EVENT HORIZON: INFERNO #3 (IDW DARK)

This issue of the series mostly focuses on Starck, one of the members of the crew of the Lewis and Clark. She bridges the gap between what happened to the crew of the Lewis and Clark and now. Worse than that, she gives a detailed account of the hell she has been in onboard of the Event Horizon for a couple of hundred years!

Event Horizon: Inferno #3 - Written By Christian Ward – Art By Rob Carey – Colors By Xenon Honchar - Letters By Alex Ray – Edited By Nicolas Niño - Published By IDW Publishing

Credit: IDW Dark

STORY OVERVIEW:

The issue opens with a detailed account of what Starck has been going through for a couple hundred years aboard the Event Horizon. The number of deaths she’s suffered too many to be counted. The way the ship toys with her emotions, feelings, and fears. Worse than that was witnessing her compadres parish and then forced to relive those moments for centuries. The personal demon that follows her is Weir, who fans of the series will remember all so well. We then snap into present day where she is fighting the demons onboard once again, now with the team that woke them all up as part of Durante’s master plan. As that plan becomes more apparent, the hell that the ship has unleashed becomes worse.

WRITING:

This issue continues the wild, disturbing, and deeply unsettling tale that has always defined the Event Horizon franchise. Christian Ward captures the tone of this universe almost flawlessly, understanding that the horror works best when it feels both cosmic and deeply personal. Rather than simply relying on gore or shock value, Ward uses Starck’s suffering to make the terror feel lived-in. Her centuries of torment aboard the Event Horizon are not treated like a quick piece of backstory; they become the emotional foundation of the issue. Through her memories, fears, and repeated deaths, the reader gets a much clearer sense of what the ship truly does to people once it has them in its grasp.

Ward also does a strong job of bridging the gap between the original tragedy of the Lewis and Clark crew and the present-day chaos caused by Durante’s plan. The issue gives Starck’s pain weight, but it also uses that pain to build suspense around what the current crew may be facing. There is a constant feeling that any moment of relief could be a trap, and that false hope becomes one of the most effective tools in the writing. As Durante’s motivations and the demonic forces around him become clearer, the story does not lose its mystery; instead, the horror becomes sharper and more focused. Ward keeps pushing the story forward with a sense of dread that grows heavier with each reveal, making this issue feel like an important turning point for the series.

ARTWORK:

The artwork perfectly complements the story, heightening its suspense, dread, and sense of cosmic horror. Rob Carey captures the spirit of the franchise and brings Ward’s script to life in a vividly nightmarish way, making the Event Horizon feel less like a ship and more like a living nightmare that is constantly closing in on everyone trapped inside it. The character designs give the cast a distinct presence, especially when fear, exhaustion, and desperation begin to take over. Carey’s expressions and body language help sell the emotional weight of the issue, making Starck’s suffering feel immediate rather than distant. The ships and settings also feel massive in scale, but the layouts still create a tight, claustrophobic atmosphere that makes every corridor, room, and shadow feel dangerous.

Xenon Honchar’s colors make the visuals stand out and intensify the book’s unsettling imagery. The use of harsh lighting, sickly tones, and deep shadows gives the issue a constant feeling of unease, as if something terrible is always waiting just outside the frame. The colors do more than make the pages look striking; they guide the mood of each scene, shifting between panic, violence, and psychological torment with impressive control. Carey’s strongest work lies in how he builds tension across the page, making readers hesitate before turning to the next panel because the book trains you to expect something horrible on the other side. Together, the art and color work amplify the horror, deepen the emotional impact of Starck’s ordeal, and leave a lasting impression long after the issue ends.

CHECK OUT MY REVIEW OF EVENT HORIZON: INFERNO #2

Final Thoughts:

Event Horizon: Inferno #3 moves the story forward by taking a look back and seeing where we’ve been before in the franchise. This look back doesn’t just serve as a flashback, but also in a lot of ways a look ahead to what’s to come. The horror and unsettling nature of the story continues, well also giving those elements a deeper meaning. This is truly one of the best horror series in comics today. If you are a fan of the genre and you haven’t been reading this series, make sure to grab a copy this week, pick up the past issues on Neon Ichiban, and make sure to add it to your Pull List so you don’t miss any more issues!

FINAL GRADE: 9.2/10

Let me know your thoughts on Event Horizon: Inferno #3 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!