It’s no surprise that with over 60 million players across all platforms, Dead by Daylight is getting a comic book series, but can it add to the lore and be a worthy read for fans and non-fans alike? Kicking off the series is the Hillbilly, a playable character in the game who has a touch of Leatherface built into his DNA. While he graces the cover, the story focuses on Officer Darnell Hollis, who is new to the force in his town and is about to discover that the greatest dangers are the unexpected.
Dead by Daylight: The Hillbilly #1 opens with Darnell looking for a suspect in a suburban neighborhood, only to crash directly into the suspect. Soon they’re in a foot race, with Darnell calm but rushed, while the perp is looking scared as if his own life is in danger. And soon it is, with a dog ripping him to shreds!
While it’s smart to focus on Darnell, I could see fans of the series wondering why there isn’t more of the Hillbilly in issue #1. That isn’t to say he doesn’t appear at all, but he’s more of a cliffhanger than a central focus. That said, diving right in from the Hillbilly’s perspective would lose a bit of the vibe one gets when playing as a survivor in the games.
Much of the issue centers on Darnell being shaken by the chase and its aftermath, which leads to new relationships within the police force. Writer Derek Fridolfs does a great job plotting this issue, never boring you or dragging things out. More importantly, it’s not easy to guess where the story is going, right up until the Hillbilly makes his first appearance. It’s also a smart choice to make regular people partly the horror threat in the narrative. The Hillbilly is certainly a killer, but the old adage that the real monster is humanity is very present. The story also ends on a cliffhanger that promises a heck of a lot of revenge and close calls, making this primed to make you want more.
Art is by Dean Kotz, whose style is reminiscent of pulpy comics from the ’80s. The chase sequence that opens the issue is intense, and the ending builds toward a fantastic full-page splash of blood and horror. Generally speaking, there’s a realistic vibe to everything, from clothes to backgrounds, and colors by Allison Hu, helping ground things before the blood is really getting spilled. The Hillbilly looks fantastic, with stretched skin and an open maw that conveys twisted horror.
Dead by Daylight: The Hillbilly #1 successfully translates the tension and dread of the video game into a grounded horror comic that favors atmosphere and character over nonstop slasher spectacle. Fridolfs builds suspense through Officer Darnell Hollis, giving readers a relatable anchor before unleashing the larger terror lurking beneath the town’s surface. Kotz reinforces the tone with gritty, pulpy visuals that feel raw and unsettling. While readers expecting a Hillbilly-focused debut may wish for more page time from the killer, the slow-burn approach strengthens the mystery and creates a strong foundation for the series.
Dead by Daylight: The Hillbilly #1 hits shelves April 8, 2026.
