Hello Darkness #22 Review: BOOM! Studios Keeps the Horror Anthology Burning Bright
Hello Darkness #22 from BOOM! Studios is another strong reminder that horror anthologies work best when they feel unpredictable.
This issue gives readers a sharp mix of cursed western horror, grotesque body horror, dark comedy, psychological dread, and a preview of pirate-fueled vampire chaos. It is strange, nasty, atmospheric, and packed with enough variety to make it easy for new readers to jump in without needing a long continuity lesson.
Developed and curated by Bryce Carlson, Hello Darkness #22 features work from John Arcudi, Ryan Sook, Losty, Lauren Knight, Robert Hack, Ryan North, Giada Belviso, Fred Van Lente, Luca Pizzari, and more. For horror fans who want a monthly sampler of different styles, tones, and nightmares, this issue is absolutely worth picking up.
For more from the publisher, visit BOOM! Studios. For more horror coverage, check out our Comic Reviews section and our New Comics archive.
Hello Darkness #22 Is Built for Horror Fans Who Like Variety
The best thing about Hello Darkness #22 is how much range it gives readers.
Some horror comics lock into one tone and stay there. This issue does the opposite. It shifts from supernatural western dread to grim body horror, then into a strange one-page gag, then into religious nightmare territory, before ending with a preview that feels like a full-blown gothic adventure hook.
That variety makes the issue easy to recommend.
New readers do not need to know every previous installment. They can simply open the book and get several complete horror experiences in one package. Longtime readers, meanwhile, get another issue that builds the identity of Hello Darkness as one of BOOM! Studios’ most interesting anthology titles.
This is a horror magazine in comic book form.
That is the appeal.
The Written Word Opens With Cursed Western Horror
The issue kicks off with “The Written Word”, written by John Arcudi and illustrated and lettered by Ryan Sook.
This story immediately stands out because it blends old west atmosphere with demonic dread. The desert setting, dusty town, cursed book, and haunted lead character give the story a classic campfire-nightmare feeling. It reads like something pulled from frontier folklore, but with the kind of visual grotesquery that makes it feel much meaner.
Ryan Sook’s artwork is a major highlight here.
The western town feels dry, haunted, and doomed. The creatures are disturbing without feeling generic. The color palette moves between washed-out desert tones and hellish purples, reds, and oranges, giving the story a nightmare quality that slowly gets worse as the pages unfold.
This is a strong opening story because it sets the tone immediately: Hello Darkness #22 is not here to play safe.
The Boils Brings Gross-Out Horror With Teeth
“The Boils” is written by Losty, illustrated by Lauren Knight, and lettered by Becca Carey.
This one leans harder into body horror and revenge energy. It is ugly in the right way. The story uses warped bodies, violent imagery, and a grim sense of punishment to create something that feels both nasty and darkly satisfying.
Lauren Knight’s art gives the story a rough, sickly texture that works perfectly for the subject matter. The characters look worn down, unpleasant, and dangerous. The page layouts carry a grimy punk-horror feel, and the colors push everything into a queasy space.
This is the kind of short horror story that benefits from the anthology format.
It hits fast.
It gets weird.
It leaves a mark.
For readers who like their horror messy, physical, and uncomfortable, “The Boils” is one of the issue’s standout entries.
I Can’t Take You Anywhere Delivers a Quick Dark Laugh
“I Can’t Take You Anywhere” by Robert Hack gives the issue a short, strange burst of dark humor.
The style looks like an old gag strip, but the joke lands with a morbid edge. It is quick, creepy, and exactly the kind of tonal reset an anthology needs between heavier stories.
Not every horror entry has to be long to work.
Sometimes one page is enough to make readers grin and wince at the same time.
This short piece helps keep Hello Darkness #22 moving and proves that the anthology can make room for both dread and twisted comedy.
Sunday, Part One Is the Issue’s Emotional Nightmare
“Sunday, Part One” is written by Ryan North, illustrated by Giada Belviso, colored by Roman Stevens, and lettered by Jodie Troutman.
This is one of the most compelling parts of the issue.
The story follows a nun caught in a repeating nightmare of violence, death, guilt, and inevitability. It has a strong psychological horror hook and a clean visual style that makes the unsettling moments hit harder. Instead of going for constant gore, the story builds dread through repetition, memory, and the feeling that something awful is always on its way.
Giada Belviso’s art gives the characters expressive faces and clean emotional beats, while Roman Stevens’ colors help separate the quiet convent scenes from the darker nightmare imagery. The result is a story that feels accessible but deeply unsettling.
The best part is that this is only Part One.
That ending gives readers a strong reason to come back for the next issue.
Vampyrates! Preview Ends the Issue With Big Genre Energy
The issue also includes a preview of Vampyrates!, written by Fred Van Lente, illustrated by Luca Pizzari, colored by Adam Guzowski, and lettered by Jodie Troutman.
This preview is wild.
It mixes pirate adventure, vampire mythology, political scheming, monster spectacle, and gothic fantasy into something that feels much bigger than a standard preview. The visuals are colorful, energetic, and loaded with personality. It is not quiet horror. It is loud, theatrical, and full of teeth.
That makes it a smart closer for Hello Darkness #22.
After several stories built around dread and unease, Vampyrates! ends the issue with scale, action, and a completely different kind of horror flavor.
New readers who enjoy horror-adventure comics should keep an eye on this one.
Why New Readers Should Pick Up Hello Darkness #22
New readers should pick up Hello Darkness #22 because it is one of the easiest ways to sample different horror styles in one issue.
You do not need to be caught up on a massive storyline.
You do not need to know every creator.
You do not need to commit to one tone.
This issue gives you several doors into horror:
A cursed western.
A body horror revenge tale.
A dark comedy short.
A psychological religious nightmare.
A vampire pirate preview.
That range makes Hello Darkness #22 a great entry point for readers who are curious about horror comics but do not know where to start.
If one story is not your exact style, the next one may be. That is the strength of the anthology format.
Why Horror Fans Should Keep Watching Hello Darkness
Hello Darkness continues to prove that horror anthologies still have a place on modern comic shelves.
The series gives creators room to experiment. It gives readers short-form horror with different pacing and visual styles. It also creates a space where major names and rising voices can sit side by side.
That matters.
Horror comics are at their best when they feel unpredictable, and Hello Darkness #22 understands that. The issue does not try to make every story feel the same. It lets each creative team bring a different nightmare to the table.
That makes the whole issue feel alive.
Or maybe undead.
Either way, it works.
Cover and Collector Information
Hello Darkness #22 has a strong cover lineup for horror collectors.
Main Cover by Rebeca Puebla
The main cover features a haunting red-haired figure holding dead flowers while insects crawl across her dress and arms. It is eerie, beautiful, and deeply unsettling.
Variant Cover by Jenny Frison
Jenny Frison’s variant features a blue-skinned Medusa-like figure wrapped in red snakes while holding a skull. It is a striking horror portrait with strong collector appeal.
Variant Cover by Anwita Citriya
Anwita Citriya’s cover uses a red-and-black palette with a faceless figure holding an axe in the woods. It is simple, terrifying, and instantly memorable.
1:10 Incentive Variant by Rebeca Puebla
The incentive full-art cover gives collectors another look at Puebla’s disturbing floral horror imagery.
Additional Variant Covers by Miguel Mercado and Jenny Frison
The issue also includes additional variant cover work, including a BOOM! Direct Reserve exclusive by Jenny Frison.
For collectors who follow horror covers, Hello Darkness #22 has several visually strong options, especially the Frison, Citriya, and Puebla pieces.
Comic Book Details
Title: Hello Darkness #22
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Price: $5.99
Release Month: June 2026
Developed and Curated By: Bryce Carlson
Main Cover Artist: Rebeca Puebla
Variant Cover Artists: Jenny Frison, Anwita Citriya, Rebeca Puebla, Miguel Mercado
Stories Included:
The Written Word
Written by John Arcudi
Illustrated and Lettered by Ryan Sook
The Boils
Written by Losty
Illustrated by Lauren Knight
Lettered by Becca Carey
I Can’t Take You Anywhere
By Robert Hack
Sunday, Part One
Written by Ryan North
Illustrated by Giada Belviso
Colored by Roman Stevens
Lettered by Jodie Troutman
Vampyrates!, Issue One Preview
Written by Fred Van Lente
Illustrated by Luca Pizzari
Colored by Adam Guzowski
Lettered by Jodie Troutman
Genre: Horror, Anthology, Supernatural Horror, Body Horror, Dark Comedy, Gothic Horror
Recommended For Fans Of: Creepshow, Ice Cream Man, The Silver Coin, Something is Killing the Children, House of Slaughter, Hello Darkness, horror anthologies, supernatural westerns, body horror, vampire comics
Final Verdict: Hello Darkness #22 Is a Strong Horror Sampler
Hello Darkness #22 is a strong issue for both longtime horror readers and new fans looking for a place to jump in.
The anthology format gives readers multiple horror experiences in one book, and this issue makes good use of that structure. The Written Word delivers cursed western dread. The Boils brings the body horror. I Can’t Take You Anywhere adds a quick dark laugh. Sunday, Part One gives the issue emotional and psychological weight. Vampyrates! ends things with bold genre energy.
Not every story hits the same way, but that is part of the fun.
This is a horror buffet.
Some bites are strange.
Some are nasty.
Some are funny.
Some are deeply unsettling.
Together, they make Hello Darkness #22 an easy recommendation for horror fans who want something varied, stylish, and new-reader friendly.
Review Score: 8/10
Join the Conversation
Are you picking up Hello Darkness #22 from BOOM! Studios?
Which story are you most excited to read: The Written Word, The Boils, Sunday, or Vampyrates!?
Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know if Hello Darkness is becoming one of your favorite horror anthology comics.
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