Comics
Review: ‘Higher Earth’ #5
Higher Earth is an intriguing recent series from Boom! Studios that seems to be flying a bit under the radar. It revolves around the existence of multiple Earths, and how certain Earths parasitically devour others to cultivate wealth for themselves. People from each Earth have counterparts on other Earths as well, although the conditions of these Earths and the beliefs of these people tend to vary to some degree. At the top of this hierarchy is Highest Earth – the 1% of the multiverse, if you will – which is run by an enigmatic Queen who has some connection to our two main protagonists, one of whom is implied to be another alternate universe version of her. However, issue #5 functions as an expository backstory to the young Queen’s beginnings, and the start of her dominance of the multiverse.
WRITTEN BY: Sam Humphries
ART BY: Joe Eisma
PUBLISHER: Boom! Studios
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: Sept. 26th, 2012
While its fairly high-concept, “Higher Earth” has thus far been laid out simply from a story-telling perspective allowing easy access for new readers. Only a few characters have been introduced so far, and most of them are alternate versions of each other. This simplicity is one of the greatest strengths of the series. as it does not get bogged down with details. While this doesn’t lead to many wow-moments, Sam Humphries’ plots is engaging and establishes enough suspense to keep the action moving. Such is the case in this issue, as we see just how the Queen came to be.
Born a young child on a war-torn Earth, she becomes the first human to enter another parallel Earth. Her experiences hone a desire to explore the multiverse, as well as a ruthless survival instinct in her. A meeting with an alternate universe self then leads to a path she could have never imagined, but takes to with ruthless efficiency. A simple story, which doesn’t take many chances – except for the meeting between the two “Queens” – but it explores the development of the Queen’s character, and it provides an explanation for how the setting of the series came to be.
Joe Eisma takes over from Francesco Biagini on this issue. While his work is serviceable, it doesn’t quite meet the standard Biagini set in previous issues. Eisma’s work isn’t bad, but it’s far from remarkable. His characters are solid, but his environments are generally bland.
“Higher Earth” #5 doesn’t take many risks but there are moments hinting at the serious potential for the series. Issue #5 is another solid entry in this young series and it keeps the soft sci-fi epic trotting forward.
3.5/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – George Shunick
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.