Ghost Machine/Image Comics is at it again with writer Maytal Zchut and artist Leila Leiz cooking up a twisted one shot called It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour. The story follows Lily, a school teacher on the verge of tying the knot. And, like many brides, Lily is worried sick about fitting into her wedding dress. Up until now, she’s managed to avoid every cookie, cake, and guilty pleasure that could jeopardize her perfect day. But when Lily’s grandma offers her a mysterious supplement called Devour, that’s when things start to get freaky.
Image Comics
Devour delivers a devilishly good story that takes you on a slow-burn ride that builds up the crazy with a playful suspense. Maytal Zchut’s writing hits hard by starting with something so universally relatable – societal pressure to be thin – and then twits it into a nightmare. It’s not just a story about wanting to be skinny, it’s a commentary on how society can push us toward dangerous choices, with the real monsters being the pressures we impose on ourselves like watching Lily go on her 94 day diet where we watch her torture herself by not eating and spending way too much time at the gym and on her scale at home.
What I like about Devour as a one-shot is how it pulls together self-image anxiety, societal expectations and classic horror vibes into this wild, unpredictable package. It’s got a Creepshow feel mixed with a dash of director Larry Cohen’s The Stuff. And just when you think you’ve got the story figured out, Devour throws you a mindf*ck, page-turn twist that just keeps you guessing.
Visually, Leila Leiz’s art paired with Alex SInclair’s colors brings the story’s horror and social critique to life. With some cool cameos from Mr. X-Ray and the Boy Scout from the Hyde Street series, Leiz’s imagery sets an eerie tone that something dark and evil is about to be at play. There’s a sickly sheen to the panels and the shifty eyes of characters that make it feel like something is not right but you can’t put your finger on exactly what’s going on, which is a good thing. Leiz line work is good with characters that feel grounded yet on the edge of something surreal. Of course the health food store guru, Miss Goodbody being the center of attention as a character that seems like her intentions are both sinister and unclear at the same time.
Devour isn’t just horror, it’s a commentary on body image in America that reminds us of the dangers lurking behind our pursuit of physical perfection. The comic forces readers to confront the unhealthy extremes society can drive us to and doesn’t shy away from pointing out the price we pay to fit impossible standards. If you’re looking for a horror story whose ending will stick with you long after you’ve read it, Devour is definitely for you.
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