When you look at the cover for Dead Teenagers #1, you probably think you know what to expect. A group of teenagers will meet a rather grisly end, and a figure in a mask/cloak/some other form of identity-occurring clothing is responsible. While that’s partially true, this is a comic that defies description, as it’s less a slasher story and more a time-travel loop in the vein of Happy Death Day. A group of teenagers start dying on their prom night in a variety of ways, due to an ongoing time loop; the sole survivor, Alicia, keeps trying to figure out the loop to no avail until a major twist changes everything.
Dead Teenagers #1 is one of those books that requires a careful approach when reviewing, as there’s not much I can say without giving away the plot. But like I said, this isn’t the comic that fans might expect, and that works to its advantage as it can set up its major plot twist while keeping readers occupied by the numerous deaths throughout the book. Make no mistake, Jude Ellison S. Doyle has plenty of ideas on how prom night can go horribly wrong. There are giant lizards, a mutant virus, a giant meteor, and even medium-sized lizards; each one of these disasters results in an astronomically high body count.
The fun of Doyle’s script is watching Alicia and her friends try to figure out what to avoid, and seeing how the deaths play out. Party girl Brandy is always the first to go, whiz kid JT dies the most horrible deaths, and Alicia’s boyfriend Ryder goes out a hero. Doyle is clearly playing with how different victims die in slasher movies, but the time-travel twist keeps things fresh as the characters grow increasingly accustomed to their seemingly inevitable deaths.
Oni Press
Caitlin Yarsky infuses Dead Teenagers #1 with plenty of style, managing to draw copious amounts of gore while also giving each character their own distinct style. Whether it’s Alicia’s all-purple outfit, Brandy’s bright purple hair, or JT’s grunge style, she perfectly captures the ’90s while ensuring each character is expressive, even in death. Perhaps the most unsettling part of this comic is the mysterious robed figure that watches the carnage; its face is completely obscured, and the sickly shade of green of its robe feels truly sinister.
Rounding out the artistic team is Becca Carey, who has established herself as one of the most unique letterers in the business. Each panel introducing a member of the main cast is rendered in the style of a classic Polaroid, and each “scenario” has the slapdash, homemade feel of a scrapbook. That’s not even getting into the giant lizard, which lets out a “SKREEONK” that would make Godzilla proud. Having followed Carey’s work since Radiant Black, it’s awesome that she can shift between styles for each comic she works on and give each a distinct feel.
Dead Teenagers #1 combines the thrills of a slasher movie with the unpredictability of a time-loop tale, resulting in an ending no one will see coming. Pick it up if you like a good horror story or want to add a little spice to your pull list.
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