A group of outcast teenagers just want to enjoy their D&D game and metal music. But since this is small town America in the 1980’s, they can’t find any peace, even in a cemetery. One night as they are playing their music and enjoying their campaign, some bullies show up to ruin their night. Unfortunately, something dark makes an appearance and slays some of the teenagers. Now the remaining outcasts are trying to prove that they had nothing to do with the deaths, well also navigating a new friendship with a weird kid who wears a mask.
Satanic Panic #1 – Written By Matt Miner – Art By Clay McCormack - Colors By Oliver Mertz – Letters By Matt Krotzer - Edited By Jon Moisan - Published By Mad Cave Studios
Credit: Mad Cave Studios
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
WRITING:
This first issue kicks the story off amazingly and hooks you instantly. Matt Miner does a great job of introducing us to our outcasts and showing us way we should care for the mistreatment they receive. By the time the slaying in the cemetery happens, we are already invested in their story and plight. The way Miner is able to make the quick emotional connection to the readers is astounding and stands as a testament for the story he’s crafting. Taking this a step further he shows us that it’s not just the bullies from the high school that are treating these young men badly, but also the authority figures in this town. The police are openly bigots and mistreat the boys for their taste in music, ethnic background, race, and sexual orientation. This goes to show that no matter what they do they will never be treated fairly.
This now opens up the mystery of what exactly happened in the cemetery. The “demon” that appeared and killed one of the bullies and their friend Matt was out of nowhere. But with all the hate they get it will be hard to prove that they had nothing to do with the murders. The mystery deepens when they meet the new weird, masked kid, Terry, in the bathroom in school. Even though they invite him into their outcast circle, we get the feeling that there is more to Terry than we find out initially. Miner doesn’t wait long in showing us that our suspicions are justified. The final pages of this initial issue ramp of the horror, shine some light on to what’s going on, well at the same time keeping enough shrouded that the intrigue for issue two is at an apex.
ARTWORK:
The artwork in this first issue matches the story perfectly and brings this world to life. Clay McCormack gives the art a heavy metal/punk rock flare that really encapsulates the story that’s unfolding. The characters perfectly match the era, as well as the backgrounds and items found within. The imagery definitely stands out and allows the reader to get lost in the era we find ourselves in. When the violence, horror, and gore enter the story, McCormack doesn’t shy away from it, instead he embraces it, which really makes those scenes more impactful. Oliver Mertz’s colors are subdued and never overpower the artwork. This choice keeps the story and the scenes in the forefront, so the reader never feels distracted. Matt Krotzer’s letters round out the presentation, and they do a lot of the heavy emotional lifting. The tone and vibe of each scene comes out in the lettering and makes it easy for readers to follow what is going on in the story.
CHECK OUT MY REVIEW OF ESCAPE FROM CHICAGO #1
Final Thoughts:
Satanic Panic #1 is an awesome start to what should be an incredible horror series going forward. Matt Miner captures the social issues with D&D and metal music in the 1980’s and then adds some real satanic horror into the mix. The social commentary is easily transposed over to today’s world which makes the underlying message stand out, well still delivering an entertaining horror story. The art team led by Clay McCormack captures Miner’s vision and truly brings it to life in each panel. Fans of the horror genre will definitely want to pick this issue up and give it a read. But be careful as you will probably find yourself like me and will be adding this title to your Pull List as well.
FINAL GRADE: 9.5/10
Let me know your thoughts on Satanic Panic #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
