5 Reasons To Get ‘Unearth’ #1 (Image Comics)!

Building on its claustrophobic feeling, Unearth #1 (Image Comics) takes a sinister leap with its unflinching and unsettling body horror. The Unearth series starts off slowly with the yuckiness before gradually cranking up the gross-out factor. 

When a flesh-warping disease ravages a remote village in Mexico, a scientific task force travels to the inhospitable area to investigate the contamination. Tracing the source of the disease to a nearby cave system, the team discovers a bizarre, hostile ecosystem and a supernatural revelation from which they may never escape.

Here are 5 reasons why you should read Unearth #1:

The first installment introduces the group dynamics, with the small team led by Dr. Reyes. Lt. Morris happens to be a lunkhead, with a flair for tough bravado. Dr. McCommick adds the comedic relief to ease the tension now and then. We get to spend a good amount of time with these characters before going down in the mysterious caves.

Writers Cullen Bunn and Kyle Stahm allow readers to decide for themselves whether these three experts are explorers or grave robbers. There were times where I found myself rooting for Lt. Morris over D. Reyes; and vice versa. The letters by Crank! bolds certain words that heighten the mystery inside the dark caves. 

The body horror imagery by artist Baldemar Rivas is nightmarishly magnificent. In the opening pages, there is a fat blob of a disjointed human being. The bucket next to him means the infected victim has been puking up blood this entire time.  

The setting of Mitlan Itza is captured in yellowish tones to represent the summer heat. The jungle atmosphere is painted in bright green shades. Notice how the white containment suits matches perfectly with the grayish caves. 

A perfect summer read, Unearth #1 is a character-driven installment and a strong dose of body horror. I can’t wait to get my hands of the second issue!

Unearth #1 arrives in stores on July 10, 2019.