Comics
Final Issue Review: ‘Hellraiser: The Dark Watch’ #12
The epic-sized final issue of “Hellraiser: The Dark Watch” #12 ends with a spectacular conclusion. This is an all-out monster-extravaganza as the war for Hell between Elliot Spencer and Kirsty Cotton spreads to Earth. The “Dark Watch” series takes the Hellraiser franchise to new depths that horror fans will enjoy.
WRIITTEN BY: Clive Barker and Brandon Seifert
ART BY: Tom Garcia
PUBLISHER: Boom! Studios
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: Jan. 15th, 2013
In order to stop Elliot Spencer and beat him at his own game, Kirsty Cotton has to make tough choices, even as she is exhausted from fighting. She has already sacrificed her own soul and lost her long-lost “daughter,” Tiffany, in the process. To help her mother, Tiffany made a deal and became a Cenobite to join Harry D’Amour and his army. But even with all his demonic powers, Harry does not have enough strength and Cenobites to take down Spencer. With one more sacrifice left to make, will that be enough to save Earth from the wrath of Spencer and his vicious breed of demons?
As the series progressed, Clive Barker and co-writer, Brandon Seifert, focused on the mother/daughter relationship between Tiffany and Kirsty. They both share a feisty attitude and have bonded over their strong personalities. One of the highlights for me in this issue is watching Tiffany and Kirsty fight side by side. It makes me wonder why no one had thought of this before as a sequel to the “Hellraiser” movies. Barker and Seifert have to cram so much exposition and action in this final issue, that not a single page is wasted.
What I think made “The Dark Watch” work so well is how Seifert injected his brand of witty humor into the dialogue. Even though he became the new Pinhead, Harry is still the everyman caught in an extraordinary situation. Harry fights back the only way he knows how; by throwing in some sarcastic remarks. The relationship between Kirsty and Tiffany comes alive as they banter back and forth. I believe it was this sense of comic relief that rejuvenated the Hellraiser series and made the franchise feel fresh again. Seifert knows how to add some comedy and go really dark at the same time, especially in the last pages.
Artist Tom Garcia definitely knows how to illustrate the power-hungry mind of Spencer. As Pinhead, Spencer was serious and calm, as if he felt superior than everyone else. Spencer, in his new monstrous form, has more freedom in his movements and facial expressions. In his close-ups, Spencer has a maniacal smile on his face, as if he is relishing every moment. Spencer seems to be having fun as he is torturing Kirsty.
In the climactic battle between Spencer and Kirsty, Garcia focuses on their body poses and facial expressions. Garcia portrays Kirsty and Spencer as if they are the same person, as if they were born warriors at heart. I don’t want to spoil the ending, but the last pages are definitely Garcia’s best work. Hellraiser fans are going to love what Garcia does with the character designs of the core cast members.
Though this is the final issue of the “Hellraiser: The Dark Watch” series, the last pages will leave readers wanting more. A clever nod to Hellraiser fans, a central character promises he will see you soon. How soon can that issue get here?
4/5 Skulls
Reviewed by Jorge Solis
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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