Comics
Review: ‘Debris’ #2
Following the first issue of a new, four-issue, mini-series by Kurtis J. Wiebe and Riley Rossmo, Debris #2 continues with Maya settling into her new role as Protector of Maiden. After Jormungand destroys the village’s only water maker, Maya leaves Maiden behind to carry out Calista’s final request to find Athabasca—a legendary water source, the last one in this post-apocalyptic, dystopian wasteland, that could ultimately save her people. What she encounters along the way is a more ferocious “breed” of umbra, and a past villager of Maiden with a vague history with her fallen mentor.
WRITTEN BY: Kurtis J. Wiebe
ART BY: Riley Rossmo
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $3.50
Armed with makeshift garbage gauntlets and a massive rifle, topped off with a dangerously sharp bayonet, issue #2 opens up with Maya fighting off three aggressive and beautiful Umbrals. Rossmo’s fantastic rendering of these mechanical creatures, and colourist Owen Gieni’s bright take on Wiebe’s barren world, give the book a less daunting feel than most stories chronicling the end of life on earth. Even Maya seems to be confident and naïve in her quest, not letting the dire situation of her planet weigh on her drive to save it. Throwing out common heroine clichés and insults in battle like, “COME AT ME!” and “RUSTNUT!” shows her faith in her abilities even though she’s being faced with a kind of umbra she’s never encountered before.
After defeating them with ease, a sandstorm forces her to seek shelter in an abandoned amusement park where she encounters Kessel, the only human to live outside of the line. He’s a past resident of Maiden whom she was lead to believe was banished for causing civil unrest but ran away instead of facing the consequences. It turns out that the implied tumultuous relationship between Maya and the Elders Council in ‘Debris’ #1 didn’t start or end with her. Wiebe builds Maya’s character further by introducing Kessel, who, it seems, we will be seeing a lot more. We are offered a nice glimpse into the past of the Council, clearing up some mysteries from issue #1. By the end of this chapter, Maya seems to be even more confident as she continues her dangerous journey to the fabled water source in Athabasca.
Wiebe doesn’t only cement Maya’s role as a fearless, ass-kicking warrior in this issue, but he delves deeper into her personality. It’s really a refreshing take on a female comic book heroine. She’s intelligent, strong, driven, and loyal to her mentor, people, and the village she’s sworn to protect. Yet she’s also flawed. She’s naïve and has this resolute blind faith in Calista’s belief that the legend of Athabasca actually exists. To the point where she was planning on walking west until it magically appeared in front of her, not taking any time to think logically about the dangers she’d face. On the other hand, her blind faith and eagerness to save her people makes you root for her..
It’s disappointing to think that there are only 2 issues left, and I’m really hoping the public respond to it well in the off chance Wiebe and Rossmo decide to turn it into an ongoing series (“Green Wake” round two?). I want more of Maya kicking colossal ass in my life.
4.5/5 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.
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