Advance Review: I See Dead People In `Where Monsters Lie’ #3

With the body count in the first couple of pages in the newest issue of Where Monsters Lie, it’s a wonder that anyone would ever want to be a cop in the town of Wilmhurst.

After all, Wilmhurst is where crazy serial killers inspired by 1980s slasher movies go when they are between murder sprees. So when their hideout is discovered, the poor law enforcement officers descend on the town in droves. With killers everywhere, there is no way the cops brought enough body bags.

Within the first few pages, we see a cop get shot in the face, a madman removing multiple ears from officers and a ventriloquist dummy stabbing a boy in blue. There’s even a clown with a flamethrower burning them live. So much for the thin blue line.

Fortunately, the cops are led by Connor Hayes, the sole survivor of a slasher attack that killed everyone in his town. Hayes, now a law enforcement officer of his own, takes no prisoners – literally. He knows the kinds of psychos he’s facing and has no qualms about putting them down violently.

Writer Kyle Starks delivers this bloodbath and does so with fast-paced action. Starks has a tight story to tell and isn’t wasting his time with needless character development or bloat. There are people to kill – good guys and bad ones – and darn it, they’re gonna get offed quickly.

Artist Piotr Kowalski has a field day showing off all the ways to take care of cops and killers. While his style lacks many details, this series seems right for him given the action and crazy characters. Vladimir Popov’s colors help to bring the action to life – or in many cases to death. It should go without saying that there’s plenty of gore to gape at.

The creative should have even more fun wrapping up the final issue to this limited series. Don’t expect a lot of resolution so much as an even high body count.

Where Monsters Lie #3 will be available for purchase on April 5, 2023.