HOUSE OF SECRETS
An atmospheric, disturbing tale of secrets, lies and judgement.

Writer: Steven T Seagle
Artist: Teddy Kristiansen
Colorist: Bjarne Hansen
Letterer: Todd Klein
Published by DC Vertigo 1996
Foundation TPB $14.95
Single issues $2.50

Reviewed by Louise Hollands

I'm not going to lie. I picked up the first issue of HOUSE OF SECRETS because it was the latest release from Vertigo, and as a Vertigo junkie, how could I resist? But there was definitely something more than just Vertigo loyalty that kept me coming back for more every month.

Firstly, there were all the Seattle Grunge scene references. In October 1996, when the first issue was published, the Seattle scene was dying. But HOUSE OF SECRETS kept it alive, even if it was just in a comic. There's even an advertisement for an Alice in Chains album on the back of the first issue.

"As a Vertigo junkie, how could I resist? But there was definitely more than just loyalty that kept me coming back"

Then there's the appeal of the main character, Rain, a girl on the run from the father who raped her and a whole load of other problems to boot. She may be very bitter and twisted, but you can't help but warm to her quite quickly - whatever happens, you just know you're going to be on her side. Maybe it's because she's just so human - and the letters pages, full of young females identifying with her, testify this.

Finally - and perhaps most importantly - HOUSE OF SECRETS pulls off portraying the supernatural in a way which wasn't tacky or unbelievable.

The title comes from the place where Rain finds shelter upon arriving in Seattle; a huge old house, rumoured to be haunted. Her roommate, Traci, swears the place is harmless but Rain discovers all too soon that there is truth behind the rumours... she has been chosen as the witness for a spirit-world court of justice, prosecuting people for their secrets.

The series follows Rain as she attempts to escape her many problems, with a sub-plot telling the story of the house from blueprints to the present day. HOUSE OF SECRETS is full of spooky twists and funky grunge characters that make what is essentially a truly morbid tale a joy to read.

Kristiansen uses thick, bold lines and although there is little detail in his work, the characters and buildings have a very real feel to them. His rendering of the house is especially realistic. The colours portray a real sense of atmosphere, from the claustrophobic, frightening courtroom to the light, normal feeling of the house during the day, when Rain and Traci are just hanging out.

"The colours portray a real sense of atmosphere, from the claustrophobic courtroom to the light feeling during the day"

Rain is depicted with shoulder-length greasy dark hair, dark clothes and pale skin that reflect her fairly morbid personality, and a relatively undetailed face reflects her intelligence. Traci, on the other hand, is painted with bright blonde-yellow hair and a slightly vacant expression on her face to symbolise her vulnerability. She also appears small and frail next to Rain, perhaps Kristiansen's way of highlighting Rain as the centre of the story.

Altogether, Kristiansen was the perfect artist for a story such as HOUSE OF SECRETS, perfectly complementing Steve Seagle´s horror tale.

Recommended

Louise Hollands is a regular contributor to PopImage.

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