Emmett Nahil

This is supposed to be a horror graphic novel about trans and queer kids. And technically it is. At the very beginning there is a trigger warning page and while I understand the need for it, I didn’t think this was as horrific as it could be. In this story, we have a group of kids. I’m not sure if all or just many of them are trans. Trans ideas are not a major part of the story, but it does play a factor. What you have is a town on edge in 1979 because a pastor’s wife has gone missing. This is a religious town where the sheriff goes to the preacher, wanting more sermons. But the reader knows that in the background, there’s something evil afoot, and they’re using the preacher and his sermons, and the missing wife to start the Satanic panic for whatever is going on in the background. The Satanic panic was real events in the 80s and this story plays into it. This story doesn’t end and is very much a volume one. The story is completely up in the air and I’m not sure quite yet what to make of it. The illustrations are fantastic, and I think this has an interesting story arc, and hope I get to read the next volumes.… (meer)

Let Me Out is a captivating horror graphic novel dealing with such terrifying topics as the Satanic Panic, bigotry, corrupt officials, and New Jersey.

In a small town a woman goes missing, black suited agents have an agenda, the local police perpetrate a coverup, and the townspeople immediately suspect anyone who looks or acts different from the majority. This is very bad news for our story's protagonists, a group of ethnically diverse, LGBTQ friends who care about each other just as much as they loathe the monotonous, at times hostile conformity around them.

The Satanic Panic has always interested me as a stark and all too modern example of people’s tendency to look for "Others" to scapegoat when they’re scared, even when those they target pose no threat. That concept is on full display here and it makes for an interesting overarching theme in an otherwise plot heavy story. The art style and characters mesh seamlessly and create a vaguely vintage aesthetic, but at the same time the action and horror are rendered fascinatingly dynamic and lavishly creepy.

I found this story immediately gripping and burned through the whole thing in a brief sitting. If I have any critiques of this graphic novel at all it would be that it set up an engaging story with interesting characters but then ended right as I was most invested; however, I hope this means the series will continue.… (meer)

Let Me Out is a horror graphic novel set against during the height of Satanic Panic. Four outcasts find themselves mixed up in a government conspiracy, ritualistic killings, increasing Satanic Panic and deals with the Devil himself.

The art in this graphic novel was gorgeous! It was bright and bold, the colours popped, and the Devil's art was my absolute favourite.

However, the story felt a little lacking when compared to this visuals. Love the idea of a queer horror story against the backdrop of the Satanic Panic. The characters were diverse, which is great, but could have been a little more fleshed out.
The pacing also felt a bit off. I kept having to go back and make sure I hadn't missed a whole page of panels as it skipped from scene to scene. It felt disjointed at times.

I'd love to see a sequel/continuation of the story which might help with some of these issues. Growing the characters more, and slowing down the pacing would turn this into an excellent read.

Thanks to NetGalley and ONI Press for an advance copy to read and review.… (meer)