Long Lost Book 2 #5 Review

Writer: Matthew Erman / Artist: Lisa Sterle / Scout Comics This marks the penultimate issue of Long Lost: Piper and Frances make their way together through the woods that’s dark and deep with secrets to keep to the strange mountain that looms over Hazel Patch, the place of their birth. From the first few pages, there are bodies, bodies everywhere and not a grave to be found. And when the sisters get to the entrance of the mountain, I wanted to sing the chorus to the Drowning Pool song Bodies, as the two stand in the moment realizing more and more that they are so out of their depth here; that this place has claimed more lives than they originally thought. Francis, barefoot and traumatized, is attempting to look on the bright side as she’s trying to process this, yet she does make a terrific point.

What works so well is having the girls hold hands, standing at the entrance of the cave, silhouetted by the blackness of the darkness that lies within. Piper admits that she’s not quite sure that things will be great; however, in the next panel, she declares that she wants her power back, and she wants change. Erman is penning her to claim back her agency and wanting to finally part ways with this God forsaken, actual toxic, place full of bad memories and murderous intent. The plan is to move forward and end things by way of sealing the door or portal or whatever and go back home. The sisters embrace, and it is such a heartfelt moment to lay eyes on because the next pages are a tri…