Comics
Review: “Five Ghosts” # 8
Frank Barbiere and Chris Mooneyham continue their pirate adventure this month with the second chapter of “Lost Coastlines” in “Five Ghosts” # 8. All of the familiar pirate elements are wonderfully spun to suit Fabian’s eclectic skillset in a action packed chapter that takes the series in a new direction. Mooneyham brings a heist together with unbelievable detail and manages to outdo even himself in an incredible issue.
WRITTEN BY: Frank J Barbiere
ART BY: Chris Mooneyham
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: January 8, 2014
“Five Ghosts” never manages to disappoint. Continually this series is a fast paced pulp adventure centered on an endearing charismatic hero who solves problems with increasingly interesting methods. Nothing ever feels dull, and amongst the backdrop of various different locales the book manages to add something to the “tried and true” adventure genres.
So it should come as no surprise that “Lost Coastlines” part two takes many familiar pirate elements and warps them to Barbiere’s liking. I was amazed to see all of Fabian’s ghosts at play within the climax of the issue. Each of them add to the situation to create a unique soup that boils over in all the right ways. While reading this issue I imagined the limitless possibilities in writing this series, as Barbiere finds unique ways to play with Fabian’s incredible skillset.
The characters of “Five Ghosts” are amongst the biggest draw. The adventure is always amazing in scope, which usually means plot overcomes character. Barbiere spends extra time ensuring that his characters are motivated by both internal and external forces. Giving the book the added depth it needs to succeed. Even after all of the action of this issue, we’re reminded of Fabian’s past with the final panel. This roguish adventurer has pissed off a lot of people in his efforts and we will soon learn the depth of a severed relationship from his past. It’s excellent because it raises the stakes and says more about Fabian than I have room for here.
Mooneyham will have you in awe this month. The excellent use of the ghosts behind Fabian as he uses their skills or his beautifully depicted panels in the climax of the issue, demonstrates Mooneyham’s impeccable range. Even the attention to detail in the way Fabian moves depends on which ghost is being channeled. Mooneyham has thought of it all.
While simple things like the screaming pirate in the foreground pointing to his burning ship in the background add a sense of urgency to the book. Not to mention the disgruntled figure of the pirate just seems like Mooneyham’s jam. Everything here fires on all cylinders. The final sword battle will have your jaw on the ground. Especially with Fabian’s incredible sword throw near the end of everything. I mean holy shit, it’s just too awesome.
If you couldn’t tell “Five Ghosts” is one of the most consistently amazing books out there. Barbiere and Mooneyham have crafted a masterful dedication to pulp that pushes the medium and never fails to entertain. Deep characters, amazing adventures, and incredible action await you with every issue. Don’t miss this book.
Rating: 4.5/5 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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