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The Creeping Below
Not yet published
Expected 17 Mar 26After being kidnapped, beaten, and left for dead, a young woman is brought back to life by ancient Norse powers, intent on exacting her bloody revenge.
THE GODS ABOVE, THE CREEPING BELOW
Val, an American heavy metal fanatic, is on her dream attending the Inferno Metal Festival in Oslo, Norway. There she meets a charismatic young band, who take her out to a remote forest to show her the local “haunts.” Taken by their charm and oblivious to the danger, Val is drugged, beaten, and left for dead...
But her story is far from over.
She wakes at dawn, haunted by a vision of rain falling from a wolf’s jowls. Stumbling back to Oslo, she finds that the festival has already ended—13 years ago.
The world has moved on and the men who brutalized her are long gone, but when moss and roots begin to sprout from her skin… she realizes that everything has changed. Everything except her desire for revenge, that is.
In nature, there are gods older than man, and something ancient, something… hungry, has awakened powers in her that will guide her rage as she seeks to exact justice on those that wronged her.
Writer Brian Azzarello and Vanesa Del Rey deliver a bloodsoaked feminist revenge saga, blending Norse mythology and eco-horror into a boundary-pushing cocktail of metal, magic, and murder!
Collects The Creeping Below #1-5.
THE GODS ABOVE, THE CREEPING BELOW
Val, an American heavy metal fanatic, is on her dream attending the Inferno Metal Festival in Oslo, Norway. There she meets a charismatic young band, who take her out to a remote forest to show her the local “haunts.” Taken by their charm and oblivious to the danger, Val is drugged, beaten, and left for dead...
But her story is far from over.
She wakes at dawn, haunted by a vision of rain falling from a wolf’s jowls. Stumbling back to Oslo, she finds that the festival has already ended—13 years ago.
The world has moved on and the men who brutalized her are long gone, but when moss and roots begin to sprout from her skin… she realizes that everything has changed. Everything except her desire for revenge, that is.
In nature, there are gods older than man, and something ancient, something… hungry, has awakened powers in her that will guide her rage as she seeks to exact justice on those that wronged her.
Writer Brian Azzarello and Vanesa Del Rey deliver a bloodsoaked feminist revenge saga, blending Norse mythology and eco-horror into a boundary-pushing cocktail of metal, magic, and murder!
Collects The Creeping Below #1-5.
112 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 17, 2026
3 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Brian Azzarello
1,297 books1,107 followersBrian Azzarello (born in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American comic book writer. He came to prominence with 100 Bullets, published by DC Comics' mature-audience imprint Vertigo. He and Argentine artist Eduardo Risso, with whom Azzarello first worked on Jonny Double, won the 2001 Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story for 100 Bullets #15–18: "Hang Up on the Hang Low".
Azzarello has written for Batman ("Broken City", art by Risso; "Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire", art by Lee Bermejo, Tim Bradstreet, & Mick Gray) and Superman ("For Tomorrow", art by Jim Lee).
In 2005, Azzarello began a new creator-owned series, the western Loveless, with artist Marcelo Frusin.
As of 2007, Azzarello is married to fellow comic-book writer and illustrator Jill Thompson.
information taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Az...
Azzarello has written for Batman ("Broken City", art by Risso; "Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire", art by Lee Bermejo, Tim Bradstreet, & Mick Gray) and Superman ("For Tomorrow", art by Jim Lee).
In 2005, Azzarello began a new creator-owned series, the western Loveless, with artist Marcelo Frusin.
As of 2007, Azzarello is married to fellow comic-book writer and illustrator Jill Thompson.
information taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Az...
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January 8, 2026Much like the last Vanesa del Rey comic I read, The Voice Said Kill, this does brilliantly at mood, if nothing else; it was the bayou there, and Swedish forest here, but if you want a comic that captures how overwhelming it is to be out in the wild, alone or with those who you mean you harm, and surrounded by life yet knowing that none of it has your ephemeral human interests at heart, she's the artist for that. But neither of them were the easiest comics to follow and, at only four issues, the breakneck pace here runs perilously close to farce. The black metal group who sacrifice American tourist Val don't have a name, because that would be a sop to accessibility; one member tries to confess to the crime, but nobody takes him seriously. This would already be at least wry, but also overlaps with the sitcom I started watching last night, even before the suggestion that when Val returns seven years later, she might be liable for the crowdfunders set up in her memory. And people refusing to believe she could have been dead is given an unfortunate plausibility when none of the living seem particularly changed by that time either, which would be understandable if this were the low budget folk horror film it feels like, but is surely a missed opportunity in a medium that could have shown how the years had altered them. As a visual representation of the Cure's A Forest, or a job application for Absolute Swamp Thing, very impressive. As a fulfilling story, less so.
(Netgalley ARC)
(Netgalley ARC)
Review of advance copy
TPB isn't out yet, but I have all 5 books. Gonna start my read.
Update: WOMP.
Nope.
Update: WOMP.
Nope.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
American food photographer Val finds herself on assignment in Norway, where she takes in a death metal show and joins the band for a tour of a primeval forest. Of course, the death metal band engages in things like torture and ritualistic sacrifice to the ancient Norse deities roaming these woods. Val finds herself drugged, carved up with a knife, and strung up for slaughter. Seven years later, she wakes up from the dead, still hanging between the trees she was killed in, and goes on a revenge spree.
The Creeping Below is a pitch-black horror story, in both content and visuals. Brian Azzarello’s script is a largely humorless affair, but there’s a few black streaks of levity, sparse as they are, such as a moment of culture shock in the book’s opening when Val commits a faux pas that earns her the ire of the band’s lead. At only four issues, The Creeping Below is a direct and straight to the point kind of read, so the characters don’t have a whole ton of depth, particularly the band/cultists. Still, it is pretty gnarly and the horror-action comes at a rapid clilp.
Del Rey’s art is a right proper fit for Azzarello’s moody work. She drafts a gritty, scratchy world, favoring a figurative style rather than realistic portraiture, paying scant attention at times to perspective and consistency. Limbs can be uncharacteristically long, while figures are sometimes smooshed, as the artist favors an almost-abstract style at times. It doesn’t always work for me, and I wish there was a bit more consistency and cleanness to the artwork. As a whole, though, The Creeping Below is an oppressively dark story, and much of Del Rey’s art is colored accordingly by Hillary Jenkins. Panels and entire pages are muddled in shadows and darkness, and at times it can be difficult to decipher the action, particularly in the book’s climax. Del Rey and Jenkins certainly know how to set a proper mood, though, and their work is tonally consistent with Azzarello’s script, trapping readers in a violent nightmare right alongside Val. There’s little light to be found anywhere in these dark, scary woods.
The Creeping Below recalls the folk horrors of Adam Nevill’s The Ritual by way of Swamp Thing, and Del Rey certainly serves up some terrific horror visuals. One early page finds a tortured Val reaching across the forest’s floor, her fingers crossing the bottom of the panel to reach beyond, and below, as her fingers take root in the soil and tendrils spread across the page. It’s wonderfully stylish and creepy! The ending leaves a bit to be desired, though, and it feels like Azzarello ran out of ideas. Unsure of how to end the story, he leans on a heavily cliched conclusion that abruptly closes out the last chapter. It’s the one real weak moment in an otherwise fun and gory affair.
The Creeping Below is a pitch-black horror story, in both content and visuals. Brian Azzarello’s script is a largely humorless affair, but there’s a few black streaks of levity, sparse as they are, such as a moment of culture shock in the book’s opening when Val commits a faux pas that earns her the ire of the band’s lead. At only four issues, The Creeping Below is a direct and straight to the point kind of read, so the characters don’t have a whole ton of depth, particularly the band/cultists. Still, it is pretty gnarly and the horror-action comes at a rapid clilp.
Del Rey’s art is a right proper fit for Azzarello’s moody work. She drafts a gritty, scratchy world, favoring a figurative style rather than realistic portraiture, paying scant attention at times to perspective and consistency. Limbs can be uncharacteristically long, while figures are sometimes smooshed, as the artist favors an almost-abstract style at times. It doesn’t always work for me, and I wish there was a bit more consistency and cleanness to the artwork. As a whole, though, The Creeping Below is an oppressively dark story, and much of Del Rey’s art is colored accordingly by Hillary Jenkins. Panels and entire pages are muddled in shadows and darkness, and at times it can be difficult to decipher the action, particularly in the book’s climax. Del Rey and Jenkins certainly know how to set a proper mood, though, and their work is tonally consistent with Azzarello’s script, trapping readers in a violent nightmare right alongside Val. There’s little light to be found anywhere in these dark, scary woods.
The Creeping Below recalls the folk horrors of Adam Nevill’s The Ritual by way of Swamp Thing, and Del Rey certainly serves up some terrific horror visuals. One early page finds a tortured Val reaching across the forest’s floor, her fingers crossing the bottom of the panel to reach beyond, and below, as her fingers take root in the soil and tendrils spread across the page. It’s wonderfully stylish and creepy! The ending leaves a bit to be desired, though, and it feels like Azzarello ran out of ideas. Unsure of how to end the story, he leans on a heavily cliched conclusion that abruptly closes out the last chapter. It’s the one real weak moment in an otherwise fun and gory affair.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I requested this digital ARC from NetGalley and BOOM! Studios because it sounded both unique and familiar to me. It gave off The Relic vibes along with the metal and eco-horror aesthetic. To be honest, the cover and art are really what drew me in to this comic. Just as soon as the story really started to pick up, though, it comes to a close, which is why I’m only giving this book three stars.
The art is fantastic. The story concept is so interesting–a young woman who is sacrificed to the old gods in the woods revives seven years later and exacts her revenge at the gods’ behest.
Val is the victim in question, a food and cooking photographer who travels to Oslo on assignment, but takes a side trip to the heavy metal world scene to take more pictures. She has rude encounters, but ends up getting friendly with the main metal band, who drive her out to the forest as a backdrop for a photo shoot.
Of course, things go terribly wrong, and as a comics reader, I’m glad much of that was off-camera/off-page. We get a flash of a before and an after, and what has happened to Val is nausea-inducing. She’s left naked, her body carved up with words all over it, and tied up on what looks like a stake. The band leaves her when she’s dead.
The last glimpse we get of her before the seven-year jump is a glorious one, of an old god looking down on its sacrifice:
The art of the gods and how their figures blend into the trees and forests are my favorite part of the book. The design is just so cool! And I wish I heard more from them aside from their dispatch to Val to take vengeance. On the other hand, I like how mysterious they are, and that could be ruined by them talking too much.
I want to love this comic more, I absolutely do. There is a lot of interesting and horrific and weirdly beautiful things going on with it all at one time, and the pacing is quite fast (maybe too fast for developing characters). But the story builds and builds and builds, and then it just…ends.
The description says this volume collects The Creeping Below issues 1-5. If that’s the series in its entirety, I couldn’t help but say I’m a little disappointed with how abruptly things ended. If there’s more to this story than these issues and this volume, then I will dive right back in and keep reading. There’s a lot going for this comic…I just wish there was more.
The art is fantastic. The story concept is so interesting–a young woman who is sacrificed to the old gods in the woods revives seven years later and exacts her revenge at the gods’ behest.
Val is the victim in question, a food and cooking photographer who travels to Oslo on assignment, but takes a side trip to the heavy metal world scene to take more pictures. She has rude encounters, but ends up getting friendly with the main metal band, who drive her out to the forest as a backdrop for a photo shoot.
Of course, things go terribly wrong, and as a comics reader, I’m glad much of that was off-camera/off-page. We get a flash of a before and an after, and what has happened to Val is nausea-inducing. She’s left naked, her body carved up with words all over it, and tied up on what looks like a stake. The band leaves her when she’s dead.
The last glimpse we get of her before the seven-year jump is a glorious one, of an old god looking down on its sacrifice:
The art of the gods and how their figures blend into the trees and forests are my favorite part of the book. The design is just so cool! And I wish I heard more from them aside from their dispatch to Val to take vengeance. On the other hand, I like how mysterious they are, and that could be ruined by them talking too much.
I want to love this comic more, I absolutely do. There is a lot of interesting and horrific and weirdly beautiful things going on with it all at one time, and the pacing is quite fast (maybe too fast for developing characters). But the story builds and builds and builds, and then it just…ends.
The description says this volume collects The Creeping Below issues 1-5. If that’s the series in its entirety, I couldn’t help but say I’m a little disappointed with how abruptly things ended. If there’s more to this story than these issues and this volume, then I will dive right back in and keep reading. There’s a lot going for this comic…I just wish there was more.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley.
The Creeping Below is about an American woman, Val, attending a Metal Festival in Norway.
Befriending a band with no name, she lets them take her into a deep forest, where she is assaulted and left for dead.
When she regains consciousness she finds out that YEARS have passed, not hours, and everyone thinks she is dead.
Val begins to grow roots and moss and realized that everything has changed in ways that she has yet to understand, and that revenge may be the only answer.
I think that reading it on a computer instead of a print copy might have taken away something from the story. Or possibly it is just the difference in reading a graphic novel instead of a written novel.
The story itself seemed very jumpy moving from point a to be to c with no real explanation and no character buildup. It was a case of not really caring that Val was getting hurt and not even really caring if she got her revenge. The only reason I even remember Val's name is because I looked it up in the description..
The art was stunning. Very dark, very gritty and very evocative of the story being told. It felt primal and dirty and beautiful (and gory where it needed to be.) Even then, I bet the physical copy is even more visually stunning than the digital version I read.
Most of the 3 star rating I gave this was because I loved the art. I like the idea of the story, but not the actualization of it.
The Creeping Below is about an American woman, Val, attending a Metal Festival in Norway.
Befriending a band with no name, she lets them take her into a deep forest, where she is assaulted and left for dead.
When she regains consciousness she finds out that YEARS have passed, not hours, and everyone thinks she is dead.
Val begins to grow roots and moss and realized that everything has changed in ways that she has yet to understand, and that revenge may be the only answer.
I think that reading it on a computer instead of a print copy might have taken away something from the story. Or possibly it is just the difference in reading a graphic novel instead of a written novel.
The story itself seemed very jumpy moving from point a to be to c with no real explanation and no character buildup. It was a case of not really caring that Val was getting hurt and not even really caring if she got her revenge. The only reason I even remember Val's name is because I looked it up in the description..
The art was stunning. Very dark, very gritty and very evocative of the story being told. It felt primal and dirty and beautiful (and gory where it needed to be.) Even then, I bet the physical copy is even more visually stunning than the digital version I read.
Most of the 3 star rating I gave this was because I loved the art. I like the idea of the story, but not the actualization of it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book has two main issues, in my opinion. The first is the pacing. It jumps from scene to scene with no connecting moments and no time for readers to catch up. I had to read the blurb to get an idea of what was actually going on, because the story skipped forward so quickly and left out so many important details, and rather than fill in those gaps, the book instead relies on characters to state — I’m evil, or this is revenge! — because it wasn’t supported by the art or the actual events in the story.
The second issue is, I’m sorry, the art. I get that this is a bleak, dark, horror … but the art is muddy and, well, dark. It’s a very monotone palette and not to my personal taste. It’s also a little hard to read in a few places with details lost in the shadows. The book feels like the art and the text aren’t landing on the same beats. One minute Val is a woman, then she’s a tree; she’s talking to blue aliens, then a giant forest deer head, then she’s part of the forest. The text goes on about old gods and evil and good, but … it’s a mess.
I’m sorry, but this book just didn’t work for me on any level except the idea. I love revenge stories, and bonus points for no sexual assault, but … I just didn’t enjoy my time, here. Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
The second issue is, I’m sorry, the art. I get that this is a bleak, dark, horror … but the art is muddy and, well, dark. It’s a very monotone palette and not to my personal taste. It’s also a little hard to read in a few places with details lost in the shadows. The book feels like the art and the text aren’t landing on the same beats. One minute Val is a woman, then she’s a tree; she’s talking to blue aliens, then a giant forest deer head, then she’s part of the forest. The text goes on about old gods and evil and good, but … it’s a mess.
I’m sorry, but this book just didn’t work for me on any level except the idea. I love revenge stories, and bonus points for no sexual assault, but … I just didn’t enjoy my time, here. Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Creeping Below offers some interesting graphic ideas, with an aesthetic that clearly seeks to match its dark and oppressive atmosphere. Unfortunately, this visual aspect quickly becomes a hindrance: the whole thing is often too dark and messy, to the point where it is difficult to make out details, faces, or even the action itself. This visual confusion is reinforced by a pace that is too fast and poorly controlled, which does not help the understanding of the story or the immersion.
The story gives an unfinished impression.
Some choices seem conventional, such as the clichéd involvement of a metal band in a ritual sacrifice. The conclusion, meanwhile, leaves the viewer clearly unsatisfied, as if the story ended before fully exploiting its potential.
The idea of revenge carried out by a female character is nevertheless appealing, and it's the kind of story I generally enjoy. Here, however, the execution fails to convince over time. That's not to say that everything is bad: the representation of the ancient god, blending into nature, is one of the most successful elements of the work.
Ultimately, The Creeping Below remains a work with interesting intentions but one that is unfinished, struggling to transform its good ideas into a coherent and truly memorable whole.
The story gives an unfinished impression.
Some choices seem conventional, such as the clichéd involvement of a metal band in a ritual sacrifice. The conclusion, meanwhile, leaves the viewer clearly unsatisfied, as if the story ended before fully exploiting its potential.
The idea of revenge carried out by a female character is nevertheless appealing, and it's the kind of story I generally enjoy. Here, however, the execution fails to convince over time. That's not to say that everything is bad: the representation of the ancient god, blending into nature, is one of the most successful elements of the work.
Ultimately, The Creeping Below remains a work with interesting intentions but one that is unfinished, struggling to transform its good ideas into a coherent and truly memorable whole.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
- - -
Vanesa Del Rey’s art is stunning - dark, rough, and perfectly suited to the comic’s horror-metal tone. Most panels are clear and visually compelling, though some sequences could benefit from additional panels to make the action or character reactions easier to follow.
The story itself is less impressive. It moves quickly, with a lot of action and brutal set-pieces, but the plot often feels straightforward and somewhat banal. The cliffhanger ending is jarring - the story could have concluded here, yet it leaves the reader unsure of what additional twists or developments future chapters might add. Some scenes feel under-explained, and a bit more clarity from the writer or artist would strengthen the overall narrative.
Overall, The Creeping Below is a visually powerful and intense reading experience, particularly for fans of body horror and metal aesthetics. While the art is excellent, the story’s execution leaves room for improvement.
The score is bolstered only by the amazing illustration and atmosphere (and, let’s be honest, Eddie straight out of Iron Maiden). The narrative itself doesn’t fully deliver.
- - -
Vanesa Del Rey’s art is stunning - dark, rough, and perfectly suited to the comic’s horror-metal tone. Most panels are clear and visually compelling, though some sequences could benefit from additional panels to make the action or character reactions easier to follow.
The story itself is less impressive. It moves quickly, with a lot of action and brutal set-pieces, but the plot often feels straightforward and somewhat banal. The cliffhanger ending is jarring - the story could have concluded here, yet it leaves the reader unsure of what additional twists or developments future chapters might add. Some scenes feel under-explained, and a bit more clarity from the writer or artist would strengthen the overall narrative.
Overall, The Creeping Below is a visually powerful and intense reading experience, particularly for fans of body horror and metal aesthetics. While the art is excellent, the story’s execution leaves room for improvement.
The score is bolstered only by the amazing illustration and atmosphere (and, let’s be honest, Eddie straight out of Iron Maiden). The narrative itself doesn’t fully deliver.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*Reklame* Anmeldereksemplar modtaget fra forlaget gennem Netgalley.
Val er fotograf og er i Oslo, Norge, i forbindelse med et job. Hun støder på medlemmerne af et lokalt heavy metal band, som tilbyder at vise hende en hjemsøgt skov. Val takker ja, men bandmedlemmerne viser sig at ville ofre hende til en gud, som de ønsker at bringe til live. Nogle skovånder gør hende istedet til en form for skov "monster", som skal finde gerningsmændene og istedet ofre deres sjæle til skovånderne.
Eller sådan forstår jeg det, og jeg må indrømme, at jeg ikke forstod ret meget. Jeg følte lidt, at jeg sad og læste hæfte nummer 7 i serien og manglede alt der hedder baggrund, karakteropbygning og plot. Jeg synes at billederne er virkelig flotte, men måske ikke super godt egnede til en tegneserie. Der er mange af dem, hvor man slet ikke kan se, hvad det er, men gætter sig til blod eller lemlæstelse, da det er det primære tema igennem historien.
Jeg synes egentlig at ideen med den her menneskeofring i en skandinavisk skov osv. er virkelig interessant, og hvis man havde bredt fortællingen lidt mere ud og kommet mere kød på, kunne det blive en virkelig god historie.
Måske er det bare mig, der er "langsom", men der skal virkelig læses meget mellem linjerne, for at der overhovedet er en hel historie.
Val er fotograf og er i Oslo, Norge, i forbindelse med et job. Hun støder på medlemmerne af et lokalt heavy metal band, som tilbyder at vise hende en hjemsøgt skov. Val takker ja, men bandmedlemmerne viser sig at ville ofre hende til en gud, som de ønsker at bringe til live. Nogle skovånder gør hende istedet til en form for skov "monster", som skal finde gerningsmændene og istedet ofre deres sjæle til skovånderne.
Eller sådan forstår jeg det, og jeg må indrømme, at jeg ikke forstod ret meget. Jeg følte lidt, at jeg sad og læste hæfte nummer 7 i serien og manglede alt der hedder baggrund, karakteropbygning og plot. Jeg synes at billederne er virkelig flotte, men måske ikke super godt egnede til en tegneserie. Der er mange af dem, hvor man slet ikke kan se, hvad det er, men gætter sig til blod eller lemlæstelse, da det er det primære tema igennem historien.
Jeg synes egentlig at ideen med den her menneskeofring i en skandinavisk skov osv. er virkelig interessant, og hvis man havde bredt fortællingen lidt mere ud og kommet mere kød på, kunne det blive en virkelig god historie.
Måske er det bare mig, der er "langsom", men der skal virkelig læses meget mellem linjerne, for at der overhovedet er en hel historie.
January 25, 2026
This book is ugly. In art and in theme. Val, a food photographer is in Oslo for a Heavy Metal Festival and is introduced to a band who take her out into the forest and ritualistically kill her. Years later she awakens and is no longer quite human and takes revenge on those who took her life, not because she wants to, but because the "spirits" of the forest demand it of her. The only think going for this comic is that it's a fast read seeing as most pages are just a few lines of song lyrics and untranslated Norwegian, most likely to give us the reader the same experience Val is having, but in fact just annoying the reader. This is gory and bloody and is muddy and hard to look at. Not because of the gore but because stylistically you can't figure out what the frames are literally supposed to be showing you. This is the second comic I've read illustrated by Vanesa R. Del Rey and I can say her work is not for me. I felt like they were trying to create a comic that was similar in vein to the film The Ritual which was set in Sweden. That folk horror, despite me not liking it either, had a clear story. This wasn't even worth my minimal time that it took me to read it. Looking at the other reviews I can see I'm not alone.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
THE CREEPING BELOW (graphic novel, collects THE CREEPING BELOW 1-4) is an extraordinary, wide-open, no-holds-barred graphic novel of extreme Horror packaged with a feminist revenge slant grounded in Ancient Nature Horrors with flavors of Norse Mythology, set in a rural Norway forest. This one is sure to knock your eyes out while simultaneously ripping open your imagination.
NOT for the faint of heart due to language, extreme violence, Nature Horror, brutality, vengeance.
But: extraordinary art, premise, plot, character rendering, and outcome.
Read at your own risk, but read it--do.
Val, the protagonist, is not initially a Villain, but she is recreated by one as she morphs into a new form, controlled by ancient nature horror, and sets out to wreak revenge--13 years later--on the band who tricked and brutalized her; who, in a very real sense, "sacrificed" her, and who each will now suffer the eventual consequences.
This is my review of a NetGalley ARC.
NOT for the faint of heart due to language, extreme violence, Nature Horror, brutality, vengeance.
But: extraordinary art, premise, plot, character rendering, and outcome.
Read at your own risk, but read it--do.
Val, the protagonist, is not initially a Villain, but she is recreated by one as she morphs into a new form, controlled by ancient nature horror, and sets out to wreak revenge--13 years later--on the band who tricked and brutalized her; who, in a very real sense, "sacrificed" her, and who each will now suffer the eventual consequences.
This is my review of a NetGalley ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Boom Studios for an ARC in exchange for my review.
I enjoyed a Voice that said kill, but this did not live up to my expectations. I was interested in the picture the description painted, but I do not know if I would really know what was going on without it. The graphic novel was extremely fast paced with no character building really; everything was happening all the time and the scenes jumped around so fast. I knew no one's name, and the whole thing was just kind of a confusing dream-fugue nightmare. It is definitely horror, mostly with a focus on gruesome imagery and really dark color palate. I tend to like art styles with crisper lines to where I can tell more of what is going on and easily discern the differences in characters faces. I think that the premise could have been good, but this comic needed a bit more story to get me actually invested in what was going on. I liked the imagery of blending nature with femininity and revenge storyline.
I enjoyed a Voice that said kill, but this did not live up to my expectations. I was interested in the picture the description painted, but I do not know if I would really know what was going on without it. The graphic novel was extremely fast paced with no character building really; everything was happening all the time and the scenes jumped around so fast. I knew no one's name, and the whole thing was just kind of a confusing dream-fugue nightmare. It is definitely horror, mostly with a focus on gruesome imagery and really dark color palate. I tend to like art styles with crisper lines to where I can tell more of what is going on and easily discern the differences in characters faces. I think that the premise could have been good, but this comic needed a bit more story to get me actually invested in what was going on. I liked the imagery of blending nature with femininity and revenge storyline.
January 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley & BOOM! Studios for this eARC.
This graphic novel contains parts 1-4 of Creeping Below. The description entailed a young metal fanatic who meets some strangers and is drugged, beaten and left for dead.
I found overall the story was quite disjointed, I understood the general idea and where they were incorporating the gods and revenge but multiple pages of metal lyrics and very little character development fell short.
In terms of artwork, I really enjoyed how dark this was, the hidden creatures the more you looked, the intricate detailing. There was detailed body gore and nudity that at times did distract from the writing but was still done well.
Overall, I would likely continue to see where the story goes but there was something definitely missing. There was SUCH a good story to work on but it just fell a little flat.
This graphic novel contains parts 1-4 of Creeping Below. The description entailed a young metal fanatic who meets some strangers and is drugged, beaten and left for dead.
I found overall the story was quite disjointed, I understood the general idea and where they were incorporating the gods and revenge but multiple pages of metal lyrics and very little character development fell short.
In terms of artwork, I really enjoyed how dark this was, the hidden creatures the more you looked, the intricate detailing. There was detailed body gore and nudity that at times did distract from the writing but was still done well.
Overall, I would likely continue to see where the story goes but there was something definitely missing. There was SUCH a good story to work on but it just fell a little flat.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Creeping Below sounded super intriguing to me, but it fell a little flat in its delivery. I will say, I absolutely loved Del Rey's illustrations. They are absolutely beautiful, and do a fantastic job of whisking the reader into the story. It has been a while since I read a comic, but I will remember this one because of what it looks like. The atmosphere created feels beautifully haunted, and I couldn't ask for more.
The story itself, however, didn't make as much of an impact on me. I can see the beginnings of something good here, though. The premise is interesting, but I found myself wanting more. There are so many unknowns at the moment, and while I am sure they will be revealed in subsequent releases, I think a touch of answers within this one would've been what it needed.
The story itself, however, didn't make as much of an impact on me. I can see the beginnings of something good here, though. The premise is interesting, but I found myself wanting more. There are so many unknowns at the moment, and while I am sure they will be revealed in subsequent releases, I think a touch of answers within this one would've been what it needed.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Well, that was disturbing.
Do these reviews have a word count? Do I need to say more? Okay.
The art is atmospheric and interesting.
There is female nudity, ritualistic human sacrifice, abuse and torture of a female (most off panel or implied), implied satanism, demon possession... Do you want more? I mean, there is tasting of blood after slitting a throat. There is that. (Contemplating if there are negative ratings on NetGalley, Amazon, GoodReads, etc.). (Oh, yeah, contemplating how disturbing the nightmares must be of the author and artist).
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
0 stars out of 5
Do these reviews have a word count? Do I need to say more? Okay.
The art is atmospheric and interesting.
There is female nudity, ritualistic human sacrifice, abuse and torture of a female (most off panel or implied), implied satanism, demon possession... Do you want more? I mean, there is tasting of blood after slitting a throat. There is that. (Contemplating if there are negative ratings on NetGalley, Amazon, GoodReads, etc.). (Oh, yeah, contemplating how disturbing the nightmares must be of the author and artist).
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
0 stars out of 5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Val takes a vacation to Oslo to see heavy metal bands at the Inferno Metal Festival. A local band takes her into the woods to show her some of the local sights. What they don’t tell her is that she is to be sacrificed for their own gains: fame, glory, power.
Val wakes up 7 years later, not as human, but as something “new” or rather something very “old”. An ancient power resides within her along with her desire for revenge against the men that brutalized and murdered her.
Its storyline was an interesting mix of Norse mythology, revenge, and horror, but I found it rather confusing at times.
#ThNetGalley #BrianAzzarello #TheCreepingBelow
Val wakes up 7 years later, not as human, but as something “new” or rather something very “old”. An ancient power resides within her along with her desire for revenge against the men that brutalized and murdered her.
Its storyline was an interesting mix of Norse mythology, revenge, and horror, but I found it rather confusing at times.
#ThNetGalley #BrianAzzarello #TheCreepingBelow
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.
First off, let me say that, in my world, a 2 star rating means I finished the book, but I kind of wish I hadn't. I wanted to love it. The book has quite a few things I love (feminine rage, folk horror, old gods, and black metal), but it was a disjointed mess. The book seemed to flip from scene to scene with nary an explanation. The art is so dark I could barely distinguish the characters. Sometimes the art will up the rating with a graphic novel, but this was not a style I enjoy. Everything is so muddy it's frankly hard to make anything out. 2 sad stars
First off, let me say that, in my world, a 2 star rating means I finished the book, but I kind of wish I hadn't. I wanted to love it. The book has quite a few things I love (feminine rage, folk horror, old gods, and black metal), but it was a disjointed mess. The book seemed to flip from scene to scene with nary an explanation. The art is so dark I could barely distinguish the characters. Sometimes the art will up the rating with a graphic novel, but this was not a style I enjoy. Everything is so muddy it's frankly hard to make anything out. 2 sad stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Promising premise, but the execution was mostly a gore fest in the dark. There’s an opening at the end to continue the story and I think I’d enjoy getting to explore more of what’s going on now that the initial revenge plot has resolved.
This one is physically difficult to read. The panels often shatter outwards from the page’s center and the black borders disappear into the dark nighttime scenes, making it hard to tell what’s going on. It certainly adds to the mood, but is a bit frustrating. The scenes that are easier to make out consist largely of blood and dismemberment.
Come
This one is physically difficult to read. The panels often shatter outwards from the page’s center and the black borders disappear into the dark nighttime scenes, making it hard to tell what’s going on. It certainly adds to the mood, but is a bit frustrating. The scenes that are easier to make out consist largely of blood and dismemberment.
Come
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was not good. Del Rey's art can certainly set a mood. Tell a story though? Not so much. It's not helped by several pages that only have heavy metal lyrics to narrate are just stupid. The story is about a girl who goes to Oslo for a heavy metal festival. She gets taken up with a band who take her out to the forest and sacrifice her. Now I guess she's out for revenge? Even though, she's not very enthusiastic about it. To be honest, I expect more story from Azzarello than this half-baked, written on the back of a napkin while drinking attempt.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Very cool illustrations, I think it enchanced the story. It was all very creepy, mysterious ang gory.
The plot is full of dark and heavy elements., a girl got murdered in the forest, but years later she comes back and seeks revenge on her killers. It's a short read, so the revenge part goes down pretty quickly and a bit too easily. I would have love to see more of the girl hunting and haunting her murderers.
Very cool illustrations, I think it enchanced the story. It was all very creepy, mysterious ang gory.
The plot is full of dark and heavy elements., a girl got murdered in the forest, but years later she comes back and seeks revenge on her killers. It's a short read, so the revenge part goes down pretty quickly and a bit too easily. I would have love to see more of the girl hunting and haunting her murderers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I don't tend to read graphic novels due to the fact that sometimes I find them hard to follow. The Creeping Below was a bit hard for me to follow at times but the story itself was incredible! Revenge for the wrong someone has done you has always been a favorite of mine. Tack on the Norse vibes and the bada** female and I'm sold! The artwork was absolutely stunning and certainly my favorite part of this graphic novel.
Thank you, Netgallery, for allowing me to read this!
Thank you, Netgallery, for allowing me to read this!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5 stars
Middle of the road rating because im very indifferent about this. I feel like we started at the middle or end of the story. While I enjoyed the overall idea and art, it felt severely disjointed and messy. I don't have too much to say because its just one volume of a graphic series. Its a fun premise especially if you like satanic panic/metal fiction but it could have been executed better.
Middle of the road rating because im very indifferent about this. I feel like we started at the middle or end of the story. While I enjoyed the overall idea and art, it felt severely disjointed and messy. I don't have too much to say because its just one volume of a graphic series. Its a fun premise especially if you like satanic panic/metal fiction but it could have been executed better.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I wanted a more clear cut feminine rage and revenge story but this fell flat. It tried to do too much too quickly. The exaggerate death metal characters gave me a bit of a laugh (because any one even remotely involved in the metal scene knows a guy like that) but this lacked substance and felt like violence for violence sake.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.
Content Warning: blood and gore, violence, murder
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.
Content Warning: blood and gore, violence, murder
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was very interesting. I see that it's been described as 'Swamp Thing' meets 'The Crow' and I can totally see it. I love the artwork and the evocation of mythology. Azzarello does a great job of blending music, mythos, and retribution all into one. I found the storyline easy to follow. I'm curious if this volume collects all the issues or if there is more to come? It seemed like there would be if I was reading the ending correctly.
November 26, 2025
This was woefully delayed in single issues, one of the most muddly drawn and coloured books I’ve read, hence indecipherable at parts - and ultimately very disappointing.
It had the potential to be a really good, disturbing black metal inspired book - but I think Vanessa Del Rey took the dark tone too literally.
It had the potential to be a really good, disturbing black metal inspired book - but I think Vanessa Del Rey took the dark tone too literally.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was ok. Another reviewer said my exact issues with it already. The art is super muddy, so it's hard to tell what's going on, and the time jumps are insane and make it very hard to follow. I think there's a cool idea in there, but this wasn't the best. It did intrigue me enough to read more to see where it's going, though. Still, thanks for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Great read! The storyline was interesting. I wish there more explanations tho about the gods. The story at first was a bit confusing as there dialogue in different language.
The art in this book tho is soooo beautiful!! The art and the storyline it was worth reading it.
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Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book in advance~
The art in this book tho is soooo beautiful!! The art and the storyline it was worth reading it.
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Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book in advance~
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I recieved a copy of this ARC thanks to NetGalley and BOOM!Studios. I am leaving a voluntary and honest review.
The premise was neat and the art was cool, but a lot of the text felt random or like it started in the middle of a sentence. It made the whole thing really confusing and hard to follow along with, especially when there was already so little text.
The premise was neat and the art was cool, but a lot of the text felt random or like it started in the middle of a sentence. It made the whole thing really confusing and hard to follow along with, especially when there was already so little text.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I liked the dark and grit behind this graphic novel but I just felt it was too quick for me to keep up, There’s no character development or a in depth story tbh. Pretty disappointed as I like my dark stories lol…
Got this via Netgalley and publisher
Got this via Netgalley and publisher
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews