When the two comic book storytelling titans Scott Snyder and Jock come together we are assured of an unforgettable experience. Their latest collaboration, You Won’t Feel a Thing, is no exception. This debut issue plunges us into a chilling murder mystery crime noir that left me captivated and unnerved.

Years ago, John Reader was an accomplished homicide detective. So accomplished that it cost him everything else in his life. Now John finds himself alone, trapped in a retirement home with a brain tumor that’s slowly sapping his once-keen mind of all memories. But when an ice cold serial killer case from out of his past rears its head, John must call on all his remaining memories in order to stop a killer that only he still believes really exists!

From the very first page of You Won’t Feel a Thing, Scott Snyder has crafted a comic where the tension is palpable, setting an ominous tone that permeates every panel. As I continued on in this brutal first issue, Snyder introduces layers upon layers of mystery with every answer seeming to open up new questions as if inviting us into a labyrinthine puzzle rather than offering straightforward solution. This approach to storytelling hooked me from the start–engaging me in speculative intrigue about what’s truly unfolding beneath the surface.

When Jock illustrates a script by Snyder things work so seamlessly. Jock’s artistic ability shines through with a special sense of purpose, bringing Snyder’s dark vision to life with visceral intensity. His unique artistic approach using dark shadows and contrasting imagery enhances the sinister atmosphere of each and every panel. It’s not just what you see but what lurks in between—the unseen horrors that whisper from within the darkness.

The gruesome elements within the pages of You Won’t Feel a Thing aren’t simply there for our shock value, but truly serve as integral parts woven into the horror story. This imagery is what I would come to expect from these two comic legends.

You Won’t Feel a Thing #1 is yet another hit for Scott Snyder and Jock, but also for DSTLRY as a publisher–something I have come to expect. With Snyder’s masterful narrative and Jock’s haunting illustrations, You Won’t Feel a Thing explores the fragility of the human mind against the backdrop of a gruesome serial killer tale in such a perfect way.

You Won’t Feel a Thing #1 hits local comic shops on January 15, 2024 from DSTLRY.