Home Sick Pilots #12
Recap
"The history of the ghosts is laid bare as Rip and Buzz's hunt for the final missing ghost of the Old James House takes them deep into the past sins of America."
Review
Writing
Dan Watters is hitting his stride with Home Sick Pilots #12. This issue hits on a story element I have been curious about for a while and that is the relationship between Rip and Buzz. Rip has been separated from his bandmates and been at odds with them, it was nice to see him reconnect the previous issues with Kate and now that Rip and Buzz are off to find the final ghosts it a good point for the two friends to reconnect. Watters does some fantastic little story telling notes between their dialogue and conversation showing two close friends that have something come in-between them. They are still friends but there is a nice awkwardness to their interactions despite being so close once.
Watters also continues to detail this world of Home Sick Pilots. He has done a ton of world building these last few issues and it has paid dividends in the story being told. Home Sick Pilots toes that line of being extremely goofy yet serious perfectly well. We get a backstory of how the whole ghost/mech/weapon came about. It is all extremely silly, yet still superbly creepy all at the same time, fantastic story balance.
Watters imagination runs wild in this issue of Home Sick Pilots. I mean the whole idea and concept of the story is a weird one, but here Watters turns it up to 11 with its weirdness and I absolutely love it. Again he balances the drama, action, horror and absolute absurdness of it spectacularly well and it all comes together in Home Sick Pilots #12.
Art
Caspar Wijngaard goes all out on the creepiness factor in Home Sick Pilots #12. My gosh, tons of spooky, grotesques, nightmare inducing images throughout the issue. Winjgaard brings the horror elements to life in this issue with some wonderful designs.
Anytime Buzz is in his ghost armor outfit I am all for it, what a delightful design that is! The slim yet bulkiness of it, it is creepy yet cool all at the same time, reminds me a lot of the live action Guyver movie (come on guys you know the Guyver right?)
Wijngaard switches up his style a little for the flashback sequences in this issue. It is a fantastic very minimal approach, while also switching up his colors with some faded whites and greens for a splendid effect. Talking about colors if you do not like the coloring in this series then just see yourself out. Every time I open up an issue of Home Sick Pilots I am immediately struck by the colors displayed in it. The bright pinks and greens and purples should not work so well, but it creates this story element in and of itself that makes this series so unique.
Final Thoughts
Home Sick Pilots #12 brings a wild Scooby Doo adventure to the punk rock kids. Having to chase down the final ghost for the Old James House opens up the mystery and the history of how this all came to be. The series has been on a big upswing for me recently and I dug everything about this issue. From the drama/friendship between Rip and Buzz to the wonderful creature designs featured. I do still find myself wishing this series was more episodic. I mean I know I said Scooby Doo, but just imagine Scooby Doo episodes but with a Home Sick Pilots twist!
Home Sick Pilots #12: Black Sails and Sunsets
- Writing - 8.5/108.5/10
- Storyline - 8.8/108.8/10
- Art - 9.5/109.5/10
- Color - 10/1010/10
- Cover Art - 9.5/109.5/10