Sand + Bone
Written by J.T. Krul
Illustrated by Andrea Mutti
Adaptive Studios
Release Date: April 18th, 2017
Offered exclusively at Barnes and Noble

Sean Hitcher is suffering, inside and out. Just home from Iraq, there is no peace from his torment, as every time he closes his eyes he is transported back to the real hell on Earth. Addicted to drugs, and willing to do anything (except counseling) to silence his inner demons, he runs into his former love at the pharmacy. She seems very worried and reveals her divorce and the new love of her life – her son. He takes off, because the drugs he can’t get are the only thing keeping the nightmares at bay, plus he seems to want to get away from her concern.

This is the setup for Sand + Bone written by J.T. Krul, and illustrated by Andrea Mutti.

We get a bit of background. Sean was so devastated by the death of his parents, he joined the military and left everything and everyone else behind. The suffering he witnessed and the supernatural he brought back with him, was worse than he or anyone could imagine – if they could even attempt to believe it. Several people meet a bloody end, while others witness what could only be described as horrific.

The ending was unexpected, and left enough questions unanswered to garner enough thirst for the next volume. The 52 pages will fly by in a second, so make sure you really slow yourself down to appreciate the rich subtleties within each panel.

The tone is desperate and gritty, emphasized by the artistic style of Mutti. I really like the way the past and present are juxtaposed, almost as if we are suffering PTSD along with Hitcher. There is one racy panel, and quite a bit of violence and gore.

Sand + Bone can be purchased exclusively from Barnes and Noble here.

Synopsis:

Sean Hitcher has just returned from war. He didn’t die in Iraq, but part of him wishes that he did. He’s home now, back in the small Midwestern town he grew up in. But he is haunted by nightmarish visions of killing and carnage that seem to be the result of severe PTSD. But are they? Is there something he’s missing. “¦

As mysterious acts of violence spread throughout the town, Sean begins to wonder if there’s more going on than he originally thought. What terror did he experience on the battlefield, and what horrifying secret did he bring back with him?