A title such as I Was a Fashion School Serial Killer is enough to draw in any reader of horror comics and the series lives up to the title in ways that I didn’t expect. Doug Wagner crafts a tale that is eerie, thrilling, and horrifying while Daniel Hillyard visualizes the story with stellar artwork.
Rennie Bethary has just been accepted into New York City’s most prestigious fashion school. Her designs are daring, edgy, and singular… and made of human flesh. Did we forget to mention Rennie is a serial killer who simply wants to be a fashion designer instead? Stupid, pesky, murderous urges!
Wagner wonderfully combines his talent for crafting unconventional stories with a unique backdrop in I Was A Fashion School Serial Killer. This serial killer tale set within the walls of the New York Fashion and Design Institute, a setting unlike anything I’ve encountered before in such a story. I mean a fashion designer who likes to skins their victims and makes unique clothing, come on. Wagner’s writing is stellar and wonderfully paced. The distinctive location brings a whole another level to this type of story, delivering exactly the kind of gripping tale I crave.
The character development was on point. Not only does Ronnie wrestle with her desire to fit in, but she also grapples with the darker urge to kill. Rennie is someone I couldn’t wait to explore further and uncover how she manages to kill while remaining undetected as the series progressed. Wagner also gives us supporting characters we can’t help but find both captivating and frustrating.
Hillyard’s artwork perfectly complements Wagner’s script. The panels are balanced, offering just enough detail to propel the story forward without overwhelming the page. The character designs, especially Rennie, feel exactly as these characters should look. Personally, if this story were adapted into a film or for tv, I could easily imagine Rachel Brosnahan as Rennie due to the striking resemblance in my mind.
I Was A Fashion School Serial Killer delivers exactly what I was need in the moment, a fresh setting combined with a chilling tale of a serial killer. Doug Wagner wonderfully pens a great script, while Daniel Hillyard’s artwork compliments the story well. Together, they bring a breath of fresh air to an otherwise saturated genre.
The collected edition of I Was a Fashion School Serial Killer is available at local comic shops and bookstores everywhere from Image Comics.