The 1997 film Event Horizon holds a special place in my heart, which makes the upcoming prequel miniseries at IDW, Event Horizon: Dark Descent, a must-read. The film came out at a time when I was far too young to see it, and yet my friend and I convinced his mother it was a fun and light sci-fi. We knew what we were doing. Once seated, she lasted ten minutes into the film before leaving and letting us bask in its terror. We won that day, two kids getting to see a rated R movie that an adult couldn’t stomach. That’s a high bar to reach, and Event Horizon: Dark Descent #1 has all the trappings to exceed the film.
Out on August 20th, Event Horizon: Dark Descent #1 introduces readers to the crew of the Event Horizon when the ship was still untested. Built to jump vast distances in space by bending space and time, the ship is incredibly advanced, but, outside of science, there’s no way for the crew to know what it is they are passing through on their way to their destination. Having seen the film, we know it’s darkness, or maybe hell itself. The concept is strong, which makes this prequel primed for a kind of horror we rarely get.
Further priming it for success is an eclectic crew. Writer Christian Ward introduces us to the main character at the start, who has nothing to live for, or at least that’s what he thinks. Escaping Earth when you have nothing seems like a logical move. Escaping something for this mission is a recurring theme amongst the crew, and Ward finds interesting ways to make each character’s motivation unique. One can see the kinds of horrors each may encounter once the ship jumps, increasing anticipation and firing your imagination for what’s to come.
The creative team does a good job of making this easy to jump into, even if you haven’t seen the film Event Horizon. The horrors are teased at times with gruesome body horror on display. Think foreboding ghosts, only bloody mouths and opened spines on full display.
Credit: IDW
Artist Tristan Jones has a detailed style that’s suited for spaceships and character acting. His detailed style uses small lines on faces and clothing that almost make your skin crawl. That’s a benefit for a horror book where a monster may not be on every page. Considering the unnerving nature of the backstory for each of the crew, Jones’ art backs up the utter dread you’ll feel for these characters. The characters’ looks are all deeply real and add to their humanity. These are people who could be actors in still images; they’re so realistic.
When it comes to space horror, Pip Martin’s colors also add a lot. There’s a lot of darkness on the ship, but sickly greens and odd teals help create a sense of unease. Martin’s colors never go too far, letting the shadows do their work as needed. In many panels, Martin makes a harsh streak of light that helps add emphasis or cut into the characters like a knife. It’s a neat trick.
Event Horizon: Dark Descent #1 is a gripping start to a prequel that honors the cult classic film while crafting its own distinct brand of space horror. It’s the kind of horror that’ll have you gripping your chair, and you won’t even notice until you’re done reading it. With a haunting atmosphere, disturbingly real characters, and dread that lingers like static in the dark, it’s a must-read for horror fans and sci-fi thrill-seekers alike.
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