The Cull follows five friends as they enter a cave in the middle of the night to shoot a film and emerge in another world.

Beautiful art and a very engaging story. The friend group feel rich and real and the story is one that feels like it would work well in any visual format but I'm glad that it's in graphic novel form.

The reveal at the end had me hooked and makes me want to seek out further issues so I can continue.

We follow a group of teens who wander to another strange world where time flows slower than Earth.

Though The Cull has a gripping and engaging story, the story can be messy at times and the art falls flat. You can tell it's 3D art and it's not hand drawn. While I don't have any qualms against artists for using 3D tools to create comics, especially in a series with such detailed and realistic art as this, it's difficult to get past the sim-like characters. The lighting is uneven, the character's don't feel like they're in the location that they're set in, and the character's motions feel stiff. I wish the artist had an assistant to help even out these rough edges especially because some scenes could have been exponentially improved with some effects or lighting adjustments.

The comic itself is well-laid out and it's easy to follow the story progression. They have some really fun and interesting compositions for panels and chapter title pages, and I loved reading about these teens as they explore this unknown world.

This was a vibrant and engaging story with a super realistic art style which I have never seen before in a comic. I loved the colours and the character design. The plot started off super strong but I did feel that towards the end of the volume, it felt a bit rushed - that was until I read the last couple of panels. I do want a bit more development from the characters as they feel a bit surface-level except for one or two characters. So hopefully we will see more from the others in the future.

Well that was a wild read with a hooking ending!
The art is stunning too, the people almost look real!

First, I'd like to send my thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for giving me access to the eARC of The Cull Volume 1. What follows is my true and honest opinion.

Trigger Warnings: Grief, Implied Domestic Violence (nothing shown, just briefly mentioned), Self Harm (Scars shown briefly, a conversation is had), Alcohol (Briefly shown with wider cast, not main cast).

The Cull is a so far fascinating story about alternative worlds, with twists and turns that I did not expect. It follows five friends: Kaite, Cleo, Will, Wade, and Lux. This is our main cast.

The artwork in this comic is stunningly beautiful and unique. To me, it looks almost like videogame stills, the artwork is that detailed. The main cast shows good diversity, with both LGBTQ and BIPOC cast members, and none feel like they are outshone by their white or presumed straight counterparts. Each character feels deep, with their own issues, and obviously, while the friends know each other better than we do, I am excited to learn more about them as time goes on. The level of thoughtfulness even goes as deep as to what power manifests first.

It ends with a cliffhanger and I hope that there will be more volumes in the future. I look forward to adding this to my physical Collection when I have the chance.

This was so good!! I cannot wait to read the next one, especially with how this one ended. I love and book with a group of friends banding together to save the world so this one was right up my alley. The artwork was gorgeous too and the plot was fast paced and so much fun.

A group of teens wanders through a portal and into a strange world where time passes slower than in their own world, strange creatures talk to them, and they gain powers. When they return home, it seems that their world has been taken over by creatures from the place from which they just returned and they have been missing for some time.

The story was okay- a little messy and unclear in places- and there was a random and completely needless sex scene that means it won't work for my middle grade library. Though it isn't professional to say, my true opinion of this story was - Meh.

I’m hoping there will be more issues, as this volume sets up a very interesting universe. Each character seems to have their own place in the group and there is room to explore their relationships with each other. The art worked especially well when showing movement and newfound abilities. The story really captured my imagination and kept me engaged . I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

I fucking love this book! I can’t wait until the next volume!! This has everything my sci fi fantasy loving heart desires. I give it all the stars in all the worlds! Highly recommend if you enjoy sci fi and fantasy. This is definitely one of my new favorite series!

The Cull was really cool and had a lot of great ideas - generally I think it moved too fast and didn't let itself linger in the tension, but that's a broader problem with serialized comics. I also don't think the ideas were that fully realized. A lot of stuff was thrown out there but not a lot stuck, and I don't think the pieces came together all that well. I wasn't a big fan of the art either - I think the artist did great things with the otherworldly parts but that a simpler style and a more stylized color palette would have suited the book better. I had a good enough time reading it but it was missing a real spark.

The best part is when the inter-dimensional being copied Wade's face, the second best part was when it sensed Cleo's treatment-resistant depression and tried to kill her.

Incredible art! Fun story! I am remiss to tell you what this is about because it would spoil it. But believe me when I say the digital paintings are SO COOL! The human figures and the Lovecraftian monsters. A fast story that appeals to people who like Stranger Things, Paper Girls or Lovecraft. Pick this up if you like cool art!

5 friends, Cleo, Kaite, Lux, Wade and Will, go to explore and film a movie in an off limits cave to commerate their last summer together.
Cleo admits she dragged her friends to the cave not to make a movie but to search for her missing brother.
While exploring they go across a beautiful world with dangerous secrets that will changw their lives.
I personally felt it had a healthy mix of Curious Tides, The Decent and War of the Worlds vibes.
The art work is interesting and beautiful

Thank you Netgalley and Image Comics for access to this eARC of The Cull by Kelly Thompson.

Trigger warning: self-harm, grief, and physical abuse.

“You cull the weak, but you’re culling every person that has had to survive something horrific!”

This is an intriguing first installment into a multiverse, video game-like, survival of the fittest. The set up of this story was brilliantly done with the almost perfect balance of intrigue and fleshed out world-building. The dialogue never takes away from the enchanting artwork on each page. I’m deeply anticipating the next installment in this series!

Summary:

How far will one girl go to find her missing brother? As it turns out, to the end of the world – and straight into the next. It all starts with a simple lie. She wants to film a movie on the beach with her friends. But quickly, everything changes.

Review:

Wow. I wish I could leave my review at "wow" because that accurately sums up how I felt upon finishing The Cull Vol. 1. This book is A LOT, but in the best ways possible. It's dark, emotional, tense, and fascinating, all in one.

There are five characters in total, and right away, we get a glimpse into their lives. In a few short panels, we learn the broad strokes of each teen. Then, the adventure begins. I'll admit that I wish we had a bit more time to learn their history, but that did develop along the way.

As for the adventure, well, that was something else. Picture Paper Girls but with a Saga-esque surreal vibe. That'sThat's how this story goes. And yes, that should tell you something about the level of danger and action that occurs.

I am so relieved that The Cull Vol. 1 is only the first volume in this adventure. Could it have ended here? Well...technically? But I would much (MUCH) rather see how the rest of this story will play out.

Highlights:
Written by Kelly Thompson
Sci-Fi Horror
Body Horror
Strange Lands

Trigger Warnings
Self Harm
Abuse
Missing Child
Violence/Death

The Cull Volume 1 (containing issues #1-#5) follows five friends who sneak out of their homes in the dead of night to shoot a short film. After meeting on a near beach, they make their way to a large rock that ends up being more than meets the eye. One thing is for certain, their lives will never be the same.

This story surprised me! The artwork was so different from anything I’ve seen before, almost like a realistic painting. The story does a lot of character introduction at first, which makes sense but can be a little much off the bat. I don’t want to give anything away, just know that it’s a wild and horrifying time! The ending was JARRING and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

I love the art in this! The imagery is astounding and so realistic, even when it is otherworldly. The story is intriguing, and the end of this volume is reasonably satisfying while also setting up the next, which can be hard for monthly comics. I especially appreciate the characters and how their motivations seem very realistic and plausible, even in the weirder circumstances

Fast paced action packed science fiction fantasy with a diverse cast. At some points felt as though I was being dropped into a story in the middle. Exposition heavy at times but enjoyable nonetheless and a fun read.

What a wild and crazy ride this was! When a teens brother goes missing and she finds a place that’s not been explored at low tide, she and her friends lie to be able to explore it and look for the missing boy. What they actually discover is a world between parallel worlds, and strange things begin happening from there and once they travel back through the portal. The illustrations and the mysteries of the worlds kept me hanging on every single word. I absolutely loved this series and will be following it in the future.
*4.5 stars*

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange with an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was incredible - found family (just go with me here), supernatural creatures, PARALLEL WORLDS? yeah I'll be needing a volume 2 ASAP!

In The Cull we follow a group of friends setting out to shoot a short film, while looking for the perfect shot, they end up...on another plants or in a parallel world? They aren't too sure and frankly neither am I. Things quickly get dicey when the gang meets a red (blue) panda looking creature who eventually turns into a human, clueing the gang in on some of the lore of their current habitat.

Madness, of course, ensues.

Aliens(?) or creatures of some sort invade their home earth...or so they think. The Cull is a fun take on the parallel universe setting and the art is absolutely beautiful. I cannot recommend this enough to sci-fi fans who are looking for something exciting!

Thank you to Image Comics and Net Galley for the ARC. The story is an interesting one, but also one that kept me at arms length until the end. The ending was fantastic and makes me want to pick up volume 2 when it’s available. But it took me too long to care. The artwork is gorgeous and creepy in places!