The comics world is experiencing an onslaught of horror books. DCEASED and THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS are just some of the popular titles satisfying and inspiring a bloodlust in comics fans, who are highly-anticipating ABSOLUTE CARNAGE on the horizon.
Recently, Bradley Golden has unleashed some bloodshed of his own. His new series, HORROR COMICS, debuted on May 29, sparking a lot of conversation among fans of violence and gore. His upcoming series, LEAVE ON THE LIGHT, keeps the horror craze alive…with a lot of death.
What’s LEAVE ON THE LIGHT #1 about?
“In a small town near New York, an undead serial killer has begun claiming the lives of children using the city’s electrical system.” This is the pitch sold to backers of Bradley Golden’s Kickstarter for LEAVE ON THE LIGHT, a supernatural horror comic published by Antarctic Press and the author-owned Second Sight Studios. This three-issue, 24-page horror mini series was supposed to debut on June 26, according to a recent interview with economics in comics, where Golden discussed his forthcoming series. According to a recent tweet from Golden, however, the launch date has been delayed until July 10.
Set in suburban New York, LEAVE ON THE LIGHT begins with the sudden, brutal murder of a little girl, Kassey, and her mother, Claire, the night before what would have been her daughter’s first day at a new daycare. The murderer is an escaped inmate wearing a prison uniform. He has gaping lesions on his face, electric currents pulsating from his body, and a heavy stream of drool oozing from his snarled mouth.
As police pore over the crime scene that night, we meet Detective Gary Marshall, assigned to look into the murder of the Maxeys. After some broody inspection and chain smoking, he thinks the dismembered bodies and crime scene look identical to those of Thomas Butcher Lassey, a child killer who was sentenced to death by electric current eight months ago.
Troubled by the resemblance of this crime scene to others, Detective Marshall and his partner, Sarah McKinney, begin their investigation. One of their lives is in danger by the end of book one.
The Writing
Generally, the story is intriguing, but the writing and art need more attention to detail.
Using well-timed moments of restraint, Golden makes you ask questions about multiple elements of the story to build demand for the next book. I found myself curious about characters’ pasts, and wondered if what I was seeing in the panels was real. To refrain from any spoilers, I’ll say that the killer is likely supernatural. It’s clear that Golden has an interesting plan for this tale of depravity and revenge.
Sometimes, the storytelling was interrupted by stiff dialogue in scenes where characters are alone. In one bit of dialogue, Detective McKinney talks about how she’s going to put down some toilet paper on the seat because the gas station bathroom is dirty. I think the author felt like he has to fill the silence in these necessary moments and convey something to the reader.
Bradley Golden is credited as the writer and editor of LEAVE ON THE LIGHT, and it shows. There were a few mistakes in the copy that I’m sure will be resolved by the launch date. (He does tell me, however, that he’s working with an editor before this book releases — and that he welcomes suggestions from fans.)
The Art
There are really well-drawn cars in this comic. There’s also expressive faces and moody color palettes. Props to penciler Alex Sarabia, inker Lehkem Amiyr, and colorist Shannon Smith. Letterer Hector Negrete adds to the composition with his evocative sound effects. Be on the lookout for a funny cameo they create together in a couple of panels toward the end of issue #1!
Some visual elements were confusing. For example, heavy speed lines made backgrounds less detailed, and they seemed to occur faster than the pace of the actual action. In my first reading, I thought the “VZZ” and “FZZ” lettering effects were cell phone vibrations when they were actually bursts of electric current that power the killer Thomas Lassey.
There were also some inconsistencies in the art. In one scene, the killer has large lesions on his face. In his second appearance, his skin is unblemished. (Perhaps this shows he’s getting more powerful and gaining strength? It wouldn’t be outside the realm of the supernatural. Still, it took me out of the moment.)
Rating
6.5/10
Kickstarter comics like Icarus and the Sun have been getting a lot of buzz lately. So has horror. Those two trends meet in LEAVE ON THE LIGHT from Antarctic Press.
- Feels like a classic horror story with supernatural elements. Reminiscent of A Nightmare on Elm Street and Poltergeist.
- The art and writing are limited in depth.
- Because of good pacing, there’s lots of room for the story to developed.
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