The Cull #1 is written by Kelly Thompson and published by Image Comics. Artwork and colours are by Mattia De Iulis and letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. The main cover art (left) is also by Mattia De Iulis.
The Cull #1 is available now, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold.
Synopsis
Something is Killing the Children horror vibes mix with The Goonies-style adventure as five friends set off to shoot a short film on a forbidden rock near their home the summer before they all go their separate ways. But that’s not really why they’re there. One of them has lied. And that lie will change their lives forever.
Review
What happens when you put together a superstar team like writer Kelly Thompson (Hawkeye) and artist Mattia De Iulis (Captain America)? The answer is absolute dynamite. The Cull is a brand-new, original five-part series concocted by these two legends of the comic book industry. In short, it’s a science-fiction horror whose artwork is unparalleled and its story unlike anything I’ve read in recent years.
Our story begins in the “Before” times, never a good sign in either sci-fi or horror. Narration introduces us to Black Water Beach, our location for the bulk of this debut issue. Our unknown narrator speedily expositions our way through a brief history of the location before we jump to the “Now” times… oh oh. But that’s a story for another day.
Back in time we go once more to “12 Hours Ago” where we’re introduced to Cleo. She’s our conduit in to the world that Thompson and De Iulis have created. The creative team is already working in perfect synergy. There’s barely any dialogue for four pages and yet De Iulis’ artwork communicates perfectly much of what’s going on. The level of fine detail is incredible. The Cull is absolutely not a quick read, for those truly looking to engage with its story there is a need to soak up all of the detail. But with artwork as exquisite as this, who wouldn’t want to.
Cleo, whose name we don’t learn until we meet her friend Kaity, is packing and sneaking out of the house at 3:34 am. Downstairs her mother is asleep at the dining table surrounded by posters for a missing boy, Jakey, who is presumably Cleo’s brother. Cleo, with backpack, leaves her house and so our narrative begins in earnest. Cleo, Kaity and their friends Wade, Will and Lux all venture to Black Water Beach in the middle of the night under the lie that they’re shooting a film.
Of they aren’t. Cleo has ulterior motives which are unveiled in the book’s final pages. Thompson’s story takes us to new places, ones which open up huge potential for where we can go across the next four issues. Of course, we’ve had a teaser of what’s to come. But the journey to reaching it is already compelling to the point that I could The Cull one of the best series of 2023.
Thompson has done an incredible job of setting up the series’ coming-of-age elements. Each of the five characters has a distinctive voice and personality. The is no tragically un-diverse group of friends. Across this issue Thompson sets up each with their own unique trials and tribulations. Whilst De Iulis renders them all beautifully. First off, they’re an attractive bunch of people but far more importantly they look REAL. These look like people you might meet in everyday life and, again, their individuality shines through perfectly in the artwork.
If there was any downside to The Cull it’s that I’m already hoping for more storytelling beyond five issues. Given the potential scale of the story I wonder how Thompson is going to pack everything in. We’ll just have to wait and see…
Verdict
The Cull #1 is the perfect first chapter in what is shaping up to already be a blockbuster story. Striking an enticing balance between sci-fi and horror, its cool cast of characters are instant hits. Teamed with Mattia De Iulis’ exquisite artwork, Kelly Thompson has a sure-fire hit on her hands.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
