Another Reviewer Takes A WALK THROUGH HELL, Complete Collection

 Guest Review by Run The Comics 5K's MATT LOWDER . . . . .

A Walk Through Hell (Aftershock, 2020 hardcover second edition, originally published 2018-2019, #1-12 full series) Writer: Garth Ennis. Artist: Evgenly Bornyakov. Colorist: Lauren Affe. Letterer: Rob Steen. Matt's Ranking: FIVE out of a possible FIVE STARS.

Summary from the Aftershock Comics webpage . . . . .

Garth Ennis’ Complete Masterpiece of Terror in One Unrelenting 256-Page Hardcover!

So these two FBI agents walk into a warehouse…

Special Agents Shaw and McGregor handle the routine cases nowadays, which is just the way Shaw likes it. She’s pushing 40, a borderline burnout, the ghastly memories of her last investigation still clinging like shadows. McGregor is younger, more dedicated, hanging onto some measure of idealism whatever the world might throw at him.

When two fellow agents go missing inside a Long Beach warehouse, Shaw and McGregor are sent to investigate. But what they find waiting is far from routine, as the local police have already discovered to their cost. Before the night is out, our heroes will encounter terror beyond their most appalling nightmares – in a place where the night may never end at all.

A new kind of horror story for modern America, written by Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys, Crossed) and drawn by Goran Sudžuka (Y: The Last Man, Hellblazer).

“The dread builds with every page…” – SciFiPulse

Matt's review from Captain Blue Hen Comics' RUN THE COMICS 5K Facebook page . . . . 

A spiritually-bleak, politically-blistering, nihilistic masterpiece. This knocked me on my ass.

I was shocked, disgusted, hypnotized, and obsessed with this book all day. I've read almost every interpretation and review on the internet once I was done. I could discuss this for hours, especially as it was written during (and takes place in) the psychological-horror backdrop of the past four years. 

Color theory is perfect, as is use of negative space, perspective, and facial expressions. The FBI procedural-style voice and dialogue made it feel very authentic and haunts me still. The explicit subject matter in parts is ripe for HBO miniseries like True Detective and Mindhunter meets X-Files and Se7en. Trigger Warning: child kidnapping, murder, suicide, rape.

I jumped into this blind. So I'm not going into it any deeper in this review. You need to experience this trippy, supernatural nightmare yourself.

Probably Aftershock's best book I've read, though not my personal favorite. This was dark, and parts of it I will never forget. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

P.S. I'm reading a few more Aftershock's very soon, and will do a ranking here of ALL of them in February.