Comics
Review: “Zero” # 9
I was terrified to write this review.
Flipping through issues #1-9 of “Zero”, I could feel the personal connection behind the story that Ales Kot is weaving. With that said, there are depths here that I cannot possibly understand. But it’s the themes that most of us, if not all of us, can relate to that’ll pull the readers into the world of “Zero”, primarily rebellion and loss
WRITTEN BY: Ales Kot
ART BY: Tonci Zonjic
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: July 23, 2014
Reviewed by Nick Brehmer
For those who are just learning about this series, “Zero” tells the story of continued global conflict in the uncomfortably near future. Technology has evolved to such a level where human limitations are being erased and the perceived laws of physics are being broken. Edward Zero is an assassin working within an internationally powerful spy cell known as The Agency. He has been conditioned to be an elite strategist and killer. No attachments. No history. No emotion. Existence is a perpetual state of war – especially his own.
So much has happened. So much has changed. So much is unknown. Issue #9 focuses on the backstory of Edward’s “handler”, Roman Zizek, the man who trained Zero from childhood. In 1993, during the height of the Bosnian War, Zizek is playing both sides as an arms dealer. His lover, Marina is pregnant and the tension of the weaponry negotiations is cut by moments of tenderness between the two characters. In the world of “Zero”, such things aren’t meant to last.
Again, for those who haven’t been following the series, each issue features a different artist. In his interview with CBR News last summer, Kot explained that, “the artists inspire me to weave the stories in ways that complement their work. This can mean there are ripples being created — and these ripples then influence the larger whole. I embrace the possibility of modification.” The change in each issue reflects the various perspectives and transforming atmosphere of the progressing narrative. The artwork for Issue #9 is by Tonci Zonjic and is marked by a minimal colour palate and heavy use of shadow. There’s a five-paneled, double-page spread around the middle of the issue that shows Kot devotion to character and the significance he places on personal histories.
I caught my breaths being drawn out and my eyes widening multiple times. It’s an intense read.
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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