The Soulfinder graphic novels are a somewhat new series in the Iconic Comics lineup. Having only recently found out about the Iconic collection of IPs, I now realize that I have a lot to catch up on. I’ve only read vol. 1 of Soulfinder at this point, but it caught my attention enough that I’ll be continuing the series. This review will avoid spoilers for vol. 1 (as much as possible). I’ll be giving an overview on my thoughts without giving away too much. I do plan on going much further in depth into this graphic novel after catching up through vol. 3. In that review, I’ll cover thoughts on specifics of the plot.

The introduction to the series reminded me of the Hellblazer comics I’ve (infrequently) read in the past, but with one important distinction:the main character in Soulfinder, Patrick Retter, is a Catholic exorcist instead of an occultist. This is an angle I’ve wanted to see in media for a while. I do think the outright good vs. evil produces great stories and what better way to show that battle than through righteous people fighting actual demons? Something that’s always bothered me about the Hellblazer series and others like it is that the protagonist fights evil using the occult and various types of dangerous magic. My mind always goes back to the Gospel verse that “any kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin” and the plot falls apart from there when the hero relies on something like occult power. Soulfinder does not suffer from this. In fact, it seems to be following quite closely to actual Catholic theology on several points. However, there are definitely some over-the-top narrative points because this is also a comic that’s aiming to entertain through action and grand set pieces.

The art in this issue really “pops” to me. By that I mean that the colors and characters are bold and eye-catching. The thick, black outlines for everything are a major contributor toward this and they add a flair that I don’t often see in comics. The characters themselves are drawn somewhat realistically, but with exaggerated expressions. The expressions convey perfectly the feeling that the writer is trying to convey in each panel.The artists did a great job evoking fear, anger, sorrow, conviction, and hope throughout the entire novel. Also, Reginald Crane is drawn so much like Samuel Jackson that I couldn’t help but hear his voice when reading his lines. There are some really fascinating panels included in this book that look to have given the artists a real chance to show off their creativity. One that specifically stood out to me was a page near the end (I won’t mention what’s happening in the scene) where the lines of the panel are dripping and melting away over surrounding panels. It nearly breaks the 4th wall by projecting a feeling that the comic itself is under attack. There are some very creepy depictions in this book, I would not recommend it for children. I know a few drawings that would have definitely kept young me awake at night.

The plot of Soulfinder begins with a deadly mystery that unravels as the characters investigate further into strange occult activities. The characters themselves have very believable flaws and weaknesses. The author does a great job of showing how they could be tempted to stray from their path even though evil is outright showing itself to them. This is an aspect of good vs. evil archetype that gets overlooked oftentimes when critics simplify this type of story to “basic black and white” with no gray areas. In Soulfinder, evil shows its true face, but attempts to break down the will of the characters and tempt them to give in to their selfish desires. Basically pushing the protagonists to defeat themselves, or at least weaken themselves before the enemy attacks outright. It reminded me of a much less intense and more comedic version of this type of plot from Futurama’s Bender speaking to the Robot Devil:  “Hmm. I forgot you could tempt me with things I want …”

There are many mentions of Catholic teaching throughout this book, which adds to the depth of the plot. Instead of just playing into surface knowledge of the subject of the Church and falling into the stereotypes that became prominent with  the Exorcist movie in the 70’s, Douglas writes with a much better understanding of the history of certain aspects of the Church. There’s even a mention of the changes that occurred to the priesthood in 1972, which is rather obscure, but plays a part in the plot. The storyline also has a mix of “superhero” type action to it, which really elevates the intensity and excitement. Especially the climax, which I won’t spoil specifically, but I will say that it’s one of my favorite scenes in all of comics to this point. 

Soulfinder vol. 1 is the type of comic that I’ve been looking for since I started reading comics. It mixes fierce action with aspects of faith that create a satisfying read. It is much scarier than most stories I read, so I wouldn’t recommend this to children. But for someone looking for a good vs. evil horror/action story, this is one of the better comics I’ve seen. I’ve only made it through the first volume, but if it continues at this level of quality, I’ll be thrilled to join Fr. Retter in his future adventures.

-Patrick Jones