It’s Not Just A Game: Reviewing ‘Cemetery Kids Don’t Die’ #1

Do you ever wish that all the things you enjoy doing could be still be enjoyed even when you have to sleep? Finish off your favorite movies, complete that novel, or hell, maybe even play a game you love.

In the world of Cemetery Kids Don’t Die, dreams really do come true. You can even play games in them. It’s a dangerous new world in this tale from Zac Thompson, Daniel Irizarri, Brittany Peer, and Andworld Design.

Technology is a wonderful thing. It’s also a very dangerous thing, especially when pushed too far. This is a line that is walked finely in this series so far, which is par for the course with Thompson. It’s a tendency that was very apparent in the eco-horror that was Ka-Zar: Lord Of The Savage Land, a book of Thompson’s that I absolutely fell in love with. My love for that series made me jump right away to read and review this title.

That was a solid move that is already paying off.

If the previous book was eco-horror, this one is very much fantasy and tech-horror related. Thompson does a perfect job of diving right in, while also slowly building things out. Giving us glimpses and knowledge that make the characters and their world firm. Without actually answering everything, since three issues remain. Great writers make brand-new characters feel warm, welcome, and familiar instantly.

Thompson is a great writer, there is no question to that ever.

A story of a sibling relationship mired in trauma and tragedy, wrapped up in a cautionary tale of technology with a healthy helping of horror mixed in. If that sounds like a good combination to you, this is the series to be picking up.

Attached to that is artwork that matches every single necessary vibe and then some. I was not familiar with Irizarri’s artwork before this, but I’m sure going to be seeking it out from now on. There is a lot of whimsy and lightheartedness that shines through, even when things are heavy and scary. Emotions pour off the page, while everything has a suitably rough appeal to it.

Body horror feels gross, as it should, but not overly gory or graphic. Just the right amount to make it impactful without taking you out of the overall package. There is tons of detail and depth in every panel, letting the world have the right lived-in sort of feeling. Where there is action, it moves slickly with plenty of punch.

Befitting the artwork are colors that feel rough but also very bright. Peer works with a natural palette, achieving that sort of neutral toned-down appearance overall. This allows the spaces where certain aspects of the characters are more vibrant to pop even more. Especially when the backdrop turns white, or becomes very scratchy and faded out.  Darker tones and shadows are everywhere, accentuating the depth that is created on the page.

Peer’s choices make sure to hit all three of the story types in equal measure. On all levels, this book takes the three distinct flavors and creates a meal out of them that is beyond compare.

Completing this meal is the seasoning that is Andworld Design’s always stellar lettering. Infusing every word with the right emotional frequency, shifting little things here or there so that volume and tone are crystal clear. Simple examples are screams that shoot up in size and even burst through the bubbles, or smaller emphasized fonts for quieter moments. Colorful caption boxes allow the words to be part of the story but also stand out as they should.

SFX are so in the moment that you cannot help but actually hear things as they read. Whether it be a neck crunching or swords slicing through flesh, there is no denying the power.

Cemetery Kids Don’t Die #1 is now available from Oni Press.