The Vicar Woman

A new woman vicar arrives at the Isle of Bly, where the locals have constructed a new parish on the island, an exact replica of the Vatican. The vicar is thrilled at the enthusiasm of the villagers and their welcoming attitudes, but there are whispers of trouble. The details differ with each telling, but somehow, a family died, and each of the villagers refuses to take any responsibility. Whatever happened, the phantom of the little girl who may or may not have died haunts the island, reminding the villagers that even with their new vicar, they cannot escape their guilt. Rendel’s story is full of dark, beautiful imagery, with a claustrophobic and gripping narrative. The petty gossip of the villagers, the naïve sermons of the vicar, and the unnerving words of the young girl’s specter are enthralling. Rendel’s drawings add to this atmosphere, unnatural angles and distorted shapes adding menace to her otherwise friendly looking animal characters. Even the chatter at a party creates a stifling atmosphere—‘Bla Bla Bla’ plastered across panels, suggesting there is no escape either from the blandness or paranoia of the island. Rendel’s storytelling abilities are a refreshing reminder of the deep and dark places comics can take us. (Nov.)