Ah a techno internet horror tinged book that owes as much to The Matrix as it does the demon inside type of stories that permeate the horror movie industry. Throw in a little Harlan Ellison and we are off to the races!
Way back in 1999, Gabriel and a bunch of his friends discovered the Undernet; the world that exists underneath the internet. Charted on the W0rldtr33, the group lost control to someone who loved the violent hold of the Undernet. With no choice left, the group shut the W0rldtr33 down. But someone has found it, hacked it and now it threatens everyone in the real world!
James Tynion IV has co-created a world that could be ours. After all, we do have the Dark Web. The idea os an “underneath” where evil lives is an old idea, be it the Mayans, DC Comics Dark Metal or even Stranger Things. Hell, Tynion used a version of the idea for Justice League Dark! This time around Tynion gives us a world that could be ours, with a murder spree that, unfortunately, could also be from our world. With this being issue one, there is set-ups to be made, cast to introduce including the no named naked woman who seems to be instrumental in bringing the horror to the real world. Tynion works his magic in weaving the horror whilst also keeping the dialogue realistic for a number of the cast. It is good to see that Tynion allows a modicum of common sense when it come to motorcycle usage; a naked woman would be in danger, though I not sure overalls and fishnets, as much as I like the latter, really helps that much!
Co-creator Fernando Blanco providing the art for the book, utilises a range of styles and effects to tell the story from different perspectives. We have that naked lady, the crime scenes, we have “real life” along with past crimes and discoveries to contend with. Blanco deals with each impressively, ensuing that each has a different taste adding to this hot soup of a horror. Characters are drawn with their characteristics accentuated; thus giving the art its texture and to some extent it’s power to scare. As good as the figure work, as good as the facial elements are there is no doubt in my mind that the star of the art is colorist Jordie Bellaire who displays fantastics schemes of the rich outdoors, claustrophobic cells and the modus operandi and effects of the demon of the piece in staggeringly gorgeous fashion. Rounding off the art team is letterer Aditya Bidikar who yet again doesn’t disappoint; there is indeed a plethora of fine letterers around at the moment, Bidikar is certainly amongst them, even getting a cover credit! There are a range of covers available; it is truly buyers choice.
Horror is hard to do in comics books, I have said that previously. As good as the writing can be, and it is excellent here, with no music to add to the tension or jump scares, that shock factor can be missing. I think, looking a this book, Jordie Bellaire is, to all intents and purposes, the maestro conducting the timbre and tone of the book that, under the work of Tynion and Blanco, will provide even bigger shocks down the line.
Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars
Overall – 5 Stars
Written & created by; James Tynion IV
Art & created by; Fernando Blanco
Colors by; Jordie Bellaire
Letters by; Aditya Bidikar
Published by; Image Comics