REVIEW: 'The Night of the Slashers' #1 by Cavan Scott and Paul Fry

 

Night of the Slashers #1  

Writer: Cavan Scott

Artist: Paul Fry

Letters: Shawn Lee

Cover A by Paul Fry

Cover B by Robert Hack

Publisher: Magma

Release Date: October 9, 2024

Cover Price: $3.99

Hill Creek is a lovely place to visit... except the one night of the year its citizens transform into bloodthirsty maniacs! Of course, that's the very night Lara's bus breaks down, stranding the disillusioned teen and her classmates in the secluded town. Secrets uncovered, terror at every turn-will anyone survive the night?

New York Times bestselling writer Cavan Scott (Union Jack the Ripper, Star Wars: The High Republic) and Paul Fry (Spider-Man 2099, Green Arrow & Black Canary) bring the gore in the ultimate horror-loving slasher-fest.

Score:

★★★★☆ (4/5)

QUICK REVIEW: Spooky season is upon us and what better way to celebrate than with a genuinely spine-tingling slasher story to read by candlelight before bed. Cavan Scott and Paul Fry have conjured up a very familiar but effective new comic at Magma that is like comfort food for your rotting soul. A school trip turns into a nightmare as their bus breaks down forcing them to find refuge in a secluded and weird town. Soon, the kids will have to fend for their lives. 

What makes this teenage slasher story special is that Scott takes the time to develop the characters so they're more than one-dimensional. They have their quirks and group dynamics that make them relatable or empathetic in a short time. You may not want to get attached to them for too long considering the situation they're in but at least they have personalities. 

Fry's work reminds me of the French illustrator Marguerite Sauvage. Clean lines, lively facial expressions, and subtle pastel coloring are Fry's trade as well albeit a darker more sinister tone. Then when things get really weird, Fry's monster designs are every bit of frightful as a reader can hope for. The payoff here is worth it. 

'The Night of the Slashers' may be something you've seen before but it's executed so well that you'll fall in love with being terrified again.