FIRST LOOK: A QUIET PLACE: STORM WARNING #1 (IDW Publishing)

The small island town of Pearl, Iowa is preparing for a storm, but it’s not bad weather that’s on its way, instead it’s an alien invasion. The world has been attacked by aliens that are hunting for anything that makes a sound, and Pearl is in the direct path. IDW Publishing is adding to the lore of the hit A Quiet Place movie franchise with the release of A Quiet Place: Storm Warning #1 on March 11th, 2026. Ahead of the Final Order Cutoff date of Monday February 2nd, 2026, IDW Publishing gave us a copy of issue one for a SPOILER FREE review.

A Quiet Place: Storm Warning #1 - Written By Phil Hester – Pencils & Inks By Ryan Kelly – Colors By Lee Loughridge - Letters By Nathan Widick – Edited By Heather Antos - Published By IDW Publishing

Credit: IDW Publishing

STORY OVERVIEW:

There is a town meeting in the island town of Pearl, Iowa where the town Safety Officer Lonnie is warning the town of an imminent attack on the town by aliens that have invaded the world. He notes that they have a great advantage as the aliens cannot swim according to reports, and since they are an island all they need to do is destroy the bridges. However, the Mayor, who is also his little sister Terri, tells him not only does he not have the authority to do this, but also, she’s the boss and she doesn’t believe his nonsense. This seems to separate the town into two camps, and leaves Lonnie with a tough decision. Does he save his family and town despite his sister’s decision or does his sister’s side win out? Either way, is this alien menace truly on its way to this sleepy island town?

WRITING:

This story is a great addition to the lore of A Quiet Place. Phil Hester does an awesome job of capturing the atmosphere and feel of the hit movie franchise in this first issue. Hester paints a picture of a sleepy town with small town politics and stubbornness that is at a crossroads. No matter the decision one side will ultimately be right, but there is a great cost if the wrong side wins the day. This sense of urgency and importance really builds up some suspense, even before we get any alien involvement.

The most relatable part of the story is the sibling rivalry between Lonnie and Terri. Any reader with a close sibling or friend can understand this dynamic. In this story though that rivalry will have some dramatic and catastrophic consequences, which will surely keep the reader engaged. The fact that Hester can build these connections and suspense without the aliens that are at the heart of this franchise speaks volumes to how awesome his writing is.

ARTWORK:

The artwork in this book is fantastic and really captures not only the source franchise, but also the small sleepy island town feel. Ryan Kelly does an awesome job of painting that picture of small-town America, well also showing us the dangers that lie ahead. The backgrounds and town life are depicted in a way that any reader will be instantly transported to the town and have all the feelings they need. Not to be outdone, the design of the aliens is instantly recognizable for fans of the franchise, well still adding some cool touches that really stand out and make it their own.

Speaking of standing out, the color choices in this issue really make the art pop off the page. Lee Loughridge uses darker colors that are clearer to show us the scenes from the present. Well using more subdued earth tones for the flashback scenes. This really helps the reader instantly decipher what time frame they are looking at, well at the same time making the artwork truly stand out.

Final Thoughts:

A Quiet Place: Storm Warning #1 does an amazing job of connecting to the movie franchise and working as a perfect added story from this world. Issue one lays some awesome groundwork for the rest of the series to build upon. If this issue is any indication, this series will be one heck of a ride bringing readers drama and thrills the whole way. Make sure to get to your local shop or order this issue online before Monday February 2nd to lock your copy in. Trust me, you will want to guarantee that you will get your hands on this one when it drops March 11th.

FINAL GRADE: 9.6/10

Let me know your thoughts on A Quiet Place: Storm Warning #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!