KILLCHELLA #4, from Scout Comics on March 15th, 2023, ends the world’s deadliest concert with murder, mayhem, and the flames of love.
The Details
- Written by: Mario Candelaria
- Art by: Lautaro Havlovich
- Colors by: Lesley Atlansky
- Letters by: Matt Krotzer
- Cover art by: Serg Acuña
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: March 15, 2023
Is It Good?
KILLCHELLA #4 ends the series the only way it can – in tragedy. For fine readers who love horror comics, that’s a good thing, and credit to Mario Candeleria for pulling off a dead solid ritual story worthy of praise. As a finale, this issue is as good as you could hope for, with bloodshed, spectacle, and a very unhappy ending. Except for a minor down point (more preference than technical), this is practically a perfect ending.
When last we left Blaire and her surviving friends, the bloodletting from Topanga’s acolytes was almost complete. Now, the bodies are gathered up for a climactic final performance sure to burn the house down.
All praise goes to Candeleria for capturing the overwhelming hysteria that comes from being the only sane person surrounded by a death cult, lured into an isolated location under false pretenses. How would you feel if there was no way to communicate with civilization, there was nowhere to go, and you were surrounded by killers that can’t be reasoned with? It’s a tailormade scenario for panic, and Candelaria nails it.
The technical aspects of the script are on-point. The pacing is excellent, the dialog feels natural (or unnatural in the best ways when Topanga sings her way through the mass murders), and the plot progression is solid.
The minor down point of the issue, which we could concede is a preference instead of a flaw, is that the finale doesn’t go far enough. There’s a burning effigy scene at the end that could have been used to unveil some greater purpose behind Topanga’s ritual. For example, Topanga’s accident could have ruined her voice permanently, and the ritual is the price due to the Devil for restoring her voice. Instead, Candelaria holds back a little too much in favor of a standard action sequence. The action scene is still a good conclusion, but there was an opportunity to deliver a surprise twist that didn’t happen, so the ending feels a little safe.
In fairness, there is a twist at the very end, but the twist is more of a tease for another potential story, rather than the shocking revelation we were hoping to see.
Havlovich and Atlansky come through with the most action-packed and bloodiest issue in the series. Saving the big visuals for the finale is a smart choice, and it pays off handsomely. The action feels like a cinematic thriller, the violent injuries will set your nerves on edge (compound fracture, anyone?), and the facial acting is solid.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our KILLCHELLA #3 review to find out how Blaire escaped the first wave of killers… or did she?
We begin with Blaire and Kent barely escaping the notice of Topanga’s acolytes. The acolytes gather the dead bodies and load them into the back of a truck headed for some unknown destination.
Blaire spots Stella among the acolytes boarding the truck, and she concludes Blaire is being held hostage, so Blaire and Kent stow away on one of the trucks in the hopes of rescuing Stella later. The caravan eventually arrives at an abandoned resort where a giant wooden effigy in the shape of a deer is waiting.
Topanga sings her way through the acolytes as the final performance begins, fueled by gasoline and fire. We conclude the issue with a rescue gone wrong, publicity, and a chart-topper.
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Final Thoughts
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KILLCHELLA #4 ends the arc in the best way possible – with blood and fire. Candelaria’s story about a concert-turned-ritual-mass-murder checks all the boxes for pacing, dialog, action, gore, and fear. If you’re into horror stories in the same category as The Wicker Man and Midsommar, this arc is an excellent pick.
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