By T.W. Worn — For the last decade, horror has been a favorite genre of mine. This is quite surprising to the friends and family who knew me as a child. I was known for giving strong, terrified reactions to things like The Big Bad Wolf from "The Three Little Pigs," or Slappy from Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy (who, to be 100 percent honest, still scares the daylights out of me).

But as I got older, I came to learn that horror was a way for humans to express their real fears through hyperbolic lenses. Lovecraft explored the (violently racist) fears of New Englanders through a shift of social acceptance of what were once considered "undesirables" within his community. Carpenter expressed his concerns of the birth of Neoliberalism and rampant consumerism through zombies and shape-shifting aliens. Lukas Feigelfeld's Hagazussa reflects on the trauma and baggage left on us by our parents, and that the only way to end that cycle is by sacrificing the unthinkable. Horror allows us to explore the moods and feelings we rarely get to share, like when you lose someone you truly love but need to re-enter the "real world" while being suffocated in the weighted cloak of grief. The latter seems to be explored in Nick Roche's new comic Scarenthood, and it has been the cathartic exploration I have needed after losing someone I love. 

Roche (Doctor Who, Transformers) is the driving force behind the comic, both in writing and drawing for the series. Not only does he deliver us a well-paced, character-driven story of supernatural delight, he also explores the fears of loss, the unknown future, and the balancing of properly grieving and providing for someone that depends on you.

A quick overview of the plot; four parents that have children attending the same preschool accidentally release a rumored ancient evil believed to be living in the preschool’s walls, all while hinting at the loss of the main character's wife. For some, this may call to mind movies like The Babadook, but Roche gives us something completely original and compelling. This story isn't a slowburn metaphor of an overwhelmed parent trying to fight their depression while taming their unruly child. This is a story about community, responsibility, and grief. There is also some awesome yet creepy imagery and plot beats that would fit perfectly into the pages of any EC Comics title. 

Roche's artwork sets a wonderful tone of an unassuming suburb that hides a sinister secret. On top of this, he is also able to capture the feeling of claustrophobia in both a literal and metaphorical sense. There are moments in the comic that are packed with subtle anxiety, displaying a true sense of panic any parent would feel, be it handling dinner time with a child who hates your cooking, or crawling beneath a stage to prove a point. Every emotion and tone is framed in a way that avoiding a sympathetic panic is almost impossible.

Chris O'Halloran (Immortal Hulk, Ice Cream Man) brings the dark and moody colors you would expect to see in a horror comic, but juxtaposes it perfectly with bright and sunny afternoons, creating an unsettling and deceptive tone. The atmosphere of the comic oozes off of the pages and into your mind thanks to the one, two punch of these two powerhouse artists. Shawn Lee's lettering feels perfectly at home, allowing us to experience everything we need to see, but still allowing Roche and O'Halloran to set the stage for a perfect horror experience. 

Even though Halloween is over, horror is a genre that can be explored any time of the year. So light some candles, make some popcorn, and grab yourself a copy Scarenthood #1. Remember, the dark is always there for you, especially when you need it. 

Overall: Scarenthood delivers some good old-fashioned horror comic with a perfect new school twist. 8/10

REVIEW: Scarenthood #1

Scarenthood #1
Writer/Artist: Nick Roche
Colorist: Chris O'Halloran
Letterer: Shawn Lee
Publisher: IDW Comics
Price: $4.99
TO-DO LIST: Drop kids at preschool/ Grab coffee with other parents/ Go ghost-hunting in woods/ Fight demonic entity/ Collect kids/ Naptime. With their kids away on a field trip, a group of parents disturbs an ancient evil buried beneath the old Church Hall, unearthing a decades-old mystery about a missing child, and inviting something… hungry into their lives. Suddenly, their mornings go from playdates and peanut allergies, to a battle for the souls of one broken family⁠—and one child in particular. What scares you the most: fighting demons, or letting your kids down? Nick Roche (Transformers: The Wreckers Saga, Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows) and Chris O’Halloran (Immortal Hulk, Ice Cream Man) have the answers.
Release Date: November 11, 2020
Buy It Digitally: Scarenthood #1

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I'm T.W. Worn and existence is futile!