Advance Review: ‘Narco’ #1 — Alfred Hitchcock Meets Gen Z In This Suspenseful New Thrilling Series

Meet Marcus Wesphal, a narcoleptic who cannot help but pass out in stressful situations. So, being a fan of serial killers isn’t necessarily the best hobby for a 20-something lad to have. Especially when you inhabit the Plastic-verse, as created by writer Doug Wagner and artist Daniel Hillyard. They get everywhere. And you get the feeling after this first atmospheric and stylish issue that one’s gonna turn up and cause big problems for Marcus. 

Add in a healthy dash of Hitchcockian suspense and a few visuals evocative of his particular cinematic style, and what we get is a strong opening issue that not only effortlessly introduces and establishes Marcus and his medical condition, but also a supporting cast which, knowing the two twisted minds behind this book, won’t all survive by the end of this five-issue miniseries. Add to that a surprising murder — another Alfred Hitchcock trope — and you have an issue that builds in tension before ending in … well, I’ll let you find out if you pick up this debut issue. 

As well as some of the narrative inspiration coming from Rear Window, Hillyard’s art is also inspired by another Hitchcock classic, Vertigo. Hillyard creates a fluidity to the cut of Marcus’s clothes that — as he admits to me in an interview coming tomorrow — is also somewhat inspired by Tadd Moore (Silver Surfer: Black). Hillyard’s economic style of artwork, already a firm favourite of mine, is elevated further with this new tweak. 

Narco #1 is clearly a very contemporary comic book, as indicated by the Gen-Z cast. But, its heritage stretches back decades to the films of Hitchcock, and if you’ve seen the variant cover, the posters of Saul Bass too. It feels like the kind of story Hitchcock would be creating if he were a young filmmaker making his way in the world today. But in comic book form, with stunning visuals, crisp, smart storytelling and a suspenseful cliffhanger. If you like their previous and highly critically acclaimed series, I Was A Fashion School Serial Killer, then you’re definitely going to love this one.

Having already been published as a Kickstarter back in 2021, I’m glad that Wagner and Hillyard have chosen to make this more available as a five-issue miniseries. And having not picked it up then, I can’t wait to see how Marcus gets out of the mess he finds himself in. And all because of a condition he has no control over.

Narco #1 is out on Wednesday, witha FOC this Monday, the 9th of February, 2026, from Image Comics/12 Guage Comics.