Review by Wes Gift
Writer: Si Spurrier
Artist: Vanesa Del Rey
Colorist: John Starr
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Designer: Emma Price
Editor: Eric Harburn
Thanks to Image Comics for the review copy!
The Voice Said Kill #1 is the first book in a four-part series exploring Cajun noir and Southern Gothic themes. Readers will quickly learn that this Louisiana locale possesses not only beauty, but something evil lurking in the shadows.
Far removed from the city, deep in the Louisiana bayou, we are introduced to gator poachers, crawfishers, a criminal enterprise, and at the center of it all is Sergeant Burgau, the lone, pregnant park ranger. Spurrier’s story is layered, building the world one piece at a time to reveal how the many narrative threads connect to one another. This setting establishes a balance between the real-world and mysticism, blurring the lines between a dream and a thriller. Danger is never far from the characters we encounter.
Del Rey’s art is loose yet striking, capturing the menace and intimidating surroundings of the swamp. Her style provides texture–you can almost feel the waxy coating of the leaves, the thick muddy water, and the coarseness of the trees. This book is not only alive, it breathes, giving the story and its characters a life that evokes realism.
Readers should take their time taking in each page of the book–the story told by the characters and the muted color palette. Even the lettering takes on a haunting form of its own, adding to the eeriness of the unfolding story. If you read too fast, you’re bound to miss something.
The Voice Said Kill #1 is a slow burner that will leave you wanting to know what happens next with every flip of the page. If you enjoyed Del Rey’s previous series Redlands, or gritty, detective stories, pick this up!
Review Score: 8/10
The Voice Said Kill #1 will be released July 23rd, 2025.
Are you going to pick up the comic? Feel free to leave a comment below or chat with us on Threads at @theconventioncollective, or Bluesky at @theconcollective.bsky.social
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