In Your Skin #1: Somebody’s Watching Me

Priyanka wants more out of life. She wants to matter. She wants to be a star, just like her idol Ayesha Sen. When she has an opportunity to meet Ayesha, Priyanka’s life starts to spiral in a horrific way that no one expected.

I only have passing knowledge of Bollywood, but extensive lore about the industry is not a barrier of entry for people that want to read this issue. Bollywood’s similarities to Hollywood are apparent, the struggles of fame and success cross language and cultural barriers. That also goes for the pain of trying to attain that fame. The solicits for this book explain this story as one part Cronenberg body horror, and one part The Substance, but I also see a bit of Perfect Blue in its framework as well. Though in this case that story is told from the perspective of the stalker instead of the one being stalked.

Aditiya Bidikar weaves a fascinating tale of obsessive horror and self-destruction by Priyanka as she looks for any way she can to get close to Ayesha, to get “in her skin” if you will. There’s an insidious undertone to how the narrative moves along with its overt creepiness the deeper we get into Priyanka’s obsession. All of this builds to the issue’s climax which sets the tone for the rest of the series.

Somnath’s (SOM) artwork is equal parts gorgeous and grotesque. The depictions of body horror are rightfully unsettling while the quiet moments building up to it have their own cloud of dread over them partnered with Fracesco Segala’s dreamlike colors. His use of minimal color for backgrounds also allows the characters to stand out and take center stage in the panels.