Bunny Mask #1: Looking for a Revelation

What is there to say about Bunny Mask that you can’t really get from the standout cover? A rare instance indeed, the first issue of the new horror series from AfterShock gives you exactly what you want when picking the book up.

Bunny Mask is the introduction of a new horror character, in the veins of icons of the past the character is rooted in mystery, with lore tied to causes of insanity and strange appearances in caves. Paul Tobin does an excellent job in focusing on a character driven approach while exploring the horror around them, but it really is the shock factor that pulls you in. There is no getting past the design, with a literal bunny mask that looks both playful and ridiculously scary. There is an inherent sexual aspect derived from the popularity of the bunny in adult material and the story makes use of this in a way you really won’t see coming but I was relieved to see the creative team avoid stereotypical narratives surrounding its use. It’s clearly a subversive approach, toying with our own expectations to find horror in the space between our assumptions and what we don’t know. And that is a good thing, as the first issue wastes little time delving into territory that can really only be described as weird.

Very weird.

And you know what? Weird is exactly what this book needed to be memorable and stand out in the horror genre without relying on obvious tropes. It’s just weird enough to hook your interest and keep you wondering what the hell might happen next. While it doesn’t lean as much into the horror genre as I would personally like, instead choosing the mystery direction to unravel the story slowly, it’s creepy enough to prove worthwhile for fans even just pulled in by the cover.

The artwork is distinctive, and works especially well with the introduction of the Bunny Mask character, but the more mundane parts begin to drag on the story as so much additional dialogue keeps the visuals more contained. The design work is interesting even outside of the horror elements and Andrea Mutti clearly has a penchant for character expression because they truly all help to drive the story. Luckily, the pacing behind the mystery unfolding is aided by Taylor Esposito’s lettering that carries your eyes right where they need to be. It’s the type of direction that isn’t always easy to spot unless it’s noticeably missing, but Esposito keeps the pacing as tight as possible and the story is all the better for it.

Bunny Mask might not be the best introductory horror issue of the year so far, but it’s certainly among the most interesting. It’s unpredictable, engaging and oddly creepy. Though it could benefit from leaning a bit more into the horror it does just enough to make you want to come back for issue two. For fans of the genre, this is one you will likely see on your social media timeline often because it’s going to have plenty of people talking.