In the foreword for In Your Skin #1, writer/co-creator Aditya Bidikar talks about a discussion he had with his father when watching a Bollywood film, and that one sentence stood out to him: “You know people worship them, right?” It’s a truth that resonates even to this day: whether in America or India, in prestige films or massive blockbusters, people treat actors like deities. Fans will dogpile you if you dare to criticize them online, and movie theaters fill up in minutes if the right actor stars in a movie. Even social media has given rise to a new form of celebrity, as people work themselves to the bone to try to achieve the same level of fame as their favorite streamer. In In Your Skin #1, Bidikar shows what happens when a fan’s obsession crosses into nightmare territory.
In Your Skin #1 is the story of Priyanka, a dancer who idolizes Bollywood actor Ayesha Sen. When her friend Nachiket tells her that he can help her meet Ayesha, Priyanka leaps at the opportunity, but when she learns that Ayesha plans to retire after her current film, she’s determined to live her idol’s life…by any means necessary. What follows is a comic that veers into the disturbing more than once, both in its lead’s mental state and in its visuals.
Those visuals come to life courtesy of Som. From the very first page, Som blends the mysterious and the macabre, showcasing Priyanka performing a dizzying dance routine. As the dance goes on, she’s joined by Ayesha, and the two start to spin around as their flesh begins to melt together in a kaleidoscope of horrific imagery. It’s not the first time that In Your Skin #1 delves into body horror, as it turns out, the dance has left Priyanka with bloodied, cut-up feet. Later on, when she has to answer a quiz about Ayesha, a page fills each panel with her rapid clicks, zooming in on the cursor and the blood leaking from her fingertips with each click. That’s nothing compared to the final pages, which not only is worth the cover price but gives The Substance a run for its money in sheer “WTF-ery.”
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These images sing thanks to Francesco Segala’s color work, especially with the use of red. Dark reds mix with shades of pink and orange in the opening pages, while a passionate encounter between Priyanka and Nachiket is filled with a darker crimson hue. Whenever blood appears on the page, it’s bright, red, and stands out like a beacon in the dark. Segala’s work goes hand in hand with Bidikar’s lettering, which takes on a red-and-black hue, save for sharp, jagged bursts whenever a character shouts in anger or fear.
In Your Skin #1 also marks Bidikar’s writing debut, and he does not hold back on the horror. Bidikar’s script tackles the dangers of parasocial relationships, the ups and downs of forging a career in film, and the lengths someone would go to meet their idol. He also hints at something darker surrounding Priyanka, but what that something is is left for future issues, stoking both mystery and fear. For a first-time comics writer, Bidikar didn’t hold anything back.
In Your Skin #1 is a stunning yet disturbing look at how we build idols and what we do to get close to them. While Image Comics has been putting out some incredible work lately, this is a standout in both the creative team and the chilling yet compelling concept.
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