WE DON’T KILL SPIDERS #2, available from Scout Comics on October 27th, 2021, follows Revna as she confronts a pig demon summoned by the killer. Meanwhile, Bjorn learns Jarl’s savage secret.
The Details
- Written By: Joseph Schmalke
- Art By: Joseph Schmalke
- Colors By: Alyssa Slobodzian
- Letters By: D.C. Hopkins
- Cover Art By: Joseph Schmalke
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: October 27, 2021
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Was It Good?
Oh, man! This comic has monsters galore, and I love it. Normally, gushing is a no-no within comics reviews but Scout’s Black Caravan imprint is firing on all cylinders with their horror offerings in the last several months, and they deserve every ounce of praise.
We were smitten with WE DON’T KILL SPIDERS #1’s unique take on detective noir set in Viking times and combined with dark magic. In issue #2, the noir aspects are put on the back burner in favor of an all-out monster brawl on two fronts that completely pander to horror lovers in the best possible way. If you want to know which monsters and how many, read on through to the next section.
The high point of the issue is the succession of satisfying reveal after satisfying reveal amidst all the monster mayhem. I was surprised, and that should be the goal of every story — to surprise the reader. You don’t get just one surprise but multiple surprises, and every one of them is strong enough to evoke a “that’s cool!” moment.
In addition to the surprising revelations, readers are treated to character development through the action to get a better idea of Jarl and the village, Revna, and Bjorn. Some of the character work is built through a flashback, but most of the development is revealed through the action. That makes the fights not only cool but important to understand each character’s motivations. This is stellar writing from Schmalke.
Schmalke pulls double-duty with the art, and this is some of his best work compared to other titles he produces under Black Caravan. The creature designs are creepy, especially through the effective use of eye designs, and the character expressions are excellent.
One more thing about the art. Not enough credit is given to an artist for the proper use of action lines and how they help project movement in a static drawing. Schmalke makes excellent use of action lines to enhance the multiple battles with energy and impact.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
If you want to know how Bjorn found himself in the middle of a monster mash, first read our WE DON’T KILL SPIDERS #1 review.
When last we left Revna and Bjorn, Revna had entered the crime scene of the last murder and was confronted by a massive pig demon summoned by a blood ritual from the killer. We begin with a prologue flashback showing how Revna first became a witch in partnership with the Queen of Shadows. Now, Revna faces a pig demon who at first believes Revna is the one who summoned it, but that misunderstanding is soon corrected.
Jarl, Bjorn, and the villagers get into a tense standoff outside the cabin as Jarl believes Revna and all like her should be destroyed. Before Jarl can move to burn down the cabin, an army of zombies bursts from the ground to attack the villagers.
Inside, the pig demon, Moccus, attacks Revna. Before it can deal a killing blow, Revna allows herself to be fully inhabited by the Queen of Shadows to overcome Moccus as a giant spider god and drive him from the cabin. Outside, Jarl and his men reveal their secret when confronted by an advancing zombie horde. They’re werewolves, and readers are treated to a full-on zombie-vs-werewolf battle.
In the last act of the comic, Revna extracts the information she needs from Moccus, the origins of Jarl’s condition is explained, and the true killer participates in a final summoning to bring forth something horrific.
Final Thoughts
WE DON’T KILL SPIDERS #2 is wall-to-wall monster mayhem for the discerning horror comic fan. The art is exquisitely creepy, the story and characters are developed through the action, and the revelations pack this comic full of surprises you won’t see coming. This is another worthwhile title in Scout’s Black Caravan imprint.
Score: 9/10
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