The concept of dreams bleeding over into the real world feels like it’s a concept that comes up regularly in comics. Sometimes it’s for comical effect but most of the times it’s to bring out the horror of what haunts us at night. Slumber #1 kicks off the latest take as an unknown force in dreams is causing individuals to commit murder in the real world. While in the real world a team of dream healers/hunters/whatever is taking care of what keeps us awake and also trying to find out what and where that unknown force is. Caught in between is the clueless police force who are only aware of the killings in the real world.
Writer Tyler Burton Smith brings this all together in a pretty solid debut. The comic has a great voice and focus coming off as horror with comedic tones. There’s something about the presentation and how over-the-top some moments are that it’s hard to not pause and laugh at the silliness of the situation. It helps guide the series as it could easily head down the direction of a very dark series.
Smith does some really interesting things when it comes to that tone of the series. At times it’s a serious police murder mystery. At other times it’s an action brawl. Then you get those wtf moments that get you to pause and laugh out loud. There’s an absurdity about it all that the comic nails.
That’s helped by the art of Vanesa Cardinali. Cardinali is joined by Simon Robins on color and Steve Wands on lettering. The design at times is just goofy with nightmares that look like you should laugh and not be scared. There’s also moments that’ll give you pause and shudder. And then there’s a visual tone that feels like a Sam Raimi film. The style of the comic as far as looks nails down the shift and variation of the story so well.
Slumber #1 is a fun comic with an interesting mystery. It balances its various tones really well so that even the horror presented doesn’t come off as too shocking and instead a little comedic. It’s definitely one worth checking out and giving a shot.
Story: Tyler Burton Smith Art: Vanesa Cardinali
Color: Simon Robins Letterer: Steve Wands
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy
Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: comiXology/Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW
