Review: Silent Hill: Past Life #3

23 Dec, 2010

Another very special thank you to Mr Tom Waltz, and an equally sincere apology for the delay getting this up!

The net is closing in the Jebidiah Foster. In this third, and one from last issue of the ‘Past Life’ series we are finally coming to see the true colours of our less than savoury protagonist. Issue 2 of Past Life introduced us to the characters of Sherriff Creviston and Jonas and Helene Leek, all of whom are implied to have some kind of history with the ‘Hellrider’ and seem to know him well, despite his entire obliviousness to who they are.

Past Life issue 3 starts with revealing the sordid and bloody connection between Jebidiah and Helene, opening with the two of them in a rather unorthodox possition engaging in a bit of unusual pillow talk. Helene is especially interested in whether not Jebidiah has ever hurt anyone and whether she could call upon his irregular talents to ‘take care’ of someone for her. When they are walked in upon by Helene’s husband Jonas, what unfolds afterwards is shockingly cold and brutal, and brings the reader to conclude that Jebidiah does now remember these characters but naturally cannot understand how they have come to be with him in this present.



Perhaps the most interesting exchange to take place within issue 3 is the philosophical verbal gymnastics that take place between Foster and the ambiguous Postmaster Howard Blackwood, whom you will remember from previous reviews to bear an uncanny resemblance to a character seen in the trailer for the up and coming Silent Hill 8 game. Howard Blackwood makes a drop in visit to the Foster residence to check on the quiet couple, and the two begin a rather frank discussion about the nature of Jebidiah’s past transgressions. His character becomes strikingly unguarded at this moment and we start to see some a little more into Howard, who is depicted liberating someone of the cursed burden of an attached head! We finally start to get a real picture of the kind of man Jebidiah Foster is, and the past he so desperately wants to move on from and leave behind. He is a callous, brutal and cold individual who seemingly feels no compassion for his fellow man, and feels no shame is destroying others to preserve himself.

Later we are brought back to the recurring theme of the implied slaughtering of Indian’s and Jebidiah’s role in proceedings. His wife Esther is still haunted by increasingly disturbing visions of impending violence on behalf of husband, and with their unborn child due any day, Esther begs Jebidiah to take her to the town church for some good old fashioned fire and brimstone at the behest of their rather radical clergiman named Stone, who wouldn’t look at all out of place stood next ot the members of ZZ Top.



Stone’s sermon on the parable of shepherds and their flock triggers the final revelation of the issue, the relationship between Jebidiah and the towns Sheriff. As Creviston watches on with a knowing grin, Jebidiah recalls the violent encounter that so shakens him to the point he leaves hurriedly to return to the family home, where we again catch a glimpse of the malevolent entity that watches on as Jebidiah disappears into the bottom of a bottle.

What surprised me the most about this edition is how quick we have learned the truth about the characters who whom we met only last issue. The art as usual is strikingly beautiful, jumping between the watery dreamlike pallet for Esther’s sections, to again the dark muddy reds and browns that thicken and dominate Jebidiah’s pannels. The character of Howard Blackwood grows more interesting by the issue, and it seems he shares an affinity with Foster in the form of a bloody and violent past, and his exact reason and purpose for being in Silent Hill along with the other lost souls is something I am going to be excited to read about next issue.

Past Life issue 3 is a dialogue heavy issue, it really has been a chance for the writing team to spread their wings and truly shine. In some instances this meant that a few image pannels are repeated through some of the more wordier scenes, but this is easy to forgive and overlooked when you factor in how it is helping propel us onto the exciting finale due next issue! The writers have told us so much about each of our characters in this issue with haste, but it never once feels rushed or tacked on, just aptly paced in order to get us towards to the series conclusion which is shaping up to be a real treat. The recurring themes of crime and punishment, guilty and redemption and paying penance are ever prevailant ensuring that the forth and final issue is leave us with a dark but hopefully entirely satisfying conclusion.

All in all this hasn’t been quite on par with the previous two issues, despite having eye-openingly brutal reveal scenes at the start and finish, but the reader never feels disappointed; if for no other reason that the implied promise of a real corker of a final issue in the New Year. To those who enjoyed the previous installments there is plenty to keep you occupied here, and I again implore any Silent Hill fan who has yet to check out this series thus far to go and do so now- especially if you are planning on picking up Silent Hill 8! Join us next month for our final journey to the world of Past Life for a full review and feature to mark the occassion!

Silent Hill: Past Life issue 3 is due for release mid-January 2011.