A young woman seeks justice for the exploited workers of her town in this graphic novel, written by Mulligan and illustrated by Pyrink.
The story begins at a funeral in Richland, Washington, where the late Jared Fleming’s husband, Van, and daughter, Ali, are delivering eulogies to their departed loved one. In these speeches, they both allude to mysterious illnesses that the townsfolk have been experiencing, and to the fact that Jared’s death was unnatural. After the ceremony, Jared’s coworker, who calls herself Jane, reaffirms this theory to Van, noting that Jared may have died due to cracks in a local tunnel. Ali becomes determined to find out more before she must return to college. Over the summer, her friends, Brett and Shannon, worked at the same company that Jared did, and they confirm that the company violated multiple health and safety regulations—specifically regarding the handling of toxic materials. They believe this contributed to Jared’s eventual death from cancer, as something similar happened to Shannon’s uncle. They also provide Ali with a lead via a group called Hanford Connect, made up of former employees of the company who dedicate themselves to pursuing restitution for wronged families. After several suspicious occurrences, Van and Ali conclude that Jared’s spirit is still with them—a fact that readers have known for some time, as his translucent presence often lingers at the margins of scenes. The novel concludes on a cliffhanger, suggesting that Brett has had an encounter with a very different kind of supernatural being while getting pizza. Overall, Pyrink’s art is well suited to the horror/suspense genre and its subject matter, and their characters all feel distinctive. Mulligan’s narrative excels at laying groundwork for an ongoing series while stoking odd mysteries, as when characters allude to previous encounters with a witch. However, a tangible antagonist never fully emerges, aside from one unnamed character who never confronts the heroes directly. Nonetheless, the overall theme of seeking accountability for exposing employees to hazardous working conditions is one that will resonate with many readers.An intriguing graphic novel featuring a story of corporate irresponsibility with supernatural themes.
