Those monsters everyone thought were imaginary? Turns out they’re not.

In a not-so-distant future, where the continental United States, Mexico, and Canada are divided into five territories, we are introduced to the northern territory first. Administered by a Dark Watcher named Orpheus Knox, she is a shadowy figure that is able to bend light around them. Her authority is without question, which is demonstrated when one of her underlings fails to keep the human fodder alive and pays the ultimate price. Even monsters have logistical problems. The creature is replaced by a Howler named Virago who has a mysterious agenda of his own. It is a cruel and ugly world, where hope is almost non-existent until a child escapes a pile of bodies and flees into the wilderness. Can they escape being some monster’s next meal?

The story begins swiftly and to the point. No wasted dialogue here. The brutality is both horrifying and comical at the same time. This new reality also has an established hierarchy: monster politics – literally and figuratively. Everyone is looking for an edge to move up. What’s refreshing is we don’t see the same old zombies, vampires, and werewolf combination. I’m not familiar with the types of creatures in the story, but based on the backmatter, they may come from colonial, Native American folklore or possibly fairy tales. Future issues may tell us more of their origin story.

The art is dark and foreboding and draws you in immediately. Some of the characters are ethereal and frightening, while others are almost cartoonish. It’s an odd dichotomy, but it works and even elevates the story. The lettering is strong, as well, and contributes to the coloring and art by bringing us deeper into the world. There is no doubt this is a horror story, but one with a glimmer of hope.

Welcome to post-apocalyptic horror. I look forward to the next issue.

Creative Team: David Dastmalchian and Leah Kilpatrick (writers), Soo Lee (artist), Frank Cvetkovic (letterer)
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
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