The Storyteller takes us to the Caribbean and tells us the story of Ole Heg, a bloodsucking fire spirit! Can Ruth survive? Find out in The Storyteller: Shapeshifters #4 by BOOM! Studios.

JIM HENSON’S THE STORYTELLER: SHAPESHIFTERS #4 (OF 4)  

Writer: Deron Bennett
Artist: Dani Pendergast
Colorist: Dani Pendergast
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Editor: Allyson Gronowitz
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: June 1st, 2022 

Previously in The Storyteller: Based on a TV show in the 80s, the Storyteller shares unique stories with his loyal dog. These stories feature myths and legends from all around the world!

TO DEFEAT A SPIRIT

The Storyteller: Shapeshifters #4 begins with the dog hearing a strange flicker outside, reminding the Storyteller of a story. Ruth and her mother worked in a rice paddy. However, there is a new worker, an older woman, who must pick up any grain of rice that has fallen on the floor. Ruth is scared of her, and even more so when her mother tells the story of Ole Heg. Ole Heg is a spirit of pure flame, and if anyone opens the door for them, they suck out blood. Ruth then makes a mistake. She opens the door and quickly closes it. However, because she opened the door, it allowed the Spirit to freely enter the house, even if the door closed.

This Spirit begins to suck the blood of Ruth’s mother, and the old woman working on the rice paddy begins to grow younger. Ruth stays up, trying to stop the Spirit to no avail, and the mother’s health deteriorates. One day, Ruth goes and looks for the Spirit and finds the Spirit talking to a tree. The tree reveals the Spirit’s weakness: salt and the sun. The Spirit is also cursed to pick up rice grains on the floor. Ruth runs away, with the Spirit chasing her, and drops a bunch of rice on the ground. The Spirit can’t pick up the rice in time and perishes under the sun!

A GOOD INTERPRETATION

The Storyteller: Shapeshifters #4 feels like a unique vampire-like spirit story. What caught my attention was that this is a dark and grim story. These themes are unlike the other stories that have been in this series. Ruth’s mother is dying because Ole Heg feasted on her blood. Visually, the story never depicts these scenes in detail. Still, I wonder if I would give this particular issue to my kids. When I was a kid, a story like this would probably scare me for a while. Because of that, this issue feels a little out of place for the rest of the series.

The comic has a great theme, though. No one believed Ruth, but she went above and beyond to save her mother. Sometimes you just have to act even when no one believes you. While I don’t want to encourage my kids to take rash action. I think it is essential to follow their gut.

BOTTOM LINE: A LITTLE OUT OF PLACE

The Storyteller: Shapeshifters #4 is a great story, but it feels thematically out of place from previous issues. Still, I think this is a great book and a solid series. 4 out of 5 stars for a great comic, and I wonder what the theme of the next miniseries will be.

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The Storyteller: Shapeshifters #4

80%

80%

A Little Out of Place

The Storyteller: Shapeshifters #4 tells a unique story that is darker than the previous issues in the series.

• Writing

  8
• Art

  8
• Coloring

  8
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