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Image Comics' A Town Called Terror #1
- Artist:
- Szymon Kudranski
- Colorist:
- Szymon Kudranski
- Cover Artist:
- Tony Daniel, Szymon Kurdranski
- Letterer:
- Marshall Dillon, Scott O. Brown
- Publisher:
- Image Comics
- Release Date:
- 2022-04-13
- Writer:
- Steve Niles
30 Days of Night writer Steve Niles unites with Spawn's Szymon Kudrański to craft another tale full of horrifying promise. Published by Image Comics, A Town Called Terror #1 lays the foundation for a new horror comic to build something equal parts disturbing and mysterious.
A Town Called Terror opens in a morgue, but instead of seeing someone split apart a body, readers see someone stitching something back together again. What rises is an immortal being that seems no stranger to being dead and revived. This being has a son named Henry who hates his undead father. In its opening pages, Henry is happily living with his wife Julie. However, Henry gets kidnapped in the middle of the night. A mysterious -- and well-connected -- group of men escort Henry back to his childhood home to see his father.
What works best about A Town Called Terror's setup is Niles' understanding of how to build stakes and tension. Although readers don't quite know the extent of Henry's relationship with his father or even what kind of beings he and his father are, the story doesn't slow down. Whatever oddness is happening is normal to Henry so Niles' writing reflects that, carefully avoiding any explanatory crutches. Having a point-of-view character who is well equipped to handle this macabre world makes it easy to trust that all will be revealed in time.
Further, there's a welcomed wryness to Henry's voice that coats each of his words with a dark mixture of pain and humor. Readers can sense there's a tiredness to Henry, which makes us curious to know just what he has endured thus far and desire to learn more about him.
Kudrański gives each page a cinematic feel, choosing a photo-realistic lens for A Town Called Terror's world. This approach complements the supernatural mystery story well as it gives us a clear look at the unfolding events. While we puzzle over what's happening to Henry, we connect to the torment it places on him and his wife -- best shown through lovingly rendered close-ups of eyes. However, Kudrański isn't afraid to render a smoky and blurred effect to panels too, upping the books' creepy factor and reminding readers there's plenty in the darkness to uncover. What we see too of Henry's childhood neo-gothic home is gorgeous as well and evokes some Universal Horror vibes that feel equal parts cozy and menacing.
A Town Called Terror #1 whispers of something more sinister to come for Henry, and likely, his unsuspecting wife Julie too. Although its first issue relies more on action sequences than plotting out a specific course, it confidently propels forward. Horror comic fans curious to start a new title will likely enjoy seeing what terror Niles and Kudrański have up their sleeves.