Welcome to an all new edition of Parlay points, the complementary comic book blog to the ODPH podcast! For this blog, we’re checking out a brand new book on the Comixology Originals line via Migdal Comics. The Comixology Unlimted deal is one that all comic fans should invest in. The quality of books they have is second to none & its’ latest entry continues that trend.

The Panic #1 by Neil Kleid and Andrea Mutti is a very chilling tale that will hook readers from the start. The book will be out later this year in print via Dark Horse Comics but don’t wait until then to check this story out! As anyone who’s read this blog before, I’ve never been a huge Horror fan but this book caught my attention enough from it’s trailer that I had to take a read. Let’s not waste any more time & jump right in to see what is going with this series, shall we?

The Panic #1 - On Sale May 3rd
Creative: Neil Kleid and Andrea Mutti
Credit: Comixology Originals/Migdal Comics

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

The book is centered around Annie Delgado and a simple commute to New York City that turns into something not so simple. As Annie and her best friend Niyati are on their way to join a protest, the PATH train that they are on mysteriously crashes underneath the Hudson River. Niyati is among the casualties on the train. Annie is now left with the remaining survivors trying to figure out how they will get out of this.

Multiple challenges face the group from this accident. Cell phones aren’t working. There is not a perceivable way to message for help. The remaining survivors are trying to form a plan but there are many clashing personalities preventing this from happening. During this, a mysterious stranger that no one remembers on the train prior to the crash is discovered. Trying to figure ou his mystery becomes the immediate problem as he’s leaving weird imagery on the train glass. How is this handled? Where are we going from here? Readers will be locked in to find out these answers during this series.

Kleid makes a strong debut for this story. Dealing with the loss of a best friend right in front of your eyes is traumatic enough but throwing Annie into a group of combustible personalities after said fact is even more soul-testing. Yet with all this going on, Annie seems to be holding it together just enough. The strongest point of this issue is seeing this group of strangers coming together (for better or worse) will all their clashing views. Mixing in social commentary along with the pandemic isn’t easy to pull off but Kleid makes it happen for this story’s beginnings.

Mutti creates a cold and grounded environment for this story to build into. No punches are pulled with the graphic fallout from the train crash. Seeing all the emotions pour out of these characters really drove this issue as well. Prime example is when Annie, dealing with her own grief, extends her hand to comfort David, a young boy on the train. Balancing all these personalities on panels was very well done. Great final shot to carry readers into the next issue.

Overall, The Panic delivers on creating a terrifying set-up for a greater story to tell. Excellent writing and imagery takes readers on a unique tour of NYC and the horrors that lie within and underneath. Make sure to check this issue out on Comixology.

Hit me up on Twitter and let me know what you thought of The Panic #1. As always, Thanks for reading!

THE PANIC #1 (COMIXOLOGY ORIGINALS/MIGDAL COMICS)

Ken M