Frank At Home on the Farm Anthology Review
Some of you might be familiar with Frank At Home on the Farm already, either from previous Kickstarters or from my review of issues 1-3. Issue 4 was released last year and creators Jordan Thomas and Clark Bint are now funding a hardback collected anthology on Kickstarter. There may be some spoilers ahead for those who haven’t read the book, I’ll try and keep them to a minimum though.
Synopsis
For the uninitiated, Frank At Home on the Farm tells the tale of Frank Cross, a soldier who returns home from the trenches of World War 1 to find that something is very amiss. Woodland Farm, his family home, stands empty, and no-one in the village seems to know anything about his missing family. Haunted at night by horrific nightmares of animal-like soldiers attacking the trenches and by day by strange disembodied voices, Frank’s already unsettled mind takes a turn.
Review
This is a seriously dark story, in a really good way. I said in my previous review of issues 1-2 that it’s one of the most unique horror comics I’ve read, and with the culmination of the story in issue 4 I stand by that. Everything, from Jordan’s writing to Clark’s art and LetterSquid’s lettering, combines to supremely atmospheric effect.
The final issue is revelatory, shocking and deeply moving. A double page spread towards the end of the final issue really impacted me (you have no idea how hard it was to choose the right words there without making a terrible content related pun). The final two pages left me needing to recover my jaw from my lap. I don’t know what I had been expecting in terms of the story wrapping up, especially after the hard turn in #3. What we get is incredibly affecting. One comes to realise that the true horror in this story comes from within – the psychological damage inflicted on Frank during the war had far reaching consequences.
Setting the story in the aftermath of World War One was an excellent move. Frank’s feelings of isolation and confusion are amplified by having gone through such a harrowing experience that no-one in the quaint little village he returns to can possibly fathom. Less so in the final issue as they are much darker both in subject and the art, but I love how the village is visually juxtaposed with Frank and the things happening on the farm.
The Kickstarter
The campaign currently has just over 2 weeks to go, and is fully funded already, but there are stretch goal options lined up for when they hit 300, 350 and 400+ backers.
The main reward available is a beautiful oversized hardback collection of all four issues plus extra back matter. There are other options available too. There is an “Inked” edition soft cover which features the story stripped back to Clark’s stunning lineart. Seriously, look at this!
You can also snag one of Clark’s original pages which, if I had the money, I absolutely would jump at.
There is also a limited edition variant with a wraparound cover illustrated by legendary artist Glenn Fabry (Preacher, Hellblazer etc). He recently posted the finished pencils for said cover on twitter and made me incredibly glad I backed that tier.
If you want to grab yourself a copy then head over to the Kickstarter now.
Pencils all finished. Not bad for someone with one eye.
Frank at home on the farm
Go over to @Jordan_J_Thomas' page to see how to buy it #pencilart #illustrationart #illustration #comics #horror #horrorart #cover #comicbookart #drawing pic.twitter.com/DKHJYIucvP
— Glenn Fabry (@fabrystudios) August 29, 2021
