Black Mask Studios 2018
Written by Zac Thompson & Lonnie Nadler
Illustrated by Piotr Kowalski
Coloured by Niko Guardian
Lettered by Ryan Ferrier
From the critically acclaimed writers of The Dregs comes a new horror series about body image, social media, and memory. When an entrepreneur with a god complex creates a technology that allows two minds to share one body, he doesn't anticipate the degenerative effects of long-term trials. Come Into Me is a contemporary comment on connected culture and our longing for approval in the digital age. This is a world where technology and flesh become indistinguishable, begging the question, "How much sharing is too much sharing?"
It is kind of funny to me that of all the genre’s out there that the only one which remains constantly in demand is horror. It is an ever evolving genre as we reach new stages in our society so that present day technology and science can create that which makes you visibly shudder at the mere thought of coming to pass. As we become more connected we actually become more secluded living more of a virtual life where you can be anyone you want to be. Thinner, taller, better looking and sex yeah you get that too so where’s the incentive to interact any more? Home delivery of pretty much anything and everything has made us soft and no longer ready for what is to come. The U.S. President shows us this much.
The boys here are taking all of those things and bringing them into one story that is beyond your fears and creates new ones. I think the concept and premise that we’re seeing is spectacular and how they’ve managed to bring the scope of it to us in just the introduction blew me away. I loved the Dregs and this seems to be on par to pass that one right up which means they are steadily getting bolder and stronger with their ideas and execution. The structure of the issue is superb from the opening to the last page there’s mystery, intrigue and aspects of human nature that you question making this whole thing come to life in ways you don’t expect.
I’m a huge Piotr’s and probably always will be and the interiors here show exactly why. Okay so the opening sequence which shows a transfer cable that looks like an intestine ending in a supposed penis that has a catheter coming out of it yeah suddenly my interest factor went through the roof. The way Piotr utilises the page layouts so we see the angles, perspective and where the eye should focus shows his eye for storytelling, which by the way is astounding. The linework here and it’s varying weights are sublime add in Niko’s colouring and it’s just as masterful as the linework in it’s gradation, boldness and softness.
The characterisation is interesting and I say that because already we see how the boys are using it in ways that you don’t normally see so early in a series or story. I like how the pacing is used here and the fact that we aren’t always sure of what it is we’re seeing. To fully understand that statement better you have to read the book but suffice it to say that they are taking it to a whole new level here.
The merging of science, technology and reality fiction, made that up I think, comes together beautifully here. It holds all the promise of what could be done, not what should be done, and the consequences of those actions. It opens up the ideas of how we act and behave and the lack of social graces running prevalent in today’s youth and how to possibly change that. Horror doesn’t have mean slashers and the psychological effects here are far more scary than someone with a machete.
That Black Mask is able to find, publish and promote their books like this remains among the myriad of reasons why you need to be reading small press/indie companies.