This feeling is compounded for anyone who is or has been a content creator.Īnd of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how great it is to see how queer-friendly this book is.

The amateur vibe to their investigation is immediately endearing, and it makes the reader want to see them succeed. Do they have a catchphrase that will catch on? Can they maintain the momentum from their last episode? Is their recording equipment actually turned on, or is this going to be a repeat of an earlier failure? The series’ novel approach to the story is seen from the very beginning of the issue, as the titular Inspectors agonize over getting the intro right on their latest video. The concept of a group of teenagers/young adults hunting ghosts is not a new one, but the creative team on Specter Inspectors manages to breathe new and relevant life into the premise. And even though the locations are places like dusty old mansions and drab motels, the book still looks colorful and vibrant. McCurdy’s heavy linework makes every character stand out from their gloomy surroundings. Even so, the sight of a possessed character toward the end of the issue manages to be unsettling in the way that they are shown in extreme close-ups and reflections, but rarely head-on. Where the real excitement comes from is how these characters, already well-defined and enjoyable, react to the otherworldly circumstances they’ve found themselves in.

The horror elements of the issue don’t feel particularly scary, but that’s okay.

Specter Inspectors #1 by Bowen McCurdy