Comics
[Comic Book Review] There’s So Much to See in “LOW” #4
There’s so much to see in issue #4 of Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini’s series “Low.”
WRITTEN BY: Rick Remender
ART BY: Greg Tocchini
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: October 29, 2014
Reviewed by Nick Brehmer
Marik has been pulled up into his mother’s hope. The third city, Poluma, still exists and they have found it. However, this hub of science and innovation has fallen into the hands of the scurvy horde and now, like Salus, runs the risk of destroying itself through blind indulgence. The disappointment of Stel and Marik is washed away at the sight of Roln who, back in issue #1, killed Johl and kidnapped his young daughters. Tajo, at least, is alive and has become a sort of play-thing/pseudo daughter to Roln who revels in the familial mind games that he plays with her. The mission of discovery quickly turns into a rescue mission. However, the ebb and flow of doubt and hope continues as Tajo turns out to be more of a willful prisoner than anticipated.
The artwork of this issue is so inspiring. I’m left wondering if the two creators even realize the scale of lore that they create in this universe. It’s on an epic level. Just like the narrative, it’s quick to change and full of surprises. Despite the grit of this new city we get to explore as readers, you want to be there, experiencing and the wonder and disgust that our heroes do.
The thematic brilliance of Remender’s narrative lies in his earnest pursuit of balance. I mentioned in the review of the previous issue that I was concerned that some readers may raise the “preachy” flag on this series. Issue #4 demonstrates that while it may be obvious that Remender is curating a keen sense of optimism, his characters aren’t naïve nor are his situations eschewing discomfort. The opposite really. Remender’s optimism thrives off of discomfort. Optimism requires discomfort in order to be intentional and significant. Balance is also laid out in the development of characters through the incorporation of flaws rather than a strict reliance on their qualities amidst their challenges. For example, up until now, Stel has been the picture of hope, but this issue highlights not only her pride but her rashness as well. Marik becomes the collected one in this issue, but his devotion to his mother’s hope leads him to follow her lead.
In the back matter “Lowdown”, Remender writes that they have a 60-issue story arc planned should things continue to go well for the series. This makes me very, very happy.
—
A product of the harsh lands of Northern Ontario, Nick Brehmer is in fact a sensitive flower currently blooming in the GTA. He spends his downtime wishing he was British. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @nicholasbrehmer
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.