Dceased 3 page 19 by Trevor Hairsine & Stefano Gaudanio

Dceased is one of my favorite DC titles/What if/Elseworlds type of alternate realities in years.

It's a bit more complex than this but the elevator pitch would be "what if there was a zombie plague in the DC universe?".

(and yes, super powered individuals can get infected).

Another must read from Tom Taylor, one of the most talented "recent" writers to emerge in the industry. My own interest in horror has never been in the shock value but how do the characters cope with the new situation imposed on them. And while the action is amazing in Dceased, I find that the emotional beats are as if not more satisfying to read.

The amazing art by Trevor Hairsine, just gritty, scratchy like it should be, suits the project perfectly and really add a fantastic layer of enjoyment to it.

In this sequence (SPOILER alert!), Superman, Clark, has been called back home to Smallville by his mother to deal with something trapped in the family barn.

I find that the first two panels which show us an overshadowed Superman are extremely well thought out in order to convey what he knows is waiting for him and what needs to be done. His grim resolve if you will. Superman is walking here. Slowly.

In the second panel, I find that the distinction between the entrance of the barn and the figure is super well done with the above light source. And then then is something eerily thumping at the closed trap door on the floor. This is true (intelligent) horror movie material.

The next 3 panels are decompressed storytelling at its best to enhance the tension that began slowly in the previous two.

Superman calmly kneeling with sadness and concern on his face. Trevor also did a great job at showing us a believable barn interior here.

Close up on him effortlessly snapping the lock and opening the trap door.

This is storytelling and how you cleverly build tension on a page. And prompt you to quickly turn to the next page.

I'm showing the precise pencil page and then the oversized inks done separately.

2023 update: while meeting Trevor during the Autumn 2023 Facts convention, he told me that this whole sequence was his and Tom Taylor's favorite of the whole series. To the point he was persuaded that he gifted all the originals to Tom. A very gratifying and validating conversation and information for this collector.