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arockinsamsara's review against another edition
3.0
A bloody graphic novel focused on diverse queer characters and exploiting the satanic panic of the late 70s? This should be right up my alley! And while it was a quick paced and fun read, it left me more wanting than satisfied. The central gang of characters is fun and diverse, but barely fleshed out. There is a good amount of character development through what is not said, what is implied, and it was good but I still felt like I had barely more than a surface-level experience of them, or any of the characters, really. Everything just fit into a simple narrative and simple character archetypes, without anything inventive. Shady cops and government agents? Check. Emotionally abusive and small-minded parents? Check. Physically abusive jocks and popular kids? Check. But… that is all these characters get to be. And the art didn’t feel like it fit the story, at least not for me. It was well done, a distinct style that I appreciated, but it wasn’t a style that fit with a satanic panic horror story set in 1979, it had a web comic vibe that wasn’t colorful or out there enough to be intentionally clashing with the story/tone but was too cutesy to convey the weight of what was happening in this town or with these characters. It was hard to ever really feel a sense of dread. And lastly, while I enjoyed the story, it just felt disjointed. An event that happened halfway into the book should have happened less than 20% of the way in, and then given our central characters more to actually do… Because they didn’t really do a whole lot of anything. Things just kind of happen, without any real agency or deliberateness on their parts. There were so many interesting places this could have gone! Especially if the plot points that happened near the very end of the book were the proper starting point of the story, which is what I had anticipated going in. I almost feel like the format knee-capped it a little, and if this was a 100-page novella the story could have really had some depth, more twists and turns, and some real teeth. As it was, it just felt like a missed opportunity.
Look, all that said, it is a fun read, with good art and an inclusive, engaging core set of characters. So much so that I would want to see more of them. So, while it didn’t really work for me, there isn’t a lot of queer horror like this out there right now, and it might scratch the itch for you. It does show there is a lot of talent in both the author and illustrator and I hope they keep producing more things like this, because I want to see what else they produce. (2.5 stars rounded up).
I want to thank the author, the publisher Oni Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Look, all that said, it is a fun read, with good art and an inclusive, engaging core set of characters. So much so that I would want to see more of them. So, while it didn’t really work for me, there isn’t a lot of queer horror like this out there right now, and it might scratch the itch for you. It does show there is a lot of talent in both the author and illustrator and I hope they keep producing more things like this, because I want to see what else they produce. (2.5 stars rounded up).
I want to thank the author, the publisher Oni Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
stephen_baird's review against another edition
4.0
Set at the end of the 70s in suburban America, we see how easily othering and discrimination can lead to scapegoating and persecution, but in this case with completely unexpected results.
I asked for this as I loved the cover and am wanting to read a bit more horror, and more graphic novels and this fit those two criteria!
There’s been a murder, and right from the start you know something is off about the murder with a shady government agent and a sheriff with knowledge of what’s going on.
To save the wrong questions being asked they decide to stoke hatred and fear in the local community using the Pastor’s fire and brimstone sermons to make people question those who are different…
and the different they latch on to are Mitch, Terri, Lupe, and Jackson. The local queers and punks, the ones who dress and behave differently from mainstream stars and stripes America.
This is a very frightening representation of the hate and fear that is constantly thrown in the face of LGBTQIAP+ people, using this scapegoating as smoke and mirrors to make people look away from what the other hand of society is doing.
The whole story was brilliantly executed and the art style was perfect for the story, both worked so well together.
I was given this in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley
I asked for this as I loved the cover and am wanting to read a bit more horror, and more graphic novels and this fit those two criteria!
There’s been a murder, and right from the start you know something is off about the murder with a shady government agent and a sheriff with knowledge of what’s going on.
To save the wrong questions being asked they decide to stoke hatred and fear in the local community using the Pastor’s fire and brimstone sermons to make people question those who are different…
and the different they latch on to are Mitch, Terri, Lupe, and Jackson. The local queers and punks, the ones who dress and behave differently from mainstream stars and stripes America.
This is a very frightening representation of the hate and fear that is constantly thrown in the face of LGBTQIAP+ people, using this scapegoating as smoke and mirrors to make people look away from what the other hand of society is doing.
The whole story was brilliantly executed and the art style was perfect for the story, both worked so well together.
I was given this in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley
emkral22's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars rounded up!
Free e-ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher for reviewing purposes.
This was a fun, quick, gory little graphic horror novel. When the Pastor's wife turns up dead, the local sheriff and the investigating FBI agent conspire to blame a group of punk/outcast/queer kids, and some satanic panic cooked up along with it.
This might be really specific, but the storyline and art style reminded me of the Nintendo Switch game Jenny LeClue. The art style is solid, but the comic has quite a lot of violence in it, and the storyline is a little weak/hard to follow at some points. I also didn't find the ending to be a satisfying conclusion to the story, it's definitely setting up for more to come.
Recommend for fans of Something Is Killing The Children and A Taste For Blood.
Free e-ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher for reviewing purposes.
This was a fun, quick, gory little graphic horror novel. When the Pastor's wife turns up dead, the local sheriff and the investigating FBI agent conspire to blame a group of punk/outcast/queer kids, and some satanic panic cooked up along with it.
This might be really specific, but the storyline and art style reminded me of the Nintendo Switch game Jenny LeClue. The art style is solid, but the comic has quite a lot of violence in it, and the storyline is a little weak/hard to follow at some points. I also didn't find the ending to be a satisfying conclusion to the story, it's definitely setting up for more to come.
Recommend for fans of Something Is Killing The Children and A Taste For Blood.
chzdavmpr's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Definitely hope this gets a sequel, cause by the time this gets going it's already over.
lei_curtis's review against another edition
3.5
Enjoyable story! Love the art style. Had some weird pacing, especially with the end.
sydmarie30's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
solly's review against another edition
4.0
this was really gorgeous and cool and my jam. Queer horror, group of queer friends gets the blame for a murder after a wave of satanic panic goes over their town. I really loved the artstyle and characters. Ending was kinda abrupt but if there's a sequel at some point I'll love to read it
eggnoodles's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Religious bigotry
nevenolson's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Fuck. That's a good. Creepy story. Really shows the damage people can do isolating queer and alternative folks.