Bigger Than Capes

Writer: Dan Watters
Artist: Caspar Wijngaard
Lettered: Aditya Bidikar
Designer: Tom Muller
Production Artist: Erika Schnatz

After a changeup in protagonists in last month’s issue, Home Sick Pilots #7 gets us all caught up on what’s been happening with Ami, Buzz and the Old James House.

This is a tricky issue to talk about because to use the Bigger Than Capes catchphrase, I don’t want to give too much away. The bulk of the issue focuses on Ami and Buzz as they do their best to flee from the events in Santa Manos and the ghosts that have been at the centre of their troubles.

Whereas the last issue did a great amount of character work for Meg and Rip, and gave us a lot of insight into their relationship I think the same is true for Ami and Buzz this time around. As we follow the duo in their attempt to run away from their problem we learn a lot about the pair as their relationship develops throughout the issue. We also get a glimpse of what they’re up against and the horrors that can quickly unfold when ghosts are left unchecked.

So far the second arc of Home Sick Pilots is feeling like a great amount of tension building and little hints of the horrors to come, while we get to spend some quality time with the excellent cast of characters Dan Watters and Caspar Wijngaard have created. It says so much about the creative team that this series has been successful in both, its nightmarish horror sequences and its great emotional moments.

I say it with every issue but Caspar Wijngaard’s artwork is phenomenal, always packing so much emotion into subtle changes in facial expression, creating a great sense of movement even in the most classic of panel layouts and colouring that’s always to die for. There’s also some references in the posters in the petrol station scene that gives a great sense of continuity and world building in a very casual way.

I’m eagerly awaiting the next chapter of Home Sick Pilots whether there’s more tension building in store or a move to the more terror orientated aspects of the story. Home Sick Pilots is one of the best horror comics coming out right now and I’d definitely recommend getting caught up on it.