Comics
Review: ‘The Dark Tower: Battle Of Jericho Hill’ Issue #3
It is not a good day for Roland Deschain and his ka’tet. Nor is it a good day for any of those who still hold hope that Mid-World can be saved from the evils of John Farson, the Good Man. Last issue we were left with the horrifying vision of one of Farson’s hench-monsters killing Randolph’s wife and taking his son captive after the good guys had just scored a major victory on the Good Man. But now the tables have seemingly turned back in the direction of those who would wish to see the Tower crumble, and with a traitor seemingly in their midst it would not look as if things bode well for the Gunslinger.
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SPOILERS AHEAD
The issue picks up just a ‘fortnight’ after the events of issue #2 with Roland and his round-table of men posturing as to what their next course of action should be. There is still no clear cut plan, and it would seem all save for Roland are growing impatient. Thomas is of the opinion that the group should storm Gilead with guns ablazin’ and do things Rambo style. An obvious sign that there is a growing desperation within the ranks.
Meanwhile it is revealed that Randolph himself is the snitch and that he has made a deal with Farson. Things go sour though when he discovers that his wife is indeed dead, a punishment for his tardiness.
Everything is on point this issue, delivering what is possibly the best issue of the arc yet. The story itself is picking up a lot of steam here, and for the first time so far we have a clear idea of where the story is eventually going to lead us. Story wise the issue is completely solid with King/Furth/David bringing the Dark Tower faithful some solid motives along with some great allegory scenes with the showdown at the Amoco Pumps, which is the rendered beautifully by Lee & Isanove. The fight itself is depicted with many vivid, oversized panels as well as a fantastic centerfold of the insanity of the cults worship. If you think religious fanatics are crazy now just wait till you read this issue.
It is also of note that Aileen’s feelings for Roland become more evident in this issue, an undertone that will prove to become a bit of a player as the story unfolds. For those that have read the novels by King and kept up with the ongoing Marvel serial you surely know what I mean.
The issue ends with Randolph’s master plan finally starting to show its ugly face with poor Sheemie finding himself in the middle once again, setting down the last of the dominoes that will begin the battle between The Good Man John Farson and Roland Deschains doomed ka’tet within the next two issues.
When all is done and read “THE DARK TOWER: BATTLE OF JERICHO HILL” #3 is yet another great issue in what is probably the best arc of the series so far. Peter David and Robin Furth do another admirable job bringing readers King’s story in the illustrated world, and Jae Lee and Richard Isanove are simply unbeatable force collaboratively. For the folks at Marvel this is one ka’tet that they had best hope never looses any of its ranks.
4 Out of 5
NEXT ISSUE
THE DARK TOWER: BATTLE OF JERICHO HILL #4
COVERS BY: Steve Kurth
WRITTEN BY: Peter David & Robin Furth
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: Richard Isanove & Jae Lee
INKS: Array
“The horn of Eld has fallen into the hands of Roland as the forces of the Good Man John Farson prepare for their great battle against the Affiliation. The mammoth conflict that will engulf a kingdom and will be known in Mid-World history as the Battle of Jericho Hill! You must not miss it!”
This is it readers, the epic battle of the hill that will go down infamously in Mid-World history as the day all hope was lost! Farsons plan is now in full motion, and with the revelation that Randolph is a dissenter, Roland and the gunslingers have no choice but to fight. The covers for this one are MIND BLOWING, featuring some of the best that the series has seen. This is one that is not to be missed!
On Sale February 24th From Marvel Comics! (MSRP-$3.99)
Comics
‘You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive’ – IDW Dark’s Next Horror Comic Will Make You Question Reality
Five friends. Four houses. One perfect life. Bloody Disgusting is excited to exclusively announce You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive, a brand new horror comic from IDW Dark.
From Eisner-Nominated writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, and rising horror artist Heather Vaughan, You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive is described as a “paranoia-laced, socially-conscious, horror mystery that will leave you questioning reality, and reveal that this crafted world is more of a nightmare than the idealistic dream they were expecting.”
Phoebe Joplin has never questioned the world her parents built: a secluded community where she and her friends were raised to be smarter, stronger, and better than anyone else. No distractions. No dangers. No secrets. Until the night of their graduation.
When one of them dies under impossible circumstances, Phee starts to pull at the edges of her perfect life—and what she finds is something far more terrifying than she ever imagined.
Because this place isn’t a sanctuary. It’s a cage. And no one who discovers the truth ever leaves it alive.
Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing (Batman – One Bad Day: Clayface, Star Trek: The Last Starship) co-write the upcoming IDW Dark horror comic, featuring art by Heather Vaughan.
Jackson Lanzing said in a statement to Bloody Disgusting, “You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive is in many ways a spiritual successor to our last creator-owned horror, The Principles of Necromancy – a dive into the promise and consequence of playing god with the blood of innocents. But the Hivemind book this reminds me of most is Clayface: One Bad Day. This is a deeply human story with intensely raw emotions – five best friends and their five mysterious parents, tearing one another apart for the promise of some impossible glory that’s waiting just beyond their darkest actions. We’re thrilled to be bringing this story to life with our long-time partner in crime, editor Heather Antos, at IDW Dark – and we’re particularly excited to give our Clayface fans a new, brutal and emotional horror made just for them.”
Adds Collin Kelly, “We’re deconstructing a feeling that seems universal these days; our elders have a death grip on their power, without any intention of giving it up to the generations that come next. YNLTPA is about growing up with the limitless potential of the future… and realizing how much it’s a lie we’ve been fed to keep us under the yoke of the past. Bringing this brutal experience to life is our artist and co-creator, Heather Vaughan, who brings an incredible amount of humanity to our cast. But it’s in our youthful leads that Heather’s art really shines – you are going to fall in love with these young people, even as they go through the worst experience of their lives. What we’ve all crafted together is going to be tragic, painful, but above all else, sincere – with a future so uncertain, there’s only one thing we can trust: you’ll never leave this place alive.”
“Some horror stories are about monsters in the dark. YNLTPA is about realizing the monsters raised you,” previews Senior Group Editor Heather Antos. “Working with Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly on this series has been a dream in the darkest possible way. They’ve built a story that’s layered, brutal, and deeply emotional, and every issue gives artist Heather Vaughan opportunities to push the art into places that feel both haunting and deeply personal. Some horror comics will keep you up at night…this is one that will stick with you for years to come.”
The first issue of You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive goes on sale October 14, 2026! Make sure to pre-order at your local comic shop by September to guarantee a copy.
Exclusively check out the various covers for Issue #1 down below.
IDW Publishing’s horror imprint IDW DARK features comics like A Quiet Place: Storm Warning, Smile: For the Camera, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees, The Twilight Zone, Event Horizon: Dark Descent & Event Horizon: Inferno, and more.
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