New Indie Number 1s, April 2025 Edition
“April showers bring May Flowers” may be the phrase, but April also brought tons of bloody panels in this month’s edition of New Indie Number 1s.
I Was a Fashion School Serial Killer #1
CREATIVE TEAM
writers: DOUG WAGNER
artist: DANIEL HILLYARD
colorists: MICHELLE MADSEN
letterer: ED DUKESHIRE
publisher: IMAGE COMICS
Reviewed by Seth Adrian Romo
I Was a Fashion School Serial Killer scratches all of the right itches for readers seeking a new killer-with-a-cause with its protagonist Rennie Bethary.
Recently accepted into a prestigious fashion design school, Rennie faces familiar challenges of being the new student such as maneuvering cliques, impressing the teacher—but also containing her murderous side the best that she can.
The premise for this series is fun and the title is sure to stand out on comic book stands. Written by Doug Wagner with art by Daniel Hillyard, colors by Michelle Madsen, and letters by Ed Dukeshire, this first issue balances character introductions with devious bloody moments.
The dialogue can feel a bit clunky at times and some of the character designs are a tad too similar (like the eyes of Rennie almost being identical to that of her new classmate/friend Sophie), but for the most part readers are in for an entertaining experience. The strength of this comic is creating annoying characters and slowly letting readers hope that Rennie vehemently removes them from the equation, so here’s hoping for some satisfying moments.
Final Verdict:
Heinous murders and blood-filled bathtubs await readers who dive into this series, and for many it will be an exciting venture. I Was a Fashion School Serial Killer offers an exciting and dark journey for those willing to live a little dangerously.
Final Score: 8.5/10
Plague House #1
CREATIVE TEAM
writers: MICHAEL W. CONRAD
artist/colorist/letterer: DAVE CHISHOLM
publisher: ONI PRESS
Reviewed by Seth Adrian Romo
Haunted house stories are certainly not a new experience, but in the case of Plague House #1, the creative team have put together something that is genuinely terrifying.
Jacob, Holland, and Del are trio of ghost hunters who often find most claims to be riddled in the imagination of anxious people. However, when they explore a house with a dark and violent history, the supernatural entity that once forced a man to destroy his entire family is lurking for them ready to return.
Written by Michael W. Conrad with art by Dave Chisholm, this script knows how to capture readers and hold them tight while the visuals put terrifying images on display. Although this series follows a formula that has worked well for other horror stories, it’s the collective experience in Conrad’s writing and Chisholm’s art that create an unsettling experience. There are few comics that genuinely left me nervous and Plague House #1 is one of them.
Final Verdict:
Unsettlingly but well-produced, Plague House #1 is a terrifying experience that has no problem forcing the reader to witness violence and having feelings of claustrophobia. Few comics have set this kind of standard in the horror genre, but Plague House knows exactly how to let fear leap off of the pages and grab hold of brave readers.
Final Score: 8.5/10
Golden Rage #1
CREATIVE TEAM
writers: CHRISSY WILLIAMS
artist: LAUREN KNIGHT
colorists: SOFIA DOGSON
letterer: BECCA CAREY
publisher: IMAGE COMICS
Reviewed by Seth Adrian Romo
Golden Rage #1 kicks off a dystopian drama set against the backdrop of a harsh winter and impending doom.
Set in a world where old women are considered “useless,” these women have been banished to an island as they await inevitable death. Golden Rage includes an ensemble cast of characters like the complicated leader Rosie, and the island caretaker Caroline, among dozens of other women.
Tensions are high on the island and readers quickly see how internal strife between the various characters and personalities have resulted in a lot of conflict. (It doesn’t help that the recent weather has resulted in harsh snow covering the ground and houses, forcing characters to interact.)
Much of the script from writer Chrissy Williams is spent immersing readers into life on the island. This means there is little action, some suspense, but the tension amongst the factions provide enough world building to establish strong intrigue.
The art from Lauren Knight and colors by Sofia Dodgson (with flats by Shayne Hannah Cui) create an atmosphere of isolation while also including little details that showcase the effort of the women to have some humanity—like a snow shaped person in the background complete with a hat and additional anatomical elements. What particularly stands out are the different color tones and gradient mixes that assist with background, but also cleverly match specific characters’ traits like Caroline being the level-headed caretaker who is often surrounded with purple hues.
The commentary (while important) is fairly straight forward, but Williams adds depth with themes of beginnings and endings in the overarching plot. I’m being vague as to avoid spoilers, but this is more obvious to readers who experience this issue all the way through to the last page. I particularly like how the script doesn’t rush to provide all of the information, but instead focuses on crafting a harsh world now facing a drastic change. Whether that is good or bad will remain to be seen, but for now, it’s interesting enough to create excitement for Issue #2.
Final Verdict:
Golden Rage is a unique dystopian tale that takes readers on a journey full of reminders of maintaining humanity against the harshness of survival.
Final Score: 9.0/10
Buried Long, Long Ago #1
CREATIVE TEAM
writers: ANTHONY CLEVELAND
artist/colorist: ALEX CORMACK
letterer: JUSTIN BIRCH
publisher: MAD CAVE STUDIOS
Reviewed by Seth Adrian Romo
Buried Long, Long Ago #1 is a horror story that cleverly blends fairytale terrors against the backdrop of rural America in the 1900s.
Filled with tension and distrust, this series follows three sisters (Jesse, Rylelyn, and Haddy) moving from Chicago to meet their mother and new step-father and instead find something sinister.
The issue begins with the sisters reading fairytale books on their long train journey with the last story being about a medieval ogre that disappeared long ago. The ending of the story is inconclusive, but the girls have little time to make guesses as their train arrives in La Porte, Indiana. They meet their mother, a visually commanding character named Belle, and do their best to stay obedient on the wagon ride to their new home. There is some semblance of hopefulness in the early pages, but this slowly is pulled away from the reader as the atmosphere in Indiana is moody and dreary right before rich red from blood and gore fills the panels when the nightmare begins.
(I will try to keep this review as spoiler free as possible, but I highly suggest going into this series blind before reading the official summary.)
Written by Anthony Cleveland, the script’s pacing and subtle redirects rarely permits readers to feel comfortable. The sense of uncertainty and distrust of the new land and its people is well sensed by the readers and the sisters. Once the horror commences, there are still mysteries that stick to the psyche of the children as someone—or something—is responsible for terrors before them
Alex Cormack’s illustrative skills are well-matched with the script as thick lines and textured colors create a moody atmosphere and the panels often feel claustrophobic. Cormack’s use of light is a personal favorite element of this comic as candlestick holders allow for limited light in rooms and almost act as a conduit for the entity that is present on the grounds.
Final Verdict:
Look no further for your next horror fix, Buried Long, Long Ago is an anxiety inducing and page turning series. It’s script and art have their own way of presenting horrors to readers who dare pick up this title.
Final Score: 9.5/10