DEAD BY DAYLIGHT #1 – Comic Review

DEAD BY DAYLIGHT #1, from Titan Comics on 6/14/23, adapts the hit video game to the realm of comics as the new kid in town makes fast friends with fellow teenagers who just need a reason to raise a little Hell.

The Details

• Written by: Nadia Shammas
• Art by: Dillon Snook
• Colors by: Emilio Lecce
• Letters by: JAME
• Cover art by: Ivan Tao (cover A)
• Comic Rating: Mature
• Cover price: $4.99
• Release date: June 14, 2023

Is It Good?

Dead By Daylight fans have a reason to rejoice as DEAD BY DAYLIGHT #1 finally arrives to bring their deepest, darkest hunter/prey fantasies to life. Set in the sleepy town of Ormond, four teenagers come together with the common goal of letting their desire for mischief reign. Does the comic adaptation live up to the video game? Yes and no. Let’s get into it.

Nadia Shammas’s adaptation centers on Frank Morrison – a troubled teenager who comes to Ormond to live with the latest in his string of foster homes. When Frank’s troubled ways find kindred spirits in Julie, Susie, and Joey, a night of partying leads to vandalism, destruction, and possibly more.

On the positive side, Shammas lays the foundation for a solid story that works equally well for fans of the video game and comic readers who want something a little different. By anchoring on Frank as the central character and telling a clean narrative, Shammas avoids pulling in references that don’t make sense without foreknowledge of the game mechanics or objectives. in other words, the story stands on its own, which serves as a decent jumping-on point for fans and non-fans of the source material.

In terms of writing execution, DEAD BY DAYLIGHT #1 feels like the setup for any number of horror/slasher movies focused on a group of teenagers. Shamma’s pacing is good, the dialog reads natural, and the plot developments have weight while still being easy to follow.

Where DEAD BY DAYLIGHT #1 suffers is in the art. If you’re familiar with Dillon Snook’s work, the style here is consistent but less polished. Figures (and sometimes whole panels) look rushed and unfinished, the inks are downright sloppy in spots, and the overall look of the comic lacks clean details. It’s as if Snook slapped the pages together in a hurry and the lack of quality shows.

Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

We begin with young Frank Morrison getting picked up at the Ormond bus station by his latest guardian. The guardian warns Frank to stay out of the way and not make trouble. Coming from a troubled upbringing, Frank may or may not comply.

Later, Frank runs into a fellow teen named Julie at school. Julie is an artist, and she feels an instant connection with Frank. Before the two end their first meeting, Julie invites Frank to a get-together at her house while her parents are out of town.

At the party, Frank meets Julie’s friends, Susie and Joey, and the foursome decides to head out into the woods for drinking, sharing, and the possibility of stirring up trouble in a quiet, oppressive town. We conclude the issue with leaving your mark, a police chase, and masks.

Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.

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