This is sort of something I've been waiting to see for a while: a creator-owned concept from A-list super-hero writer Geoff Johns. And it's a neat idea, mixing the scary idea of demon possession with the always-entertaining character dynamics of a pseudo-military squad. Unfortunately, it's let down by some fairly ugly artwork and a serious lack of scares, at least in this first issue. Johns and Grimminger do a good job of introducing the characters who make up the squad, and there's definitely a touch of humor in their military exorcisors, but so far the book hasn't quite grabbed me as much as I want it to.
Johns and Grimminger open the book with a clever sequence that introduces the concept clearly and with a bit of humor. A typical exorcism is taking place, but the priest isn't able to handle it. Cue the team, which looks unlike any group of exorcists you've ever seen, more outfitted for a trip to the jungles of South America than a nondescript apartment. Throughout the ensuing exorcism, we learn about the characters. It's fairly transparent in terms of structure, introducing each character by name, role in the team and relationship to one another, but while it may come off as a bit obvious, it's a useful method to introduce the cast.
Much like the Blade movies, The Possessed is a blend of standard horror elements and more unusual additions to the genre like the neat toys and tricks of the spy genre and all the pacing and style of action movies. I love the idea of a younger priest with a bit of the ass-kicker in him, and the father-daughter dynamic between Pops and Holly makes them probably my favorite characters on the team. Then there's Trix, who has a bit of that Vasquez from Aliens/Michelle Rodriguez in Resident Evil feel, who I can't wait to see more of.
So there are likable characters and an interesting approach, where are the problems? Well, one big problem is that there's not really much that's scary about this book so far. The idea of being possessed should be absolutely terrifying, of having something else in control of your body, or (on the flipside) of having someone you love controlled by something that hates you. Anyone who's seen any of The Exorcist knows that this can be bone-chilling, nightmare-inducing scary. Unfortunately, because the characters treat this all as routine, and don't really have much trouble with it, the fear isn't there. Johns and Krimminger have to sacrifice the horror atmosphere for the character development, and I hope that we get a little more of the former in later issues.
Really, though, the big problem is the artwork, which is done in a style that just isn't my cup of tea. Sharp's work is done in the heavily muscled, exaggerated style of Simon Bisley or Glenn Fabry, and it's not a style I generally care for. It doesn't really matter in this context that his women look so manly, as that fits the genre, nor does it really matter that his characters all look sullen or angry most of the time, but his light to no background approach really fails to give the book a sense of context, which is a problem. The lack of scares can also be laid at Sharp's feet, as his demons, rather than looking warped or disturbing, look like every monster we've ever seen. And the action is not always clear either, which is a shame.
