SILENCE #1 – Review

In SILENCE #1, available from Second Sight Publishing on October 20th, 2021, Stanley Kane is a washed-up, overweight, broke, divorced, comic book artist who can’t catch a break. When he gets away for a much-needed rest, his quest for silence becomes a deadly inspiration.

The Details

• Written By: Evan K. Pozios
• Art By: Alex Sanchez
• Colors By: Alex Sanchez
• Letters By: Letter Squids
• Cover Art By:
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: October 20, 2021

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Was It Good?

Silence is the type of horror story that keeps you guessing. The main character, Stanley Kane, is an artist looking to rekindle his creative fire, and that’s what makes the narration potentially unreliable. You’re never quite sure if the horrific escalation is really happening or if it’s all in Stanley’s head as he’s inspired to get his creative mojo back.

Stanley’s the type of guy that had it all until life decided to take him on a downward spiral. While Stanley’s circumstances may be more extreme than most, there’s a certain relatability to having life’s problems dogpile on you until you feel like you don’t have any fight left. We’ve all had those moments to varying degrees, and Pozios nails the overwhelming nihilism that forces Stanley to take a break.

Staley’s build-up to a final break feels authentic in a personal way as you can hear/see/feel those final moments from Stanely’s perspective. Likewise, the talk Stanley has with his agent, Alain, feels organic and true to the type of talk two long-term associates would have with each other. This is a horror comic that starts off as a human drama, and it’s an impressive start.

The story is further elevated by Sanchez’s excellent art. In particular, Sanchez makes captivating use of asymmetric close-ups to envision wide eyes or a grimace around the mouth that punches the reader with swift jabs of emotion. This is moody, nuanced art that you won’t find in your typical horror comic, but it sets the tone perfectly.

What’s It About?

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

Stanley Kane is on his way home from another failed interview for a job as a comic book artist. Stanley’s later years have been peppered with one failure after another – from his marriage to his finances to his health. When things can’t get any worse, the stress of everyone and everything vying for his attention pushes him over the edge with a heart attack in the back of an NYC cab.

When Stanley wakes up in a hospital, he’s given some tough love by his long-time agent, Alain. Stanley used to be the best at his craft, and Alain believes in him enough to send him to Silence, MI for a rest sabbatical to get his mojo back.

Stanley goes to Silence, MI for just that – silence. Ironically, even Silence has its noises to disrupt Stanley’s sense of serenity, so he starts off with local shopping and sightseeing. In a quaint gift shop, Stanly is attracted to an object that is far from silent. We conclude the issue with Stanley suddenly finding inspiration, a permanent way to address the noise, and uncertainty about the line between imagination and reality.

Final Thoughts

SILENCE #1 expertly finds a way to find the human drama in the life of a failing artist who can’t catch a break from life’s problems. As circumstances force him to take a break, the unreliability of an artist’s imagination turns this relatable drama into a fascinating nightmare. However, be warned. It’s a slow burn, but the phenomenal art and moody writing are worth the read.

Score: 9/10

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