Zac Thompson is on a roll over the past few months with banger after banger and it continues at Dark Horse with Into the Unbeing Part One #1 along with artist Hayden Sherman. Into the Unbeing is a unique blend of cosmic horror and an all-too close to home climate crisis that takes us on a thrilling and intriguing journey across a post-apocalyptic landscape.
A group of climate scientists working in a remote base camp on the Australian outback discover an impossible landform. They venture inside expecting the unexpected, and the titular Unbeing delivers. True to the traditions of cosmic horror, they discover an anomalous environment that defies everything they think they know about the world.
What lays inside the debut issue on Into the Unbeing is a story crafted by Thompson that tackles a real-world issue such as climate change, but fast forwards us into the year 2034 where it is truly an immediate crisis. The story feels both relevant and otherworldly while teasing a supernatural element. This combination made for fresh take on real-world issue in an excellent and unique way.
Thompson created characters that even at the end of times still worry what people think of them, allowing us to connect with them on a personal level. The characters grapple with their own fears while also dealing with uncertainties, anxieties and the unknown in a future that is decimated by climate change. It truly made us giggle at the fact that even with bigger issues we would still likely have some of the same feelings and worries as in today’s world.
Into the Unbeing‘s artwork immerses us in a vast post-apocalyptic landscape. Hayden Sherman wonderfully captures the eerie beauty of a grim world with gritty lines, warm colors and unique designs. Each panel was created in a way that feels almost familiar while also feeling alien. We can see the emotion on the characters faces while dealing with a harsh environment and the unknown.
The debut issue of Into the Unbeing was well written and illustrated by Zac Thompson (Hunt for the Skinwalker) and Hayden Sherman (Dark Spaces: Wildfire) respectively. The story is a great combination of climate crisis, cosmic horror, and human emotion. The cliffhanger of an ending to the debut issue leaves us wanting so much more in such a good way. Let’s get lost in a cosmic wilderness.
Into the Unbeing #1 hits local comic shops on June 12, 2024 from Dark Horse.