Crimson Lotus #1

Spinning out of the Hellboy universe, Crimson Lotus #1 opens this five-issue Dark Horse series with a cover by Tonči Zonjić that immediately establishes an unsettling sense of dread — a young girl in a white kimono with a red floral ornament in her hair stands solemnly in the foreground, clutching a red sash, while a dark, long-haired figure looms behind her against a deep crimson backdrop populated by ghostly, shadowed forms. The contrast between the girl's quiet composure and the menacing presence surrounding her sets a tone that feels both intimate and deeply foreboding. With John Arcudi writing, Mindy Lee on art, and Michelle Madsen's colors, this is a promising start to what looks like a gorgeously atmospheric thriller.