Maniac of New York #1
- WRITER
- Elliott Kalan
- Artist
- Andrea Mutti
- Letterer
- Taylor Esposito
- Cover Artist
- Jonathan Luna, Andrea Mutti, Bryan Silverbax
- Publisher
- AfterShock Comics
- Price
- 4.99
- Release Date
- 2021-02-03
- Colorist
- Andrea Mutti
One of the most enduring sub-genres within all of horror is slashers, stories of unstoppable killers that slice and dice through any and all hapless victims that happen to cross their paths. While slashers are often neutralized by the end of each rampage, they live to fight again in seemingly endless sequels, spinoffs and prequels, recovering from even the most grievous mortal wounds. The unstoppability of slashers as personified forces of nature cutting through crowds of victims is the subject of the latest AfterShock Comics series Maniac of New York, by Elliot Kalan and Andrea Mutti. If the first issue is any indicator, the comic is shaping up to be a fun deconstruction of the genre while delivering the requisite bloody thrills.
A masked serial killer known only as Maniac Harry has been stalking the streets of Manhattan for over four years, leaving scores of victims as the authorities are unable to apprehend or kill him. In face of Harry's gruesome antics, the City of New York attempts to integrate the threat of the menace into their everyday life, providing systemized warnings about his activity as the entire city tries to adapt. And as a haunted political aide and disgraced cop join forces to stop Harry, they discover their biggest roadblocks may be the municipal bureaucracy rather than the serial killer himself.
Writer Elliot Kalan, who has previously written a whole bunch of Marvel Comics titles and comedy television shows, dives headfirst into the horror genre here. While there is some self-aware humor and plenty of darkly comedic sensibilities about the general populace accepting a literal monster becoming part of the new normal, Kalan is well aware that this is a horror story first and foremost and makes that point crystal clear in terms of tone, premise and pacing. There are plenty of nods to his clear inspiration in the Friday the 13th franchise -- with an entire entry in the popular film series featuring Jason Voorhees taking Manhattan, the connection is apparent from the jump -- but this also feels wholly original; a concept so brilliant in its simultaneous subversion and embrace of the sub-genre's tropes.
After previously delving into revolutionary history with the Dark Horse Comics series Rebels and world-building science fiction with the Top Cow series Port of Earth, artist Andrea Mutti brings a police procedural eye to the story's artwork. Much of Mutti's choice in the color palette is muted and largely in yellow and blue tones, creating a murkier effect with the visuals as the two protagonists begin their own investigation behind Harry. And when Harry inevitably strikes, Mutti is able to quickly and unexpectedly ratchet up that visceral terror quickly. Just as the New Yorkers aren't completely sure where he'll strike next, the creative team keeps the reader guessing when exactly their eponymous maniac will surface. And though this is a love letter to slasher movies, the violence so far, while certainly bloody, doesn't delve deeply into more graphic gore. This is a horror comic but not a particularly unsavory one.
Taking the kernel of an idea that began with 1989's Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan, a masked serial killer has come to the big city to up his kill count -- and the authorities unable to completely unable to stop him. For any comic book fans that also sport a healthy appreciation of slasher movies, this is a must-read title and one of the best debut issues from AfterShock Comics in recent memory. Kalan and Mutti make a natural collaborative pair and as the mystery of Maniac of New York begins, there is a feeling that the creative team and their silent killer are only just getting started.