The Approach

by Jeremy Haun, Jason A. Hurley, Jesús Hervás (Illustrator)

A Standalone Tale of Travel Terror for Fans of Joe Hill’s Rain and 30 Days of Night!

When airport employees Mac and Abigail find themselves snowed in after a blizzard, they witness a terrible plane crash–one that’s been missing for 27 years! But it’s not the sky that deserves dread, but what lies beyond it. Mac, Abi, and the remaining airport crew feel helpless to stop the rampage of a supernatural predatory stowaway. But with the blizzard continuing to rage and the creature nesting in the airport, how will the stranded people survive? In this turbulent horror mini-series from writers Jeremy Haun (The Red Mother) & Jason A. Hurley (The Beauty) and artist Jesús Hervás (The Empty Man), a storm is coming… and it’s bringing more than bad weather. Collects The Approach #1-5.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror

144 pages, Paperback

Published August 22, 2023

About the author

Jeremy Haun is a freelance comic book artist. Beginning in 2002, Haun worked for Image Comics, IDW Publishing, Oni Press, Devil's Due Publishing, Top Cow, and Marvel Comics. Since 2008, he has worked for DC Comics. He is best known for his work on Berserker and Battle Hymn.
External links

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generic "monster in the snow" comic.
That doesn't mean it was a bad story, but there was nothing in it that stuck to my ribs.



So, a ragtag group of airline ground personnel get stuck overnight in a snowed-in airport because a plane had to land unexpectedly due to the weather. They each have lives and backstories, but there's not really enough time to explore them, so it ends up feeling a bit like you walked into a play during the third act.



Almost immediately, a plane crashes down out of the sky from seemingly nowhere, and a couple of the people manage to drag the pilot away before it explodes. And then they discover that this plane has been missing for decades!
Bum, bum, bum...



And btw, the pilot is dead and looks WEIRD.
But not as weird as he's gonna look in a few hours!
Bum, bum, bum...



From there the hijinks start rolling and the race is on to save themselves from whateverthisthingis. Again, this isn't a bad story.
Might be fun to read it during a layover?

[Matthew Ward · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I was really excited to read this one based on the premise, but unfortunately it really fell flat for me. I was really looking forward to the mystery of the disappearing plane and more about that in a horror sense instead of a monster/alien horror story. That being said, this wasn’t horrible. This reminded me a lot of Alien, which I enjoy, so this was still a decent read.

[Zedsdead · Rating 4 out of 5]

A plane that has been missing for 27 years crashes at a small, snowstorm-bound airport, followed by the plot of Alien.

The first issue is a banger. Unassuming, competent airport personnel set about prepping for an unexpected emergency landing in a bad snowstorm. It's realistic and engaging. Then the hook: a crash landing by a Bermuda Triangle plane, and it brings Something back with it.

From there it's a pretty standard monster movie plot. The Thing gradually grinds its way through the cast while the humans enact increasingly desperate plans to survive. It's serviceable but nothing special. Three-star material that I'm uprating a bit on the strength of its beginning.

I was unimpressed that the Thing survived the massive explosion that the heroes tried to kill it with completely unscathed, then in the grand finale they killed it with a different massive explosion.

[Josh]

"Haun and Hurley have established themselves in horror comics at this point, so it’s no surprise that The Approach aims to deliver some flawed characters facing something truly horrific on the path to survival. Comparisons to movies like Alien and The Thing are inevitable in this sort of sci-fi horror narrative. Though The Approach offers plenty of familiar plot beats and set pieces, it isn’t just a copy-paste of other similar stories."

Full review at No Flying No Tights: https://noflyingnotights.com/blog/202...

[Xavi (NarraTea) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, simple, and straightforward Cosmic Horror. Greatly defined beginning and end while still leaving the open-ended tone of a Lovecraftian story. I felt it lacked some development in what may be considered the main character’s past and motivations. Apart from that, great read.

[Roo · Rating 3 out of 5]

As if flying wasn't stressful enough: this is The Thing, but in an airport. Serviceable, throwaway sci-fi horror.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t often read modern horror stories, every now and then. The Approach moved really fast. The pacing made it hard to care about the characters. An interesting setting that doesn’t quite execute on its potential.


✈️✈️✈️

[Sem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stretched way too thin, The Approach never really bothers with things like setup, going all in on monster design and atmosphere, which ultimately makes it less than engrossing for me.

[Moymoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

the approach is story about survival against the impossible

i have no major complains or details about the story it was perfectly ok, for some that ok maybe a problem in it of itself but yeah that's what i think, entertaining and unremarkable . i also didn't really care about the characters so when they died i was like damn well anyway. on the bright side i did enjoy the ending of you may have won the battle but not the war kinda thing. i know it doesn't have to be but nothing is explained for the sudden harsh snow and the plane appearing again would have like some clue, though a missing plane appearing again isn't a new trope. i was immersed in the story and burned through without really knowing which issue im on so like a straight one shot story so that was pretty enat how it all flowed really nicly. story was very predictable in a flawed way

characters- the main characters are the airport crew and their ok,only mac really has some history and depth with his trauma detective background but that isn't much of a focus point. the characters all exist to die more or less but when their alive their engaging enough to keep me reading,i just wish they were better developed and perhaps remade, i don't exactly know how think there's wasted potential here. i do wonder about the flight control guy andy on the tower all alone and watching the chaos unfold unable to do anything till the end, dunno that character felt like a standin for the audience, a spector simply watching the chaos unfold but its only after they leave the airport he actually does something to help.

themes - isolation, big monster, survival, how people react to survival situations

these are the themes predominant in the story and i think the world and setting was the highlight i genuinely enjoyed and appreciate how these things were handle and am glad they showed people helping and bonding with each other in times of crises then the usual every man for themselves thing

technical usage- the art was decent and serviceable, the paneling was an interesting one it's basically a lot of pages have a whole page splash of an image and above that their are panels telling the story which leads to the splash panel background it's kinda like wrap text but used for panel's, it was interesting

setting- it predominantly takes place in a isolated airport and utilizes the setting well

audience- someone looking to burn time with something

6/10 ok

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun comic. got the vibes of John Carpenter's The Thing mixed with the 'stuck with a deadly alien' plot from Alien. i love me some horror in the winter with white snow covering everything. really adds a special charm to the setting and hororr themes knowing how isolated from society a bad snow storm can make you. i definitely feel like this run could've used another couple issues to flesh out the story a little more, especially with the old lady and better backstory about this plane that disappeared 27 years ago - where was it headed, what were the pilots' names and did they match the pilots the group found, was there maybe a rumor about what happened to the plane and why it disappeared? in the end i know i enjoyed a story when i wanted more from it so props to Jason Hurley and Jeremy Haun for making a cool ass story, as well as Jesús Hervás for cool a cool Lovecraftian horror creature and some awesome snow environments.

[Ya Boi Be Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

While its not good its not terrible either just very lacking and really bland. If you're a huge fan of stuff like Aliens, Predator, Stranger Things and other action horror stuff and want something similar this will maybe tide you over but still probably feel underwhelming.
The writing is by Jeremy Huan and Jason Hurley. If you want a monster action-horror it'll get the job done. Its serviceable. That's not bad but it also means its not great. If your a fan of the genre its good but otherwise there are likely better alternatives. The idea is neat and some concepts are cool like the time-travelled plane or the weird cultist thing with Opal but these aren't explained at all.. its all just treated like action movie schlock setdressing which is disappointing when the action itself is a tad bland. Its creative at times but I don't care. The characters are a bit bland too with little characterization..
Jesus Hervas and Lea Caballero do artwork throughout with fine artwork. The monster always looks fine though sometimes like pretty good. The character designs are a bit bland. They have that realistic plainness that can work but with such an over-the-top idea and an attempt at monster-based action-horror I was hoping for a bit more colorful characterization. Instead we get very little aside from everyone's jobs and whether they're an asshole or just generic protagonist nice.

[Václav · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2,9 of 5 for generic stranded "The Thing" like horror)
I saw the ratings and I was warned. But I don't mind B-list horrors. But The Approach is classic about stranded people getting threatened by superior power. There is zero invention to the genre. There are some weird "script" things (out of blue Cthulu grandma element is surely one of them). So the story didn't pull me in, but sadly, neither did the art. It's not bad, but it's not good either. But sadly, there is no good story to support shabby art. And vice versa.

[Jd Caron · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Approach is a chilling blend of isolation horror and creature-feature suspense, perfect for readers who love 30 Days of Night style hopelessness wrapped in a claustrophobic survival scenario. The premise a long-missing plane crash-landing during a blizzard with something unspeakable aboard hooks immediately, and the tension escalates fast. While some character beats lean familiar, the pacing, atmosphere, and monstrous threat deliver exactly what travel-terror fans crave: dread, gore, and no way out. A fun, fast, dangerous ride

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Snowstorm? Check.
Flawed protagonist? Check.
Isolated sanctuary/location with nobody to help? Check.
.
..
...
Cosmic Horror monster there to eat ALL the faces? Check.
====
Somebody likes hopeless Cthulhu type monster stories. It is what it is. A little bit of 'The Thing' and some '30 Days of Night' makes this pretty bleak, even with a win.

[Juan Carlos · Rating 1 out of 5]

No entiendo porqué editoriales importantes deciden apoyar este tipo de proyectos.
Los autores y dibujantes no hacen ni el más mínimo esfuerzo en generar algo de valor.
Trama, personajes, desenlace… Todo lo hemos visto en taaaaantos otros libros.
Cero estrellas

[Erica · Rating 1 out of 5]

It takes a lot to make me dislike a creature feature horror book, but the writing in this was real bad. I bought the first volume of issues after a hopeful opening, but that was a mistake. Terrible writing. Also one of my issues had multiple printing issues with double pages and pages out of order.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some straight forward cosmic horror about a small airport during a severe snowstorm. A plane shows up that disappeared 27 years ago and brings in something with it. Then you get a solid B-level horror flick on the comic page.

[NerdyReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good enough read with fun art but I feel (like most comics) this needed to be longer. There wasn't enough lore to make this standout. Nothing is mentioned again about the time travel aspect, which is forgotten after issue 1.

[SarahKat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and fun monster in the snow story. Very reminiscent of The Thing, or about a billion other stories. The monster was cool-looking, but because it went so fast, you don't really get to know or care about any of the characters. It tried and failed on that point.

[Brannigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty interesting. A horror comic based in an airport. Mature content.

[˗ˏˋ maddie ˊˎ˗ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5.

[Femme Power Comix · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Adam Sequoyah · Rating 3 out of 5]

MPA ratings:
R for bloody violence and gore, nudity, images of horror, and brief strong language
PG for language (besides the brief strong stuff)

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this. Alien meets Die Hard 2.
Fun, breezy read. Nice art.
Recommended.

[Alberto · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Jye · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a lot of gory fun, but there’s not a whole lot else here that’ll stay with you.

[don’t sweat the little things · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad

[Steven Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent comic. Nothing ground breaking but I enjoyed the story and the design of the monster

[Justin Soderberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine being trapped inside an airport during a snowstorm. Now, imagine being trapped with a supernatural creature. That's what happens to airport employees Mac and Abigail in the thrilling miniseries, The Approach. Written by Jeremy Haun (The Red Mother) and Jason A. Hurley (The Beauty), and illustrated by Jesus Hervás (The Empty Man), this horror tale set to hit shelves in trade paperback form.

We are fans of both Jeremy Haun's writing and artwork, so we found out he wasn't illustration the interior of a book we weren't happy, but the truth is Jesus Hervás is the perfect artist for The Approach. Hervás brings the world to life with his impressive illustrations, particularly when it comes to the blizzard scenes. You can almost feel the cold air on your skin as you read the comic. The creature design is also impressive; it's equal parts terrifying and intriguing.

But the artwork is just the beginning. The Approach is a masterclass in storytelling. Haun and Hurley expertly craft a tension-filled plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. The slow-building horror is palpable, and you never know when the creature will strike next. The characters are also well-written, with realistic dialogue and motivations. You'll find yourself rooting for them to survive, even as the odds stack against them.

The Approach sets itself apart from other horror comics with its unique setting. Being stuck inside an airport during a snowstorm adds an extra layer of claustrophobia and helplessness to the story. The fact that the plane crash they witness is decades old only adds to the mystery and horror. You'll be on the edge of your seat as the survivors try to figure out what they're up against and how to stop it.

But even with all the horror and suspense, The Approach still manages to deliver some satisfying character moments and emotional beats. There are great moments of camaraderie and sacrifice that will have you invested in the characters' fates. Despite the supernatural threat, this is a story about real people facing insurmountable odds and doing everything they can to survive.

Haun and Hurley once again prove they know how to tell a story. Here is hoping for more co-writing credits between the two of them in the future.