Living Hell #1: This Charming Life
Creative Team
writer/artist/colorist: CAITLIN YARSKY
letterer: CLAYTON COWLES
publisher: DARK HORSE COMICS
Reviewed by Seth Adrian Romo
Living Hell #1 is an unexpectedly endearing tale of demons from hell who just want a peaceful life on Earth.
Jerome Jameel may look human, but secretly he is a demon who escaped from hell, started a family, and does his best to avoid being found by shepherds who hunt escapees. Despite his ability to manipulate people’s minds, he does his best to have a quiet life as a bartender—at least for now.
While the world of Living Hell from writer, artist, and colorist Caitlin Yarsky, has a lot of implied lore, this series premiere instead focuses on letting readers become charmed by the Jameel family. This narrative choice to spend more time on the family is a welcome approach as often fantasy stories sometimes emphasize a bombastic entrance to justify the hook at the end. Instead, this issue is full of small moments like Jerome reflecting on using his manipulation powers against annoying patrons, or family time where Jerome’s daughter Joanne shows a slideshow of embarrassing snapshots.
Yarsky’s storytelling abilities are certainly captivating and in the case of Living Hell, kind of cozy. It helps that Yarsky is illustrating and coloring as this completes the entire production and allows for the story and visuals to flow well together. Panel designs are character-focused with emotions enhancing each scene, and color palettes are warm throughout the various locations of the setting of Bedlam, New York.
For a series premiere, there is a lot to celebrate as there are nuggets of information of Jerome’s past life throughout the issue that create just the right amount of intrigue. Readers shouldn’t get too comfortable though, as by the end of the issue it’s clear Jerome may try to keep his world small, but it’s about to get a lot bigger.
There is a lot to celebrate with this title, and the charm of characters makes it a great start. While the overall experience is enjoyable, there is one area that feels a bit out of place in this issue. Part of the plot surrounding Jerome’s wife, Sita, revolves around her distrust of the government and corporations—a valid thought process in today’s age—and while there is likely a plot development planned for later, some may find it feels out of place compared to the rest of the issue. This is a small note and certainly not a reason to delay checking out issue #1.
Final Verdict
Living Hell is a charming blend of fantasy, family drama, and heroes from hell. This issue isn’t just enjoyable, but establishes an interesting world full of potential.
| Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
| Writing | 9.0 |
| Story/Plot | 9.0 |
| Art/Line Work | 9.0 |
| Colors | 9.0 |
| Final Score | 9.0/10 |