The first day at a new high school was always going to be rough. It’s rougher still when you’ve been targeted by a demon. Before the first bell rings, Elliot has also suffered a vision of a ritual murder. The kid’s entering Saint John the Baptist Academy carrying a lot of baggage. That’s not even counting that his mom is the new vice principal.
Luckily, he finds his people quickly. Or they find him. Forgive writer Simon Curtis a little timeline artistic license. In collaboration with artist Stephanie Son, his portrayal of teens is so spot on that it doesn’t matter if introducing them all to each other happens faster than reality. It’s been a long time since high school for me, so maybe that’s how instantaneous it is now.
Adopted into a coven of friendship (and witchcraft) if not full social acceptability, Elliot has support when his visions get more frequent. These insights into dark doings may be triggered by a crystal that belonged to his father. Though his mother may be unaware, it also seems that Elliot’s dad had similar abilities. Those abilities may have driven him to take his own life.
That’s uncertain, and that rings true. At the outset, Elliot doesn’t even suspect that. He’s grieving, and Curtis and Son portray that well, too. Sometimes you don’t have time to grieve when life keeps coming at you, and sometimes grief doesn’t care that you don’t have time.
The Witches of Silverlake (volume one) updates The Craft with more than a pinch of Gossip Girl. That’s not a dig. It’s part of Legendary’s YA line, so the possibilities of such an IP have to be entertained. Son’s art definitely paves the way with an assured simple style that could be lifted for storyboards. Curtis, Son, and letterer Haley Rose-Lyon have synced effectively for a fun story.
It also has some extras in the back that add to my appreciation. Curtis includes character descriptions with Son’s preliminary sketches. A helpful who’s who, but more importantly, full of detail that Curtis acknowledges may never actually be acknowledged in the story. He and Son have worked out who these kids are, but we’re still only going to see part of them.
Sure, I live fairly close to Silver Lake. The Witches of Silver Lake opens up a world not too far from my own. I’m glad I can read about it and try not to get trapped in the darkness. Wait — I should also mention there’s a too brief appearance by an evil clown. It might be germane; it might not. But evil clowns are my jam.
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