Proctor Valley Road
Grant Morrison & Alex Child, writers; Naomi Franquiz, illustrator; Tamra Bonvillain, colorist
BOOM! Studios, 2021
Proctor Valley Road is a real road in California that connects Chula Vista with Jamul in San Diego County. Over the years it has been the setting of a number of ghost stories and urban legends. This limited series horror story draws on that background, but with a distinct Young Adult feel. It follows high schoolers August, Rylee, Cora & Jennie, who have organized a "Spook Tour" on the road with their classmates. The year is 1970, and they are only trying to earn enough money to attend an upcoming Janis Joplin concert. But they find themselves embroiled in the true haunted history of the place, which becomes wilder and wilder. In the end they emerge triumphant after finding their strength, and the conclusion finds them ready to defend humanity against the demons of the road. While the expectations for a Grant Morrison project are high for me, this was a predictable ghost story in many ways. Franquiz's illustrations worked well for the story, but kept if firmly in YA cartoon territory.
Replies
It sounds like an interesting premise. I'm somewhat familiar with that area, but I have never heard of Proctor Valley Road. "Grant Morrison" sounds promising, but "predictable" and "YA cartoon territory" do not. I'll flip through it if I see it, but I won't seek it out.