Comics
Review: BKV’s ‘Saga’ #3
The plot thickens to a new level of juicy in Image Comics’ 3rd issue of Saga, a startling twist of dark science fiction and fantasy. This book is no doubt my favourite of the year thus far, which says a lot since I’ve been knee deep in comics.Saga evokes nostalgic memories of Firefly mixed with the some old school Lord of the Rings and it doesn’t get any better than that! The first issue was a bit tough to get into for those not antiquated with BKV, only because of the sheer randomness of the world. But as the story continues to develop, it’s easier to relate to the oppressive power struggle that seems to make BKV’s strange world turn round. Without a doubt this book is not for the faint of heart but I seriously doubt anyone trolling Bloody-Disgusting is one of those people.
Laying it out on the line, the cover of this book has a ghostly apparition of a female child cut in half with her intestines hanging out … feeling that faint heart yet? The past two issues have been faster pace, action packed, and full of eerie situations.That said, this issue has much less blood shed, making the cover slightly misleading. Before you get disappointed there’s a nice interrogation scene which satiates ones hunger for blood and vulgarity. The ghostly apparition, as before mentioned, introduces herself this issue and looks to have a permanent role, but that’s all I’ll say for now!
This book is incredibly well written thanks to the skills of Brian K. Vaughan, the story has an all encompassing flow, while still delivering the various story lines that will inevitably merge at some point. The dialogue is very appealing, as a former construction and landscape worker lets just say I’m known for my vulgarity; Saga perfectly depicts how I speak in real life, which makes me love it all the more.
The story is also cleverly crafted around a subtle reflective narration that is for the reader alone (the voice of the infant of the family we are following). This style of narration is rarely seen in comics, but I have a feeling it’s about to become way more popular.
As for the art by Fiona Staples, it is genuinely impressive how well it suits the story. Her clear cut lines, tedious characters faces, coupled sketchy lines for clothing and other elements of the environment compliment one another well. This is a deadly duo that will go down in the history books as one of the best.
4.5/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – GreenBasterd
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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