The second story arc of Dark Ride ends this week and goes out with flames, monster attacks, and revelations. How could you, Joshua Williamson and Andrei Bressan? The wait will be unbearable thanks to Dark Ride #8 upping the danger and fantastical elements, which could mean some major ramifications in the third story arc. That said, how is Dark Ride #8? Is it good?
Much like previous issues, Dark Ride #8 opens with a flashback rendered in black and white. We get to see Sam with his mother on her deathbed. She’s still well enough to speak, but weaker than we’ve seen. There’s a divide between Sam and his sister on Halloween, partly due to the two gravitating toward one parent. That element is developed well in this issue, which leads one to believe maybe their divide can be mended. If they can survive the park, literally trying to kill them, that is.
This issue takes the supernatural elements to a whole other gear, which will likely excite most. Tonally, it feels like a lot, but that’s also kind of the point. Sam is attacked by the iconic red mascot, many of them in fact, and even seems to traverse time and space. Blood flies, axes are swung, and Bressan does not let up. It’s exciting, creative, and visually arresting. Colors by Adriano Lucas are also great, helping pay off a scene with Sam in a flashback.
The supernatural swing does make me wonder what is really going on. Are these things attacking Sam ghosts, or something else? It’s explained briefly a sacrifice is due, but it does seem out of nowhere. The monsters are rising up so quickly.
Sam is in a lot of danger, and it starts with what is on that screen.
Credit: Skybound
A lot occurs in this issue, and it speeds along too quickly. The flashbacks move at a nice clip, but then the characters die or pop up on a page turn. By the end of the issue, people are dead, Sam is reunited with an ally, and the monsters seem more powerful than ever. It feels like the creative team is rushing things along so the third story arc can bring a new higher-stakes tone and horror feel. I’m all for it, but it does feel too quick on some scale.
This issue does a great job of making Sam a more likable and understandable character. Until this point, the park and its mysteries have been the main driving force, while Sam is the surrogate for the reader. He’s come off in the past as a bit dense, or at least ignorant, but here we see he’s a caring father in a very tough situation. Since he’s only learning about his serious situation now, the next story arc will largely build on what has come before and make him a stronger character.
Dark Ride #8 is not just a dark ride, but an intense one. Filled with monster attacks and plot progressing reveals, this series is shaping up for an exciting tectonic shift in its third story arc.
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