I was recommended to check this series out by KU’s Editor-in-Chief and I’ll admit, I’m happy I did. I have a background in cryptozoology and have even been on a documentary about the very subject in the past. And I will note before going in: Of all the cryptids out there in the world, the infamous Jersey Devil is one that I wholeheartedly didn’t believe in. That being said, this story from Dark Horse Comics not only reminds me why I love cryptozoology, but also the fact that there may be room in the world to believe in this devilish figure that roams in the shadows of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
A True Weird Story, this collection of issues by James Tynim IV and Steve Fox explores not just a sighting of the Jersey Devil, but a juxtaposition of the history of the creature and how even to this day, its presence has not been forgotten. Henry, a learned young man, has moved back to his family’s farm to help out after the passing of his father. On a dark night, he hears a disturbance on the farm and comes face to face with a hulking winged mass of a demonic nature. As he tries to come to terms with what he saw, family tensions rise as Henry tries to make sense of what is actually out there in the woods at night. This happens all the while the reader gets to also experience different eras of this horrifying piece of folklore, ranging from the 1700s all the way to the year 2019.
This narrative not just tells its own story, but presents the folkloric history of the Jersey Devil in a believable and enticing manner. It’s fascinating because it showcases classic Devil stories like the lore that the creature might have been just a kangaroo dressed up with devil features in a dark and broody room as a carnival trick. Or like how even to this day, films about the Jersey Devil are still being made and that even as times are changing, the lore of the demon of the Pine Barrens is still ever present in the backwood whispers of this particular stretch of the North Eastern United States. Henry’s story as well as the folklore of the Jersey are compelling blended to make a truly satisfactory tale cryptid mystery that will have you wondering, “Do you believe?”
The art of this volume alone is something that draws believers and nonbelievers alike to pick up this engrossing graphic novel. I absolutely love how the imagery just pops and allows the story to flight while at the same time stay incredibly grounded. A highlight sequence for me is when Henry and his brother are heading home and all the versions of the Jersey Devil (also known as the Leeds Devil) seemingly stalk them from the shadows. This vivid imagery makes the cryptid’s mystery not just a tangible thing, but it showcases how the history of this unique tale that the Devil came to New Jersey is so unique and engrained in that part of that area of the Eastern Seaboard.
I could rant and rave about this comic but frankly, I think that it is truly a graphic novel to go in blind to with as little spoilers as possible. Not often do you get a monster story that showcases not just the creature feature that is a Jersey Devil story, but allows the reader to experience the rich history of the beast and how it has affected American culture since it first took flight in the 1700s. If you are a fan of cryptozoology, folklore or American history, this publication from Dark Horse is something you should check out!
Overall Score: 8.5
In this story of cryptozoology and folkloric history, Let This One Be a Devil makes even a non-believer like myself wonder if maybe there is truly something lurking in the woods of the Jersey Pine Barrens. A top notch and highly recommended piece of creature feature literature.
