I’ve said quite a few times on this site that I’m not much of a horror fan. My interest in the genre tends to be vary narrow preferring tension and psychological scares over gore. So, it’s always interesting to me to see what horror I find myself enjoying. This is one that has stood out for me and Dark Ride #3 is a solid example as to why.

Written and co-created by Joshua Williamson, the series is about a family whose father has made a deal with some devil to create a horror themed park. His two kids, his apparent heirs, squabble with each other over how to right the park whose popularity has waned over the years. They’re unaware of the dark presence that hangs over their family. Dark Ride #3 focuses on that family aspect. Sam, the brother that runs the day to day of the park, has seen tragedy as his daughter attempted suicide hearing the dark voices that call for the family. He’s clearly the center of the series, we can assume a generally good person caught up on crap. It’s the family drama that’s the draw. With Sam arguing with his sister, both seeking the approval of their father who has plans of his own. Then there’s Summer, whose brother went missing in the park on his first day working there. She’s on a mission to find him. Summer and Sam eventually run into each other as the series begins to tease what’s really going on.

Co-created by Andrei Bressan, the art for the series has been great. With color by Adriano Lucas and lettering by Pat Brosseau, the comic does a great balance of tension and gross scares. The series has generally built up the tension, and it’s not until the final moments of the comic do we get the gross aspect. And that’s partially why the art has been great. It could easily do disturbing flashes of images but instead there’s a clear focus on building things up visually and in a way disarming the reader with a horror park that has some comedic aspects to it. It’s mascots, clearly some sort of demons, look goofy and comical, making the reader drop their guard. Until they start to scare the crap out of you. It’s an ominous tone the comic builds and the visuals deliver on.

Dark Ride #3 is another fantastic issue ending at the perfect moment when the scares begin and maybe we get some answers as to what’s going on. It’s a fantastic read that balances the build up and the scares and leaving readers wanting to find out exactly what’s going in.

Story: Joshua Williamson Art: Andrei Bressan
Color: Adriano Lucas Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle

I’m not a big horror fan. Slasher films or massively gory ones are generally not my thing. So, it’s interesting when I find a horror story I like. Comics have given me an opportunity to explore more and over the years I’ve gone from disliking the entire genre to subsets of it. The first issue of Dark Ride had me intrigued and Dark Ride #2 continues that and also hit me in the gut with what’s inside.

Co-created by writer Joshua Williamson and artist Andrei Bressan the series is about an amusement park whose founder made a deal with the devil for success. Now, with the park floundering his son, Sam, is attempting to right the ship. During that, he must deal with his sister Halloween who’s a celebrity/influencer and whose solutions seem to revolve around herself. There’s also a park employee who disappeared last issue and may have been murdered. Also, Sam’s daughter. It’s that last bit that’s a gut punch.

As a father, it’s interesting reading Dark Ride #2 and seeing Sam overwhelmed with everything. He’s trying to keep things afloat causing distractions and that includes neglecting his daughter. I can’t say this isn’t something I haven’t experienced. It happens and it not only makes Sam as a character more grounded, but also clearly one we should be cheering for. And as a father, it also makes the ending of the comic a rough one, not something I’ll spoil but be prepared.

Bressan’s art is fantastic as usual. With Adriano Lucas on color and Pat Brosseau on lettering, the comic has a great style about it. There’s a “comic” style about it with a tinge of horror. It balances things quite well delivering a slightly ominous vibe about it all but also keeping things light at times and adding a bit of humor here and there. It’d be easy to go over the top but instead the style of the comic straddles the line of the visual genre it depicts. It’ll be interesting if the gore increase how the style will reflect that but overall the comic does an excellent job of making all of that secondary. It delivers a tense vibe though that fits perfectly with the story.

Dark Ride #2 is a fantastic second issue. There’s a great mystery here but it also delivers levity and grounded situations we, the readers, can relate to. It could easily have gone all in on the horror aspect but it’s clear the creative team has something greater planned for us. This is a series to dive into before it’s too late!

Story: Joshua Williamson Art: Andrei Bressan
Color: Adriano Lucas Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Story: 8.4 Art: 8.4 Overall: 8.4 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle

We got a bit of a tease of Dark Ride in Skybound’s Skybound X anthology. It was a glimpse of the horror themed park but not much beyond that. The visuals were great and there was a twisted sense to it. Dark Ride #1 officially kicks off the anticipated series co-created by Joshua Williamson and Andrei Bressan and delivers a perfect debut for the Halloween season.

Written by Williamson, Dark Ride #1 takes us to the scariest place on Earth after a brief tease of the concept. The story is smart focusing on a new hire whose first day delivers a tour of the park and introduction to the characters. It’s a park on the edge with declining revenue and needing something to excite attendees and fans. We eventually meet the trio of individuals at the head of the park, siblings who don’t get along and a recluse of a father and founder of it all. But, it’s that new hire that’s the interesting aspect.

Like a Tales from the Crypt or other horror anthology series, Williamson delivers a nice twist at the end of things that’ll take the series in a somewhat unexpected direction. It’s a nice move that creates so much potential for what’s to come and delivers a bit of fun to the horror of it all. There’s an underlying aspect that’ll keep readers guessing where it’s all going to go.

The art by Andrei Bressan is excellent. With color by Adriano Lucas and lettering by Pat Brosseau, Dark Ride #1 has a look that feels like it’d fit this sort of world in real life. There’s a scariness about the park but one that’s also a bit commercial. There’s a pop sense to it all and that’s enhanced by the bright colors (reds and yellows) and design of the characters. It’s horror barely on the surface, commercial and watered down in ways. A “horror” that’s easily digestible by the public but there’s a bit of dread underneath it all.

Dark Ride #1 is an interesting and intriguing debut. There’s a lot of directions it can go and with the way the first issue plays out, who knows what’s to come. There’s a fun ride to it all, one that horror fans and beyond will want to check out.

Story: Joshua Williamson Art: Andrei Bressan
Color: Adriano Lucas Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle