Comics
Review: ‘Abe Sapien’ #5
Hell on Earth has come and the B.P.R.D.’s only clue as to how to stop it is Abe Sapien, who is currently on the run from an agency that no longer shadows his trail. “Abe Sapien” #5, The New Race of Man Part 2, doesn’t shed too much light on Abe’s current condition, but it is crafted in a way that makes it an interesting and thrilling read. I can never stop giving praise to the creative team behind this book, both writing and art are a treat to witness, making each issue special in its own way.
WRITTEN BY: Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
ART BY: Max Fiumara
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
RELEASE DATE: August 7
PRICE: $3.50
Abe is a man, er… Amphibiman, on mission which is to figure out what the hell in dodge is going on. His current situation is a lot less hairy than previous encounters he’s had since waking from his coma but this doesn’t mean it’s any less impactful. In the midst of a group of monster worshipers Abe finds himself as their idol and is forced to help when one of group turns up dead. This leads to a series of conversations and altercations which eventually lead to Abe making an executive decision over the situation. On the flip side we learn more about the motives of the individuals behind a certain B.P.R.D. agent’s resurrection.
This issue is interesting in terms of the greater plot within the Hell on Earth event. Though this story is small peanuts in the grand scheme of things there are certain clues and hints dropped throughout t book. The book itself is not overly exciting though there is a little monster action, none that compares to the previous story arc where Abe took on a big crowd of uglies. The intrigue within this book is much more subtle than that which can be infuriating or enlightening depending on how you flip the coin or wake up in the morning. One thing for certain is that Abe Sapien is playing a big part in future events and that Mike Mignola and John Arcudi are the two people best fit for the telling of the tale.
Max Fiumara’s illustrations are spot on for this book. Since there isn’t a lot of action it’s a treat to see how much detail can be put into each panel that only contains dialogue. So much of this book depends on atmosphere and mood which Fiumara creates with his art. Of course there is the ever talented Dave Stewart as colourist, never does he cease to amaze me in capturing the perfect colour pallet for any given panel or page. Without these guys on board, this book would not be what it is.
It’s a sad fact but Abe Sapien won’t be back in his own ongoing until October, I don’t know if this means that he will make appearances in other book along the way, but I am certain that we will miss this book in the meantime.
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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