Survivors’ Club #9 – Comic Book Review & Breakdown
Genre
Survivors’ Club blends horror, psychological thriller, and supernatural mystery, with a tone reminiscent of ‘80s and ‘90s horror cinema. It dives deep into the aftermath of childhood trauma, haunted legacies, and interdimensional threats.
Main Characters
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Chenzira Moleko – A tough, analytical gamer who survived a deadly cursed video game and now uses her knowledge to decode sinister realities.
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Kiri Nomura – A woman haunted by a demonic presence from her childhood, drawn into a web of secrets that define the Survivors' shared history.
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Simon Wickman – A former child possessed by evil forces, Simon walks a fine line between redemption and relapse into darkness.
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Alice Taylor-Newsome – Wealthy, manipulative, and emotionally fractured, Alice conceals a terrifying agenda beneath her polished exterior.
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Harvey Lisker – Once a boy tormented by a doll come to life, now the glue between the club’s damaged survivors.
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Teo Reyes – A ghost-sensitive youth with mysterious origins, his fate remains closely tied to the unfolding horror.
Writer
The comic is co-written by Lauren Beukes and Dale Halvorsen, a dynamic duo whose background in speculative fiction and screenwriting brings an eerie realism and psychological sharpness to the narrative. Their experience in blending high-concept horror with grounded human emotion enriches the depth of each character and their intertwined traumas.
Artist
Ryan Kelly handles the visuals with gritty, expressive line work that enhances the eerie tone of the series. His ability to transition from visceral horror to quiet, character-driven moments adds an emotional weight to the terror, elevating the storytelling.
Editor Details
The editorial work is led by Shelly Bond, known for her trailblazing role in Vertigo's edgy and experimental storytelling. Her guidance ensures the tone remains unsettling yet coherent, embracing both horror nostalgia and innovative structure.
Publisher and Brand
Published under the Vertigo imprint of DC Comics, Survivors’ Club stands firmly within Vertigo’s legacy of adult-oriented, genre-pushing narratives. This issue continues the imprint’s dedication to fearless storytelling.
Release Year
Survivors’ Club #9 was released in 2016, during a revival of psychological horror themes in indie and mainstream comics.
Brief Plot Summary
As the group is drawn deeper into the mystery of their intertwined pasts, Kiri and Chenzira make a shocking discovery that begins to reveal the larger force binding them all together. A severed head, somehow animated and disturbingly sentient, becomes their guide into the unknown. Meanwhile, Simon undergoes sinister training within a haunted house, teetering dangerously between control and chaos. Alice unveils a horrifying new weapon—a symbol of her growing thirst for power. As tensions erupt in the haunted town of Muskagee, the Survivors face betrayal, revelation, and death. The question remains: Who will make it out alive—and who will be changed forever?
Notable Arcs or Storylines
This issue is part of the climactic arc that connects the childhood traumas of each character to a greater interdimensional horror. The "Battle of Muskagee" is a crucial turning point, merging personal demons with external threats in a violent, tragic crescendo.
Fan Theories or Interpretations
Many fans theorize that the Survivors are not just victims of isolated supernatural incidents but were manipulated by a hidden cabal experimenting with interdimensional doorways and psychic trauma. Alice’s descent into villainy has sparked discussions that she may be the series’ true antagonist—possibly even possessed or empowered by the very evil they all fled from. The sentient head has led to speculation that death may not be the end, but a threshold to a larger, more terrifying realm that awaits all of them.
Review Summary
Survivors’ Club #9 is a deeply unsettling and visually arresting entry in the series. The writing remains sharp, balancing psychological complexity with bursts of gore and suspense. Character development takes center stage, especially as Alice’s transformation adds chilling momentum. Ryan Kelly’s artwork captures the grotesque and the intimate with equal skill, making each panel feel heavy with dread. Overall, this issue pushes the narrative toward a climactic resolution while retaining its slow-burning tension and twisted intrigue.
Comic Resource / Read Online (External Source)
