Find the podcast episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1793148/episodes/17040201
If you listen to the podcast or read this blog, you’ve probably heard me complain about horror comics (and horror in general) that go for the jump scares or possession stories. They typically start off strong but I lose interest because they follow the same formula and tropes over and over again. Possession stories often have the same beats and conclusions, leaving little to be excited about when you read a new title.
Because of that, I almost didn’t even pick up Buried Long, Long Ago. The cover looked great, but do I really want to read another horror book that I’ll ultimately be disappointed in? I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for a good title and cover, so I bought it anyway. I’m really glad I did.
The story is about a mother who reunites with her children and introduces them to her new husband and home. There is a fairy tale that is also woven into the story that serves as a parallel to the main story and connects them (maybe) together. What sets this story apart from the others I mention above are the emotional and character beats the story manages to introduce very early. I was drawn in with the children and the danger they find themselves in. I expected the story to go one way, but it surprised me with the choices it made and direction it went. This is based on a true story, the mix of historical fiction and horror blends well here.
The artwork is also fantastic, with a more realistic style and darker tones to make it feel real. The visuals go a long way on conveying the story and giving you that uncomfortable feeling you want reading a tale like this. Panels that bring us uncomfortably close to faces with distinct facial expressions full of emotion. And of course the details in the backgrounds that clue us into what may be happening.
Buried Long, Long Ago is a balanced mix of historical fiction, horror and true crime with some emotional beats and characters that will have you invested in pretty quickly. That investment is what I need to continue reading a series like this, otherwise I quickly lose interest. I’m genuinely curious to see what happens from here, already been thrown a curve ball in the first issue. I will not be cheating and looking up the real events, I want to see where the creators take us and be surprised. I just hope it doesn’t fall into the trap of following the same formula we’ve seen hundreds of times in horror books like this.
