Comics
Monkeybrain Monday Review: “Art Monster” # 1
While Monkeybrain comics may not specialize in horror, they do specialize in quality comic books. For those of you looking to expand your palette this is “Monkeybrain Monday” showcasing some of the digital titles this smaller publisher has to offer.
Jeremy Holt is about to become a household name with numerous exciting projects in development. “Art Monster” is one of the few horror books the publisher offers. So naturally it’s the perfect fit for today’s feature. The story follows Victor Stein, a listless art college student who has been lost in his educational institution for seven years. Through a macabre voiceover Victor ponders the question of artistic innovation to ghastly results.
WRITTEN BY: Jeremy Holt
ART BY: Francesa Ciregia
PUBLISHER: Monkeybrain Comics
PRICE: $0.99
GET IT HERE: http://www.monkeybraincomics.com/
Anyone who has been to art school knows the place is filled with weird people. This strange place gathers a society pulled from different houses of inspiration. The effect can be alienating for those who don’t have it all figured out. Which is exactly Victor’s problem. He ponders the line of innovation: the difference between not going far enough and going too far.
This is all brought to life by a grim voiceover that amounts to a very telling analysis of the artistic process. Brought to life by Francesa Ciregia’s dark and bold art. Contrast is this black and white books best friend. The blacks motivate most panels and special attention is paid to shadows. They are often closing in on the subject of a frame and create a claustrophobic look that adds to the vulnerability of the narrative.
Naturally the reason Holt ponders the question of going too far is so he can take Victor into a dark place with a moral high ground. It’s the type of excellent character premise that fueled stories like “Re-Animator.” To push the boundaries, to try something different, to enrich the medium we must break down taboos.
There is an assortment of supporting players who briefly introduce themselves in this debut. Holt takes the little time he has to suggest who they are and how they will ultimately influence Victor.
While the book only ponders this question the real disgusting stuff has yet to come. The hints of the horrific art on the horizon are enough to fuel this exciting read. For anyone who has even been lost as an “artist” or has contemplating how to contribute to the ever-expanding canvas of art history than this book will surely resonate with you. It’s a wonderfully written look into being lost in art brought to life in a dark and brooding style.
Rating: 3.5/5 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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