The tagline for Crownsville #1 is simple, yet haunting: “The past is a ghost that will devour you whole.” It’s a statement that fits this comic perfectly, as the Crownsville Hospital from which it draws its name is a real-life institution with a horrific history of overcrowding, experimentation on its patients, and an ugly reminder of segregation, as it was created to “treat” Black patients. With Crownsville #1, Rodney Barnes and Elia Bonetti decide to ask, “What if actual ghosts were haunting this hospital?”
This particular ghost story focuses on the trio of reporter Paul Blair, security guard Todd Hicks, and homicide detective Mike Simms. All three of them have connections to Crownsville, as Paul’s mother used to work as a nurse there while Todd started a new job at the hospital and Mike is investigating a series of grisly murders that lead to Crownsville. Very soon, they learn that the horrors of the past are haunting the walls – quite literally, in Todd’s case, as he comes across the ghosts of children who were there.
Much like he did with his other horror series Killadelphia, Barnes starts slowly building the dread while also unveiling his characters’ connections to Crownsville. The trio’s at a crossroads in their life, with Paul being asked to retire after one last story, Mike feeling the weight of his job, and Todd having his wife to think of. It’s those human connections that make Crownsville #1 worth a read, and it serves as a lesson to horror storytellers: if you don’t care about the core characters, the scares will have little impact.
Bonetti’s artwork is the second half of what makes Crownsville #1 such a great read. He does not hold back on the horror imagery. Pale specters walk the halls of Crownsville, their eyes glassy and boring into the reader’s soul. Todd’s first day ends in horror when he stumbles upon his fellow guard having hung himself, body bent at an unnatural angle. A nightmare brings Paul face to face with a woman whose face is literally melting off her body, exposing her skeleton. This isn’t a book for the faint of heart.
Oni Press
I also love that the trio of protagonists in Crownsville #1 looks visually distinct. Todd is immediately identified by his guard’s uniform and neatly trimmed hair; this is a man who wants to put his best foot forward, especially with the hand life dealt him. It’s a sharp contrast to Paul, whose face is lined with years’ worth of regret. Mike stands out the most due to his black hat and matching jacket, as well as the fact that Bonetti draws him with a visual resemblance to Delroy Lindo.
Oni Press was kind enough to give Crownsville #1 a double-sized issue, which is for the best. Not only does it give Barnes and Bonetti room to build the foundation for the story they’re telling, but it also fully immerses the reader in that story. The mystery is compelling, the horror is gripping, and the characters have dimension. In short, Crownsville #1 is everything you could want in a good horror story.
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