Comics
Review: ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Willow – Wonderland’ #3
Things are decelerating in Dark Horse Comics’ Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Willow – Wonderland #3, as Jeff Parker and Christos Gage reach the half-way point of the series. The quick-paced narrative that plowed through the last two slows down in this installment, as our protagonist must come to terms with the fact that her ultimate quest to restore Earth’s magic is failing. With a newly encountered society of witches pulling her one way, and her companion Marrak, another, this issue presents Willow with a multitude of choices regarding her future, both in this mystical realm, and on Earth.
WRITTEN BY: Jeff Parker, Christos Gage
ART BY: Brian Ching
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: January 2nd
‘Part 3’ takes Willow through the soul-crushing realization that without magic on Earth to anchor a portal to this mystical realm she’s found herself in, her hope of bringing magic back to her world through the gateway is dashed. Her reality has collapsed, yet she makes very little progress in terms of completing her quest, as she spends the majority of the issue becoming increasingly enamoured with the new mystical paradise she’s discovered. The witches, though seemingly well-meaning, have as much motive as the mysterious warlock, and ultimately, Willow will have to choose which side to take in the upcoming issues.
Parker and Gage devote this issue to Willow’s inner-musings, insecurities, and fears concerning her place in a world without magic, her usefulness to Buffy and the gang, and her reasons behind embarking on the quest itself. While it is very much a self-discovery piece, Parker and Gage utilize other characters to incorporate elements of vigorous and bitter conflict, action, and romance; even bringing back Giles via ambiguous vision.
Brian Ching’s pencils and Michelle Madsen’s colours do not particularly live up to their previous work on the series, but the deep water panels, which follow Willow on a significant underwater journey, make up for the inconsistencies. Madsen definitely steals the show, but Ching’s use of symbols in these scenes is just as commendable. It’s probably the first time I’ve seen the Ouroboros, the concept of Yin-Yang, the Dharmachakra, and the Venus symbol all in one panel.
Sadly, while still being an interesting and worth-while issue, this installment doesn’t quit hit my high expectations, though I do believe it’s a necessary filler to set up the remainder of the series for what looks like an epic finale.
3.5/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – ShadowJayd
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.