Black Diamond, published by Panick Entertainment, is a Nordic-set psychological horror comic crafted by writer Brendan Columbus and artist Danilo Beyruth. The series envelops readers in eerie visuals and an ever-growing sense of unease, steadily pulling them deeper into its unsettling world. What makes it particularly compelling is how it blends the quiet, creeping intensity of Scandinavian horror with the primal dread found in the mythos of the Wicker Man. The result is a first issue that feels both hauntingly atmospheric and thematically rich, promising a journey that lingers long after the final page is turned.
The story begins with what appears to be a simple family ski vacation in Norway, only to unravel into a nightmare when Owen Welch leaves his young son unattended and the boy disappears on the slopes. What follows is not a straightforward missing person case but a descent into something far darker. Owen soon encounters a hidden mountain cult that presents him with a harrowing choice: deliver another child as a sacrifice or lose his own forever. With time running out and authorities closing in, Owen is pushed into a devastating moral dilemma that tests the limits of love, desperation, and sacrifice.
The bond between Owen and his son is portrayed with impressive authenticity, built through constant bickering that feels natural rather than grating. Their dynamic gives weight to the story, so when the boy vanishes, Owen’s devastation feels raw and immediate, pushing him to do whatever it takes to get his child back. For a first issue, the character work is strong enough to draw you in while still leaving plenty of questions unanswered. It is a deliberately paced beginning that lays the foundation for the terrors ahead, and the final page hints at horrors that extend far beyond the weird cult.
Black Diamond explores how horror can lurk beneath the ordinary, peeling back the polished surface of a world that looks familiar and safe. On the outside, the resort appears to be a clean, tourist-friendly community built for skiers, but beneath that lies something older and far more unsettling. The series suggests that hidden traditions, occult practices, and buried Norse folklore never truly disappeared.
The series leans heavily on Beyruth’s stark black and white artwork, capturing snow-laden interiors that feel both suffocating and eerie. Lee Loughridge’s coloring is applied sparingly, each moment of color heightening the emotional weight of the story rather than overwhelming it. It calls to mind the visual style of Sin City by Frank Miller and even Schindler’s List, where selective use of color draws the eye to specific objects, highlighting their significance within an otherwise stark palette. Saida Temafonte’s lettering further enhances the atmosphere, distinguishing between English and Norwegian dialogue with clarity. At the same time, the cult leader’s speech is rendered in a chilling, otherworldly font, making the reader wonder whether their presence is something real or something out of this world.
The cover by Ben Templesmith is simple yet hauntingly brilliant. It perfectly captures the raw menace and eerie atmosphere the story promises. The contrast between Owen in stark black and white at the bottom and the looming, fiery-eyed beast above creates an immediate sense of dread and inevitability. The use of glowing reds against the cold monochrome snowscape is striking, making the monstrous figure feel otherworldly and terrifying. The textures, from the rough fur to the skeletal face lit like burning embers, give the creature a primal, mythic quality. It’s bold, atmospheric, and unsettling in all the right ways. A cover that doesn’t just draw you in, it dares you to look closer.
If the debut issue is anything to go by, Panick Entertainment, along with writer Brendan Columbus and artist Danilo Beyruth, is shaping up to be a creative team worth watching. Black Diamond promises a chilling blend of psychological unease and the isolation of frozen landscapes, a combination that horror fans will find hard to ignore. With cults, impossible choices, and a setting that seeps dread into every panel, the series builds intrigue from the start. The question of how far a parent is willing to go for survival adds a gripping edge, and the striking artwork suggests this could become one of the year’s most unsettling horror comics.
‘Black Diamond’ #1 Review: Hitchcock meets the Wicker Man
Black Diamond #1 promises a chilling blend of psychological unease and the isolation of frozen landscapes, a combination that horror fans will find hard to ignore. With cults, impossible choices, and a setting that seeps dread into every panel, the series builds intrigue from the start.
