The Plot #6: Save Us All

The Plot goes all out with issue #6, a horrific story exposing the roots of the Blaine family tragedy that throws Chase and the others into a frenzy of survival. This is the issue horror fans have been waiting for. It’s actually terrifying!

If there is one thing The Plot #6 does right, it’s that it is seriously scary. Like, might want to read this one during the day type of scary. I’ve praised this series quite a lot in the past for its tension, pacing and ability to deliver true horror in the comics medium. However, this issue takes everything to a new level and doubles down on the spectacular horror-filled artwork to drive this story forward whether our fears can take it or not.

After a bit of context in the previous issue, we fall right back into the struggle with Blaine, Mackenzie and Zach trying to stay alive in their old family home as the hauntings just get worse and worse. Once again, this story isn’t focused on just showing gore for thrills, it’s a psychological type of horror that creeps in and takes hold relentlessly. The artwork from Hixson captures this feeling every issue, but in issue #6 the visuals excel as the foundation for the story, letting each panel flesh the overarching narrative out and intrigue the imagination regardless of dialogue. Even with a minimal approach though, Campbell makes the most out of every opportunity in lettering to nail the pacing and anxiety-filled tediousness of the situation unfolding.

Just about every issue in The Plot so far has felt like a masterclass in horror storytelling in the comics medium, but this issue feels like the payoff for those who have stuck around from the beginning. It’s far from slow, but still knows how to balance the mystery of the unknown with providing clarity in the story itself. We might not know how Blaine is going to stop this from happening, but after The Plot #6 we do have more insight as to why this is happening. The familial origins of the horror at hand take hold firmly here and what we see is a tragedy, however beautiful, that emphasizes the nature of the original phrase uttered so often in beginning “In order to give, first you must receive…”

For horror fans, The Plot remains one of my highest recommendations on shelves today. Issue #6 takes all of the strengths of the series so far and pushes them to an exciting new level that will have plenty of readers thrilled for what comes next. It’s the type of comic that is difficult to find anything wrong with, except for the fact that we have to wait to find out how things continue to unravel in the next issue!