Haunt: Beginning (Comics) | Review

When writer Robert Kirkman (Battle Pope: Genesis, Brit: Old Soldier) and artist Todd McFarlane (Spawn: Beginnings, Spawn: Dark Discoveries) announced their collaboration back in 2009, expectations ran high. This wasn't just another creator-owned project from Image Comics.

This was The Walking Dead architect teaming with Spawn's godfather, supported by artists Greg Capullo (Batman: Bloom, Batman: Endgame) and Ryan Ottley (Invincible: Head of The Class, Invincible: Perfect Strangers). The result? A violent, supernatural spy thriller that wears its influences openly while carving its own bloody path.

Haunt: Beginning collects issues 1 through 5 of the monthly series, establishing a premise that's equal parts ghost story and black ops nightmare. The execution hits harder than anticipated, though comparisons to certain symbiote-themed characters are impossible to ignore.

Daniel Kilgore serves as an associate priest in New York City, carrying guilt and bitterness like rosary beads. His brother Kurt works as a CIA field agent, living a life of violence and deception that couldn't be further from Daniel's calling. The brothers share a strained history, especially after Kurt married Amanda, the woman Daniel loved.

When Kurt gets killed during a mission gone wrong in Bolivia, their fractured relationship takes an unexpected turn. Kurt returns as a ghost, tethered to Daniel through spiritual bonds neither understands, desperate to warn him about threats emerging from his covert operations.

When assassins target Amanda, Kurt's spirit merges with Daniel's body during the attack, triggering a transformation. The fusion creates Haunt, an entity wrapped in weaponized ectoplasm with razor claws and enhanced physical capabilities that defy human limits.

Daniel retains control of the body while Kurt exists as a voice in his head, creating constant tension between the pacifist priest and his ruthless operative brother. Their opposing views clash with every decision, making co-operation impossible despite sharing one form.

The story operates on two tracks. First, there's the mystery surrounding Kurt's assassination and the conspiracy within the Agency he worked for. Assistant Director Theresa Rhodes emerges as a sleeper agent, orchestrating Kurt's death alongside crime boss Mr. Hurg, whose fitness obsession makes him unsettlingly dangerous.

Second, Daniel must navigate his new existence as Haunt while managing relationships with Kurt's former associates, including Director Beth Tosh and agent Mirage. These connections force him into a world where trust becomes luxury and survival demands compromise.

Kirkman builds the conspiracy layer by layer. The Agency runs covert operations with questionable ethics and Kurt's last mission involved investigating a super-soldier program of Doctor Shillinger. When Haunt investigates, the scale of experimentation comes into focus.

Subjects like Alegria possess spiritual awareness, able to perceive Kurt's ghost and understand the metaphysical nature of their fusion. The arc concludes with revelations about the mole within the Agency and Haunt's tentative alliance with the organization, setting up Daniel's reluctant transformation from priest to operative.

What makes Beginning work is how Kirkman handles the brothers' dynamic. They despised each other in life. Death hasn't softened that animosity. Kurt pushes Daniel toward violence while Daniel resists every brutal instinct, creating friction that never truly resolves.

Their arguments become internal warfare, with Kurt's combat expertise clashing against Daniel's moral framework. The ectoplasmic fusion doesn't just grant powers; it forces reconciliation between opposing philosophies under life-threatening circumstances.

The body count rises quickly. Haunt doesn't pull punches or hesitate when threatened. Enemies get decapitated. Blood flows frequently. The tone stays grim, matching the noir spy narrative with supernatural horror. This isn't a superhero romp. It's a pressure cooker where trauma, guilt and necessity forge something dangerous.

Greg Capullo provides layouts while Ryan Ottley handles pencils, with Todd McFarlane adding distinctive inking. The collaboration creates visual tension. Capullo stages action dynamically. Ottley injects energy. McFarlane's inking dominates, delivering that signature dark aesthetic.

Haunt's design draws obvious parallels to Venom and Carnage, which makes sense given McFarlane's history co-creating Venom. The ectoplasmic suit features sharp, flowing lines with organic quality. Claws extend like bladed appendages. It's striking work, though derivative enough that readers might struggle seeing past it.

Where art succeeds most is atmosphere. Every page drips with shadow and menace. Bolivian flashbacks feel dangerous. Amanda's apartment becomes claustrophobic. Agency headquarters radiates coldness. Plascencia's coloring reinforces mood with dark palettes and red splashes.

Kirkman establishes character through action rather than exposition. Daniel's reluctance shows before transformation. Kurt's personality emerges through manipulative dialogue. Pacing moves fast, perhaps too fast. Character depth gets sacrificed for momentum. Strip away the espionage elements and it resembles familiar stories.

Haunt: Beginning delivers a violent supernatural thriller with solid craftsmanship. The Kirkman-McFarlane collaboration produces what you'd expect: dark, intense storytelling supported by strong artwork. The premise holds enough intrigue to justify continuing beyond this arc.

This volume introduces characters and conflicts deserving exploration. Kurt's murder resolves partially but questions about the Agency and Haunt remain open. Readers who enjoy spy fiction with supernatural elements will appreciate this. Fans of McFarlane's style get what they want. Those seeking innovation feel underwhelmed.

Haunt: Beginning offers solid value. It's not revolutionary and won't redefine superhero comics but tells a competent story. If you're invested in Kirkman's work or McFarlane's aesthetic, this justifies the purchase. New readers should expect visible influences throughout.

Haunt: Beginning is available as Haunt Vol. 1 in trade paperback and digital formats. You can find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, local comic-book shops and online retailers, or read it digitally through ComiXology, Kindle and Image Comics' online store.