The Replacer

by Zac Thompson, Arjuna Susini (Artist), Dee Cunniffe (Colorist)

The 1990’s. Tragedy strikes the Beharrell family in the form of a debilitating stroke. Now the youngest child in the family is convinced his paralyzed father didn’t truly fall ill but is possessed by something sinister. He believes a demon, THE REPLACER, has come to take away his jolly, agreeable, tech-obsessed Dad. But no one seems to see the monster — and with every passing day, his father falls deeper into the clutches of evil.

Genres: Comics, Horror, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Graphic Novels

66 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2019

About the author

Zac Thompson is a writer born and raised on Prince Edward Island, Canada. He's written titles like Marvelous X-Men, Cable, and X-Men: Black for Marvel Comics. Along with indie books such as Her Infernal Descent, Relay, and The Replacer.

In 2019, Zac became the showrunner of the Age of X-Man universe at Marvel Comics. His critically acclaimed miniseries, Come Into Me, was called the best horror comic of 2018 by HorrorDNA. His debut comic series, The Dregs, was called "lowbrow brilliant" by New York Magazine. His novel, Weaponized, was the winner of the 2016 CryptTV horror fiction contest.

Reviews

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very interesting take on the exorcism premise of horror story telling. I loved the setting and the artwork, and for the most part the pacing. All's good until around the last few pages where the ending is pretty much undeserved and very deus ex machina

[Jaime K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hm. I'd say a 2.5 star rating.

Marcus sees a demon take over his father's body in November 1995. This was on a Sunday morning (Saturday evening?) while his mother and older sister (Rachel) are at church. Marcus and dad are home because Marcus faked sick to watch a movie with pops.

Rachel really irritates me. After Marcus [seemingly] vomits, she complains that he doesn't have to go to church and she does.

The way she's drawn is also a bit irritating. She's 16 or 17 but almost looks 12 at times, 16 at others, 10 at others...

The doctor say that dad had a stroke, and Marcus is determined to drive the demon out, even months later.
Even after their priest experiences similar issues with his leg (albeit somewhat momentarily though he does need his leg replaced).

But the priest not taking Marcus seriously and blaspheming against the fact that demons exist irritate me insanely. A lot of Aftershock titles do this--make Catholics seem like we are inconsistent and just dumb. Or blasphemers. And that is not at all what the Church teaches. CATHOLICS BELIEVE IN DEMONS. WE ARE THE ONES WITH THE EXORCISTS.

But the story gets better, it really does. It's almost scary that Marcus can't see the demon affecting his mom and Rachel.
It's scary that information on the Replacer is out there.

But the end falls very flat. It's disappointing, and confusing (IMO).

[Kris Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marcus is a young boy whose loser father has a stroke. The real question is was it a stroke, or was dad possessed by a demon who tricks everyone into believing that his father had a stroke? Or is young Marcus mentally insane? I'm not answering that here, but the story plays it right down the middle and lets you decide for yourself. I have my own personal answer. This was a good read with decent artwork.

This was solicited as a graphic novel in Diamond Previews. When it was released it was a saddle stitched (read: stapled) “64 page graphic novella”. Seems like a bait and switch to me. Even the Aftershock website lists it as a “64 page prestige format graphic novella”. It's a fat stapled comic with a cardstock cover, folks.

[Ανδρέας Μιχαηλίδης · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a pretty nasty comic with no redeeming end. It's not that it is inherently bad, as much that is is presented as horror when it vastly feels like drama. A man has a stroke and we watch his family - and especially his son - fall apart, inadvertently hurting him and each other until some sort of new balance is achieved at quite the cost. The titular Replacer supposedly a Jikininki from Japanese folklore, does not really fit the story, except as a connection to the father and son watching old Japanese monster (Kaiju) flicks. The whole thing feels like a psychological metaphor that leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

[José Pascual · Rating 3 out of 5]

Potente premisa que se ve lastrada por un dibujo poco inspirado (el diseño del monstruo no me gusta nada). Aun así, The Replacer alcanza buenos momentos inquietantes y ofrece una doble lectura bastante interesante.

[Chad Bunch · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected a lot more. Kind of a let down.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice story, but it doesn't earn the ending it offers.

[James Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but not terribly amazing either. Its obviously designed as a homage to 80's video which it succeeds in but it also doesn't really offer anything more than that.

[Francesco Floris · Rating 4 out of 5]

L'horror che attraversa il lutto e viceversa. Una storia che non sembra mai insincera, specie nei suoi momenti più angoscianti.

[Arjun Rajkumar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had all the premises for a solid arc but lost it part way through. Art work and lettering were pretty good!

[Romano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bastante interesante por las diversas lecturas e interpretaciones que se le puede dar.