From acclaimed writer Kyle Starks (Rick and Morty, Sexcastle) and artist Patrick Piazzalunga comes a bloody, dark buddy comedy following a pair of serial killers in Those Not Afraid #1. Featuring colors by Marko Bracco and lettering from Jim Campbell, this first chapter sets up a suspenseful yet genuinely humorous take on the serial killer and true crime genre. With a compelling, charismatic script and fantastically atmospheric visuals, Those Not Afraid is off to a very strong start.
“Two serial killers discover they are within reach of the state record for kills and enter a terrible competition to see who gets there first.”
Writing & Plot
Kyle Starks has always had a way with injecting wild subject matter with his own brand of humor, and he keeps his streak alive with Those Not Afraid #1. The issue starts off with what I could only imagine was the main inspiration for this comic – a true crime podcast. Stark’s script details a gruesome survivor story while setting up the main crux of the plot – the state record for kills from a single killer. When our two new serial killer protagonists meet, the game is on. Starks’s writing here is just as compelling as it is charming. He builds tension through the tense dialogue that the supporting characters share about the murders, while setting up a sense of uncanny irony with the lead killer. Mark, our main focus in this issue, is written with such a great sense of phony suburban charm you can’t help but like him. His happy-go-lucky dialogue being so juxtaposed with his rival – and the entire premise of the comic – is a fantastic character choice. Starks sort of shocks the reader into laughing, with how casual and oddly fun he makes the book’s events feel. The final page twist is delightful, and makes the wait for issue #2 a hard one.
Art Direction
Comic about mass murder & serial killers are not uncommon anymore, so to make one stick out it needs some standout visual presentation. Fortunately for Those Not Afraid #1, Patrick Piazzalunga is on hand to deliver some stellar artwork. There’s a mixture of old school EC horror and something akin to Frank Miller’s later Sin City here in this issue’s visual style that works brilliantly. Piazzalunga’s unique eye for character animation mixed with his light pencils and heavy inks crafts an impeccable atmosphere for a story that is so unsettling yet character-focused. Mark our main killer, is reminiscent of a young Jack Nicholson or Jim Carey with his unnerving smile and false kindness. The other masked killer, as yet unnamed, is almost featureless with his heavily inked face behind almost comically large glasses. Piazzalunga’s visual direction is taut with tension throughout, as he utilizes a variety of panel sizes and color transitions to maintain a constant sense of unease and surprise. The color art by Marko Bracco is the other half of this issue’s visual success. Bracco’s deep, tonally rich color palette makes the whole chapter feel like its submerged in eerily lit darkness. How he plays with low lighting is a huge part of why this book’s atmosphere comes together so well. Finally, Jim Campbell’s unique font choice for this issue works great, crafting a reading experience that fits the unsettling yet humorous tone of the comic. Overall, Those Not Afraid is off to a phenomenal start in terms of visual presentation.
Verdict
Those Not Afraid #1 is a delightful blast of a bloody serial killer comic. Kyle Starks’s script is full of charm and genuine surprise, with a focus on character that makes this story stand out from others in the genre. Patrick Piazzalunga and Marko Bracco’s visual work is phenomenally good, making this debut issue a standout in the genre. Be sure to grab this opening chapter when it hits shelves on January 8th!
