I was already a big fan of Scott Snyder and Jock from their individual work and their prior partnerships (BATMAN: THE BLACK MIRROR is incredible). This collaboration somehow slipped by my radar completely. It was my wife who heard about this one and tracked it down at our local Barnes & Noble. After reading it in about one sitting, she strongly insisted I bump it to the top of my reading list so we could talk about it….. Must she ALWAYS be right?? Yes, apparently she must.
WYTCHES by Scott Snyder & Jock, Volume 1
Scott Snyder and Jock go together like peanut butter and jelly. Their envy-striking talents complement one another in a duet of visual story telling. It is really hard to write a review of WYTCHES without stinking it up with spoilers. I think part of my enjoyment came from the fact that I went into it with literally zero prior knowledge. What I can say is this volume boasts a multifaceted brilliance that gripped my attention from the front cover to the back. It’s not perfect (because no story is perfect) but it is pretty damn close.
The idea is fairly original in the graphic novel world. Imagining an ancient evil lurking throughout the woods that thrives on the inevitable qualities mankind possess is downright unnerving. Jock’s spindly, monstrous interpretation of Snyder’s idea will remain in your thoughts with every shadow or around every dark corner. The horror link is supported by imagery and relatability rather than simply showing gore or violence. Connections between characters feel genuine; parents especially will experience an extra element of tension as the pages progress.
I also really enjoyed Scott Snyder’s musings at the back of the novel. His explanation of the story’s personal origin made me want to jump right back to the front to read it again. Knowing how his own experiences and the relationship with his own children helped inspire WYTCHES gives it a rare depth that your average Superhero story lacks.
My rating of WYTCHES, Volume 1 is a rare 9.5 out of 10 because PLEDGED IS PLEDGED!
Scott – I was already a fan of your work…. Now I’m a fan of your work that wants to buy you a drink and give you a hug. Thanks for sharing your visions with the rest of us!
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Belligerent Barnes 
[…] Another factor I really enjoyed is how Ma and Pa Kent are almost as much of a focus as young Clark. Jonathan Kent was especially effective as he wrestled with the proper way to guide his adopted son. This is the second story I’ve read in 2015 that hit me on a deeper level as a father (the first being the phenomenal WYTCHES by Scott Snyder). […]
[…] I wrote a full review of it after first reading so I won’t rehash anything here. Scott Snyder and Jock are at the top […]