Broken Frontier

The second installment of House of Mystery deepens the mystery of the house itself, and those special inhabitants destined to remain there.

Serving as a nexus between many worlds, where travelers from strange places and races gather to drink and swap stories, the House of Mystery has a history all its own. Its rooms can reconfigure themselves, there is a resident sea monster living off the docks, and "everywhere you looked there was another nook or window or doorway," so claims its latest resident, a young lady named Fig. It is managed by a cast of employees who differ from the normal visitors of the House in that when they exit, they do not go back to the world from which they came, but rather are bound by the front gate. Future issues promise to explore why these particular people cannot escape the House.

Every issue contains a story sequence recounting a tale from a visitor to the House. This month's tale is the property of a portly gentleman named Enrico Canepazzo. Written by Bill Willingham, and lushly illustrated by Sandman veteran Jill Thompson, "In Too Deep" has an Alice in Wonderland feel, and really not much of a point to it. Canepazzo undergoes surgery, being attached with a fish-like tail and gills to breathe underwater. He seeks to deliver a message to King Krakenheart, who has been somewhat delinquent in his responsibilities. The tavern crowd is delighted with the tale, and we discover that storytelling serves as a form of currency in the House of Mystery, applicable to one's bar tab!

Luca Rossi's artwork is perfect for the series. The House is populated with a great deal of visually exciting characters, and he does a good job with them. He really shines in rendering the House itself with great Victorian flair. Jill Thompson's inkwash pages are really spectacular. I haven't seen her work in a good long time, and this was a departure from the stuff I remember. Her sea creatures are especially fantastic, and she captures, without a load of air bubbles, the undersea environment. Even the panel borders are fluid adding to the underwater effect.

Matthew Sturges develops his characters a little more in this issue. Harry the Bartender, Cressida the Waitress, a lovely she-pirate named Ann, and a rogue, are the regulars that Fig will be joining as permanent residents of the House. The main storyline concerns Fig, and how she came upon the House, which appears to be one she herself designed in an architectural class. I found it difficult to connect with the characters, mostly because they seem fairly stereotypical. The bartender is a good listener, with a past with the other females. Cressida is a sharp-tongued edgy barmaid. It is early in the series though, and I have faith that Sturges will be able to flesh them out a little better. As with any Sandman spinoff, the writer has the unenviable position of being compared to Neil Gaiman or at the very least is saddled with trying to capture Gaiman's tone and creativity. It often falls flat. I will not go so far as to say Sturges' story does, but so far this reader is not enraptured with it.

So far, a nice table has been set, the appetizers have been adequate, but the true test is the main course. Hopefully Sturges has a fine meal prepared.