THE VALLEY OF DEATH #1, by Blood Moon Comics on 11/22/23, follows Leo, a man running from ravenous monsters in the woods until he finds a mysterious cabin inhabited by a strange old woman.
The Details
- Written by: Keith Rommel
- Art by: Wolfgang Schwandt
- Colors by: Caitlin Rommel
- Letters by: Wolfgang Schwandt
- Cover art by: Nahuel Sb (cover B)
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: November 22, 2023
Is THE VALLEY OF DEATH #1 Good?
THE VALLEY OF DEATH #1 begins an intriguing tale about a man running for his life in the woods with no clear memory of how he got there, who’s chasing him, or why. Keith Rommel’s terror tale looks and reads like the opening to a classic horror mystery, ala Tales From The Crypt, but the story is heavier on the mystery than most readers would suspect.
Rommel’s script centers on Leo as he runs through the woods from a pack of sharp-toothed, clawed monsters. When Leo finds a lonely cabin inhabited by an old lady, he begs for refuge. What Leo doesn’t know is that the woman and the ravenous monsters have an understanding.
THE VALLEY OF DEATH #1 doesn’t just resemble Tales From The Crypt in look and feel. You can practically hear the tip of the shoe-about-to-drop touching the floor. It’s almost a sure bet there’s some twist coming up in a follow-up issue, but this issue is all about establishing an air of frantic confusion and fear.
What’s great about THE VALLEY OF DEATH #1? Rommel hits the ground running with a breakneck pace to create a sense of panic as Leo runs for his life. With practically no information about how Leo got into the woods or why the monsters are after him, you immediately want him to get away, which puts you on his side.
What’s not so great about THE VALLEY OF DEATH #1? There’s practically no information about how Leo got into the woods or why the monsters are after him, so the atmosphere of panic and fear conflicts with a fair bit of confusion. Presumably, whatever shoe drops in the future issue will clarify that Leo is a victim of circumstance or possibly running from the consequences of past misdeeds. Either way, Rommel relies on the hook of Leo’s panic to keep you invested enough for the first issue, but it’s not clear if that hook is strong enough.
How’s the art? Wolfgang Schwandt’s art is notably improved in this issue compared to some of his previous works we’ve reviewed. Schwandt’s figure work is more consistent, and his backgrounds are more detailed. That said, the highlights, shadows, and shading frequently don’t make sense for the light sources in each panel.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s THE VALLEY OF DEATH #1 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a man running through the woods at night. He’s panic-stricken by a group of monsters chasing him. The man eventually sees a cabin and bangs on the door, pleading for help.
An old woman answers the door but is reluctant to let the man in. After more pleading, the old woman eventually lets the man enter her cabin to rest for a bit. The woman somehow knows the man’s name is Leo, and she agrees to let him stay until the last log for her fire burns out. When Leo describes the monsters chasing him, the old woman assures him they won’t come inside.
We conclude the issue with scratching and clawing, fuzzy memory, and an understanding.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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THE VALLEY OF DEATH #1 kicks off a mysterious tale of terror about a man chased by monsters in the woods. Rommel successfully creates a tension-filled atmosphere of panic and fear, and Schwandt’s art is some of the strongest we’ve seen from him.
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