Comics
5 Skull Review: ‘Black Science’ # 1
Rick Remender and Matteo Scalera’s new creator owned series “Black Science” dives head first into unknown worlds where the conventional rules of the universe no longer apply. The debut issue is filled to the brim with pulse pounding adventure centering on a protagonist ripe with self-doubt.
Remender’s script provides an overload of monstrous creatures for Scalera to bring to life with his stunning artwork. While his protagonist’s self reflection will make you see the dangers in toying with the unknown parts of the universe. This is pure, original, and thrilling science fiction at it’s absolute best.
WRITTEN BY: Rick Remender
ART BY: Matteo Scalera
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: November 27, 2013
Rick Remender has always dabbled in the unfamiliar. In fact he seems much more comfortable there. Small sandboxes are boring, whereas big, nearly unfathomable worlds seem to be more his speed. “Black Science” doesn’t change pace but instead provides the perfection of that idea.
This first issue introduces us to anarchist Grant McKay, a genius scientist in the midst of a mission gone wrong. Mckay has unlocked the gateway to parallel dimensions and alternate realities. He finds himself questioning his work and philosophy as he is overwhelmed by the dangerous alien world around him.
Remender places the reader directly in the head of Mckay. Centering the book on a running internal monologue that bears his protagonist’s soul. It’s a bold move, because it doesn’t make Mckay inherently likeable. As time goes on, and shit gets worse, we start to see the humanity within the hero.
With the alien world closing in on him from every angle Mckay becomes desperate for redemption. He has a clear goal, and he’s willing to sacrifice everything to succeed. The writing is filled with a certain charm that adds a sense of energy to every line of internal narration. Grant is as lost as the reader, and he’s not really cut out for action. It’s the type of charm that made Remender’s “Fear Agent” such a joy to read, and never ceases to entertain here.
Artist Matteo Scalera is one brave man. Seeing the fully realized pages of this book, it’s almost impossible to fathom what reading the script pages must have felt like. The art here is beautiful, haunting, and dripping with originality. Every single page manages to top the one that came before it.
Be it the amphibious warriors on page two, or the tortoise pyramids amongst the torrent of purple lighting “Black Science” is a visual feast. Scalera makes every panel count, and creates a sense of kinetic energy that pushes the reader through a roller coaster ride on a alien planet.
The results are a beautiful companion piece to the tight story. Not a single space on the page is wasted, and every page is absolutely captivating. The improvisational battle with the little blue lightning frogs had me laughing and cheering. While Grant’s final heroic act manages to tie the issue together in a fantastic and neat little bow.
Remender tells a story unlike anything else, and shows us worlds no other can. Throw in a compelling hero, and incredible artwork and you’ve got the makings of a must have title. “Black Science” is a new masterpiece from a seasoned veteran who aims to take both this book and the comics medium to new and exciting places.
You can’t miss it.
Rating: 5/5 Skulls.
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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