HotELL (Issues #1-#4)

11/18/2020

HotELL Issues 1-4 (see below for preview images)

Writer: John Lees
Artist: Dalibor Talajić
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Sal Capriano

Cover Artist: Issue #1- Kaare Andrews, Issues #2-4- Keron Grant

I just happened to find this in trade paper at the comic book store on my last visit.  It was out on their center table where the put the new graphic novels and such that they want to highlight.  I knew right away just by looking at the cover that I was going to be interested in this series.

Let me start by pointing out that the cover art is exponentially better than the interior art in my opinion.  Not that the interior art is bad.  It’s just not the same style or frankly, the same caliber as the cover artists.  And it is clear that they have very different styles.  But the interior artwork does possess a slight air of horror.  As if one were perceiving these events through sone kind of horror filter.

The way the series is set up, it seems like we meet a new person or set of persons in each issue and watch what happens to them as they decide to check into Pierrot Courts, a quiet and dinky little motel way off out in the middle of nowhere where bad things seem to happen…a lot.

I feel like the real genius of this series is the writing.  The plot is excellent, the stories are expertly woven together and yet each issue could still stand on its own.  Even though all the stories are individual on their own merit, they eventually all come together in a practically seamless way.  Hell, even the dialogue rolls very naturally and easily.  It all seems to flow together so smoothly and so perfectly.  I mean these stories would be fun to read with or without illustration.  But you certainly aren’t left at the end trying to figure out how certain things happened or how we got to that point.  Each tale is full of unexpected twists and turns, progressing rapidly and yet, with a kind of ease that allows you to fully submerse yourself in what is happening to the overnight motel guests.

If nothing else, this series most definitely reiterates that you should never stay in a dusty roadside motel with outdoor entrances to rooms hidden out in the middle of nowhere with no phone and no cell reception.  Motel without a town, bad.  Motel without a town, no law enforcement for help.  A motel without a conscience, feeding off the anger and pain that has passed through its many doors, hoarding all the sleepless and restless nights, the fear and the agony.  Rolling it all up into the tragic circumstances that happen time after time.  And it seems at this motel, anyone can check in, but who knows who will still be alive to check out.

RATINGS
Overall 4/5
Artwork 3/5
Story 5/5