Review: The Nasty #1

Out this week from Vault Comics

Out this week is a new series from Vault Comics. The Nasty #1 is available in print and digitally - here are my thoughts.

"Calling all scary movie fans!

Scotland, 1994.

Eighteen-year-old Thumper Connell still has an imaginary friend: the masked killer from his favourite slasher film. Thumper is obsessed with horror and always has been. He fills his time with scary VHS rentals and hanging out with his fellow fans, The Murder Club. But everything changes when his local video shop acquires one of the notorious films known as "video nasties" - films so scary, they're the target of the British Moral Decency League's crusade to ban and burn. But it's only a movie, right? It's all just imaginary, isn't it?

A story about the perception of evil, the power of genre, the love of fandom, the need to create art, oh, and crap-your-pants TERROR!"

Vault Comics do good horror - and there is always a loyal fanbase who read and watch horror as much as possible. This new series turns that on its head, with the horror elements being teased throughout the story and some commentary on the fans and the films there are.

Thumper is an excellent character - he is the one the story revolves around. The continuous presence of his imaginary friend adds layers to what is going on and the story being told. I love the story and the characters - revolving around the watching of the banned ‘video nasties’ of yesteryear and a fun group who are fans.

As a side note, I recall sitting and watching videos in my sister’s video rental store - including Critters, Spaceballs and Killer Clowns From Space. So the parts where this featured brought back memories for me!

There are some good twists and turns throughout the story, and we get some nice moments between the group and an idea of what is being built towards in the story. Nevertheless, the final pages do perform clever storytelling, and I like the reactions to the big reveal.

I really enjoyed the artwork. With some clever colouring and light choices and a good mix of dark and light scenes, it is easy to read but with a looming darkness threatening it.

An excellent start to a new series.