Sleep #1 is written and illustrated by Zander Cannon and published by Image Comics.
Sleep #1 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
When Jonathan Reason falls asleep, he becomes…something else. Every night, it stalks his quiet town, killing (seemingly) indiscriminately. When he wakes, covered in blood, our story begins.
Review
Horror has taken many forms in comic books, from the abstract and experimental to the more standard, character-driven fare. There are plenty of avenues to take horror in this medium, with writers constantly finding new ways to subvert expectations. Zander Cannon, the mastermind behind Kaijumax and Heck, looks to put his own unique spin on the serial killer, mystery subgenre of horror with his new miniseries, Sleep.
Right from the word go, Cannon does a great job of presenting a genuinely compelling concept. At night, horrific murders take place in this small, quaint town, yet Jonathan somehow manages to sleep through it. This immediately creates a sense of unease and confusion for our main character to navigate throughout the story. Cannon also brilliantly humanises Jonathan in this first issue as well, making him that likeable guy that mostly stays quiet and gets on with stuff, even if it annoys him.
Something that also makes this series stand out is the bold artwork that goes for a style that is borderline cartoony in design, yet always remains grounded in approach. There is a great use of lighting throughout the issue with grey, white and blacks being specifically used to replicate realworld lighting scenarios.
However, across the issue, certain items will pop from the page in a bright red. Jonathan’s glasses, for example, contrast against the greys and whites of the illustrations and give him something to stand out from the rest of the characters in terms of his basic design. Occasionally, other small objects or elements will also burst with a splash of bright red to mix up the colour palette to superb effect. It’s a simple but effective choice, very reminiscent of Sin City, which keeps you on your toes, always trying to figure out if the red means anything or if these items will be of significance later in the story.
Outside of the character dynamics, it’s obvious that Cannon is really taking the time to set up as many thematic and story threads as possible from as early in the story as he can. Whether these be through character expressions, uses of colour or things people say, the groundwork for this story is being perfectly set into place across this first issue.
The last few pages are where the comic starts to delve into its horror elements, which I can only imagine we’ll see more of in the next few instalments. Jonathan stumbles across a homeless man putting, what is presumably red paint, on a nearby lamp post. There is little to no dialogue exchanged during this encounter, relying on its visuals to squeeze a palpable feeling of tension and dread from this chilling moment.
Cannon has genuinely worked wonders with this opening issue. The artwork is different but distinct in the best way possible and the intrigue has been laid out in a way that seems natural and effortless.
Verdict
Sleep is disturbing and expertly crafted, filling every page with a palpable sense of unease and intrigue made even more impactful thanks to Cannon’s unique art style.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
