Babylon Cove #1
Writer: Rafer Roberts
Art: Joe Eisma
Main Cover: Joe Eisma
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: July 1, 2026
This review contains spoilers
Babylon Cove #2 picks up exactly where we left off; in the chaotic nursing-home-turned-cult-headquarters where the mysterious Karthon, monologuing or perhaps communing with the stone idol, Teratia, stolen from protagonist Heather Hutchens’ childhood home. With a very The Mummy (1999) vibe, Karthon indicates that the spirit of the idol, his beloved, will soon have a new home in the body of Heather.
We see Heather having dinner with her high school ex Dennis, who’s recently divorced and now mayor, suspiciously running unopposed ever since taking office. The date is not going well, with Dennis being incredibly full of himself, and Heather…not much better. While none of the characters in this story are particularly likeable, making the likelihood that they’ll all end up eldritch wormfood entertaining rather than suspenseful, it does seem that we may not have a case of purposefully unreliable narrator.
Throughout the Babylon Cove #2, we have more instances of Heather recalling the events of her adolescence, particularly senior year, that led to her exile from the town. When these past instances are brought up, Heather has trouble recalling them clearly, or additional facts will visibly shake her if they don’t fit her narrative. Based on Karthon’s intentions, it seems that Teratia may have had some influence over the positive aspects of Heather’s past and something, possibly a storm or other natural disaster, prevented Teratia from interfering further with the people of the town.
I love Joe Eisma’s expression work with Heather especially. From a saccharine smile plastered across her face as she tries sweet-talking a ride out of her ex, to an eye-rolling grimace as she walks away from an argument, to a teeth-baring snarl as she barges her way through a crowd of angry onlookers, Heather’s face communicates exactly what she’s feeling and thinking with no restraint, a perfect match to her out-of-control character.
Roped into all of this madness rather unfairly is the counter to Dennis’s wine-and-dine suave approach, nerdy Charlie Kalua, all grown up and now owner of the local general store. While he’s been on Heather’s hook for years, and seems almost smart enough to know better, his affection for her is apparently genuine, and has outlasted whatever soured in the hearts of the rest of the townspeople. Knowing what Karthon is capable of, we can only hope he makes it out of this somewhat un-wormed.
Speaking of Karthon, we end Babylon Cove #2 by checking in with him once more, this time conjuring a monster to aid in his attempts to retrieve Heather. I once again have to compliment Eisma’s work with this creature design; it’s very reminiscent of the 90’s gross-out era, but with more of an eldritch twist.
Final Thoughts
Babylon Cove #2 does a good job building on the first issue, giving a little bit more without revealing the story’s full hand. At this point, while I don’t think I’m emotionally invested in Heather’s (or the town’s) survival, I’m definitely in for the rest of the series.
