A sleepy 1980s town is stalked by a masked slasher at the height of the Satanic Panic, where every heavy metal record, Dungeons & Dragons campaign, and teenage outsider is treated as evidence of devil worship. As fear spreads and bodies pile up, three local misfits become the prime suspects in a series of gruesome murders. Join D&D geeks and Ozzy enthusiasts Naz, Sal, and Terry as they race to clear their names, survive an increasingly blood-soaked town and unmask the real killer before paranoia claims more innocent lives. But in a community eager to blame the weird kids, proving their innocence may be deadlier than facing the murderer. Satanic Panic #1 takes the real world hysteria and spins it for interesting horror.

I grew up in the 80s, so if a comic wants to dive into one of the more insane (and there were many) things that happened in that decade, I’m all for seeing what it does with it. Satanic Panic #1 takes the real movement that attacked Dungeons & Dragons and heavy metal and adds a horror element to it. The result is a comic that is well rooted in horror but also feels like there’s a wink and a nod mocking the idiocy of the time.

Written by Matt Miner, Satanic Panic #1 does a good job of evoking stories of the time with the outcast kids bullied by the jocks and their sheriff parent. It’s something that’s been done many times before but this mixes in the horror element. Miner really sets the stage focused on two survivors, each an outcast in their own way. There’s also special attention to make the bullies bad enough that we the readers have little sympathy about them getting what they deserve.

And that’s partially what makes Satanic Panic #1 interesting and stand out. The comic is a revenge story in a way and instead of fearing a killer, we kind of cheer them on. It’s a nice element that’s a little unexpected and enough of a twist to keep readers on their toes as to who’s next and who will be blamed.

The art by Clay McCormack doesn’t hold back. There’s a body count and some grizzly murders. With color by Oliver Mertz and lettering by Matt Krotzer those murders don’t distract though. There’s an almost comedic aspect to them that they’re so over the top. Yes, the comic shows a lot and there’s a lot of blood, organs, and death, but it all comes together in a way that won’t turn away readers. What’s also nice is the color palette of the comic. Set in the 80s, it’d be easy to go dayglow as what is associated with the time. But instead, the comic seems to rely more on the faux wood browns of the time. It also helps keep a dour tone to the art and pages befitting the horror concept.

Satanic Panic #1 is a good start and it’ll be interesting to see where the comic goes and what it has to say about the very real movement that has found new life. Horror can be a great genre to explore real world issues and this debut feels like it’s teasing that. Even if it doesn’t, it’s always fun to see the bullies get theirs, especially when it involves so much blood and guts.

Story: Matt Miner Art: Clay McCormack
Color: Oliver Mertz Letters: Matt Krotzer
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Mad Cave Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle