Houses of the Unholy is a noir-style graphic novel. It follows the story of a woman who has a past that’s connected to the Satanic Panic. A rouge FBI agent finds her and they go on a hunt to find a killer.

I loved the artwork in Houses of the Unholy, it’s kind of got that old-school comic book style of artwork that just makes everything feel really gritty.

The storyline started off fairly strong, and I loved the flashbacks the main character, Natalie, has about her childhood and how she’s involved with the Satanic Panic. However during the middle of the book, the plot started to fall a little flat for me , and I think that’s due to the fact that the story was mostly telling me what is happening instead of showing it to me.

I’d recommend checking this one out if you’re looking for a short, fast-paced crime story that’s inspired by the Satanic Panic.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the gifted copy.

Another cracking graphic novel thanks to Image Comics.

This one had the feel of Dennis Wheatley story with Silent Hill and good thriller horrors thrown in for good measure.

There were flashbacks that built tension into the current narrative and allowed some of the back story to be filled in as Natalie Burns journeyed with an FBI agent to investigate the killings of the Satanic Six.

These flashbacks took us to the time of the 80s Satanic panics, the hysteria that there were Satanic cults everywhere and that children were vulnerable to abuse from these cults.

It also touched on the idea of repressed and implanted memories that was huge at the time also, and according to Natalie this is what the Satanic Six were, six children who got caught up in this hysteria.

Much like the children in various witch trials, the children told what was expected of them and some adults had to face the consequences of these words.

The story is brilliantly supported by a great art style that has a predominantly red and black palette which is oppressive and really adds to the atmosphere as the story progresses.

Bleak, oppressive, and tense. Loved this from start to finish.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this Satanic Panic mystery graphic novel. Good story though I did guess part of it. I subtracted one star because I hate open-ended endings but otherwise it was excellent. If you’ve enjoyed any of the author’s other detective/mystery graphic novels you’ll enjoy this one. I was thrilled to get it in NetGalley, thanks to the authors and publisher for that!

First, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy of Houses of the Unholy! To be transparent, I just don't think this graphic novel was for me. I wasn't a huge fan of the art style and the overall content of the story. I will say I was engaged enough to want to know what happened at the end and it was a quick read. The sex scene was unnecessary to the plot. Overall I wouldn't recommend unless you have interest in the occult/learning about cults.

"Houses of the Unholy" is a riveting horror thrill-ride from bestselling creators Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. In this new tale, an FBI agent from the cult crime beat and a woman with a past linked to the Satanic Panic are drawn into a terrifying hunt for an insane killer hiding in the shadows of the underworld. This pulse-pounding story asks: can you ever escape your past, or are all your bad decisions just more ghosts to haunt you, wherever you go?

Honestly, I went in with too many expectations. I was let down by how the complete storyline was a big retelling with little to no change from the McMartin preschool story or something very similar. I was waiting for something to happen, something to pull me into the story. The ending was a big bust. Nonetheless, I would stay for the art. On the whole, I would rate it 2.5 stars rounded to 3 stars.

I’m a long time fan of Brubaker and Phillips. They have consistently done outstanding modern gritty crime stories. “Houses of the Unholy” starts out strong and keeps getting better as the story progresses. Anyone familiar with 1960s Chick tracts, the evangelical comics from cartoonist Jack Chick, will appreciate how Phillips made the chapter headings look like Chick tract titles.
My only disappointment was the ending. It felt like either this was supposed to be part one of the story or they decided to end in a depressing manner. A rule of most crime stories is that they end on a downer, but I had hoped for a slightly better ending for Natalie Burns.

The artwork in this graphic novel reminds me of vintage crime comic books. Comparing the art style with the storyline of this tale, they fit together nicely bringing you, the reader, an interesting reading experience.

Natalie Burns and five other children made claims of being forced to engage in satanic rituals by counselors. This was during the Satanic Panic of the 80's, so her name along with the rest became front page news. The problem was that the whole thing was fake, and it haunted her to the present day, where this story takes place.

Natalie is picked up by the FBI to participate in an investigation into the deaths some of the other children involved in the Satanic Six, leading into a micro-adventure that explores more of Natalie's past.

I can't tell if there will be a sequel to this, possibly not, but the quick pace of the story was good with moderate text throughout. The comic was easy to read, although the story progression was too predictable. Nonetheless, a great comic book for horror fans. I recommend this comic and the authors / artists involved who created it.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Image Comics for providing this comic in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks netgalley for an advanced ARC of this graphic novel

Reading this was very interesting and hit on the crazy that was a thing back long ago called the satanic panic which lastest a while, making this story around that has been an interesting read and I could of read more because I was glued from page to page... the story ending I did see coming a mile away but I still found it a enjoyable and Engrossing read (I think insaw the ending coming because I have read to many books and watched to many movies haha 😄). It was relatively fast Paced with learning about the main female character and how she has been running most her life not just from living in the world but from her past, her self and also what she was afaird she would become if she let go into any of it.

Houses of the Unholy is a chilling crime thriller from the creative duo behind Reckless, Criminal and Night Fever, writer Ed Brubaker and artist Sean Phillips, that had us hooked from the very first page.

An FBI agent from the cult crime beat and a woman with a past linked to the Satanic Panic are drawn into a terrifying hunt for an insane killer hiding in the shadows of the underworld. Can you ever escape your past, or are all your bad decisions just more ghosts to haunt you, wherever you go?

Before we even opened Houses of the Unholy we knew we were in for a ride. The combination of the creative team and the stunning cover art gave us hope for another smash-hit from Brubaker and Phillips. Within the first few pages we were captivated by stunning artwork. Brubaker and Phillips once again have proven why they are considered one of the best creative teams in the industry. Brubaker's creative writing are perfectly paired with dark and gritty illustrations from Phillips.

In addition to the stellar artwork, the panels were perfectly laid out along with wonderful design. From the use of orange tones to tell different parts of the story to the use of flashbacks to delve into Natalie's complicated past brought the entire graphic novel together for a truly top-notch reading experience.

Houses of the Unholy's combination of Satanic elements along with a FBI investigation made for a truly suspenseful crime thriller. While not a rollercoaster ride, there is just enough twists and turns to keep us guessing while not taking away from the flow of the story.

Fans of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips will have no choice but to experience Houses of the Unholy, but even if you have never had the chance to read comics by this creative duo this one is worth taking a chance on for sure. Houses of the Unholy has a gripping storyline, breathtaking artwork, and unforgettable characters that will haunt you long after the last page is turned.

Loved this graphic novel. Anything Satanic Panic is super interesting to me so this seemed right up my alley from just the description.
The art is great and the colour palate of reds really worked with the story.

The writing was enjoyable, I liked the flashback elements of the story, seeing how the past and present are intertwined. It was interesting to see the focus on how the Satanic Panic might influence the children involved in their later lives.

Not sure if the art was compressed in it, but it looked off.

There is a lot of telling in this book, and I can't tell if the things I didn't like about it I was supposed to equate to the weed. The end was abrupt and almost everything was guessable. Yet I got wrapped up in it anyway? I dunno.

Very fun graphic novel with a horror underlines. Character development is good and dialogue flows nicely. Fun and engaging graphics. The ending leaves you wanting more.

While I appreciated the take on Satanic cults, I cant' say this was my absolute FAVORITE story pertaining them. I loved the artwork and the flow of the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Image Comics for the early access to this book! This was my first graphic novel and I loved it! I was hooked into the story from the start. My only wish is that it was longer! I feel like a lot was left unsaid, hopefully there's more parts to this.

When I saw Brian K. Vaughn and Joe Hill giving this one praise I obliviously needed to pick it up right away! This one did not disappoint! The art style was fantastic - moving from full color to more of just reds/blacks/yellows when talking about the present and past was amazing. The entire story reminded me heavily of a modern Salem Witch Trials. The Satanic Six were just like the group of young girls that started to point fingers at fellow villagers accusing them of witchcraft. I wonder if the authors drew that parallel as well. I highly recommend adding this one to your TBR!

Mysterious, bloody, religious horror!
The story follows Natalie Burns, a child victim of the Satanic Panic in adulthood
During a bounty hunt she is stopped by FBI Agent West on a secret mission to track down whose murdering the Satanic Six. Six children who accused a school/church daycare of practicing cult like rituals on the children.
With only 3 of the 6 left and Natalie convinced it was all made up to begin with, she must work Agent West to find the true killer and solve the mysterys of her past

Houses of the Unholy is a graphic novel by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. It tells the story of a woman who, as a child, was involved in a Satanic Panic trial. She now makes her living retrieving lost children. When her friends from childhood start dying, she’s contacted by an FBI agent to help track them down.
I wasn’t really sure what I was getting into with this one, but I am an Ed Brubaker fan, so I’ll give anything he writes a try. Surprisingly, it was an easy story to fall into. If you like Brubaker, you should have no problem getting into this.
The artwork by Phillips suited the story perfectly. It was dark and moody.
If there was any downside to this book, it was the ending. Not that it was bad or out of place, it just seemed to be abrupt.

I love how easy it is to sink into that luscious Brubaker style, it's like the start of an old noir movie with a sexy-voiced narrator. And the art is always reliable. This story just wasn't that great though, and what is it with Jacob Phillips and his obsession with pink. I just don't quite feel right about his colour palette.
Somehow the pacing felt off on this, like it should have been longer or shorter. And the end was a bit meh. But I still always enjoy this partnership, even if the colouring isn't my favourite.

Devoured this, such good shocking twists.

I didn’t quite understand the ending, and feels that it lets it down a little. Overall a 4 star read for me though, as I was hooked.

I'm a big fan of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips collaborations - I honestly feel they are what Riley Sager aspires to be, but their execution is always on point. Even when it's not top tier great, like in the case of Houses of the Unholy, you still get a terrific story.

Houses of the Unholy doesn't hit as hard as their more recent collabs, Where the Body Was and Night Fever (the latter being a top fave of mine). Brubaker likes leaving the audience questioning but I felt in the case of this newest book, that's all it was, question after question. I loved Night Fever for the surrealism and dream-like quality of the story, which is also present here, but just doesn't satisfy in quite the same way.

But I still loved my time with it. It reminded me of an episode of The X-Files, where you're left wondering just what is real and what is fiction. There is no happy ending, just a continuation of what already was.

I don't imagine this book ending up on a many Best of Brubaker+Phillips lists, but I can see a small but strong fanbase for it. It feels like something Hulu would turn into a film haha