Comics
Review: ‘LOW’ #1
“Low” # 1 is a blueprint for an astonishing series. A flowing sci-fi fantasy future is promised in its pages and I’d encourage everyone to dive in.
WRITTEN BY: Rick Remender
ART BY: Greg Tocchini
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: July 30, 2014
Reviewed by Nick Brehmer
The story begins with a passionate juxtaposition of two worlds, realism and optimism. The two lovers, Stel Caine, the faithful dreamer, and Johl, her strong practical husband, welcome the day when they bring their two daughters out beyond the safety of their underwater city, Salus. We learn through the soft bedside exchange that there are three underwater cities, one of which is thought to be a myth, but still a possibility.
While the search for these cities goes on, Stel turns her daydreaming eyes upwards, towards the surface and even the stars. A new planet – one not being engulfed by a dying sun’s radiation, the reason for their submersion – may be their best hope. Their daughters, meanwhile, are taking up the family mantle of ship helmswomen and huntresses, as they are the last of the Caines. An epic and heartfelt mythology is hinted at in these first few pages that I’m hoping is further expanded on in the upcoming issues. I’m sure it will be.
There are a lot of similar science fiction tropes to Frank Herbert’s Dune work, such as warring factions amidst significant elemental harshness as well as the elevation of the feminine, family history, and family bloodlines. Jodorovsky would be pleased. Given the aquatic setting, Remender makes sure to include the most natural of oceanic villains, pirates. The aptly named Scurvy Horde is the opposing force to the grace and beauty of Salus’s civilization. They are a harsh, cruel, and vindictive crew, twisted and deformed by the denial of necessary technology to thrive under the sea. The ending pages of “Low” #1 see Stel’s optimism tested but not broken as her family is torn apart by the horde’s hatred of the hunters.
The first issue contains a significant amount of exposition and dialogue but it’s Tocchini’s artwork that really stuns you. You can see his homage to the fantasy forefathers such as Frank Franzetta in the character designs and the colouring pulls you down into the depths of “Low.” I found myself returning to specific panels frequently to ensure I didn’t miss anything but also because they’re so goddam beautiful. You can get lost in this one, trust me. Willfully lost.
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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