Comics
Review: ‘Bedlam’ #2
Image Comics’ newest horror story, Bedlam, is back this week to add to the mayhem from the debut issue. The story is loaded with intriguing plot details as villain extraordinaire Madder Red, tries to take on a new life. Rossmo’s art is specifically designed for Spencer’s story, adding to its overall insanity of the story. This issue picks up the pace, but remains somewhat ominous.
WRITTEN BY: Nick Spencer
ART BY: Riley Rossmo
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: November 28th, 2012
“Bedlam” follows one Fillmore Press, once the psychopathic terrorist Madder Red but now, thanks to the help of a doctor – that reminds of Victor Frankenstein – is simply trying clear his soul and rejoin the human population. The city of Bedlam itself is currently plagued by a brutal murderer who we get a glimpse of in action in this issues prologue. This issue is a massive contrast to the first issue. Previously the story really revolved around Fillmore’s past as Madder Red, while this issue turns its focus to Fillmore’s present life and the events unfolding around him. Due to thhe change, unfortunately, the book doesn’t have the same psychopathic dialogue that issue #1 possessed.
Nonetheless, Nick Spencer is weaving one hell of a story and is truly excelling at his craft. The use of flashbacks to help explain what Madder Red went through to get to this point, coupled with mysterious banter between Fillmore and his doc allow for an in depth understand of the plot and sub plots. “Bedlam” is about much more than the rehabilitation of a murderer, though it’s hard to see where Spencer is taking us on this ride through villainy.
When it comes to art, I tend to like hard lines, clear images and eye popping colour. This book is the exact opposite with excessively sketchy lines giving it an unfinished look and a soft colour pallet that stays neutral unless there is a presence of blood. Rossmo’s art has only grown on me over the year, the sketchy style reflects the mood of the story as well as Fillmore’s current mental state, it also makes the book a more intriguing read as there is clearly a method to Rossmo’s madness. The closer I inspect the drawing, the more impressed I am by the details hiding underneath the wild line work.
“Bedlam” is like a 7-layer nacho dip. It has many different layers that are becoming more mixed together and there’s no end in sight. Not lacking violence and gore either, this book has potential to become one of my favorite reads.
3.5/5 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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