A Ghost Arm Made Of Angry Ghosts #1: Superpowers, Murder, 90s, Oh My!

A Ghost Arm Made Of Angry Ghosts #1 is a new series from writer/colorist Oliver Mertz, artist Alex Diotto, and letterer Taylor Esposito that sees Ari Ackerman, a teenager in the late 90s, become enthralled in a murder/mystery… oh and this is a world where superheroes have existed since about the last century. One part teen drama, one part slice-of-life, and several parts science fiction, mystery, and period-based drama, A Ghost Arm Made Of Angry Ghosts takes the best parts of what readers love about the comic book medium and creates a fun, nuanced narrative that is full of life on every page. This tale that mixes all of these facets is definitely one you do not want to miss out on.

Right off the bat, A Ghost Arm Made Of Angry Ghosts #1 sets a tone that will remind you of some of your favorite comics. Mertz’s quippy dialogue and highly enjoyable prose makes the book immediately engaging, made all the better by the clear amount of research and care that goes into each page. As the story kicks off, it becomes clear that Mertz and Diotto trust the readers enough to hand them the keys to the narrative. This is a mature narrative akin to the classics of the 80s like Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns, taking the elements of those narratives and modernizing them in a way that mirrors today’s indie comic landscape in a wonderful way.

Diotto’s art holds a large sense of realism, showcasing some of the issue’s harder hitting moments in a wonderful way, while also lending well to the lighter moments. This is not the kind of superhero narrative that aims to showcase multi page battles to the death, instead opting to showcase how its relatable characters inform the larger world they have been ingratiated in. The art here feels very reminiscent of Jorge Fornes work on Rorschach and Danger Street, which also saw a sense of realism brought to the world of the fantastical. All of these elements are brought together in a very satisfying read for this oversized, double-length first issue.

Setting up a mystery often involved leaving a lot left unsaid. That can often make readers weary, or worse, confused. Thankfully, A Ghost Arm Made Of Angry Ghosts #1 never falls into those traps, setting up future story elements with intrigue and nuance rather than leaving things open ended for no reason. This is also made better by the way this story is paced. Everything flows together in a great way, with the worldbuilding all serving a purpose, whether it’s getting to know the characters or getting to know the world at large.

Major props also have to be given to Esposito who letters this issue in a very professional manner. Each page has a logical reading order and the onomatopoeia makes loud moments engaging and fun. Esposito also sets the dialogue up in a way that allows the art to flourish in every setting, without distracting from the narrative in any way.

If this sounds like a fun ride, please consider supporting this series on Kickstarter via the link below:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/olivermertz/a-ghost-arm-made-of-angry-ghosts-0