It may be Christmas and Hanukkah this week, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get our horror on with DC Horror Presents… #3. The latest issue in the anthology features two of the best comics when it comes to horror, and both offer something completely different with everything they do. The subjects of this anthology are Batman and Adam Strange, with both stories making your skin crawl.
DC Horror Presents… #3 opens with the story “The Chthonian Dawn,” written and drawn by Francesco Francavilla. The story opens with Batman in a coffin, presumably underground, with no idea how he got there. The story unfolds from there as Batman recounts what he last remembers, and it’s truly horrifying.
If you’re unfamiliar with Francavilla’s art, you’re in for a treat. His use of orange and black is stunning, with page layouts that draw your attention and capture dread so very well. There are multiple striking moments, with great use of sound effects to enhance the fear in Batman and the situation. The final page is a scene stealer for sure, with a fantastic final panel that’s both gross and haunting.
You’ve never seen Batman so scared.
Credit: DC Comics
The main threat is plants, specifically ones that can turn humans and other life into plants. It’s a virus of sorts, and it’s something Batman uncovers a bit too late. To make matters worse, he’s trapped in a coffin with no way to prevent the end of life as we know it on Earth.
The story “The Brooding Public” by Patrick Horvath is wrapped up in this two-parter. Best known for his IDW series Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, Horvath takes Adam Strange and explores the scarier side of alien fauna. Not only does the story make some sense, but a logical threat to Earthlings would be lifeforms taken to Earth, and it leads to some of the grossest visuals you’ll see all year.
The central threat of this tale revolves around Adam Strange’s ability to transport himself from an alien world to Earth in seconds. The thing is, what if he took something back with him? Throw in the fact that Adam doesn’t switch on a whim with a gap in between, and there’s quite a disturbing world he encounters with time to evolve while he is away.
If you’ve ever seen a cross-section of a human head and thought how gross it was, expect to get that and more in this tale. The visuals are pretty darn gross, with an alien threat that is quite original. We’ve seen spores take over, but these are different in a skin-crawling way. Horvath’s watercolors look best when the creature is shown, and he doesn’t hold back on gag-inducing visuals that horror fans will love.
This story ends with a great cliffhanger, too, with familiar heroes popping up, presumably to carry the story forward if DC Comics lets Horvath do so. As far as character work, Strange is a good surrogate for the reader, who is most in shock and dismay for much of the story. Could he have had more to say or do? Probably, but the story is more about the shock of what he sees.
DC Horror Presents… #3 is a standout chapter in the anthology for horror fans, blending atmospheric storytelling with grotesque, imaginative visuals. While the pacing and character depth could use refinement, the issue’s ability to terrify and surprise more than compensates, making it a must-read for fans of horror and DC Comics alike.
You must be logged in to post a comment.