Dread The Halls is written by Jordan Hart and Chris Ryall and published by Image Comics. Artwork is by Luana Vecchio, Lee Ferguson, Keithan Jones, Walter Pax and Fábio Veras. Main cover art (left) is by Maria Wolf.
Dread The Halls is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
Dread the Halls returns to haunt another Christmas season with a 72-page gift of all-new tales of holiday horrors, including, but not limited to, a seasonal blend of Hallmark movie and brutal revenge flick, a freaky story that blends aliens with Santa, and an even darker take on a Christmas Carol!
Review
For the past year, Image Comics has treated readers to a seasonal one-shot series titled Dread The Halls. Last Christmas, Jordan Hart and Chris Ryall tested the waters with issue 0, and now, this year, we are being treated to the first official instalment of this festive collection of five bonkers stories, each written by Hart and Ryall respectively but handled by different artists.
The first story, titled Yule is a dark take on the cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies that get churned out every year. For about 50% of the story, what you get is the cheerful and heartwarming tale of love that comes with this specific subgenre, only for the latter half to pull the rug from under you with a cult themed twist that leads to an action-packed showdown. It’s a simple but perfect way to start this collection as it sets up the tonal mix of playfulness and dark undertones that the rest of the comic well explore.
Chains Forged in Life is the second story here and is essentially Ryall’s more cynical take on A Christmas Carol. One Rhys Ruggieri is this story’s version of Scrooge, but in a rather comical turn of events, doesn’t learn his lesson after being visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. Rhys is a bitter, angry character who says things as they are and doesn’t hold back. The writing here is hilariously brutal in the most honest of ways. Everything Rhys says isn’t necessarily wrong but is incredibly jaded nonetheless.
The next story is simply called The Alp and features arguably the best artwork so far. Each story so far has utilised a different art style courtesy of the varying artists at the helm. The Alp, illustrated by Walter Pax, opts for a charcoal-esque, old-fashioned storybook aesthetic that really pays in the long run, as this is easily the creepiest story the comic has to offer. This is a story that is demented and unsettling, both in terms of its content and visuals. It’s the best example of showcasing what Dread The Halls aims to achieve tonally and narratively.
The Martians Conquer Santa Claus is possibly the most over-the-top story this collection has in store, as Martians quite literally hatch a plan to brainwash Santa into killing his elves…yes, that is actually the synopsis and my god does it deliver on its zany premise. The artwork from Keithan Jones is bright and colourful, which lends itself to the vibrant Mars landscape and the bombastic action sequences that end the story.
The final tale here is called Counting Days. This one, compared to the previous entries, is more cerebral and surreal with its storytelling. The narrative plays out like a psychological thriller that continually amps up its absurdity with increasingly more disturbing visuals and an unsettling final page that perfectly brings the story full circle.
If you’re looking for some alternative reading this holiday season, then look no further than Dread The Halls. Jordan Hart and Chris Ryall, along with a team of truly talented artists, have brought to life these deranged and nightmarish tales in the best way possible.
Verdict
Dread The Halls is a wacky assortment of freakishly festive tales. Ranging from playful to downright disturbing, Jordan Hart and Chris Ryall have certainly outdone themselves with these bizarre stories.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
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