Horror stories allow us to confront the darkness in our own souls and the world around us. So it’s a genre full of fun, cathartic, thrills, but it can also be incredibly thought-provoking. Because some of the best stories aren’t just about literal monsters. They’re also about the metaphorical ones that plague society. A great and recent example of the progressive power of horror is Jordan Peele’s Academy Award-nominated 2017 film Get Out which took on racism. The success of that film has inspired Hollywood to look for more thought-provoking horror films to develop. Producer Michael Sugar and Tristar Pictures believe they may have found just such a story in the Image Comics series Infidel by writer Pornsak Pichetshote, artist Aaron Campbell, and colorist/editor Jose Villarrubia. They optioned the comic series for development back in May after only two issues had been released. Having just finished reading the series fifth and final issue it’s clear that they’re on to something. Because Infidel is a visually stunning and highly entertaining horror comic with a profound message.
At its heart, Infidel is the classic haunted house trope, but Pichetshote and his collaborators have reinvigorated that formula with contemporary relevance. That’s because Infidel takes place in a haunted apartment building plagued by spirits fueled by hatred and xenophobia. The series also features a diverse cast of characters including Aisha, a Muslim woman in an interfaith marriage; and her best friend and neighbor, an African American woman named Medina.
As Infidel unfolds we follow Aisha, as well as her family, friends, and neighbors as they try to get to the bottom of the mysterious and horrific phenomenon plaguing their apartment building, which seemed to arise in the aftermath of a mysterious and possible terrorist attack. So the story has this great sense of creeping dread and mystery to it and we also get some powerful human drama that comes from the inevitable clash between neighbors. Eventually, readers learn what happened to the apartment building. It’s a shocking reveal, but also poignantly and powerfully real.
The series is made even more immersive by Campbell’s art. The way he depicts the cast and the emotions they’re feeling makes the characters easy to empathize with or all the more frightening. Where he really excels though, is his design and renderings of the twisted ghosts haunting the apartment building. Their distorted forms are terrifying and creepily convey the toxic, twisting power of hatred.
Villarrubia’s color palette perfectly compliments Campbell’s art too. Over the course of the series, his use and choices of color heighten the moments of horror, grounded realism, and powerful emotion.
So, if you’re curious and want to get in on the ground floor of a story that has the potential to be the next great horror film phenomenon check out Infidel. It’s a fantastic example of both great horror and the visual power of the comics medium. All five issues are currently available in print or digital format. And a trade paperback collection of the entire series will hit stores September 26th.
