Tales from the Darkside #1 – A Macabre Comic Resurrection
Genre
🧟 Horror, Supernatural Thriller, Psychological Suspense
Main Characters
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Zac – A young man cursed with a horrifying condition: he forgets everything at sunset, resetting his memory each night.
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Dr. Brandt – A psychiatrist with questionable motives and a deeper connection to the supernatural phenomena than she lets on.
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Zac’s Parents – Secondary yet emotionally impactful characters trying to protect their son from a fate worse than death.
Writer
✍️ Joe Hill – Acclaimed horror author and creator of Locke & Key. Hill penned these chilling tales for a TV series that was never aired, giving them a second life in comic form.
Artist
🎨 Gabriel RodrÃguez – Known for his atmospheric detail and surreal storytelling from Locke & Key, RodrÃguez crafts a haunting, vivid visual experience in every panel.
Editor Details
🖋️ Chris Ryall – As the editor, Ryall ensures that the eerie tone of Hill’s scripts is faithfully translated to the comic page, retaining the psychological unease and dread.
Publisher and Brand
📚 IDW Publishing
Brand: IDW Originals – Known for producing creative adaptations and unique horror storytelling.
Release Year
📅 2016
Brief Plot Summary
Tales from the Darkside #1 opens the door to a terrifying anthology born from unrealized television scripts. The premiere issue introduces “Sleepwalker”, the story of Zac, a young man plagued by an unnatural curse—each night when he sleeps, his memory resets. As reality fractures around him, Zac becomes the target of sinister forces. This haunting tale blends the surreal with the emotional, evoking fear from both psychological breakdown and supernatural torment.
Notable Arcs or Storylines
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Sleepwalker (Issue #1) – The opener sets the tone for the entire series, exploring memory, identity, and inherited fear.
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The Window Opens (Later Issues) – A psychological narrative where perception and consequence are blurred by sinister realities.
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Black Box (Planned Storyline) – An unfinished yet highly theorized story about government surveillance merging with dark spiritual dimensions.
Fan Theories or Interpretations
💠Fans speculate that the “Darkside” itself is a metaphorical force—a purgatory-like realm feeding on forgotten fears and regrets. Zac’s amnesia may not be a medical issue, but rather a punishment or ritual by supernatural entities. Others believe the comic serves as a “what if” dimension parallel to Locke & Key, hinting at shared universes through RodrÃguez’s consistent visual motifs.
Review Summary
⭐ Tales from the Darkside #1 delivers a cerebral horror experience with razor-sharp writing and visually haunting artwork. Joe Hill’s story cuts deep, creating an emotional resonance beneath the scares. Gabriel RodrÃguez’s illustration work is unsettling in the best way—every page pulses with eerie energy and surreal touches. The characters feel grounded even in their bizarre situations, making the horror hit harder. This is not just another horror comic—it’s a lament for the stories we lose, reborn in shadows and ink. 🖤
🔥 Step into the unknown... if you dare.
Comic Resource / Read Online (External Source)
