Saagar Kote
Created by Harlan Coben and Danny Brocklehurst, Prime Video’s ‘Lazarus’ is a psychological thriller series that deals with the trials and tribulations of a forensic psychiatrist named Joel “Laz” Lazarus. He is dragged into a mindbending mystery of consequences when his father, Jonathan Lazarus, who is also a psychiatrist, is found dead in his clinic due to suicide. Laz also deals with enormous guilt related to the death of his sister, Sutton, almost 25 years ago. He has visions of his sister being murdered by an unknown figure, disturbing him deeply.
Dealing with the deaths of two family members, the protagonist’s life takes a dangerous turn when he starts to “see” his dead father. Haunted by the past and present, Laz’s future seems uncertain. The comic book store Morbid Comic Inc. makes a brief, but visually unique appearance in the narrative, and so does the comic book called Nightshade. The two places play a symbolic role in one of the mysteries being dealt with by the protagonist. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Morbid Comic Inc. Adds a Flavor of Mystery to the Narrative
Written by the aforementioned creators, the show is a fictional tale that involves real human emotions. Morbid Comic Inc. (MCI) is a unique visual feature that adds to the mystery and terror of the show. Though the comic book store appears only briefly in the narrative, it reflects the greater theme of secrets and deception in the show. Owned by Billy Macintyre, MCI is a store that has a Gothic charm to it. Dimly lit, it even makes Laz remark about its beauty and splendor. It is adorned with posters and paintings that appear to be otherworldly, deliberately meant to induce fear and intrigue. The store reflects the sentiments of its owner due to the fact that he has also seen his fair share of mystery in life.
The puzzling organization of the store’s spaces symbolizes Billy’s own hidden feelings about his past with Sutton, and his attempt to win her back. Spiritually, it looks somewhat similar to Elijah’s gallery called “Limited Edition” featured in M. Night Shyamalan’s classic ‘Unbreakable.’ Despite it being a fictional creation, the store manages to reveal the true state of Billy’s emotions, as he struggles to cope with his past and answer the questions posed by an inquisitive Laz. The symbols of deadly figures, demons, and other creatures make the store feel like the devil’s workshop, but ultimately, its true purpose is to add suspense to the narrative and Laz’s character arc.
Nightshade is one of MCI’s Major Hits
The comic book Nightshade takes prime real estate in the spaces of the MCI. It features a scary cover that features a devil-skull-like figure in red. It appears to be a horror book that delves into the mystery of the unknown world. The skull figure on the cover seems to be inspired by images of comic book characters in films like ‘Ghost Rider.’ The book also seems to hint at the theme of creature violence and death, in ways similar to ‘Alien’ and ‘Predator.’ Nightshade looks engaging and mysterious, but also disturbing, due to its obvious choice of haunting and death as themes.
In a way, the book reflects the theme of the show, which is also about a person being haunted by memories and visions of death. Though it is not explicitly mentioned, it can be presumed that the book takes inspiration from the aforementioned films and the visual elements featured in them. Nightshade is clearly MCI’s bestseller and presumably brings the store the bulk of the revenue. In conclusion, it can be said that both the MCI and Nightshade are elements that take some inspiration from comic books and films, but are fundamentally fictional creations that elevate the horror and mystery of the show.
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