Comics
Review: ‘Aphrodite IX’ #1-3
As part of the Top Cow Rebirth initiative, Matt Hawkins and Stjepan Sejic join forces to reboot David Wohl and David Finch’s best-selling graphic novel, “Aphrodite IX”; and for new and old readers alike, it’s one series worth diving into. Hawkins’ writing is incredible for its linguistic precision and attention to scientific detail. Sejic’s illustrations are remarkable, not only for the creativity of the universe he’s bringing to life, but for the professionally detailed quality of work he manages to consistently dish out without fail.
Both writer and artist take the fan-favourite green-haired assassin to a dystopian, post-apocalyptic future, where she’s caught between two warring factions in a hostile, and unrecognizable new world.
WRITTEN BY: Matt Hawkins
ART BY: Stjepan Sejic
PUBLISHER: Top Cow Productions / Image Comics
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: July 17, 2013
To shed some light on the Sci-Fi/Fantasy, cyberpunk world in which the story takes place, provided on the opening pages of issue #3 is a basic synopsis of the “Aphrodite IX” universe. For new readers, the Aphrodite protocol was designed to create humans that could survive an extinction level event via genetic enhancement and superintelligence, in order to repopulate the Earth. Two rival factions eventually emerged from the old world after the protocol was initiated, and now occupy the same small strip of land while battling over resources. To the East, in a city called Genesis, genetically enhanced humans live in tribes under a theocratic monarchy. In the West, cybernetically-enhanced humans live under totalitarian rule in the city of Speros. Issue #3 goes deeper into the reasons why both sides are at each other’s throats, and highlights the animosity each faction feels for each other’s way of life.
Regarding Aphrodite as the main protagonist, Hawkins writes the series’ namesake quite differently than the original character. She isn’t an android in this series, but both cyborg and human due to her DNA being genetically modified in utero. She’s a Generation IX, Aphrodite Tracker-Killer, designed to seduce, infiltrate, and kill; and that fact is evident in both script and art. Hawkins highlights her abilities through inner monologues which detail effective ways to slaughter enemies most efficiently.
Aphrodite’s been frozen in a statis chamber for hundreds of years before she’s discovered by Marcus, the heir to a large tribe of genetically enhanced people, in the aftermath of a battle. Unfortunately, her handler, who is able to control her actions given the proper technological equipment, is captured by the cybernetically-enhanced Executor Chronos. A full-scale war between the two conflicting groups is eminent, and now Aphrodite is caught in the middle of it all as she’s programmed to wreak havoc on the ruling family in Genesis against her will, and without her knowledge after the fact.
Hawkins portrays Aphrodite’s lack of agency over her own body and narrative in a way that’s expected—given the dialogue used by her handler who refers to her as his pet and slave—yet it’s still disturbing enough at times to cause discomfort. The battle inside The Temple of Light, in the final pages of the third installment, illustrates this well. Overall, his writing is still very much engaging and smartly penned; that of course can be attributed to the impressive amount of academic research put into the series. His notes and findings are featured at the end of each installment.
As previously mentioned, Stjepan Sejic’s artwork is amazingly detailed, professionally executed and really satisfying to see on paper. It’s not particularly common to see such a realistic technique and style of art featured in comic books, but in a Sci-Fi/Fantasy setting, it works really well. It’ll be hit or miss among comic enthusiasts though. His dragons are phenomenal and fit perfectly with the overall theme, but he shines where the story calls for action; taking up two pages at a time in places, for an epic visual experience.
Three issues into the series and “Aphrodite IX” is gearing up to be a crazy ride. Looking forward to the next installment.
4/5 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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