Hello, Darkness #1: Fear Will Find You
A Horror Anthology
Developed and curated by Bryce Carlson
Published by BOOM! STUDIOS
Reviewed by Seth Adrian Romo
Hello, Darkness #1 is a horror anthology series debut that will send shivers down spines and remind you why it’s best to read with the lights on.
Consisting of 7 stories (some self-contained, others part one of several), this series debut serves like a perfectly curated set of tales that span different types of horror.
Anthology series can often be difficult to review as the range in stories sometimes means a range in quality. In the case of Hello, Darkness, this isn’t the case—in fact picking a top story of the batch isn’t an easy task as each tale has something special about it.
Contagious is a chilling tale about children following a trend that results in them murdering their parents, I Can’t Take You Anywhere is a horrific take on a Sunday paper comic strip, and Stay In Your Lane is a hyper violent story that reminds readers of the fear of public places. There is a new story from the series Something is Killing the Children, A Monster Hunter Walks Into A Bar, Part One, showing Erica beginning her next hunt. The Siren was a personal favorite as it reads like a two-sentence horror story from Reddit that is succinct but ambiguous. The Foster, one of the more mature stories, has body-horror that is equally disturbing and bloody. Finally, The War, Part One takes a unique approach to fears that incoming parents face about what the world will be like for their kids.
This series was developed and curated by Bryce Carlson, and it’s clear that Carlson knows how to put together an experience for readers looking for their next favorite horror title. Additionally, it should be noted that every story in this series touches on different aspects of fear making it truly one of the scariest concepts on stands.
While the collective experience makes this a stand-out issue, the length of some stories may impact the flow for readers. Additionally, without a unifying theme, some stories may read like a preview rather than a piece of a larger narrative. Whether or not the final stories arcs pay off remains to be seen, but each story has enough of a hook to captivate readers.
With a powerhouse list of creators, it’s no surprise that the entire experience is thrilling and the different types of stories offer something for everyone to appreciate. (See below for the full list of creators.)
Contagious
Written By Jude Ellison S. Doyle, Illustrated By Letizia Cadonici, Colors By Alessandro Santoro, Letters By Becca Carey
I Can’t Take You Anywhere
By Robert Hack
Stay In Your Lane
Written By Dave Cook, Illustrated By David Cousens, Colors By Angel De Santiago, Letters By Nathan Kempf
Something Is Killing The Children: A Monster Hunter Walks Into A Bar, Part One
Written By James Tynion Iv, Illustrated By Werther Dell’edera, Colors By Miquel Muerto, Letters By Andworld Design
The Siren
By Sarah Andersen
The Foster
Written By Steve Orlando, Illustrated By A.l. Kaplan, Colors By Marissa Louise, Letters By Jodie Troutman
The War, Part One
Written By Garth Ennis, Illustrated By Becky Cloonan, Colors By Tamra Bonvillain, Letters By Pat Brossea
Final Verdict
After reading this first issue, it’s clear why this series is titled after a greeting. You can try to be brave reading this issue, but with the range of creators, stories and themes, fear will inevitably find you. Hello, Darkness is a tour de force that culminates the best in horror storytelling and is not to be missed.
| Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
| Writing | 9.75 |
| Story/Plot | 9.75 |
| Art/Line Work | 9.75 |
| Colors | 9.75 |
| Final Score | 9.8/10 |