My dad loves horror. So does my sister. I, on the other hand, usually do not. However, as my four-month-old slept, The Butcher’s Boy #1 suddenly made its way to the top of my reading pile. As I flicked through Dark Horse Comics’ upcoming release, one thing caught my attention: the irresistible artwork of Justin Greenwood. His animated style creates a false sense of security, as if we’re watching a Saturday morning cartoon rather than reading the debut issue of Landry Q. Walker’s new horror comic.
Set in a small town far from home, a group of young friends with everyday problems has ventured out to follow the latest tourist trend. As they share their teenage angst, we are welcomed into their friendship group and its many conflicts. Pat Brosseau’s lettering is masterful, conveying how the teens all talk at once, their speech balloons overlapping as they focus on their own individual issues. However, we know that these problems are about to become a whole lot worse. The friends’ gory fates are teased almost immediately, promising a series filled with violence and horror. But we’re left to wonder – how? How does this group of young people meet such horrible ends? And is there anything that can be done to prevent this dark future?
With these questions in mind, every turn of the page is packed with suspense. Will we find something that tells us more about the Butcher? Or, perhaps more importantly, the Butcher’s boy? The mystery keeps you looking for details on every page, desperate to catch something. This is where Brad Simpson’s clever use of colour shines, drawing us to every dark shadow or crimson red spot in a panel.
If you’re looking for your next horror comic, look no further than The Butcher’s Boy. The creative team pays tribute to the genre with classic tropes: a serial killer, a monster, a small town, and a group of friends. However, it doesn’t feel unoriginal. Instead, it is a love letter to the genre, leaving you eagerly anticipating the next issue. It reads like a story that needs to be told, and only this team can tell it.
And hey, if I weren’t a vegetarian already, I would be after this.
Landry Q. Walker & Pannel Vaughan (W), Justin Greenwood (A), Brad Simpson (C), Pat Brosseau (L) • Dark Horse Comics, $4.99
Review by Ellie Egleton
