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I Hate This Place #1-5
I Hate This Place Vol. 1
After inheriting a farmhouse, Trudy and Gabby are ready to start the next chapter of their lives together...except it’s already home to a mysterious force that’s attracted ghosts, aliens, and all kinds of supernatural beings for decades.
Now, Gabby and Trudy must play by the “house rules” in order to survive living amongst the most frightening creatures on Earth in this new series from Kyle Starks (ASSASSIN NATION, THE SIX SIDEKICKS OF TRIGGER KEATON) and Artyom Topilin (Ice Cream Man Presents Quarantine Comix Special).
Collects I HATE THIS PLACE #1-6.
Now, Gabby and Trudy must play by the “house rules” in order to survive living amongst the most frightening creatures on Earth in this new series from Kyle Starks (ASSASSIN NATION, THE SIX SIDEKICKS OF TRIGGER KEATON) and Artyom Topilin (Ice Cream Man Presents Quarantine Comix Special).
Collects I HATE THIS PLACE #1-6.
128 pages, Paperback
Published November 29, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
November 21, 2022
Gabby inherits her aunt’s cattle ranch and leaves the big city behind to set up in the country with her wife Trudy. It’s an idyllic place - except for the ghosts, monsters, UFOs, poltergeists, a bottomless pit, and a terrifying figure that stalks the woods called The Horned Man. They also have a new ranch hand around who’s not who he says he is. Yeah… they’re quickly gonna hate this place.
I’ve never liked Kyle Starks’ comics before and I think that was primarily because he made comics that tried desperately to be funny - satirising ‘80s action movies, making fun of wacky ole American myths - and fell far short. Turns out he writes pretty damn good stuff when he stops gurning and plays it straight because I Hate It Here, Volume 1 was a shockingly entertaining comic.
The story starts strong and never really falters - it’s got an attention-grabbing opener that leads into one increasingly interesting scene after another with nary a dull moment. Starks has a good sense of when to move the action from one part of the setting to another, and when to introduce new elements to keep things fresh. I won’t go into specifics because those are what’ll keep you turning the pages but I definitely wasn’t ever bored reading this.
That said, one of the three criticisms I have about this first volume is that it does feel like Starks is throwing maybe too much at the reader too soon. First it’s ghosts, then monsters, then UFOs, then the Horned Man, then more monsters - it’s a lot of stock, prefab elements, one after the other, that feels a little contrived to see all co-existing in this one place.
It’s not a major criticism but the missing non-shady ranch-hand part of the story felt glossed over for convenience’s sake. I didn’t buy that he entirely disappears and his colleagues don’t even question or report it to the police - in fact, those characters are noticeably absent after their one appearance despite supposedly working on the ranch daily. More convenience.
The last critique is more of a nitpick - it seems weird that the aunt would record a tape warning anyone who entered the farm of the rules and apologising that they can never leave, and not just burn the place down and be done with it. Y’know, in case, oh, your niece inherits it after you die and gets trapped in this nightmare that you’ve kept her from her entire life up ‘til now. But then this is also a first volume so it may be the case that we find out reasons why the farm couldn’t be taken out quite so easily, etc.
Otherwise, this is an adeptly-written genre comic - the choice to overlay the hard-boiled crime story on top of the classic horror elements is inspired and works brilliantly so that you get a complete and satisfying arc in this book as well as get introduced to all of the creepy stuff in this part of the world to set up the series and next storyline.
I didn’t love Artyom Topilin’s art but it’s also not off-putting - it helps that the brilliant Lee Loughridge is the colourist. It’s quite gory at times so be warned if you’re squeamish. Starks can’t help but include some “comedic” shorts that he wrote and drew as extras after the main book concludes - they’re pointless and unfunny additions but maybe fans of his kind of humour will get a kick out of these. I liked the flash-forwards scenes at the end letting us know what to expect in future volumes which were effectively enticing.
I’m glad I gave Starks another chance because his latest was completely unheralded. I really enjoyed this one and would recommend I Hate This Place, Volume 1 - a comic that cleverly mixes horror and crime to create something new and fun to read.
I’ve never liked Kyle Starks’ comics before and I think that was primarily because he made comics that tried desperately to be funny - satirising ‘80s action movies, making fun of wacky ole American myths - and fell far short. Turns out he writes pretty damn good stuff when he stops gurning and plays it straight because I Hate It Here, Volume 1 was a shockingly entertaining comic.
The story starts strong and never really falters - it’s got an attention-grabbing opener that leads into one increasingly interesting scene after another with nary a dull moment. Starks has a good sense of when to move the action from one part of the setting to another, and when to introduce new elements to keep things fresh. I won’t go into specifics because those are what’ll keep you turning the pages but I definitely wasn’t ever bored reading this.
That said, one of the three criticisms I have about this first volume is that it does feel like Starks is throwing maybe too much at the reader too soon. First it’s ghosts, then monsters, then UFOs, then the Horned Man, then more monsters - it’s a lot of stock, prefab elements, one after the other, that feels a little contrived to see all co-existing in this one place.
It’s not a major criticism but the missing non-shady ranch-hand part of the story felt glossed over for convenience’s sake. I didn’t buy that he entirely disappears and his colleagues don’t even question or report it to the police - in fact, those characters are noticeably absent after their one appearance despite supposedly working on the ranch daily. More convenience.
The last critique is more of a nitpick - it seems weird that the aunt would record a tape warning anyone who entered the farm of the rules and apologising that they can never leave, and not just burn the place down and be done with it. Y’know, in case, oh, your niece inherits it after you die and gets trapped in this nightmare that you’ve kept her from her entire life up ‘til now. But then this is also a first volume so it may be the case that we find out reasons why the farm couldn’t be taken out quite so easily, etc.
Otherwise, this is an adeptly-written genre comic - the choice to overlay the hard-boiled crime story on top of the classic horror elements is inspired and works brilliantly so that you get a complete and satisfying arc in this book as well as get introduced to all of the creepy stuff in this part of the world to set up the series and next storyline.
I didn’t love Artyom Topilin’s art but it’s also not off-putting - it helps that the brilliant Lee Loughridge is the colourist. It’s quite gory at times so be warned if you’re squeamish. Starks can’t help but include some “comedic” shorts that he wrote and drew as extras after the main book concludes - they’re pointless and unfunny additions but maybe fans of his kind of humour will get a kick out of these. I liked the flash-forwards scenes at the end letting us know what to expect in future volumes which were effectively enticing.
I’m glad I gave Starks another chance because his latest was completely unheralded. I really enjoyed this one and would recommend I Hate This Place, Volume 1 - a comic that cleverly mixes horror and crime to create something new and fun to read.
January 7, 2023
This was fun and a bit scary. A couple, Trudy and Gabby, inherit an old farmhouse and decide to move from the city to stay there for a bit. There's a lot of relationship dynamics that come into play in the story. It turns out that dang farmhouse is haunted! Now they can't leave the farmhouse and must stay in doors during the evenings where the ghosts and other baddies can't harm them.
If you're looking for a fun and scary comic to read during a long winter's evening, look no further than I Hate This Place.
If you're looking for a fun and scary comic to read during a long winter's evening, look no further than I Hate This Place.
March 2, 2023
This was fine. It should have been something I liked more, with two badass queer characters put in a ghost fighting conflict. It’s fast-paced and very plotty. Not wildly into the art or colouring. It’s fun, but that’s about all it was, for me.
December 16, 2022
DNF - Just kind of a bore. Not liking the art design or characters. Lots of cool ideas though.
January 11, 2023
3.5 stars. So Gertrude and Gabrielle, or Trudy and Gabby are a couple. Gabby just found out she inherited a cattle farm. They head out there just to find out the place is haunted. I mean haunted as hell. They find a message from Gabby’s great aunt laying out all these rules about what not to do here. One of those things is you can’t leave because the crazy ish here will just follow you. They find this out the hard way. All kinds of crazy happens from there. This books ended up being pretty decent, a bit entertaining. It’s kind of like a weird action, adventure, horror story. I know, crazy right?
July 11, 2025
The remote ranch Gabby Rutherford just inherited would be the perfect place for her and her survivalist girlfriend to chill if only it weren't for the ghosts, monsters, aliens, and armed robbers.
Fast-paced and humorous with lots of B-movie gore and action.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contains material originally published in single magazine form as I Hate This Place #1-5.
Fast-paced and humorous with lots of B-movie gore and action.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contains material originally published in single magazine form as I Hate This Place #1-5.
October 9, 2024
After inheriting a farm house, Trudy and Gabby are ready to start the next chapter of their lives together…except it’s already home to a mysterious force that’s attracted ghosts, aliens, and all kinds of supernatural beings for decades.
Now, Gabby and Trudy must play by the “house rules” in order to survive living among the most frightening creatures on Earth in this new series from KYLE STARKS
... Lesbian couple fights ghosts is supernatural. I did not in fact hate it. I actually loved it, or at least liked it quite a bit, and more importantly, I came away thinking this book seems as likely as any monthly horror comic in recent memory to find an audience.
A kitchen sink of horrors Aliens? Zombies? Oh yeah. A mysterious demon thing lurking in the woods? You bet. There’s even a serial killer looking for money in this place.
The idyllic visions they had of starting a new life in a place they finally own quickly turns to terror, with our characters now left to figure out how to co-exist with basically every scary movie premise you can think of. Not half bad.
3/5 good and fun, but not exceptional.
Now, Gabby and Trudy must play by the “house rules” in order to survive living among the most frightening creatures on Earth in this new series from KYLE STARKS
... Lesbian couple fights ghosts is supernatural. I did not in fact hate it. I actually loved it, or at least liked it quite a bit, and more importantly, I came away thinking this book seems as likely as any monthly horror comic in recent memory to find an audience.
A kitchen sink of horrors Aliens? Zombies? Oh yeah. A mysterious demon thing lurking in the woods? You bet. There’s even a serial killer looking for money in this place.
The idyllic visions they had of starting a new life in a place they finally own quickly turns to terror, with our characters now left to figure out how to co-exist with basically every scary movie premise you can think of. Not half bad.
3/5 good and fun, but not exceptional.
December 21, 2022
Interracial sapphic couple moves to a haunted farm & fights murder ghosts? Yes please! So glad this is a series starter! Kyle Starks goes more grim and gory here than in his books I've previously loved (Kill Them All and The Six Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton) but the plot is so preposterously over-the-top and Topilin's art is cartoony enough that I'm rolling with it. Given the events near the end of this collection that foreshadow a whole different kind of bad to come, I'm already impatient for the next volume.
June 27, 2024
I Hate This Place is a pulse-pounding supernatural horror story made all the more satisfying by its grounded themes of love and survival. Topilin delivers some beautifully detailed art that perfectly captures the tone, mood and tension of the story. Starks masterfully strings the reader along as he introduces the mysteries and dangers of the ranch with gore and blood abound but more as a promise of things to come. How Gabby and Trudy will handle their newly found nightmare feels like a journey many horror comics fans will want to get on board for. And the best part, the story is just beginning.
January 24, 2023
I've really enjoyed the last couple Kyle Starks books I read (Assassination Nation and Six Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton), but this one is a different animal. This is more of a horror book than a funny high concept book and I found myself missing that aspect of Starks' creations. However, I liked this the more I read. It takes some time to feel like you know the characters and then the humor comes out. The ending teases what's ahead for the series and I'm a sucker for that move. The art is solid and makes sense with the type of story. I'll definitely read more of this when it comes back.
April 25, 2023
I’m not sure what’s happening here, but didn’t hate it?
June 20, 2023
Pretty disappointing after all the hype. I don't think the artist was a good fit either.
March 5, 2024
I Hate This Place is a goofy haunted house tale that seems to be aspiring to something more. There are ghosts...but there's also a scary antler man and tentacle monsters. Oh, and a brutal criminal who is after the lost proceeds of a bank robbery.
The main characters, though, are a lesbian couple who have inherited a cattle ranch. They're delightful, and oddly fine with their new, deadly circumstances. (Their strongest feelings about being stuck in a haunted...something are in the book's title.)
The pace is fast and the art terrific. Easy to get sucked in. I don't necessarily expect it to go anywhere special, but it certainly feels like it's going to be unique.
The main characters, though, are a lesbian couple who have inherited a cattle ranch. They're delightful, and oddly fine with their new, deadly circumstances. (Their strongest feelings about being stuck in a haunted...something are in the book's title.)
The pace is fast and the art terrific. Easy to get sucked in. I don't necessarily expect it to go anywhere special, but it certainly feels like it's going to be unique.
September 5, 2023
3.5 ⭐
L O V E D it. I'm still surprised as to how the end unfolded. In love with the giant, ghost hunting marine!
Must admit, I was holding my breath for a hot second; it walks a fine line between campy and overdone. I see that some of y'all find it leaning a lil more towards overdone 👀.
There's some TOTALLY uncalled for gore in parts, might put y'all off. I sure didn't expect it to get freaky like that, it feels out of place.
L O V E D it. I'm still surprised as to how the end unfolded. In love with the giant, ghost hunting marine!
Must admit, I was holding my breath for a hot second; it walks a fine line between campy and overdone. I see that some of y'all find it leaning a lil more towards overdone 👀.
There's some TOTALLY uncalled for gore in parts, might put y'all off. I sure didn't expect it to get freaky like that, it feels out of place.
August 11, 2023
3.4 ⭐️ Sapphic couple inherits a haunted house from hell… okay I’m intrigued.
Will be interested to see where this series goes. The first instalment was fairly solid and the artwork was a classic style that I enjoyed with bold colour pallets.
If you’re looking for a horror paranormal romance with a lesbian couple then this was an enjoyable read.
It’s fast paced, intriguing and I will be picking up the next volume should we get one.
What I didn’t like? Pacing. We have around 3 storylines going on simultaneously that whilst they align at certain points gets a little messy. We either needed less of the theft side or less of the ending plot twist because everything together felt chaotic.
I also get a bit iffy when the ‘d’ slur is used by non lesbian authors, and as far as I know no lesbians/sapphics were involved with this. It’s only used once but personally I felt like it wasn’t needed. We can gauge the homophobia in this without the use for it. It felt forced and dramatised for little reason like it was thrown in as an afterthought.
Also with the ending I do worry how homophobia centred the second instalment will be. I’m hoping it doesn’t lean more into that but we’ll see.
Rep// WLW White MC, WLW BIPOC Butch MC, central relationship is sapphic / WLW.
Tws listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.
Tw//CW// homophobia, slur use (homophobic d slur), gore, ghosts, dead body, stabbing, guns, themes, mentions of drug addiction including drug overdose, self harm (under possession of ghost), death of dog (drowning), possession, huge spiders, strangulation, Christian oppression/homophobia & abuse, parental abuse, PTSD.
Will be interested to see where this series goes. The first instalment was fairly solid and the artwork was a classic style that I enjoyed with bold colour pallets.
If you’re looking for a horror paranormal romance with a lesbian couple then this was an enjoyable read.
It’s fast paced, intriguing and I will be picking up the next volume should we get one.
What I didn’t like? Pacing. We have around 3 storylines going on simultaneously that whilst they align at certain points gets a little messy. We either needed less of the theft side or less of the ending plot twist because everything together felt chaotic.
I also get a bit iffy when the ‘d’ slur is used by non lesbian authors, and as far as I know no lesbians/sapphics were involved with this. It’s only used once but personally I felt like it wasn’t needed. We can gauge the homophobia in this without the use for it. It felt forced and dramatised for little reason like it was thrown in as an afterthought.
Also with the ending I do worry how homophobia centred the second instalment will be. I’m hoping it doesn’t lean more into that but we’ll see.
Rep// WLW White MC, WLW BIPOC Butch MC, central relationship is sapphic / WLW.
Tws listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.
Tw//CW// homophobia, slur use (homophobic d slur), gore, ghosts, dead body, stabbing, guns, themes, mentions of drug addiction including drug overdose, self harm (under possession of ghost), death of dog (drowning), possession, huge spiders, strangulation, Christian oppression/homophobia & abuse, parental abuse, PTSD.
January 15, 2023
Кошмарные призраки, гангстерские разборки, лесные монстры, кровавый слэшер и секретные материалы — история о том, как две девушки унаследовали милое ранчо в Задрищенске являет собой оду всему паранормальному и трешовому, что есть на свете.
Мне понравился бодрый ход повествования и то, как разные фракции существ преследуют собственные интересы. Дизайн этих существ и правил взаимодействия с ними тоже многообещающий. Не понравились традиционные для жанра (жанров) эмоциональные манипуляции — искусственное усиление второстепенных персонажей чисто для того, чтобы поиздеваться над титульными.
Ну и самое главное — пообещав дать в пятом выпуске лимитки ответы на многие вопросы, авторы вместо этого заготовили кучу новых завязок, не потрудившись мало-мальски закруглить старые. В целом рекомендую только истовым фанатам эксплойтейшена; вот небольшое превью.
Мне понравился бодрый ход повествования и то, как разные фракции существ преследуют собственные интересы. Дизайн этих существ и правил взаимодействия с ними тоже многообещающий. Не понравились традиционные для жанра (жанров) эмоциональные манипуляции — искусственное усиление второстепенных персонажей чисто для того, чтобы поиздеваться над титульными.
Ну и самое главное — пообещав дать в пятом выпуске лимитки ответы на многие вопросы, авторы вместо этого заготовили кучу новых завязок, не потрудившись мало-мальски закруглить старые. В целом рекомендую только истовым фанатам эксплойтейшена; вот небольшое превью.
December 30, 2025
On my wtr shelf for three years; found it at Mayhem Collectibles in Des Moines IA; has the largest, most diverse collection of comics & gn’s I’ve ever seen.
The set-up sounded nice in the blurb but it doesn’t quite play out. There’s an odd heist story embedded in it which doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, like, why? The art is messy too & distracting to me. But the two heroines were developed nicely. The idea is one of them inherits this haunted farm with ghost-zombies & some “horned man” & Lovecraft-ian beasts in the surrounding woods.
The set-up sounded nice in the blurb but it doesn’t quite play out. There’s an odd heist story embedded in it which doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, like, why? The art is messy too & distracting to me. But the two heroines were developed nicely. The idea is one of them inherits this haunted farm with ghost-zombies & some “horned man” & Lovecraft-ian beasts in the surrounding woods.
November 15, 2023
An intriguing start to a stories of criminals, ghosts, and a family legacy going a lot deeper than anyone initially realizes. It's a different sort of storytelling from Starks, but the creative team is clearly building to something dramatic--and there's plenty of bold, horror survival storytelling already delivered.
June 1, 2023
Definitely on my top 3 favorite graphic novels/comics of the year! Trudy and Gabby's love story plus teamwork was a dynamic I believed immediately and the art was stunning, haunting, and immersive!
January 3, 2024
It's not easy being gay in the woods
January 17, 2026
... Orbs. 🔵
Recommended by Kang.
Recommended by Kang.
March 14, 2026
this has everything I love: lesbians, haunted houses, vengeful ghosts, monsters, demons, psychics, crime, and lots of blood!
January 1, 2024
the gay repersentation was nice but also a touch stereotypical, overall meh.
Read
April 19, 2023next volume won’t be released until october?!?! why do I keep doing this to myself?!
Read
May 7, 2023Gabby inherits a cattle farm from the great aunt she only met once, and survivalist wife Trudy insists that they should at least try ditching their shitty jobs and shitty flat and living there for a season. Unfortunately, it turns out to be beset by ghosts. And aliens. And crooks. And monsters in the wood. And as for the Horned Man... If Kyle Starks had drawn this as well as writing then, notwithstanding all the horrible deaths, it would probably come across as comically OTT as his stuff usually does; with Artyom Topilin on, well, art, it plays a little closer to straight horror, though obviously there's a limit to how close that can be when characters include a TV ghost-hunter called Dante Howitzer. It's fun, in a horrific sort of way, and has a core of darker emotion in Trudy's self-reproach after she fails to live up to her own standards as the protector within the relationship. But it would definitely have been better if they'd not had to drop original title Fuck This Place; the new one is as if Nope had been obliged to rename itself No Thank You.
March 7, 2023
What a fun read! I think what really sold me is that I love the two main characters Trudy and Gabby. It made me chuckle that the two people you’d think would be least likely to handle a paranormal, alien, spider-invasion end up being the calmest when dealing with it. I also thought the “Before the Ranch” comics in the back were cute - especially to see the difference in personalities of the two women. Excited to see what’s coming next!
February 21, 2023
So many people have told me I'd love this title... And well... I didn't love it. Haha It was ok. But nothing I would continue to read. I'm not sure why, but I found it pretty basic and predictable.
December 28, 2024
2.5⭐️, rounded up. Getting kind of tired of all media being permeated with unlikable characters. There’s no one left to cheer for.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews