Where Monsters Lie Volume 2: Cull-De-Sac

Where Monsters Lie trade paperbacks #2

by Kyle Starks, Piotr Kowalski (illustrator), Vladimir Popov (Colorist)

The return of the hit meta-horror comedy by Eisner-nominated writer Kyle Starks (Those Not Afraid, Lobo) about a group of monsters who reside at a gated community in the middle of nowhere where they relax—or try to—when they are not out killing.

Come join us, friends, for it's time to visit another gated community for slashers and meet a new cast of horrible monsters as we return to the world of Where Monsters Lie. Connor Hayes, final girl turned apex monster hunter, has been brought to Site B and expected to be a good little killer, but will he cooperate? And what sort of bone-tingling secrets inhabit this new horror hamlet?

Welcome to Site C! Home of hillbilly slashers, backwoods cannibals, and all the rural killers. I'm sure everything will be perfectly fine here.  

The monstrous terrors increase in the second arc of WHERE MONSTERS LIE!

Collects Where Monsters CULL-DE-SAC #1–#4.

Genres: Horror, Graphic Novels, Comics, Supernatural, Humor

104 pages, Paperback

Published June 17, 2025

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

The survivors of the first volume visit two more gated communities filled with serial killers. More violence ensues, though accented with even less humor than last time as the plot gets dramatic and also a little sappy to wrap up the loose threads in a predictable manner.

The door is open for another sequel, but I don't see that it would be necessary or desired.


FOR REFERENCE:

Contains material originally published in single magazine form as Where Monsters Lie: Cull-de-sac #1-4.

Contents: Chapters 1-4 / Kyle Starks, writer; Piotr Kowalski, illustrator -- [Variant Cover Gallery] / Christian Ward, Tyler Crook, Evan Dorkin with Sarah Dorkin, and Dan Hipp, illustrators -- Best Horror-Comedies You Probably Haven't Seen / Kyle Starks, writer -- [Sketchbook] / Kyle Starks and Piotr Kowalski, illustrators

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great. Better than the first. A cohesive story with some stakes, and more than just trotting out your parodies & riffs on the slasher villains.

Wish it was a little longer. Felt a bit rushed, didn’t give us much time to breathe between beats.

[Sarah A-F · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

i don't really have a lot to say about this! it was fine, lacking some humor compared to the first. more plot, but i felt less invested in it.

[Fny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5⭐️
I never thought it possible but I liked this way more than the first one. But still it was too short. Not a real ending. I guess there will be more. Linus is my fave…

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first volume didn't really need a sequel, but Cul-de-Sac does a fine job of expanding the universe while delivering a solid dose of murderous mayhem. The survivors from the first volume are dropped into another subdivision of serial killers and, predictably, all hell breaks loose.

Kyle Starks's humorous dialogue and the crisp, bloody artwork more than make up for the predictable plotting. The pacing is fast, which likely helps cover up gaps in the plot and world-building. I guess there'll be a third volume because this one ends with a clear direction: time to kill whoever is creating these dang subdivisions.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gory, gruesome, and gloriously good fun, just like the first volume. Special Agent Connor Hayes infiltrates another community of serial killers, to take them all down from the inside. Featuring a Hellraiser/Freddy mash-up, a wrinkly little creep, the return of Fuckmaster and Baphomutt, and a hell of a lot of blood and guts, this one had me laughing all the way through. Great stuff, aided by Piotr Kowalski's disgustingly suitable artwork. Fingers crossed a third instalment, given how this one ends.

[Paul Spence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connor Hayes thought he had avenged his mother’s death after he helped burn down serial killer enclave Wilmhurst and nearly every monster in it. That turned out to be incorrect as not only did its grandmotherly leader Zee survive, but it turned out that his pregnant wife was also part of a murderous family. Which is how Connor finds himself press-ganged into being part of the killers at another enclave and forced to join psychos like the Holiday Killer, Beastmaster, and Mr. Wrinkly in their evil actions. Oh, and there’s also Vilmos – The Dream Master – who can see inside his dreams, thereby making any attempt at resistance futile. It sure sounds like Connor is screwed and he’d best get used to his new life as he becomes everything he trained himself to fight against.

Vol. 1 was a lot of fun as writer Kyle Starks and artist Piotr Kowalski delivered a horror-comedy that riffed on a lot of trappings and archetypes of the slasher genre, and it did so with affection and smarts. That’s true again here as the new and returning faces inhabiting Site B are just as entertaining to see in action in terms of both writing and art, as Connor tries to find some way to escape his fate. While his efforts there involve some genuine cleverness, there are also times when they feel too easy, and that detracts from the overall package. Still, vol. 2 ends on a satisfying note of closure while also setting up a potential third volume. Even if that volume fails to materialize, the two we’ve got so far are definitely worth your time.

[Nicole Amburgey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid 3.5/5 star read.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

overall a good continuation of the previous story, but it suffers from a) jumping right in the middle with no attempt at any recap, b) ending rather abruptly/to be continued, and c) a few too many "Really? (blank) just happened?" type reveals. but still a fun time

[Dean · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven't enjoyed this as much as volume 1. This feels more serious and less fun. It does have humour but not as much. It's good but not great. Doesn't resonate with me.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume picks up where Volume 1 left off. special agent Connor Hayes, married to the daughter of a serial killer, is now being brought by Zel, the old woman who oversaw the killer community in the first volume, to Site B where he's expected to become a serial killer like the rest of the residents. He's warned that if he doesn't cooperate, the dream killer Vilmos will make him suffer. But Connor has some tricks up his sleeves.
Having been awhile since I read the first installment in the series, details were kinda sketchy from me in some aspects. As the story progressed, that didn't matter too much, as I recalled enough to follow along the new thread. Though still rife with about as violent action and artwork can be done in a self-aware goofy horror comic, it's also still full of tongue-in-cheek humor and amusing characters. However, with it sticking to a four-issue format, there were times where the story felt pretty rushed, and could have used a it more to fully tell its tale. And the end isn't a full conclusion, as it blatantly sets up (at least) a third act in the story line. 3.5/5*

[Peter Derk · Rating 3 out of 5]

If there really was a Freddy Kruger, I think I'd be able to kill him out of sheer boredom. "You think you're in charge? How about night after night of dreaming that I'm at goddamn work!"

I'd be relieved to find myself in a slasher now and again. Jesus, at least there's some action happening.

The easiest way for Freddy to do me in would be to make sure my work dreams were all-nighters and super vivid. I'd take care of the wetwork myself if he did that.

There you go, that's a horror novel: Corporate Freddy. Just when you thought you didn't have to work in your dreams...

[Ya Boi Be Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the first trade imo. It leans more plot driven than comedy which I appreciate. Don't get me wrong, Kyle Starks’ comedy chops are still good and great as always. But with more focus on plot it ends up handling its cast better. Which is also surprising as with the larger plot also comes the challenge of balancing it along with both new characters to introduce and settle in as well as a revolving inclusions of the old cast. The cop guy continues to be the central focus point and he excels as a protagonist as he systematically shuts down another site. The side-protag of the black survivor had a lot more going on this time as well which really was a joy to read as well. Genuinely looking forward to the next, and maybe final, trade where he tries to destroy the dark forces in charge of all this.
Also, shout out to the dream killer Vilmos who was such a neat character character both in terms of character as well as with the more plot-driven course of this trade compared to the first.

[Mee Too · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aww bummer, they killed ‘fuckmaster’. Yes, that is actually a characters name in this series, (and his name gets mentioned a lot)😂

This is my least favorite work I've read from this writer but it’s still decent enough to see it through. Looking forward to the next installment and hopefully the ending of this series.

3✨

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly fun and funny meta-horror comedy sequel that has a blast with so many different concepts. I had a blast with this. It was great to revisit some of these characters and see the world get built out even further. Can't wait for volume 3.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A smaller cast in this book, and people die so quickly you don't really have to know who they are. But their interactions are fun, I actually liked how it would tease some big fight or combat only to end quickly because yeah you stab someone and they die it goes fast.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Special Agent Hayes is "welcomed" into another community of serial killers and proceeds to take them out, one by one. This is kind of a fun series and it looks like the door is open for a third volume, but I guess I could do with a bit more substance.

[Rowan Astrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a lot more fun than the first volume. It's funnier, the new monsters have more unique designs and distinct personalities, and there's more of an actual plot. RIP Fuckmaster, he was a real one. Looking forward to part 3!

[Claudine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

I want more

[don’t sweat the little things · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun disturbing

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Make sure you read the first one first.

And hope the third isn't to far away.

[Dev Jannerson]

Loved the first. Not into this going supernatural. I know, it needed to be to have a Freddy Krueger type. Still.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5☆

[JM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wacky, NSFW (language, violence), horror-comedy story from the talented mind of comic creator Kyle Starks. His comics might be the reason I start watching horror movies.

[Sonic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I re-read the first one, to read this one and I am glad that I did. This is a twisted and funny tale.

[wbforeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much better than the first trade had a more concrete story that go around be curious how things go in the third trade based on how they set it up

[Marie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

way better than I remember the first one being!

[Chr*s Browning]

This is a very stupid series but fine, I give in, I'm moderately entertained.

[Amethyst · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s such a good series!!! I love it so far

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good infiltration of another community. Horror and humour are always good together. The kid that keeps getting mixed up in trouble by no fault of his own is great. On to the next...