeles is a writer and entertainment journalist with nearly a decade of experience covering comics, video games, and digital media. He was senior editor at The Beat during its Eisner Award–winning year and also served as managing editor of The Workprint. Outside of journalism, he writes comics and books.
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