Dark Pyramid

by Paul Tobin, Sara Colella (colorist), Taylor Esposito (letterer)

A dark horror story based on a real-life urban legend with an internet-age twist--for fans of films like The Ritual and The Blair Witch Project.

Hooky Hidalgo, adventurist and popular live streamer, has gone missing while climbing Mt. Denali! When his girlfriend, Becca, arrives in Alaska to retrace his steps, she soon discovers something beyond the dreamy and impressive landscape. There's a conspiracy deep within the heart of Denali a dark pyramid, silent, waiting. Teaming up with a local conspiracy theorist named Shailene, Becca — and the scores of Hooky fans determined to either find him or find some fun — will face death, freezing temperatures, avalanches‚ and monsters to discover a truth that will change her life forever.

Genres: Horror, Comics, Graphic Novels, Comic Book

120 pages, Paperback

Published September 16, 2025

About the author

Paul Tobin is the Eisner-award winning, New York Times-bestselling author of Bandette, Colder, and many other comic books and graphic series.

Bandette, drawn by Colleen Coover, was awarded the Eisner Award for Best Digital Series in 2013, 2016, and 2017; and was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award for Graphic Literature in 2016. His original graphic novel I Was the Cat was nominated for an Eisner in 2015.

The Genius Factor: How to Capture an Invisible Cat , first in his five-book series of middle-grade books, came out in 2016 from Bloomsbury Kids. It was followed in 2017 by How To Outsmart A billion Robot Bees , and How To Tame A Human Tornado in March 2018.

Reviews

[Tabitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for the advanced copy.

Oh, I loved this. I'm all about secret ancient pyramids buried for millenia in ice. Becca and Shailene go on the run in Alaska, hiding from all manner of monsters in the search for her missing boyfriend. Ancient mysteries live up in this region of Alaska and our main characters are in the middle of all of it.

The art was fun and fine, I especially liked the monster work a lot. It had some beautiful coloring in it as well.

The story itself is more action-horror than monster-horror though, and I was really wanting ancient monster, Lovecraftian Eldritch horror stuff. Dark Pyramid is not that, or well maybe it's like if Underworld were cosmic horror. Lots of gunplay lol I wanted more mystery, BUT we do get some answers here, enough to tantalize and make me want more.

I'd happily read so much more of this story, even if the ending did annoy me just a little bit. I need to know more about Eve.

Overall though I really super enjoyed this. This hit a craving I had, or always have, for frozen monster horror. It was a fun story with fun art!

[Thom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note: I received access to read this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Dark Pyramid scratched an itch for a pulpy cryptid story. While I didn't love the dialogue, the overarching concept is a good one. With a different writer this series could thrive. As it stands, I'm undecided on if I would read a Volume 2.

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so Paul Tobin's Dark Pyramid was a weird one for me, but in a good way, mostly. Honestly, it was a lot stronger than I thought it'd be. The dialogue was solid, the characters were fun, and the monster designs? Seriously sick. That main creature, the big ass woman demon monster, was especially great. So yeah, it had a lot going for it right out of the gate.

But man, the story just went in such a bizarre direction. The first two issues totally sold me, but after that, it just kept getting weirder and odder. By the end, I wasn't really sure how I felt about the plot. Also, while the pacing worked well for a lot of it, there was this needless back and forth between some characters that got a bit much.

Overall though, it was a fun little twisted horror story. Despite the plot getting a bit out there, those strong points really carried it. I'd give it a 3 out of 5.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posting review soon to X @AdamReadsComics for MadCave Studios.

[Cristhian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uh. Nope

[Alex Sarll]

I've been a little less keen on basing fiction around real-world conspiracy theories since [gestures despairingly at the past decade], but if nothing else, this riff on the notion that there's an ancient structure hidden within Denali* in Alaska seems unlikely to lead to anyone turning up at a pizzeria with automatic weapons. We open with the modern version of found footage horror – a live streamer goes offline in mysterious circumstances – and then follow as his girlfriend and others go to find out what's up. The next couple of issues are the obligatory scary runaround, and if PJ Holden's art ensures they look good, it did also remind me that 2000AD would probably have been a lot pacier with this material. Still, once we get the big reveal it's agreeably bonkers (in more ways than one), and I genuinely did not expect the ending, while still accepting that it followed fairly enough from the characters Tobin had established (and, as in Bandette, he is solid on that, even with the minor roles).

*Hearteningly, even representatives of the inevitable murderous government conspiracy refrain from calling it Mount McKinley. Allyship!

(Netgalley ARC)

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started off strong. The atmosphere was creepy and tense, and the art style was really great. The violence and gore was captured well. However, the ending was a huge info dump and pretty anticlimactic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for this ARC.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for an advance copy of this new graphic novel that tells of what goes on in the far wilderness of Alaska, where nature has been changed, secrets are being kept, secrets that are worth killing over.

When I was a lad I was a Cub Scout,maybe a Webelo Scout. My troop went on a jamboree I think it was called, in the woods. There were a lot of other scouts, and the peaceful time in the woods was anything but. I was coming to end of my interest in scouting, and probably people. Instead of going to some celebration I went for a walk. Where I promptly got lost. At the time it was scary, I will admit. Now I find it fascinating. The trees seemed different, the night sky unfamiliar. And the creatures that were stirring were not ones I knew. Their sounds, their smells even seemed wrong. As I am writing this, everyone knows the story ended with me getting back to our crowded camping area. However it stayed with me. and gave me a respect for nature. Nature is wild, and maybe for all we think we know, there is a different set of animals that come out at night, maybe creatures that shouldn't be. And creatures that really can't be controlled. Dark Pyramid written by Paul Tobin and illustrated by PJ Holden, is a story about nature going in different ways, dark ways, and how efforts to control it, can only end in tears, and violence.

Hooky Hidalgo is a influencer with a lot of followers and a love of adventure and going off the beaten path. Hooky's latest money maker is a ascent of Mt. Denali in Alaska, with only his streaming fans as company. Things go wrong when Hooky falls down and finds himself at a cave with all sorts of strange writing. Suddenly the stream ends, and Hooky is considered missing. Becca his producer-girlfriend makes her way to Alaska to find Hooky. There she finds the locals mysteriously cold, and a lot of Hooky fans getting ready to look for him. Becca is awoken by a mysterious woman, one who claims to be a scientist, but seems to be a bit crazy, who tells Becca the town is going to kill Becca, so no one goes looking for Hooky. Escaping the killers Becca and Shailene cross paths with something that should not be, along with a whole lot of others things that tells Becca something odd is going on in the mountains. And a lot of people are willing to kill to keep it silent.

A fun dark little story, a mix of moden conspiracy thought, H.P. Lovecraft and of course X-Files. With a lot of body horror, violence and cursing. Lots of cursing. The story starts strong, with Hooky's travels, and never really lets up, though the ending is a little more talky than I expected. There are a lot of red herrings, and things going one way than another, enough to keep the reader engaged. Plus the body horror and violence work well in the story. The art is good, bright colors, lots of action, with characters who stay consistent in look and styling.
Horror fans will enjoy this, and though it says the story is over, there seems to be a volume 2 planned. A good story, with enough ick to get most people, and a plot that never lets up. A fun read.

[Lukasz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark Pyramid starts off strong. The first issue is exciting and full of suspense. The idea of a missing live-streamer, a dark pyramid hidden in the Alaskan mountains, and strange monsters lurking around had me hooked right away.

The art is also really solid. The snow, the cold, the wide, empty spaces - it all looks great. Visually, it's a treat all way through. Writing-wise, less so - after a great first issue, things started slipping.

The story got more typical. Characters started making dumb choices, monsters popping up just because, and some of the mystery fall apart. Parts of it felt rushed, like they skipped over important stuff or expected you to connect the dots with barely any clues. Some things honestly didn’t make much sense. There’s also humor in there - sometimes it works, sometimes it really doesn’t.

It’s not bad overall. It’s a fun, quick horror comic with monsters, conspiracies, and cool ideas. But I kept thinking about how good that first issue was. It gave me hope for something more unique that would really stand out. Sadly, the rest never quite lived up to that.

ARC through NetGalley

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was going to just be the story of an influencer that gets lost in a mountain and finds a cryptid or some other conspiracy theory creature. Straightforward but creepy. Oh boy, was I wrong.

I'm not sure if I can even remotely describe the plot without some major spoilers, so I will contend myself with saying that I love how much personality each character had and that this is some insane world-building. I desperately need to know more.

The main monster has of the creepiest and most interesting dialogue (internal monologue?) that I have ever seen. Something about it chilled me to the bone.

I am docking a star because I am really not a fan of the “solutions” that were found and the ending. I wish it had gone in a different direction. There was more chaos to be had.

Thank you to NetGalley, Paul Tobin, and Mad Cave Studios for the advanced copy. This review is left voluntarily and honestly.

[Theediscerning · Rating 2 out of 5]

Climber on a wintry Denali falls off – which would probably be partly to do with him worried about his livestream more than anything – and suddenly finds a unique entrance to a unique cave. End of livestream. When his girlfriend turns up to check what happened she finds a complete horror story of – well, that would be telling.

Although this book hardly does any 'telling' when 'showing' is available – it is as subtle as a ton weight on your toes. Said girlfriend and a second female that wants to rescue her from a dodgy Cthulhu-type evil thing spend the rest of the book cussing tiresomely, meaning nobody is really that great and likeable a character, and nothing about the intrigue, from the main monster to the whole concept, ever begins to hang together. It is a narrative full of WTF moments and ideas, all leading to very little, especially given that ending.

[Skye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark Pyramid follows Becca, who goes out looking for her missing adventurist and live-streamer boyfriend Hooky after he goes missing while climbing Mt. Denali. She teams up with Shailene, a local conspiracy theorist. Together, they fight off monsters and uncover the town's secrets!

I enjoyed this dark horror story. The artwork was beautiful and gory at the same time. My favorite artwork was when they went into the dark pyramid. I liked the creature Eve’s character design. The story kept me engaged and wanting to find out what happens next! I didn’t like the ending much because they teamed up with the enemy (and I’m not talking about the monsters!). Overall a quick, fun read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios, for the ARC.

[Dean · Rating 2 out of 5]

tries top hard at the humour. particularly with becca.
a person goes missing on a mountain. it seems sketchy. their friend goes looking for them and finds trouble. becca who is also investigating finds this person and saves them from an attack by an alien looking creature.

us military gets involved and uses the two people as bait.

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spooky, in a good way. Very Cryptid-esque. Honestly, I think the hoats were my favorite part.

Hopefully this is the beginning of a series, so we will see more. I'd like to know where it goes from here. But also, it ends on a solid enough note that it works just find as a standalone.

[DollarBin ComicWin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tobin and Holden bring an absolutely crazy story to life with vivid colors and harsh darkness. Dark Pyramid is a mysterious thriller that could easily earn a continuation.
Pacing and resolution are issues, but overall a fun ride.

[Kurt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid horror TPB

[Shivesh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, this took a nosedive after the first ten pages or so. Was not a fun read and the ending was bizarre. This was bad.

[Alex G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would've given 4 stars, but the ending was a bit too weird and rushed. Overall, a neat little sci-fi horror thing but could've been better.

[Haruka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!! The storyline is very very interesting. I wish the story was longer. I wanna know more of each of the creations. Great book! Love this read so much!