Comics
Review: ‘The Fuse’ #2
I want to bathe in the “dirty sci-fi” of “The Fuse”. It’s my new favorite sub-genre of science fiction. This isn’t hard sci-fi—there will be no technical explanations of big, scary gadgetry, nothing highly scientific going on. But it’s gritty as hell. That combined with its smartly speculative plot make for a sci-fi that’s appealing and palatable to tourists in the genre yet remaining entertaining to the die-hards. This fantastically crafted comic has the guts of an old pulp rag with the experience of the 21st century comic culture.
WRITTEN BY: Antony Johnston
ART BY: Justin Greenwood
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: March 19, 2014
To refresh your memory, “The Fuse” is a science fiction/crime/cop drama comic set in the near future in Midway City, an orbiting energy platform 22,000 miles from planet Earth. Emancipated from Earth, Midway City is a five-mile-long steel pressurized environment with very strict laws and a lot of corruption. Veteran Fuse detective, Ristovych, and literal brand new Fuse detective fresh in from Germany, Dietrich, are a seemingly incompatible team until they start digging into the case.
In issue two, as they really dive into the murders of two Fuse cablers (think homeless person meets a computer hacker of the Angelina Jolie and Jonny Lee Miller variety), the low-level compatibility between the two transforms into mutual respect for each other. I love the way that Johnston writes this partnership’s dynamic. It’s definitely got the tropes of an “Odd Couple” relationship mixed with a genuine power that leaves the reader with absolute confidence in their relationship and ability to kick ass together. This is such an urbane and effective dynamic.
Greenwood’s illustrations have completely seeped into the fabric of Johnston’s world. At first I struggled with the stark simplicity of his art but over the course of these first two issues, I’ve grown to love the way his characters and worlds are so distinct yet so light on detail. Literally. His illustrations have very little detail and can appear shifty or blank at some points. But that’s what’s so damn amazing about this style, all the expression in the comic comes from the impact of one single frown line, a raised eyebrow, a tight lip. It blows my mind that he’s able to accomplish so much emotion with such a minimalistic style.
The plot—pacing—is quick and smooth, which is hard to come by in science fiction. Reading in this genre can often feel long-winded and tedious but “The Fuse” manages efficiency and simplicity without losing the hardened edge of crime set in science fiction. It gathers up armfuls of other sub-genres (see: cop-procedural, crime drama, dystopian, speculative fiction) putting them in a melting pot with sharp writing, perfect pacing, and intuitive wit. It’s truly a bold combination of slow burn tension, in-your-face dialogue, and cerebral execution.
4/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – Bree Ogden
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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