Comics
5 Skull Review: ‘Trillium’ #1
In Jeff Lemire’s new science fiction series from Vertigo, a interesting premise is met with rich characters and incredible art. In one of the most anticipated debuts of the year, Lemire succeeds in creating a thoroughly compelling story. Ripe with excellent dialogue, fantastic world building, and just the right amount of intrigue, “Trillium” is a must buy.
WRITTEN BY: Jeff Lemire
ART BY: Jeff Lemire
PUBLISHER: Vertigo
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: Aug 7, 2013
Upon holding “Trillium” in your hands you’ll come to realize that it’s not like other comics. It sports a duel cover, and halfway through the issue you are asked to turn it over and start again. It’s a fantastic device, especially given the moment centered around… the center. Lemire weaves an interesting story into a wildly unpredictable midpoint.
We’re given brief insight into the dire straights of the future, and how the remnants of the human race have come to rest their fate on a flower. The whole thing is given immediacy with a gaping black hole in the distance.
We follow Nika. A scientist stationed with the remnants of humanity on the planet Atabithi. Nika is intelligent, a little reckless, and a leader. She is surrounded by conflict, but serves as an emissary of the human race. The native population of the planet is in control of Trillium. Yet, we know that the flower can be deadly when humans encounter it, do to a fantastic first page.
Lemire almost drowns the reader in exposition in this first issue. As he must. The world of Trillium is dense and different. The balance is not quite struck between action and dialogue, however it doesn’t matter. Typically exposition heavy issues collapse under their own weight. Trillium defies the odds and is built around so many unique and exciting moments that the pacing never sags.
Our other protagonist is William. A solider who suffers from PTSD, but spends his time traveling the globe. He is excitable and troubled. Still we cannot help but sympathize with him. Lemire takes us on an exciting traipse through the rain forest that hints at things on Atabithi. Things get dire, and William is forced off alone.
It is here that our issue ends, and seemingly our story begins. I won’t spoil the midpoint for anyone, but if you’ve seen any of the promotional artwork than you have an idea already. Needless to say Lemire pulls it off with a masterful touch.
Lemire is a unique presence in the comics industry. Not only are his stories known for their incredible emotional depth, but he often does his own art. The art here is by his hand and is perhaps his greatest achievement to this day. So many panels evoke an incredible sense of scope and wonder. One splash page of Nika driving over the surface of Atabithi will show you just how big his muscles have become.
Paneling has always been one of Lemire’s strong suits. He channels a more cinematic feel to even the dullest conversations. What results is a fantastic pace that doesn’t bog down in dialogue. Instead conversations are met with facial and body language through a multitude of panels. There are a few splash pages here that will blow your mind. On top of all this, William’s PTSD results in one of the most haunting things I have seen in a comic.
“Trillium” might be too dense for some. For most however, it will be compelling. Lemire doesn’t have time for those who can’t keep up. Make no mistake that “Trillium” is fantastically paced, but don’t go in expecting a balls to the wall action fest. This is a slow methodical look at the stakes of the future, and the concept of dare I say… star crossed lovers.
I cannot urge you enough to pick this book up. “Trillium” is changing the way we read comics, tell stories, and experience character. Get on board, and be part of the conversation.
5/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – Jimbus_Christ
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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