Through the intense element of murder mystery, science fiction and fantasy, Dark Horse Comics releases a truly astonishing and quite thrilling four-piece series, The Strange Case of Dr. Hyde. Think you’ve heard the story of good doctor gone brutal mass murderer? Think again.
Presented with the task of creating a special serum that will allow humans to eliminate their evil counterparts and make them genuinely good, Dr. Jekyll becomes entwined with his work and labors tirelessly to see success in his experiments. However, the pressure laid unto him by his sponsors becomes excessive and he decides to put the serum to the ultimate test. The test being an administration of the drug on himself. The series stays true to the original story in the essence that this procedure only proves that the serum does just the opposite, and before long the brilliant and well-mannered scientist becomes the hulking and ferocious Mr. Hyde.
It is five years after the monstrous Hyde emerges from the gentle persona of Dr. Jekyll and the man is pronounced dead to the general public, however, grueling murders surface with the same mode of operation that became Hyde’s signature. Brutalized prostitutes are all that remain as clues for the young inspector, Thomas Adye, until he encounters footprints covered in the victims’ blood that outline a superhuman culprit. The mystery takes off with all signs pointing to one terrifying suspect. But does a dead man qualify as such?
With every turn of the comics, there is a great blend of both back-story for each of the characters and climactic action sequence that draws you in. There is a mystery left to solve by the reader himself, which leaves a great taste for answers and a determination to reach the end of the series. The series as a whole provides great satisfaction and creates a connection to each of the characters as well. There are key moments that define characters and show their traits coming alive, and in this moment the reader can rationalize with them and dive into their characterization. What begins as a simple ring of murders with similar crime scenes develops into a series with a truly inspiring overall message. Although the major twist within the series can arguably be predictable for some, it does not soften the impact of its thematic value. The Strange Case of Dr. Hyde is a series that will leave you looking for answers and cringing behind every page with excitement and terror.
