If you haven’t already bought a ticket, you should ride Skybound’s Dark Ride, created by Joshua Williamson and Andrei Bressan. The two have taken an amusement park concept to what might be a logical extreme. In Disney’s “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride,” you go to Hell. In Universal Studios’ “Revenge of the Mummy” ride, you’re enslaved in the underworld. In the Haunted Mansion, depending on the storyline you choose to believe, you start by hanging yourself and thus, go to Hell. So what happens if Hell decides to open its own fun franchise on Earth?
Welcome to Dark Ride. In the first arc, we were introduced to Sam Dante, whose theme park designer father built an empire in Devil Land. Did Dad sell his soul for multimedia success? Does that mean Sam doesn’t even have one? After all, sacrifices must be made. One thing’s for sure — employees and guests do occasionally disappear, and have done for decades.
It’s wild. It’s loopy. And it’s incredibly well done. Returning after a few months on hiatus to catch up, this will go on the top of my reading pile. I might even pick up the alternate cover that pays tribute to the House of Mouse, even though the interior will be a House of Horror (with fun, friendly demons).
From Skybound:
Skybound today unveiled a first look at Dark Ride #5, which kicks off the second story arc of last year’s hit horror comic book series from the iconic Birthright team of writer Joshua Williamson (DC’s Superman, Dark Crisis), artist Andrei Bressan (DC’s Justice League Incarnate), colorist Adriano Lucas (Nightwing), and letterer Pat Brosseau (Creepshow).
Owen Seasons has been found, but the mystery around his death continues to haunt Sam Dante. As darker forces emerge in Devil Land, can Sam really control his family’s terrifying legacy?
“The first arc of Dark Ride was about establishing the world and the cast, and now with our second arc, it’s about the history. The history of the park, but also the history of the Dante family,” said Joshua Williamson. “Sam refuses to believe anything nefarious, let alone supernatural, is going on in his family’s park, but his search for answers will lead him down a dark path. In the new arc we up the scares and the family drama in big ways. The horror gets super weird and dangerous, and we’re excited to take everyone on a new ride starting with Dark Ride #5!”
“Oh boy, I’m getting back in line for Devil Land again! I’m blood-addicted and ready to go on ride after ride!!” said Andrei Bressan. “Jokes aside, I’m very happy to be drawing this new arc. This comic is getting even wilder!”
Dark Ride #5 continues the impressive variant cover lineup that ran throughout the series’ first arc. In addition to the main cover by Bressan and series colorist Adriano Lucas, Dark Ride’s Cover B variant spotlights park mascot Danny D. Evil, with an issue #5 cover by all-star illustrator Reiko Murakami, while Cover C showcases Devil Land’s resident femme fatale and horror aficionado, Halloween, with the first of four new covers by Paulina Ganucheau (Zodiac Starforce).
Additionally, megastar creator Tony Fleecs (Stray Dogs, Star Wars Adventures) continues art directing the classic homage poster variant program that ran throughout the series’ first arc. The 1:25 incentives will also span the Cover D slot of Dark Ride’s second arc, bringing on a new guest artist for each cover. Dennis Culver (Justice League Incarnate) is the artist at the helm for issue #5.
Dark Ride #5 will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.
The full list of covers is below:
Dark Ride #5 CVR A by Bressan & Lucas (Diamond Code FEB230166)
Dark Ride #5 CVR B (Danny D. Evil Mascot Variant) by Murakami (FEB230167)
Dark Ride #5 CVR C (Halloween Character Spotlight Variant) by Ganucheau (FEB230168)
Dark Ride #5 CVR D 1:25 INCV (Classic Homage Poster Cover) by Culver & Fleecs (FEB230169)
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