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Hello Darkness #17-20
Hello Darkness Vol. 5
It’s time to feed your fears.
Prepare for a full spread of all-new horrors from the darkest hearts in comics!
In the fifth volume of the acclaimed horror anthology Hello Darkness, an unspeakable hunger awakens in “The Pothole” by Tyler Crook, while Zack Kaplan and Dennis Menheere explore a crime that memory itself refuses to bury in “Recollect.” Horror takes the field as Sam Humphries and Eleonora Carlini unleash the demonic baseball epic “Cassie,” while reality fractures in Rocky OBK’s haunting, liminal tale “Sauna 24.”
With stories to satisfy even the most nightmarish of appetites by today’s top creators, including Dennis Menheere, Tate Brombal, Piotr Kowalski, Jorge Corona, Lauren Knight, and more.
Collects Hello Darkness #17-20.
Prepare for a full spread of all-new horrors from the darkest hearts in comics!
In the fifth volume of the acclaimed horror anthology Hello Darkness, an unspeakable hunger awakens in “The Pothole” by Tyler Crook, while Zack Kaplan and Dennis Menheere explore a crime that memory itself refuses to bury in “Recollect.” Horror takes the field as Sam Humphries and Eleonora Carlini unleash the demonic baseball epic “Cassie,” while reality fractures in Rocky OBK’s haunting, liminal tale “Sauna 24.”
With stories to satisfy even the most nightmarish of appetites by today’s top creators, including Dennis Menheere, Tate Brombal, Piotr Kowalski, Jorge Corona, Lauren Knight, and more.
Collects Hello Darkness #17-20.
- GenresGraphic NovelsHorror
176 pages, Paperback
Published July 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Big thanks to BOOM! Studios and NetGalley for sharing an advanced copy of this excellent horror anthology comic Hello Darkness Vol. 5. I was excited to find this edition because I loved horror anthologies nearly any way they arrive—comics, films, shows; I enjoy some short, dark tales that often end in some kind of ironic cosmic justice. I’ve really been enjoying comic anthologies for the unique artwork and brisk storytelling that gets right down to business. Hello Darkness Vol. 5 features all of these great elements with some awesome writers and artists, including Tate Brombal and Tini Howard, whose works I just encountered in other recent publications. Plus, I got to discover some great new writers and artists, including Rocky OBK’s mesmerizing “Sauna 24” and Paulina Ganucheau’s bloody tale “Freshly Maid.” I also really liked “Last Christmas” by Torunn Grønbekk and illustrated by Isaac Goodheart. The story hearkened back to those great Tales from the Crypt EC comics, even down to the dark artwork. There are these other short one-page pieces that have 3-4 comics per page called “I Can’t Take You Anywhere” by Hack, and these were hilarious—a great way to break up some of the disturbing horror stories with some more dark humor that was reminiscent of The Far Side, but only darker and more ironic. What stood out to me most, though, was the incredible artwork of Jenny Frison throughout this book. There were just some of the darkest, most surreal horror images I’ve seen with amazing color. There were other images by Jeehyung Lee, Michael Dialynas, Rebeca Puebla, Emma Rios, Becky Cloonan, and Riley Rossmo that were equally captivating and really made me pause. While all of the artists brought their own vision and style, I loved that there was a kind of carnival like theme that also stressed this kind of dark side behind the play and fun of childhood. In fact, there were plenty of stories that featured that kind of dark side hidden behind the mask of propriety—whether it was whatever dark force is driving the murderous “Pothole” or the doppelgänger who is too good to be true in Brombal’s “Imposter Syndrome,” or the hidden passage that the main character from “Sauna 24” discovers after needing to escape from the stresses of everyday life. Each of these characters slips into the darkness, whether by choice, through exploration, or be accident… they are all pulled from the world of comfort and light into a darker, more violent or unknown world. I especially liked “One of Us” by Joe Pruett with stark black and white art by Stevan Subic, where two hikers out looking for a friend encounter a strange individual who offers them some warm meat roasting on the fire. “The Thread” by Lauren Knight was not only the most disturbing story, but it was also the grossest, and I mean that in the best possible way. It was the equivalent of watching a kind of splatter horror movie crossed with some Lovecraftian-inner menace. I was cringing while reading it, but in the most enjoyable way. “Away Message” by Jorge Corona and “Gunmetal Ghost” by Fell Hound also felt timely and appropriate as both dealt with different kinds of apocalyptic outcomes, with “Gunmetal Ghost” being particularly disturbing and bloody. “Inner D-Man” by Jeffrey Brown was also a fun sports and Satan story with fun comic imagery to match this humorous but dark story. Hello Darkness Vol. 5 has a lot to offer for fans of horror, horror anthologies, and comics. I especially loved the great artwork throughout this volume, and not just the artwork from the stories, but the interstitial artwork that added to whole dark and fun themes that seem somewhat incongruous but are largely highlighted by these stories. I can’t wait to find other work by these great artists, and also check out the previous volumes of Hello Darkness. Highly recommended!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Book Review: Hello Darkness #5 by Tate Brombal, Sam Humphries, and others, illustrated by Piotr Kowalski and others
Hello Darkness continues its anthology format in issue #5, delivering several short horror stories that lean into different flavors of unease. As with most anthology comics, the strength of the issue comes from variety. Some stories aim for visceral shocks while others prefer slow dread, and the shifting art styles keep the reading experience visually fresh. The format allows creators to experiment with tone and pacing in ways that longer series often cannot.
One of the more memorable entries is “One of Us,” which follows three hikers traveling along the Appalachian Trail. When one of them goes missing, the remaining two search the woods and come across a man quietly eating dinner beside a campfire. What initially feels like an awkward but mundane encounter quickly becomes disturbing as the stranger keeps pressing them with questions about their lost friend. The tension snaps when it becomes clear he already knows what happened because he has been eating the missing hiker, transforming into a monstrous creature and attacking them. In a final twist that fits the anthology’s love of grim reversals, the woman who earlier wanted to turn back reveals herself to be something far more dangerous, shifting into a witchlike hag and killing the monster while calmly declaring the woods to be her territory. The story works well within the issue’s broader themes of unease and hidden threats, reminding readers that in horror stories, the most dangerous thing in the woods is rarely the first monster you meet.
Artistically, the issue benefits from contributors working in a detailed, slightly grim register. Piotr Kowalski’s pages, in particular, lean into shadow, body language, and careful panel composition to create unease without relying on constant spectacle. Other artists bring their own distinct visual styles, which keeps the anthology feeling varied rather than repetitive.
As a single issue, Hello Darkness #5 functions best as a sampler of modern horror comics. Not every story lands equally, which is typical for anthology formats; however, the variety means that there is almost always at least one segment that will resonate. For those who enjoy short, unsettling tales with different creative teams experimenting in the same dark territory, it is a solid entry in the series.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Hello Darkness continues its anthology format in issue #5, delivering several short horror stories that lean into different flavors of unease. As with most anthology comics, the strength of the issue comes from variety. Some stories aim for visceral shocks while others prefer slow dread, and the shifting art styles keep the reading experience visually fresh. The format allows creators to experiment with tone and pacing in ways that longer series often cannot.
One of the more memorable entries is “One of Us,” which follows three hikers traveling along the Appalachian Trail. When one of them goes missing, the remaining two search the woods and come across a man quietly eating dinner beside a campfire. What initially feels like an awkward but mundane encounter quickly becomes disturbing as the stranger keeps pressing them with questions about their lost friend. The tension snaps when it becomes clear he already knows what happened because he has been eating the missing hiker, transforming into a monstrous creature and attacking them. In a final twist that fits the anthology’s love of grim reversals, the woman who earlier wanted to turn back reveals herself to be something far more dangerous, shifting into a witchlike hag and killing the monster while calmly declaring the woods to be her territory. The story works well within the issue’s broader themes of unease and hidden threats, reminding readers that in horror stories, the most dangerous thing in the woods is rarely the first monster you meet.
Artistically, the issue benefits from contributors working in a detailed, slightly grim register. Piotr Kowalski’s pages, in particular, lean into shadow, body language, and careful panel composition to create unease without relying on constant spectacle. Other artists bring their own distinct visual styles, which keeps the anthology feeling varied rather than repetitive.
As a single issue, Hello Darkness #5 functions best as a sampler of modern horror comics. Not every story lands equally, which is typical for anthology formats; however, the variety means that there is almost always at least one segment that will resonate. For those who enjoy short, unsettling tales with different creative teams experimenting in the same dark territory, it is a solid entry in the series.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a review of an ARC copy of Hello Darkness Vol. 5.
Aand we're back with some more horror story anthology time, in this fifth volume! I've read three of the five volumes in this series already, and this one's collection is sitting somewhere in the middle. There were three standout stories in my opinion - "Recollect" written by Zack Kaplan, "Freshly Maid" written by Paulina Ganucheau, and "Cassie Parts I-III" written by Sam Humphries.
While the story in "Recollect" is semi-preditable - who betrayed the crew and let a killer in to murder everyone? - the artwork and the panel staging was very well done. "Freshly Maid" appealed to my sapphic-loving soul, with quirky art and a murderous mistress. But ultimately, the star in this set was the "Cassie" three-part story. I was not expecting a story centered around a supernaturally-powered girls baseball team that worships some sort of demonic coach entity, but the surprise was a great one, with both great writing and great art. Cassie is a 5-star story on its own.
3.5 stars overall for the entire collection.
Aand we're back with some more horror story anthology time, in this fifth volume! I've read three of the five volumes in this series already, and this one's collection is sitting somewhere in the middle. There were three standout stories in my opinion - "Recollect" written by Zack Kaplan, "Freshly Maid" written by Paulina Ganucheau, and "Cassie Parts I-III" written by Sam Humphries.
While the story in "Recollect" is semi-preditable - who betrayed the crew and let a killer in to murder everyone? - the artwork and the panel staging was very well done. "Freshly Maid" appealed to my sapphic-loving soul, with quirky art and a murderous mistress. But ultimately, the star in this set was the "Cassie" three-part story. I was not expecting a story centered around a supernaturally-powered girls baseball team that worships some sort of demonic coach entity, but the surprise was a great one, with both great writing and great art. Cassie is a 5-star story on its own.
3.5 stars overall for the entire collection.
August 6, 2026
3.75 / 5 stars
This volume of *Hello Darkness* delivers exactly what the anthology promises: a solid batch of creepy, unsettling short stories that lean into pure horror vibes. The atmosphere is consistently eerie, with several entries that dig under your skin and stay there. The sense of dread and the darker, more unsettling moments are the clear highlights.
There is also some genuinely good fighting mixed in—sharp, visceral action sequences that hit hard when they appear and give the collection a bit of kinetic energy amid the scares.
Beyond those strengths, though, the book doesn’t offer a whole lot else that stands out. It’s a competent, enjoyable horror anthology that does its job well enough, but it doesn’t quite push past “pretty good” into must-read territory for me. If you’re specifically after creepiness and the occasional solid fight scene, this volume will scratch that itch. Just don’t expect it to blow you away beyond those elements.
This volume of *Hello Darkness* delivers exactly what the anthology promises: a solid batch of creepy, unsettling short stories that lean into pure horror vibes. The atmosphere is consistently eerie, with several entries that dig under your skin and stay there. The sense of dread and the darker, more unsettling moments are the clear highlights.
There is also some genuinely good fighting mixed in—sharp, visceral action sequences that hit hard when they appear and give the collection a bit of kinetic energy amid the scares.
Beyond those strengths, though, the book doesn’t offer a whole lot else that stands out. It’s a competent, enjoyable horror anthology that does its job well enough, but it doesn’t quite push past “pretty good” into must-read territory for me. If you’re specifically after creepiness and the occasional solid fight scene, this volume will scratch that itch. Just don’t expect it to blow you away beyond those elements.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Very random horror compilation, with short comics ranging from a killer pothole to the standard boogeymen in the woods, and from plague-of-zombies survivors to demonic baseball girlies. And it's all about as shocking as finding cereal in a box marked cereal, bought from the cereal aisle. Nothing is particularly horrific, but neither does anything outstay its welcome – until said baseball story, which is a waste of time. Admittedly you can applaud this if you appreciate books for having every entrant being of similar quality – it's just that it's quite the weak quality. Two and a bit stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hello Darkness Vol. 5 is a decent little horror anthology.
Some of the art didn't really do it for me and a few of the stories failed to sink their teeth into me, but overall I had a good time. I particularly enjoyed "The Pothole", "Imposter Syndrome", "The Thread", and "Gunmetal Ghost". "Freshly Maid" is a honorable mention. "Cassie" was fun and had some great character designs.
If you're looking for a quick, gory horror comic anthology that doesn't take itself too seriously, this might be worth giving a look.
Thanks to Netgalley and BOOM! Studios for the advanced copy!
Some of the art didn't really do it for me and a few of the stories failed to sink their teeth into me, but overall I had a good time. I particularly enjoyed "The Pothole", "Imposter Syndrome", "The Thread", and "Gunmetal Ghost". "Freshly Maid" is a honorable mention. "Cassie" was fun and had some great character designs.
If you're looking for a quick, gory horror comic anthology that doesn't take itself too seriously, this might be worth giving a look.
Thanks to Netgalley and BOOM! Studios for the advanced copy!
Read
July 28, 2026Even as the cost of living obliges me to cut my comics order right back, I keep Hello Darkness on there, despite the patchiness. Partly that's because I know I'm much more likely to see the collections of eg Fantastic Four in the library, but also there's something specifically satisfying about an anthology, and especially one that really commits to variety, one-offs and single-panel gags and multi-part stories about horny demonically inspired baseball teams all jostling together and reminding us how many things comics can be.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An anthology of short horror stories by a wide variety of writers and artists. It's a mixed bag. Some stories are funny, some are serious, and some are confusing. The covers often don't have anything to do with the stories contained in the issue. There's some good artwork and some good stories in here, but there are also some disappointments.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Amazing read!! I love Hello Darkness series so much!!! So many different stories from different authors!!! I love everything!! The arts!! The storyline!! Some of the stories make me feel like i need more continuation!! Amazing works!!
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Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book in advance~
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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 had an absolute blast with this. There were so many ideas and the colors were so vibrant. The best part was how far it went sometimes, and it was darkly humorous.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this
July 23, 2026
3⭐️ thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. Truly a mixed bag, some big swings and big misses for me. Freshly Maid and Impostor Syndrome were the most memorable for me, and I won’t name names for the ones that didn’t work. Still a lot of fun!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Not bad. I was liking it quite a bit until I got to those Sam Humphries stories at the end about a satanic baseball team. That was stupid. Quite a few winners before that though.
Review of advance copy
The long-form is once again the worst of the lot, but in all the short pieces there is really only one stinker.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews