I think this would be better suited for a YA audience if I’m honest. This was really interesting but it felt quite rushed at times especially in the beginning.

I had mixed feelings about The Cull. I was really intrigued by the premise and how it began to play out, but I thought the introduction to the world was a little rushed. I also found the photoesque art style wasn't to my taste. But I really liked the characters and how they interacted with each other, the different types of relationship and personalities were explored really well. I will probably give Vol 2 a go!

I just could not find anything to like about this story. Perhaps it just wasn’t my thing. Often I found myself lost as to what was happening. More than once I had to reread sections because I was having trouble following what was happening.

While I love the story, I hate the art style. Somehow it gave me the uncanny valley vibe the whole time.

This is such an intense, thrilling, scifi story. The art is beautiful. The amount of mystery regarding what is occurring keeps you hooked. The characters are compelling and complex, with their own stories we have to mince out and speculate as we experience the story.

Five young adults heading off to make a short film together, in a beachside town where one of them had her brother disappear a year ago, suddenly find a portal to another world. They follow it in, and we are left to wonder if they're possibly at risk at all, because let's face it, the title of this thing is so ambiguous. That's more fool us, mind, for the actual culling is very low down the priorities here – the bulk of the book is working out what has happened, who can do what, and so on. It is, frankly, an origin story, and no more. Ultimately it's alright, but it's easy to see what would have made it better – greater clarity of art in the fifth issue, more likeable people, less risible random bonking… It might get three and a half stars on a good day, but the urge to put my name down for more was pretty much absent.

A coming of age sci-fi tale following a group of teens into a "liminal zone" between realties, exploring themes and visuals reminiscent of Annihilation, and nightmare creatures straight out of Nope or The Mist.

The art and atmosphere are very well done, and Thompson's writing is always good, though you can certainly feel the limitations of the original limited issue run format forcing the pace, not giving characters, or the reader, enough time to linger.

With luck future volumes will have time to breath and be a little more character focused, with less need to check the "bombastic finale" box.

*ARC provided by NetGalley & Image Comics*

‘The Cull Volume One’ by Kelly Thompson with art by Mattia de Iulis is a graphic novel that blends horror and adventure.

Five friends set out to shoot a nighttime movie. When they find a strange alternate world, they are filled with wonder, but that changes as things take a dark turn. They flee home only to find it, and themselves forever changed.

It’s an intriguing story with interesting characters and an intriguing premise. It feels a bit rushed at the end, but I’d gladly continue reading. The art is good with clean lines and colors.

This was tricky to review. I am actually looking forward to the next volume, however with all honesty, here are my thoughts why this is a 3 stars for me.

Firstly, the best target audience of YA would certainly enjoy this slightly more.
The art is unique, interesting and beautiful.
The colour harmony, the closeups, the mood and the character design are lovely.
The story started off great and quickly. It seemed like the dialogue between the characters contained subtext, and this was quite cinematic.
Then, it was hot.
Then, there was an ongoing mystery.
However, I wish there were more layers, more plot and action, and more insight into the characters. The setting looks awesome.
Hoping to read the following chapters, where I believe, the story will unfold differently and with more depth.

I loved this so much. Interesting concept and I am excited to see how this world develops especially with what happens at the end. I am not quite fully invested in the characters but I do think they were alright although underdeveloped, it's a first volume so it's not a big deal. Looking forward to the next one

3.6 ⭐️ Creatures, friendship, and mystery.

This was a good read if you’re looking for something that has similar feels to comics like Paper Girls. It’s very eerie and sci-fi based with a lot of adventure.

It follows a group of friends who stumble into an odd dimension when looking for one of their missing siblings and from there things tumble into the unexpected.

I did enjoy this, I felt like the story was clear and fast paced.

But there were definitely things I wasn’t as keen on. The artwork feels very IMVU. Like that early 2000s games aesthetic and I wasn’t sure how to feel about it.

Then the other thing I was baffled about was the random sex scene. Whilst their ages aren’t discussed I assumed them to be in their late teens. It also didn’t add anything to the story and felt pretty random.

I did enjoy the casual sapphic rep and discussions surrounding mental health however. I think the rep was handled brilliantly.

Rep// Sapphic MC who has depression & self harms, Black Sapphic MC, BIPOC MC’s. Relationships featured are WLW & WLM.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy to honestly review!

An intriguing and dark first edition, Thompson's skill at horror storytelling helps elevate what could be tired tropes into something more.

The illustrations in this was stellar. Hands down absolutely beautiful and I would buy this in a physical copy just to look at them again and read the story again. I always struggle with how much to write in reviews without being spoiler-y, but this is definitely a book you should look at if you like dark mystery with great art.

Solid start for a new series (The ending gagged me). I would describe it as Stranger Things meet Paper Girls meet Annihilation.

The hyper-realistic art style is fresh and pops on the page. The cast is endearing and every character has its own voice. I hope the next volume keeps this level of quality but fleshes out the world and plot more

Kelly Thompson knocks it out of the park with The Cull! The art by Mattia de Iulis is STELLAR!!

Five friends head out late at night to work on a short film on a forbidden area on the beach. Things go incredible wrong because one of the friends has a secret! That one secret changes everything. EVERYTHING.

Can't wait for volume 2!!

The graphics in this book were phenomenal! It's definitely for NA readers because of the language, but I enjoyed this read myself.

A group of girls embark on a quest to find the missing brother of one it's members, and find something disturbing instead. The illustrations in this were fantastic! The graphics are hyper-realistic, like a video game ad on tv. It's a dash of Stranger Things, a splash of Paper Girls & a sprinkle of X-Men.

"The Cull Volume 1" by Kelly Thompson draws you into a dystopian world where humanity faces extinction- maybe. While looking for their missing brother, they find something else. Running from the mysterious dangers leads them to a parallel world. Diverse charters and beautiful color palette intensify the story. Impatiently waiting for Volume 2.

Kelly Thompson never leaves us disappointed. From Art to storyboards this was a cosmic powered romp through the potential never ending worlds of a mystic cave. Yeah, here for this. Give us all the well done multiverse yummies.

It such a pleasure to stumble across a comic that grips you from the beginning with not only great storytelling but simply fantastic artwork. The Cull from award-winning writer Kelly Thompson (Black Cloak) and outstanding artist Mattia De Iulis (Captain America) did just that with perfect blend of horror and mystery.

The Cull begins with five friends, setting off to shoot a short film on a forbidden rock near their home. The summer before they all go their separate ways, they must have one last adventure. But, that's not the only reason they're there. One of them has lied, and that lie will change their lives forever.

Thompson does a wonderful job at storytelling through the first volume of The Cull, but one of the most striking aspects of the series is the utter realism and detailed artwork from De Iulis. Each and every panel is throughly and expertly crafted with precision. The line between photo realism and comic book artwork is blurred to create a truly visual masterpiece. Additionally, the colors are magnificent - from the golden hour of sunset to the somber hues of nightfall. The Cull is one of the most beautiful comics of the past 12 months hands down.'

The stunning visuals don't stop at the artwork. The superb lettering from industry veteran Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou adds another layer to the story in such a meaningful way. While it's understated, it plays a crucial role in conveying emotions and setting the tone of each scene. The lettering is impeccably designed and blends seamlessly with the artwork. It's a testament to how well the team behind the comic book works together.

The Cull's outstanding visuals are a testament to the success of the series, but as someone who loves coming-of-age tales, we found this comic extremely easy to connect with overall. The characters are all distinct, with unique personalities and motivations. While we came for the artwork, we definitely stayed for the story.

The Cull by Kelly Thompson and Mattia De Iulis is a phenomenal addition to the comic world. The outstanding artwork in addition to the wonderful storytelling makes this series a comic of the year a candidate for damn sure!