Gideon Falls #15 // Review
As if the previous issue could not have taken this series high enough, this chapter completes towers over everything else previously. Raising even more questions than answers, Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino stoke the slow burn as the series dredges one inch at a time.
Waking up back in modern times and unable to regain sanity, or memory for that matter, the reverend comes face to face with the female doctor he met far into the future. Dr. Xu leaves to continue her own search for her patient Norton who was lost to the Black Barn. Making her way back to her patient's apartment in hopes of some answers, Dr. Xu finds her own clarity and returns out into the world this time in search of the reverend. While still seemingly within the Black Barn inside his mind, Dr. Xu finds him as his sanity continues to wane before the issue closes out.
The sheer master class work on this title can not be stated enough. Andrea Sorrentino does the work of a lifetime with this title and ultimately elevates each page in his mix of pseudo-realism and mind-bending psychological horror. Dave Stewart's grim and dreary overtones are perfectly juxtaposed with the opportunistic use of bright reds to pinpoint important moments or items as they constantly reinforce the dread and mystery of the series. A complete masterpiece tale wrapped in nothing less than spectacular artwork, Sorrentino blows any competition out of the water with this modern horror classic.
Continuing to be one of the hardest working creators in the industry, Jeff Lemire always putting his best foot forward with every title he puts out. Gideon Falls hands down stands as a testament to his craft and genius but also his love and understanding for the medium. Continually stoking this slow-burn while keeping readers ultimately interested is a skill in and of itself. The sheer volume the man is able to produce while each and every work never lacks in quality only displays his adoration for the craft that much more.
With a Joker title lined up under DC's Black Label imprint later this year, the duo will continue to excited and awe readers with all of their collaborations still to come. With a live-action television show in the works and without an end in sight for the title, this series and its creators continue to completely outdo themselves with each new chapter as they deliver this modern classic each month.
