Cullen Bunn’s ‘Legacy Of Violence’ Vol.1 Has Struck!
by Anton Kromoff
Welcome to the table,
If you are a fan of psychological horror with glimpses at something bigger and more ominous behind the curtains of reality then you may want to check out Mad Cave‘s Legacy of Violence.
Cullen Bunn steps out of his normal slow-burn haunting horror and really brings to bear his skills at weaving a story that feels disorienting and modern without losing the edge and page-turning terror those who are fans of his work have come to expect from him.
In a lot of ways, Legacy of Violence feels like Bunn is flexing muscles the mainstream has not seen him use often. It feels frantic, sweeping, and visceral, and yet, in a lot of ways like something that could have been ripped from modern headlines or be the focus of a limited series on HBO or NETFLIX. Long-time fans of his work will be able to see how diverse he is as a creator and still get to enjoy the layered and thought-provoking storytelling they have come to expect from him as a writer.
Andrea Mutti is also in good form within the work as he lends his artistic lines to the torturous tale and the way they capture the brutal moments of struggle is a masterclass and the slow, warm, moments of tension building and character development.
Mutti really leans into how shape and form can evoke emotion across the spectrum. The quiet moments linger and the quick and frantic conflicts are so evocative and brutal that I can’t imagine another hand behind the visuals of this story.
To Catch You Up On the Story: Nick Shaw is a doctor who is trying to make the world a better place with what limited power is at his disposal. After he has an encounter with an unhinged patient, Nick starts to have flashbacks of a life he has no memory of. Thinking he needs to clear his head, Nick joins Doctors Without Borders and goes to Central America to help people there. However as he tries to run from his own mind, Nick’s flashbacks become more and more clear and seem to link him to a serial killer who is operating in a small town in Honduras.
This story takes some wild twists and turns and as much as it is a slice-of-life story it is also a bloody and twisted trek through the mindscape of a murderous malcontent. If you are into true-crime, slasher stories, or just feeling off balance and on edge as you hold your breath from page to page, then Legacy of Violence may be for you.
A Legacy of Violence Vol.1 arrived at bookstores on April 4, 2023, and in comic shops on April 5, 2023. So be sure to head out to your local shops and grab your copy to join the strange, brutal story already in progress.
My editor wants you to know that I consider Cullen Bunn family, will throw rolls at him if given the chance, play D&D with him regularly, and am one of his most honest critics. He is also saying something about you needing to check out Happy Hour: Comics, Cocktails, and Cryptids.
