The Girl in the Bay #1 Review: One of a Kind Art

If given the chance to find out why you died, many people would jump at that opportunity. Many would even be confused and even shocked at this revelation. That’s the case with JM DeMatteis’s new comic “The Girl in the Bay” with art by Corin Howell.

The first issue gives an OK start to the story.    

In 1969 Brooklyn, teenager Kathy Sartori was like any other hippie youth during that time. One day she meets Hugh, a man who she thought was going to be the love of her life but he turned into her killer. By some miracle, she lives but finds that 50 years have passed and now she needs to find answers as to what happened. This is another type of plot that needs special care when plotting because a ton can go wrong. Obviously, there is some type of supernatural entity that is doing all this, the thing that will make or break this story is what is that entity and why is it doing this.

If the answer to both of those questions is something completely stupid this comic is a bust that needs to go back to the brainstorming stage. Kathy is not much of a character yet. She’s the typical teen that looks and acts like any other teen from any decade. She doesn’t even look like a hippie at all. Her clothes and hairstyle can be seen in today’s youth which makes the fact that she dies in the sixties all the more meaningless. Howell’s artwork is exceptional. The character designs look excellent to the point where you can easily see any of these people in real life.

As stated above, Kathy looks like any teen one might find wandering around Brooklyn today. Hugh’s design choice is excellent in that he does not look like someone who could be a killer. In fact, he looks about as normal as anything which is usually how killers look.

That’s why looks can be deceiving. The best showcase of Howell’s skill is when Kathy is underwater. It looks like a surreal otherworldly place. This works in the comic’s favor in that this is how she’s transported to the future which is where the mystery lies. “The Girl in the Bay” has an interesting plot that can go either way if done correctly.

While not the greatest plot, it still can be entertaining if done right. The artwork is the best thing about the comic and it does a fine job of making the story look like it takes place in the real world.