This is it, the finale to the series that answers the question as to where serial killers go when they’re not killing. The monsters residing at Wilmhurst find their secret haven’s time cut short as law enforcement has come knocking at their door for a bloody showdown. With things not looking good, where does the society go from there? Where Monsters Lie #4 wraps things up but also leaves us wanting more.

Written by Kyle Starks, there’s been an absurdity to Where Monsters Lie that has kept readers on their toes and laughing a lot. First there’s just the concept of a town where serial killers go when they’re not doing their thing. Then there’s a police raid that goes horribly wrong. There’s the killers themselves and the symphony of death throughout the comic.

Where Monsters Lie #4 continues all of that as the showdown wraps up and we’re left with where things go from here. It’s that ending that both works and doesn’t. It’s not a clean ending, leaving a lot still to go, perfect for setting up a second volume which will hopefully come.

But, Where Monsters Lie #4 continues to do what it does best, ridiculous moments that’ll get readers to laugh at the over-the-top moments and situations. There’s nothing subtle about the comic, it does everything to the extreme. That involves the opening which not only has a dastardly trap to escape from but a debate about what a “puzzle” really is.

Part of the laughs comes from Piotr Kowalski‘s art with color by Vladimir Popov and letterer Joshua Reed. Where Monsters Lie #4 does an excellent job of shocking visual moments but not lingering on the gory aspects. And, where there is gore, it’s done in such a way that makes the situation even funnier. It’s the difference between realistic, not realistic but bloody/gory, and not realistic and lingering on the blood shooting out for so long that it becomes funny. That last example is where the visuals land with saws, flamethrowers, and explosions delivering the cacophony of destruction.

Where Monsters Lie #4 is a good ending to this series though not great. The comic works as an ending but leaves a bit too much in a “to be continued,” though it wraps up with “the end.” Hopefully things do continue and this is just the start of something more, there’s a lot of ways it can go from here. But, as an exclamation of an ending, it doesn’t quite nail things. A small change and it would but as is, it’s a little bit of a clunker.

Story: Kyle Starks Art: Piotr Kowalski
Color: Vladimir Popov Letterer: Joshua Reed
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.2 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

The monsters residing at Wilmhurst find their secret haven’s time cut short as law enforcement comes knocking at their door for a bloody showdown. Where Monsters Lie #3 continues the over the top holy shit nature of the series as bullets fly and bodies burn.

Written by Kyle Starks, Where Monsters Lie #3 continues a series that has you pausing a lot with utterances of “holy shit.” The comic takes everything to the extreme delivering laughter throughout, laughter you know you should be doing. It’s one of those stories where everything is so over the top, it’s hard to not just enjoy the absurdity of it all.

The town of killers has been raided by the cops and a battle is now raging. Clowns with flamethrowers, dolls with guns, it’s all so goofy it’s hard to not enjoy the cathartic violence within.

But, Starks gives pause throughout the issue as the police, and even the killers, ponder what’s going on. There’s dialogue that’s as funny as the absurd visuals adding to the enjoyment of it all. The comic’s enjoyment is truly in the extreme of it all.

That extreme is delivered visually by Piotr Kowalski. Kowalski continues to make what shouldn’t be ok truly hilarious. Vladimir Popov joins on color and Joshua Reed handles the lettering. It all is visually fun and just the right amount of over the top and extreme. The character continue to be some of the best things about the comic with personalities and concepts that are just perfect for a comic. These all feel like rejects for horror franchises that never happened, and I’m here for all of it. The designs and their kills are just perfect.

Where Monsters Lie #3 continues a series whose concept is solid to start but whose delivery is executed so well. It’s comedic in every moment and takes the serial killer horror concept to extreme levels and silliness. It’s a fun comic, where the chaos is part of the draw and enjoyment.

Story: Kyle Starks Art: Piotr Kowalski
Color: Vladimir Popov Letterer: Joshua Reed
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle

Chaos erupts at Wilmhurst-a gated community in the middle of nowhere for murderous slasher monsters-as special agents and police officers infiltrate their home base looking for war. Where Monsters Lie #2 delivers more holy shit moments in a comic you don’t want to laugh at but can’t help it.

Written by Kyle Starks, Where Monsters Lie #2 continues the twisted humor of the debut. A special agent is on a mission to bring down the community and stop the monsters that killed his sister and mom when he was younger. The community is surrounded but they’re serial killers, do they have to worry?

What happens in the standoff, as well as the motivation of the special agent in charge, is at the center of the second issue. Will the killers go quietly or is it a chance to increase the body count? That’s what we’re here for honestly and like good slasher films, the creativity of the kills matter.

And Where Monsters Lie #2 is rather creative with goofy, over-the-top moments that makes it hard to not smile and laugh a little. Yeah, people are dying, but it’s down with such glee and excitement, it’s a little infectious and entertaining. These are killers with a smile who enjoy what they do, it’s not so much about who they kill. There’s an art to it.

That joy and fun is drawn on the page by Piotr Kowalsi with color by Vladimir Popov and lettering by Joshua Reed. The comic’s art nails home the joy and fun of the chaos as things begin innocently enough and then spirals into carnage. The death and destruction is juxtaposed visually and within the story by a calm conversation by the lead investigator and the town’s creepy mother-like figure. How he doesn’t hear the screaming, gun shots, and more from the outside is unknown, but let’s roll with it and appreciate the humorous calamity that awaits him when he exits the house. The visuals have a certain glee about them that makes even the most twisted death somewhat humorous in its own way. It’s a visual symphony of murder.

Where Monsters Lie #2 really comes down to the idea of a clown with a flamethrower. If the insane concept doesn’t get you to smile and laugh a little, you’re probably not going to enjoy the comic. It’s out there in a good way and takes the 80s slasher concept to a whole new, and fun, level.

Story: Kyle Starks Art: Piotr Kowalski
Color: Vladimir Popov Letterer: Joshua Reed
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle

Where do those unkillable monster go in-between their murder sprees? What are their lives like when they’re not wracking up a body count? They’re at Wilmhurst-a gated community in the middle of nowhere where they relax-or try to-until they get the call to go out and kill again. Where Monsters Lie #1 takes us into this twisted world delivering a hell of a lot of laughs.

Written by Kyle Starks, Where Monsters Lie #1 is both a spoof and love letter to the slasher genre. With a quick punch, or really a stab, we’re invited into a world of twisted characters each with a gimmick that’s over the top silly. But, the silliness works so well. Starks plays off of them, and the concept so well, with a first chapter that sucks you in and leaves you wanting more.

The concept is simple, slashers live in a community together and must follow the rules. But, rules get broken and what was once a quiet community is going to have some issues. The debut issue is such a fantastic start with jokes coming at the readers quickly, much like the stabbing motion of one of these wannabe franchises.

The art by Piotr Kowalski is fantastic. With color by Vladimir Popov and lettering by Joshua Reed the art plays the absurdity of things rather straight. The characters are so goofy, it’d be hard to not laugh at them as they were about to kill you. But, the comic’s visuals deliver it all like there’s nothing amiss. It’s all normal in this community. It’s a comedy played out straight with little laughs, which makes it all the more funny.

What stands out about Where Monsters Lie #1 is the fact it is a comedy. It’s funny. Really funny. Like, you will really laugh out loud type of funny. The comments are quick and the characters are bizarre and it all works so well because it’s playing it all straight. If you’re looking for a twisted laugh or a fan of the slasher genre, this is a must get.

Story: Kyle Starks Art: Piotr Kowalski
Color: Vladimir Popov Letterer: Joshua Reed
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle