Comics
10 Comics To Feast On: March 28 2012
Over the past year, there seems to have been a trend among publishers to move toward a more horror-oriented style. With spring on the horizon, there are even more horror books coming out every week. This week sees the second installment of CROSSED: BADLANDS, the final issue of GHOST RIDER, the last of the new Vertigo titles, THE NEW DEADWARDIANS, and many more.
With the ever-increasing number of books coming out between the tie-ins, the crossovers, and the new series, we’ve got to limit our lists for the week somehow. We present you with our ten most anticipated books of the week. So feast your eyes on these! Whether you’ve been into comics since you were a young’un, or you’re new to the game, we’re here to help you decide which books to pick up. If I’ve missed something you’re stoked about, list it in the comments. Read on for the skinny…
WRITTEN BY: Garth Ennis
ART BY: Jacen Burrows
PUBLISHER: Avatar
PRICE: $3.99
The Low Down: “The horror continues – twice a month with the unprecedented launch of Garth Ennis’ Crossed: Badlands. With the modern masters of horror at the helm, Ennis and artist Jacen Burrows, this promises to be a new epic tale of loss and carnage! Our band of survivors starts to unravel as they realize that the Scottish highlands are no longer safe and the Crossed grow ever closer. With nothing but a few rifles and their wits to put against the hordes of depraved Crossed, they soon find that in the world of Crossed there is no hope.”
The Feast: Leave it to Ennis to kick things off with a bloody bang. The first issue of Badlands was every bit as nasty as we could have hoped, and it set up the new series nicely. Thankfully this one comes out every two weeks so we don’t have to piss ourselves in anticipation between issues.
WRITTEN BY: Dan Abnett
ART BY: INJ Culbard
PUBLISHER: Vertigo
PRICE: $2.99
The Low Down: “Another vampire/zombie comic? Really, Vertigo?
Trust us. This is different. In post-Victorian England, nearly everyone of the upper classes has voluntarily become a vampire to escape the lower classes who are all zombies. Into this simmering cauldron is thrust Chief Inspector George Suttle, a lonely detective who’s got the slowest beat in London: investigating murders in a world where everyone is already dead! But when the body of a young aristocrat washes up on the banks of the Thames, Suttle’s quest for the truth will take him from the darkest sewers to the gleaming halls of power, and reveal the rotten heart at the center of this strange world.”
The Feast: Of all the popular zombie and vampire books out there right now (and there are a shitload) this one is by far the strangest. Then again the Victorian era was the era of gothic literature favorites like Frankenstein, Jekyll and Hyde, and Dracula, so maybe it’s not all that weird. I have no doubt this book will be filled with Victorian-style commentaries on class distinction, and the state of the nation. Frankly, monsters populating the late 19th century is a brilliant idea and here’s to hoping Abnett is up to the task.
WRITTEN BY: Clive Barker, Anthony DiBlasi
ART BY: Stephen Thompson
PUBLISHER: BOOM!
PRICE: $3.99
The Low Down: “Witness Clive Barker’s long-awaited return to tell new chapters in the series’ official continuity, a trajectory that will forever change the Cenobites and Pinhead! The gripping story arc that has everyone talking comes to its horrific conclusion! With blood on both their hands, Pinhead and Kirsty finish the epic battle they started, taking the Hellraiser mythos to a whole new level. It’s a mind-bending finale that will leave you speechless and begging for more!”
The Feast: The only, and I mean the only complaint I have about this series is how frequently the artist changes. They really need to find someone to stay on board, and hopefully that someone is Stephen Thompson because his art is damn good. This week Pinhead finally looks to get some revenge on the world, while Kirsty continues her struggle as Hell’s new leader. Barker fans couldn’t ask for anything more, this is a wet dream.
WRITTEN BY: Mike Mignola, Scott Allie
ART BY: Jason Latour
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse
PRICE: $3.50
The Low Down: “ As the world goes to hell, a backwoods vampire clan shelters themselves in their Gothic southern home, covered in fog and fungal horror, ready to create havoc for a trespassing B.P.R.D. crew.”
The Feast: Not reading BPRD? Well then you’re probably an idiot. Mignola’s BPRD hasn’t been this good in years… and that’s saying a lot considering it kicks ass every single year. The Hell On Earth storyline is shaping up to be every bit as stellar is we thought it would be. Even if you’re sick of vampires, you know Mignola’s got a trick or two up his sleeve to keep things fresh in his wacky world.
WRITTEN BY: Joshua Fialkov
ART BY: Andrea Sorrentino
PUBLISHER: DC
PRICE: $2.99
The Low Down: “Straight off the shocking events of last issue and continuing the story from this month’s JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #7, Andrew Bennett finds himself in a place he never thought he’d reach during his countless decades walking the Earth. But his absence on Earth signals a deadly loss of order in the vampire hierarchy, as the savage attack on humanity he’s long feared looks like it’s coming to pass.”
The Feast: This week, you get to watch the Batman run away. Yes, that’s right, folks, something so big and scary it causes the Bat to run in terror. Expect this week to get more involved with the JLD crew as the crossover continues.
WRITTEN BY: Peter Milligan
ART BY: Mikel Janin
PUBLISHER: DC
PRICE: $2.99
The Low Down: “Straight off the shocking events of last month’s I, VAMPIRE #6, vampires across the world have gone berserk, attacking anyone and everyone with a pulse. Fearing her apocalyptic vision of the future has come to pass, Madame Xanadu mobilizes the team to intervene. But everything the JL Dark members know about how to slay a vampire is useless, for the world has changed. It’s a crossover that had to be, continuing into this month’s I, VAMPIRE #7!”
The Feast: This is Milligan’s last issue before the esteemed Jeff Lemire takes the reigns and puts the focus on Constantine. Milligan has offered a very sweet and dark (for lack of a better word) ride until this point, but we can’t help but be excited to see where the incredible Lemire will take this project.
WRITTEN BY: Various
ART BY: Various
PUBLISHER: DC
PRICE: $29.99
The Low Down: “A cult favorite series is collected at last, from HOUSE OF MYSTERY #290, 291, 293, 295, 297, 299, 302 and 304-319 and BRAVE AND THE BOLD #195! Vampiric Lord Andrew Bennett turned his beloved Mary Seward into a vampire, hoping to keep her by his side through eternity. But what happens when her power turns her evil?”
The Feast: Before the New 52 series, I, Vampire was a cult classic from the early 80s. This collected edition provides a pretty incredible backdrop for the current series, and if you just can’t get enough of Fialkov’s work, I strongly suggest you pick up the source material.
WRITTEN BY: Tim Truman, Ben Truman
ART BY: Tim Truman
PUBLISHER: IDW
PRICE: $3.99
The Low Down: “The Trumans continue to redefine the western horror genre! Hawken looks up an old business acquaintance from his days as a Tucson Ring enforcer: Shanghai Mary, a shrewd opium-dealing brothel manager. Meanwhile, the merciless Sombre begins the bloody hunt for his old mentor…”
The Feast: Unfortunately, publication delays can sometimes ruin a series, losing fans in between months of inaction. But, Hawken has just been too damn good to pass up. The black and white art combined with the gritty western writing makes for a stellar work between the father and son duo. If you can still get your hands on a copy of the first two issues, it’s worth catching up. Recommended for fans of Jonah Hex, All-Star Western, and Sixth Gun.
WRITTEN BY: Rob Williams
ART BY: Lee Garbett
PUBLISHER: Marvel
PRICE: $2.99
The Low Down: “Final Giant-Sized Issue! The Ghost Rider Declares War On Hell To Save The Souls Of Those She Has Damned, No Matter The Consequences! Will Jonny Blaze Take On The Curse Of The Ghost Rider And Save Alejandra? Can She Even Be Saved?”
The Feast: Ghost Rider drama has been out the wazoo as of late, but it seems as thought things are finally winding down just in time for the final issue. I don’t think it came as much of a surprise when Marvel announced the cancelation of Ghost Rider, perhaps if Nick Cage were in the comic, it would have lasted…but probably not.
WRITTEN BY: Scott Snyder
ART BY: Rafael Albuquerque
PUBLISHER: Vertigo
PRICE: $2.99
The Low Down: “This is it! “The Death Race” comes to a stunning conclusion as we learn the truth about the origin of vampire hunter Travis Kidd. Plus: Some old friends return and a shocking ending that’s not to be missed!”
The Feast: The final chapter of the rockabilly vampire arc is here. Travis Kidd has been one badass mother from the get go, and it will be sad to see him depart after this arc. Snyder’s run through the various eras of history has been absolutely brilliant thus far, and we can’t wait to see where he brings us next.
Something I missed? Sound off in the comments or let me know on twitter: Tweet to @BD_Lonmonster
Comics
‘You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive’ – IDW Dark’s Next Horror Comic Will Make You Question Reality
Five friends. Four houses. One perfect life. Bloody Disgusting is excited to exclusively announce You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive, a brand new horror comic from IDW Dark.
From Eisner-Nominated writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, and rising horror artist Heather Vaughan, You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive is described as a “paranoia-laced, socially-conscious, horror mystery that will leave you questioning reality, and reveal that this crafted world is more of a nightmare than the idealistic dream they were expecting.”
Phoebe Joplin has never questioned the world her parents built: a secluded community where she and her friends were raised to be smarter, stronger, and better than anyone else. No distractions. No dangers. No secrets. Until the night of their graduation.
When one of them dies under impossible circumstances, Phee starts to pull at the edges of her perfect life—and what she finds is something far more terrifying than she ever imagined.
Because this place isn’t a sanctuary. It’s a cage. And no one who discovers the truth ever leaves it alive.
Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing (Batman – One Bad Day: Clayface, Star Trek: The Last Starship) co-write the upcoming IDW Dark horror comic, featuring art by Heather Vaughan.
Jackson Lanzing said in a statement to Bloody Disgusting, “You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive is in many ways a spiritual successor to our last creator-owned horror, The Principles of Necromancy – a dive into the promise and consequence of playing god with the blood of innocents. But the Hivemind book this reminds me of most is Clayface: One Bad Day. This is a deeply human story with intensely raw emotions – five best friends and their five mysterious parents, tearing one another apart for the promise of some impossible glory that’s waiting just beyond their darkest actions. We’re thrilled to be bringing this story to life with our long-time partner in crime, editor Heather Antos, at IDW Dark – and we’re particularly excited to give our Clayface fans a new, brutal and emotional horror made just for them.”
Adds Collin Kelly, “We’re deconstructing a feeling that seems universal these days; our elders have a death grip on their power, without any intention of giving it up to the generations that come next. YNLTPA is about growing up with the limitless potential of the future… and realizing how much it’s a lie we’ve been fed to keep us under the yoke of the past. Bringing this brutal experience to life is our artist and co-creator, Heather Vaughan, who brings an incredible amount of humanity to our cast. But it’s in our youthful leads that Heather’s art really shines – you are going to fall in love with these young people, even as they go through the worst experience of their lives. What we’ve all crafted together is going to be tragic, painful, but above all else, sincere – with a future so uncertain, there’s only one thing we can trust: you’ll never leave this place alive.”
“Some horror stories are about monsters in the dark. YNLTPA is about realizing the monsters raised you,” previews Senior Group Editor Heather Antos. “Working with Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly on this series has been a dream in the darkest possible way. They’ve built a story that’s layered, brutal, and deeply emotional, and every issue gives artist Heather Vaughan opportunities to push the art into places that feel both haunting and deeply personal. Some horror comics will keep you up at night…this is one that will stick with you for years to come.”
The first issue of You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive goes on sale October 14, 2026! Make sure to pre-order at your local comic shop by September to guarantee a copy.
Exclusively check out the various covers for Issue #1 down below.
IDW Publishing’s horror imprint IDW DARK features comics like A Quiet Place: Storm Warning, Smile: For the Camera, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees, The Twilight Zone, Event Horizon: Dark Descent & Event Horizon: Inferno, and more.
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