• Blink #1 cover
    Blink #1
    Writer:
    Christopher Sebela
    Artist:
    Hayden Sherman
    Letterer:
    Frank Cvetkovic
    Cover Artist:
    Hayden Sherman, Nick Filardi
    Publisher:
    Oni Press
    Price:
    $3.99
    Release Date:
    2022-07-27
    Colorist:
    Nick Filardi

The found-footage subgenre remains one of horror's scariest and most unique premises. The question is, can it be translated across other mediums that aren't film or TV? Writer Christopher Sebela, artist Hayden Sherman, colorist Nick Filardi, and letterer Frank Cvetkovic set off on a quest to prove the trope can be just as terrifying in print in Oni Press' Blink #1, which is due out on Wednesday, July 27.

Blink #1 revolves around Wren Booker, an online journalist who appears to have a steady stream of clients and work. However, there's a haunting part of her childhood that she can't recall and wants to uncover. One day, she receives a link to a site called "Blink" that features CCT feeds of an abandoned building. Something in Wren clicks as she recognizes the location, and she sets off to find answers. Her obsession with the past leads her into more trouble than she ever could have imagined.

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Wren using her computer in Blink #1

Sebela doesn't give too much away in Blink #1. Instead, the writer utilizes this opening chapter to introduce Wren's determination to uncover the past and to explore the found-footage angle. Not a lot is revealed about Wren or her past, and the first issue leaves the audience with more questions than answers, but it gives the audience just enough information to keep the reader invested in what happens next.

Sebela's mysterious writing leaves a lot of the heavy lifting up to Sherman. The found-footage method works well in film because it generates fear from a first-person perspective, but it's a much different medium from comics and cannot be directly translated. Sherman still finds a way to bring elements of that terror into the confines of the comic form. Using CCT footage, Sherman attempts to recreate the same emotions that the audience feels in theaters and at home. The approach might not be perfect or clearly defined at all points, but it is the first and vital step in creating a new subgenre of horror comics.

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Found footage in Blink #1

Filardi's color reveals the hidden message of Blink #1's story. In the scenes when Wren is at home, the atmosphere is warm and comforting; it's her place of sanctuary. However, as she becomes more and more obsessed, the colors become darker and colder. The symbolism is clear here; Wren is heading down a path that might uproot everything good in her life, but she might not appreciate the sunshine until she confronts the darkness. Cvetkovic's lettering brings an additional personal touch to Wren's story, as the protagonist spends a good portion of the issue inside her own head. Impressively, the letterer finds a way to convey Wren's thoughts without overpowering or distracting from the artwork.

Oni Press' Blink #1 lays a healthy foundation for an intriguing premise. While it's too early to discuss the final payoff and successful execution of this found-footage approach in comics, this book takes major risks and deserves credit for daring to be different. Much like The Blair Witch Project, it could be the catalyst for others to follow and the beginning of a new comics trend.