October just wouldn’t feel complete without a new slasher horror comic release and we get just that from New York Times bestselling writer Cavan Scott and artist Paul Fry with Night of the Slashers.

Hill Creek is a lovely place to visit…except the one night of the year its citizens transform into bloodthirsty maniacs! Of course, that’s the very night Lara’s bus breaks down, stranding the disillusioned teen and her classmates in the secluded town. Secrets uncovered, terror at every turn-will anyone survive the night?

From the opening pages of the first issue of Night of the Slashers you can feel the classic slasher story starting grip you. Cavan Scott wonderfully crafts a tale reminiscent of those 1980s classic films while infusing it with fresh new vibes. Focusing the plot around high school students gives us a bit of a coming-of-age tale while sticking to the slasher feel. These elements work well together when handled by the right creators.

Night of the Slashers #1 gives us a glimpse at the characters created by Scott and Paul Fry. I can feel myself connecting with these students allowing them to be more than faceless victims, but more fleshed-out individuals grappling with their own coming-of-age dilemmas while being pushed into horrors that lay ahead. Scott crafted sharp dialogue that feels authentic, capturing teenage angst and genuine terror without veering into cliché territory.

Fry’s artwork adds to the story with chilling ease. His work is atmospheric with a dull color pallet that perfectly complements the grim circumstances unfolding in Hill Creek. His illustrations bring out the quaint town and what turns out to be a nightmarish landscape. Fry’s artwork pairs wonderfully with Scott’s script, elevates the storytelling by creating a cinematic slasher experience in comic form.

Speaking of cinematic, while this comic feels like it is a film in its writing, this is not likely a mistake given the variant cover by acclaimed Robert Hack. The cover hints at both nostalgia for old-school horror films and the way the story is told inside.

Night of the Slashers #1 delivers everything you could want from a slasher horror in October. Cavan Scott and Paul Fry craft a tale that is filled with suspense, teenage angst, creepy monsters, and twists that I am sure we won’t see coming. Magma Comix has another banger on their hands with this series and having Scott and Fry at helm makes for a promising next issue.

Night of the Slashers #1 hits local comic shops on October 16, 2024 from Magma Comix.