Wytches #6

By Scott Snyder, Jock, & Matt Hollingsworth

With this issue, the first, unnerving arc of Wytches ends. Sail and her father struggle to escape the witch’s cavernous burrow and their influence. All the secrets that Scott Snyder has been keeping close to the chest are revealed; the Rooks family are incontrovertibly linked to everything…

This has been a very imaginative take on the lore of witches. Snyder and co-creator Jock have been able to take people’s innate fears and tie them with the mythic creatures; they are the real bogeyman in this story. Personally that has been my favorite aspect of the series so far, but Scott’s real focus is on family trials and tribulations (witches included); seeing the evolution or rather degradation. What’s fascinating is how he is able to shift perspectives from children and adult; no easy task. Perhaps even more so, is how Scott is able to have Sail and her father’s points of views match up by the end. The only real criticism is that everything that happens readers will have seen coming… no real surprises.

Jock and Matt Hollingsworth have really gone out on an artistic limb on this title and it pays off. They capture the decrepit nature of the comic, which is a key theme. Having the witches designed with a loose form allowing for eerie variation was a bold move. Hollingsworth keeps them drenched in shadow or silhouette to maintain their horrific presence when they are depicted in the panels.

Wytches continues to be a solid read and this is only the conclusion of the first act. Those already invested have no reason not to pick this issue up. This creative team continues its powerful collaboration to great effect, even if one can see how this story will end. Readers will find solace in knowing that the plot can go in so many directions after this!

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