by Jayden Leggett, Editor

Are you a deeply religious Christian? Squeamish? Easily offended? If so, do not read The List. In fact, just stop reading this article right now. Seriously, there is nothing for you here. Otherwise, if you like your comics on the dark, disturbed, and ultra violent side, with intelligent and thought-provoking writing, then I strongly suggest you continue to read my review of this stellar graphic novel that is written by Paul Bedford, penciled by Henry Pop and inked by Tom Bonin.

A man and his father sit solemnly in a car. Both are still and unmoving, until the son asks if his father has completed his list. It is then that the son receives the ultimate honor as his father bestows “the list” upon him, a sacred item that the two men clearly believe is the most important piece of writing in the world. Father won’t be needing it any more, as he is about to be enlightened through a holy process known as “ascension”. How does one achieve ascension? By meeting the business end of a knife or other sharp object…

Readers be warned, the morbidity in this book almost immediately starts from the word “go”. Shortly after the father is killed (apparently by his own hand), the son sets out on his own bloody crusade, seeking out sacrifices in order to carry out each of the “new commandments” (which he has conveniently tattooed onto his chest for future reference). And let me tell you, when this man does find a suitable sacrifice, the results are always violent and horrific. Just ask the two would-be rapists in the park…

The story in The List features many things, but the meat and potatoes of the narrative revolves around murder in the name of religion. Religious murder? Whatever you wish to call it, there is no dancing around the fact that this is one helluva gory story. Stabbings, severed limbs, crushed heads, this book really isn’t for the faint-hearted. Each killing performed by the main character is incredibly horrific, with a hugely profound impact on the reader, which makes the book all the more addictive.

Thankfully, The List is so much more than a simple hack and slash fest featuring gore just for the sake of gore. As the story is mostly viewed from the perspective of its protagonist, just about every event or interaction that took place resulted in me asking “Is this actually happening?”, thanks to the fragile and very questionable state of mind of the main character. Is he really a deranged psycho, as most of his terrible actions and unbalanced ravings seem to suggest? Or is there enough evidence in the story to point to the actual possibility that this man is in fact being visited by an angel (even if it is an angel of death)? This uncertainty kept me glued to this book all the way through to its unexpected revelation at the very end.

As if the readers weren’t already being spoilt by Bedford’s brilliant writing, The List is also backed up with some simply gorgeous artwork (if you can consider illustrations of mutilated corpses “gorgeous”). With Henry Pop on pencils and Tom Bonin on inks, the artwork is deceptively simple looking at first glance, but its full dramatic effect soon becomes evident. Panels can vary rather drastically, with some being largely comprised only of outlines, and others featuring much more elaborate details throughout (particularly when we are first treated to a full page image of “the sacrifice”). One feature I particularly loved was the excellent use, or rather, lack of, color. This book comes in two tones: black, and white, and nothing in between, bar some flashback sequences which replace the harsh blacks with softer greys. And the use of shadow, boy oh boy, the shadows practically become a character themselves.

Simply put, this The List is an amazing comic. If I had to fault it, I guess my only (and incredibly minor) criticism would be that even after all was more or less revealed at the end, I still found myself with more questions, as some of my previous queries regarding the storyline were still not fully resolved. However, I am quite certain that this sense of confusion and open-interpretation was Bedford’s true intention all along, so how could I possibly blame the limitations of my own brain on someone else? Well played Mr. Bedford, well played…

I implore as many people as possible to read The List, as it is not very often at all that I have found myself continuing to think about and question a story well after having finished reading it. The List is a true credit to the ever-growing roster of Australian comics, and an essential addition to any comic book lover’s collection. I can happily admit that it has definitely become a most prized possession of my own.

Rating:

ComicsOnline gives The List 5 out of 5 mutilated sacrificial corpses.

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