Hotel Limbo
Creative Team
creative team: BEN HAREL, et al (28 artists)
publisher: TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS
Written by Seth Adrian Romo
In what started as a webcomic, has turned into a full graphic novel for readers to binge as they laugh—and sometimes shed a tear—in the adventures of Bellboy working at an afterlife hotel.
Written by Ben Harel with a team of 28 artists, Hotel Limbo is a fantastical and endearing series. As mentioned previously, Hotel Limbo started as a webcomic and readers should be aware how the art changes throughout each issue as part of the project’s design. In no way is this a bad thing as different artists get to put their flair on the roster of characters, but at times it makes the experience feel like a loosely connected anthology series with the same protagonist.
Readers are introduced to “Bellboy” in the first issue and given very little context to the supernatural world around him. There’s the hotel and it’s many customized rooms that are like mini worlds, giant cats—oh, and some people wear masks. Other than getting to know other staff and the fact that Bellboy isn’t sure why or how he got to the hotel—readers are clueless to what’s going on.
Fortunately, Harel’s world-building and witty dialogue do a lot of the heavy lifting in this experience. It’s easy to understand the context and just sort of “go with the flow” in each issue as small pieces of information are discovered.
While the art changes multiple times, each artists’ rendition of the hotel and staff feels fresh and (in a good way) at times like a fever dream.
The concept of a “shepherd” who helps people who have passed deal with baggage isn’t a new concept, but Hotel Limbo’s characters craft their own charming path that feels refreshing and full of chuckles.
Not every joke lands, but the outlandish personalities and playful way in which they will break the fourth wall like interacting with comic text brings a sense of levity to what is essentially purgatory for souls disguised as a destination spot.
There are some darker moments and suggestive scenes that encourage readers to consider the deeper context as to possible nefarious intentions of some staff, but despite being 250+ pages of story—the emphasis are little moments rather than rushing a plot.
Sometimes dark, but always silly, readers won’t regret “checking in” on this series.