Comic Review: The Picture of Everything Else #1

The Picture of Everything Else #1

Vault Comics

Writer: Dan Watters

Artist: Kishore Mohan

2020 has been a stellar year for Vault Comics. The publisher is consistently releasing fantastic science fiction, fantasy, and even horror comics. The Picture of Everything Else is their latest and last horror series of 2020. The series is written by Dan Watters (Coffin Bound, Home Sick Pilots) and drawn by newcomer Kishore Mohan.

The Picture of Everything Else introduces readers to two artistic lovebirds who dabble in being art thieves. The two also disagree on their approach to art and stealing, leading to a bit of conflict between them. Readers are also warned of an ominous killer, brutally taking lives across Paris.  Soon, the artists and killers collide, leading to a brutal and impossible encounter.

I don’t want to give too much away, because there is plenty to discover in this first issue. Dan Watters’ story is beautifully imaginative. It balances brutality with almost poetic storytelling. The dialogue throughout the issue feels organic. The two main characters have a believable relationship and watching the two handle their differences will feel familiar to most. The horror itself is unnerving, but there isn’t anything hauntingly scary just yet.

Kishore Mohan’s art is perfect for a book about paintings. The watercolor style is gorgeous, suiting the setting and theme well. Despite the subject matter, the art is beautiful. Mohan handles both art and colors in this one and shines in both. The colors are fantastic for the tone, using palettes that give readers the needed emotions to get the most out of this comic. The panel layouts are neat and don’t change up the medium too much.  It can be a little hard to follow sometimes since this book doesn’t use traditional sequential art. Still, for those who are committed, this is a solid comic book to dive into.

It’s not for everyone, but fans of art and horror will want to read The Picture of Everything Else #1. It’s hard to tell if the story will stay together. I’m hoping that the quality holds up and the execution is as good as the premise is. Regardless, Vault is on fire, and this is another potential hit for the publisher.