It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour #1
Review
Writer: Maytal Zchut
Artist: Leila Leiz
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: October 30, 2024
Page Count: 56
Format: Single-issue
This extra-length horror comic delivers a chilling tale perfect for the Halloween season. With its gruesome twists and haunting artwork, Devour showcases the terrifying potential of the Hyde Street series.
It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour #1
ReviewWriter: Maytal Zchut
Artist: Leila Leiz
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: October 30, 2024
Page Count: 56
Format: Single-issue
This extra-length horror comic delivers a chilling tale perfect for the Halloween season. With its gruesome twists and haunting artwork, Devour showcases the terrifying potential of the Hyde Street series.
Geoff Johns’s Ghost Machine imprint continues to make waves across indie comics with its killer lineup of releases. While series like Rook: Exodus and Geiger hit familiar superhero flavors, the horror story Hyde Street has my attention the most from the exciting new initiative. This month, the series is changing things up by releasing a special extra-length one-shot as part of its ghoulish narrative, arriving just in time for the spooky season. Created by Maytal Zchut and Leila Leiz, this new horror comic has all the ingredients you need for a quick and nightmarish treat. Let's dive into the terrifying world of It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour #1!
Overview of It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour #1
The story follows Lily, a bride-to-be struggling to lose weight before her wedding. Despite rigorous exercise and dieting, she can't seem to keep the weight off in time. Her frustration is made worse by her rail-thin mother and grandmother. Desperate for a solution, Lily's grandmother takes her to see Miss Goodbody, the friendly neighborhood health guru. There, they purchase Devour, a mysterious supplement promising miraculous body transformations. But as with all things on Hyde Street, this miracle comes at a horrifying cost.
Image: Image ComicsReview
At 56 pages, Devour delivers a haunting, immersive horror experience perfect for the Halloween season. The extra-length format allows the story to build a creeping sense of dread that grows as you delve deeper. Rather than relying on constant shocks, Devour takes a slow-burn approach, making each scare land with greater impact. Creators Maytal Zchut and Leila Leiz excel in crafting an eerie atmosphere, with Leiz’s art bringing Hyde Street’s unique horrors to life. The nightmarish visuals, particularly the body horror elements, create shocking moments that linger in the mind.
One of the comic’s most enjoyable aspects is its nostalgic tone, evoking memories of Goosebumps or Tales from the Crypt but with a darker, more mature edge. With ghoulish narrations bookending the story, Devour feels like a chilling throwback to spooky tales from childhood, yet its mature themes make it even more disturbing. Lily’s struggle with body image adds a haunting relatability, as the comic taps into the pressures of beauty standards, highlighting the tragic lengths people will go to for acceptance. Fans of the incredible horror film The Substance will feel right at home here as Devour similarly leans on delivering a blunt and outlandish critique of beauty standards through unsettling horror.
Image: Image Comics
Though some story elements may feel familiar, the strong execution and atmospheric buildup more than makeup for predictable beats. I was genuinely taken aback by how dark the comic gets at times. This one-shot ultimately proves that standalone horror stories can thrive in the Hyde Street universe. The issue left me craving more, and it’s exciting to imagine Ghost Machine potentially creating a full anthology of eerie tales set in this shadowy corner of its universe.
Image: Image Comics
Final Thoughts
For horror comic enthusiasts, this extra-length issue delivers a perfect Halloween treat that's equal parts gruesome and thought-provoking. It balances social commentary on beauty standards with visceral scares, resulting in a memorable read. Fans of Hyde Street will enjoy discovering subtle Easter eggs scattered throughout, connecting this story to the larger universe and rewarding those who have been following along. Though not for the faint of heart, Devour is a strong addition to Ghost Machine’s horror lineup and a promising glimpse of what’s to come.
Why You Should Read It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour
- It's a perfectly-timed horror story for the Halloween season
- Leila Leiz's artwork brings terrifying concepts to vivid, haunting life
- It showcases Ghost Machine's potential for spine-chilling standalone stories within the Hyde Street universe.