First, the story itself is VERY engaging – Rory Regan is with a team of soldiers of fortune as they attempt to break into an old tomb for some rumored treasure. We see how they conduct themselves, and what the hierarchy is for this tight-knit group of fighters; Rory is ‘Twig’ here, the team’s little brother and the one they most depend on tactically. Fawkes does an incredible job of building tension as they get closer and closer to their goal, and then shit hits the fan aaaannd…..

…we’re in a meeting for veterans who are struggling with mental issues. Rory is there, and he seems to be interested in the visions of a fellow meeting attendee. I loved the time hop here, especially with how delicately Fawkes treats these folks. It’s extremely hard to readjust to normalcy when you’ve suffered an extreme trauma, and Fawkes does a great job of using this as a vehicle for exposition.

Quick time out to highlight the artistic duties here. Artist Inaka Miranda and colorist Eva De La Cruz excel in their abilities to craft a chilling ambiance in this book. The scenes in the tomb are visually frightening, creating this palpable tension that spreads throughout the story. They inject this otherworldly horror that propels the narrative forward, and when I saw “propel” I mean they make this book a freakishly quick read.

Back in the story, Rory is shaken after the meeting, and brings out a box of mementos, going back to the night everything changed. This is where shit gets REAL, and the suit of rags finally lets itself cover Rory for the second time.