Houses of the Unholy is a dark dive into collective delusion, online conspiracy frenzy, cults, the satanic panic, and the ensuing fallout for the victims of the people caught up within it's web. It's engrossing and fascinating how it peels back the layers of the issues it talks about through it's well written, slow burn narrative. The author clearly has a lot to say here both literally, and metaphorically about the past and present state of the world we live in, and the real horror is how eerily close to home it hits.

*ARC provided by NetGalley & Image Comics*

Houses of the Unholy is an 80ies-inspired comic which tells the story of Natalie Burns, one of the last survivors of the "Satanic Six"—a group of children who became famous for their satanic accusations. A murderer is picking them off one by one and Natalie could be next. Together with FBI agent West, she tries to solve the mystery and save her own life.

I really wanted to rate this five stars, but some of the events in the book happen too conveniently. Natalie always seems to be in the right place at the right time. I think we needed volume 1 and 2 or maybe an additional one hundred pages to explore those moments “in between” during the investigation and flesh out the characters a bit more. I still enjoyed reading the story, though, and I definitely recommend it for fans of old-school comics. Natalie is a well written character, and the plot does keep you guessing until the bitter end.

"and I'm chasing a ghost right back to hell"

Thanks to NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange of an honest review!

The art style is amazing, per usual, the mystery is pretty solid and kept adding more intrigue to the story, the end felt a little rushed but that very last page really brought it all back, and the tension was THERE. Typical Brubaker/ Phillips W

The title and the creepy little (Poltergeist-esque) girl on the cover really intrigued me.

I had a good time with this comic, I found it difficult to put down at first, there were so many twists and turns. I did lose momentum towards the end and I felt there wasn’t a proper ending - could possibly mean there will be more instalments? But I did find the storyline interesting, it had lots of tension and suspense to keep the pages turning.

The illustrations were good and the colours set the horror tone, with their red and black vibe. I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for more in this series.

Thankyou to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this for an honest review.

I love what Brubaker and Phillips do. One of the greatest teams in comics tackling the Satanic Panic? Yes please. Loved the style of the old Chick tracts as flashbacks and nods to real world elements like Michelle Remembers to keep it grounded.
My biggest issue with this volume is it ends too soon. Was building up so much and then it all gets resolved too quickly for my taste.
Still liked their dive into this side of reality and horror just wish there was more of it.

My thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for an advance copy of this graphic novel series by an artist and writer who make noir masterpieces out of America's past, some popular, some forgotten, but all revealing about the world we live in today.

I grew up in the time of the Great Satanic Panic, in the 80's and 90's. I would come home from school, turn on the television downstairs and be inundated with different televisions hosts talking to doctors, cops, lawyers, grifters and the religious about the systematic abuse of children by followers of SATAN. My family were holiday Catholics, weddings, funerals, maybe Christmas if we couldn't get out of it, and most of this was unknown to me. However among the people in school, and my Mom's friends, there was a real fear, and a need to blame others for why there kids were acting so strange, and no we can't blame just the Reagan area where things in America got weird. One can look at this time, children being assaulted, punished and offered up to Satan as a precursor to Pizzagate, and QAnon and all the other fun stuff that makes social media so much fun. Houses of the Unholy is a graphic novel about the Satanic Panic, brought to the present day, reflecting both the time that was, and what we have made today, by the team of writer Ed Brubaker, artist Sean Phillips and colorist Jacob Phillips.

Natalie Burns is a private investigator with speciality in cults, and lots of bad luck. When an attempt to rescue a teen goes wrong, Burns finds herself in a police cell. Here she is approached by a special agent of the FBI, with an intriguing mystery. Burns was once known as part of the Satanic 6, a group of children who blamed a summer group for a whole lot of abuse, and Satanism, which was lapped up by families, cops and others, but was later proven to be all made up. Unfortunately one of those accused took her own life. Agent West is looking into a series of murders, murders of other members of the Satanic 6, and to get out of jail, Burns is asked to assist. As Burns investigates, she finds that there is a lot more going on than expected. All with roots to her past, and a lot of paranoia from today.

Brubaker and the father and son team of the Phillips have a unique gift in that they are able to capture moments from the past, history that has been forgotten or neglected, and use them to build fascinating stories about today. Looking back at the Satanic Panic, I forgot that it was everywhere. Afternoon tv, news magazine shows, magazines. Books. So many lives were destroyed. And as one of the characters says, just think the Catholic Church was actually doing all these things they were blaming Satanists for, and yet so many priests got away with it. I love how these creators capture the time so well, the phone, the way people talked, and carry these forward to today. The story is good, along with the characters, they seem real. Naive in some parts, but real. And also damaged. The art is fantastic. These men must read each others minds in that everything looks so good. People look like people, tired, normal, no ugly, yet not attractive. Real. Cars, cabins, cave, cult hideouts. All rendered well. There is an atmosphere to these books, a darkness, and yet a hopeful aspect. That maybe tomorrow will be better. Though it won't be.

Fans will love it. Also this is a good book to get people on the Brubaker/Phillips train. A dark story, with a little bit of horror, and of course the paranoia that makes life in our United States so exciting. Excited for more works by these men.

In the 1980s, Natalie Burns and her camp-mates accused counselors of satanic ritual abuse, earning them the title of the Satanic Six, destroying their lives, except none of it was true. In the present day Natalie works on saving children from cults, but when a job goes wrong, she is drawn into a new case by an FBI agent. Other members of the Satanic Six are dying and Natalie might be next. Natalie needs to work with the agent to solve the case.

Once against Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips have delivered a great graphic novel. As someone who has listened to all of the You're Wrong About episodes about the Satanic Panic, the backdrop to this story got me very excited, and Brubaker and Phillips did a great job using the elements of that era as a backdrop to this present day story (I got unreasonably excited at the appearance of the book Michelle Remembers). Natalie was an exciting protagonist that I really rooted for, and the story builds to a thrilling conclusion. This was a great graphic novel combining a crime thriller and a satanic horror story that fans of Brubaker and Phillips will enjoy.

Thank you to Image Comics and NetGalley for a copy of Houses of the Unholy in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for supplying an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm always excited to read the latest Brubaker/Phillips joint. I can't think of any other creative team working in comics that have the same synergy, and you can always tell they had an absolute blast working together. This was no exception.

The dialogue and the images are both stellar as you would imagine if you've read anything of theirs since they shook the comics world with Criminal.

Using the satanic panic of the 1980's as both a fundamental backdrop for the story and the main character's past was incredibly interesting, especially for me who was only marginally aware of what happened during that time.

The exploration of how such a thing would go on to impact the people who lived through it was inspired.

For me though, the plot itself was a bit of a letdown, from about a third of the way through I knew exactly where it was going and wasn't ever surprised by what happened. If you've read or watched anything concerning cults and/or their fallout you'll be able to predict every twist.

Overall I enjoyed reading it but its not one I'll revisit, 3.5 out of 5 (rounded up) for me.

A dark, gripping graphic novel that intertwines themes of crime, horror, and psychological drama. The story revolves around an FBI agent from the cult crime division and Natalie Burns, a private investigator with a traumatic past linked to the Satanic Panic era of the 1980s. Natalie, part of the infamous "Satanic Six," is haunted by false accusations of satanic torture that ruined many lives. The plot centers on their investigation into a series of cult-related kidnappings and murders. The narrative delves deep into the psychological scars left by the Satanic Panic, exploring whether one can ever truly escape their past or if it continually haunts them. As they pursue an insane killer hidden in the shadows of the underworld, the story presents a blend of intense, atmospheric horror and noir elements. Brubaker's storytelling is characterized by a blend of hardboiled noir and psychological depth. Phillips's illustrations makes this graphic novel successful, establishing an eerie and sinister atmosphere.

Thank you Image Comics and NetGalley for a copy of Houses of the Unholy!

"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?"

Finished this during a camping trip and boy did it spook me. I ended up researching Satanic Panic of the 80s and Ed Brubaker's other works. Love when a good read does that!

The Houses of the Unholy is perfect for those looking for a classic cult, horror story with a tight plot and retro/gorgeous comic illustrations!

First I have to mention the artwork. Absolutely love the artwork and the color palette of this graphic novel. I especially like how the artist incorporated all the red and black to really give that Satanic Panic theme.

Speaking of Satanic Panic. If you are like me, a reader intrigued by that era, this graphic novel will give you exactly what you’re looking for. With half of the story taking place during the Satanic Panic and showing the reader how stories and rumors could ruin lives of many.

I love how the writer went for a past and present tense showcasing our Main character’s backstory. Bounty Hunters, blood and Satanic Cults. What more can you ask for?

This was a fast paced comic, delving into one of the children who grew and was a victim to the Satanic Panic. I enjoyed the setting and the exposition into the past of the Satanic Panic, but I feel like the ending as wrapped up quite quickly. Overall aesthetics and the plot make it worth it!

4.5/5. "Brubaker and Phillips release outstanding graphic novels" is as much a truism as "Water is wet" at this point. HOUSES OF THE UNHOLY doesn't break the streak. This latest standalone has some elements of their past work (particularly FATALE, RECKLESS and CRIMINAL) but ultimately stands up as its own work.

Brubaker writes private investigator Natalie Burns about as spectacularly cynical as any educated survivor of the 80s "satanic panics" would be, and Phillips draws her as someone consciously trying to avoid attention. Drawn back into that world of make-believe horror by some very real murders of fellow panic survivors, with a driven but mysterious FBI agent at her side, Burns is ultimately face to face with demons internal and external in a fantastically illustrated and written finale.

The art evokes the signposts of the satanic panics perfectly -- the coercive teachers and child therapists, the collective hallucination that has these kids all telling the same stories, all with the garish materialism of the Reagan 80s in the background. Phillips is a genius at stillness, chaos and everything in between; his panels are alive in your mind the way good movies are.

If there's anything holding me back from a perfect rating, it's probably the climax and ending: It works, technically, and it's entertaining, but it seems a little more thrown together than the airtight conclusions of many other works from this pair. I felt like it didn't have to rush, but rush it did.

Oh well. It's still better than 98% of the other crime comics out there and will satisfy Brubaker/Phillips fans (of which I'm one). Eagerly awaiting the duo's next work -- hopefully more RECKLESS, but anything they do will be well worth reading.

This was a book of two halves for me. I really enjoyed the first half and thought the set up was really interesting.. Unfortunately for me, in the second half the plot went off the rails and just rushed through to a conclusion with little explanation. I thought the art was great and I loved the colour palette used, but I was let down by the conclusion of the story.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This was a fantastic graphic novel, if not a little bit short. It's no surprise, really - it was written by absolute titans of the comic book industry. The story that this turned out was great - the Satanic Panic of the 1980s, the hysteria that accompanied the decisions people made and how they approached things, and the demons that followed them afterwards. This is a really interesting plot, and it went for it with the story full throttle.

The art style is fantastic, and suits the story so well - the horror elements in this as well are just fantastic. It's not necessarily scary, but it has a heap of intrigue. There is no reliance on style here, but the style is impeccable nonetheless. The story speaks for itself and it's got a lot to say - social commentary for the modern era and the nostalgia of the past as well.

My only complaint is that there wasn't quite enough in the novel as a whole. I was hoping to have a little more expanded, especially when it came to the climax, and I thought there could have been a little bit more fleshing out of the second half of it.

All in all, this was a fantastic graphic novel, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

This was my first book by Brubaker and it didn't disappoint! I'm ready to dive deep into more by him.

Houses of the Unholy is a standalone that has us follow Natalie in an investigation into the murder of the survivors of an alleged satanic ritual. There's a very unexpected but intriguing start to this one which gets you hooked pretty quickly.

The art style works well mixing in horror & realism and contributes to the tense atmosphere, the use of colour in flashbacks is also a great device for differentiating the timelines.

Overall, a really tense read with some interesting visuals and set in a pretty interesting backdrop of the satanic scare in the US.

Thanks to Image Comics & Netgalley for the arc.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this comic book in exchange for my honest review!

This was a very bittersweet read the whole way through. I loved the older art style and even though I was almost in tears by the end of the novel, I still very much enjoyed it. The mysticism and number of unreliable narrator-esque characters gave me very strong "House of Leaves" vibes, anyone who loved that will most love this very melancholy comic!

i really enjoyed this! the writing was very good, and although it was short I got invested in Natalie's story

(this was an eARC)

Houses of the Unholy is a horror graphic novel set after the chaos of the Satanic Panic. It follows Natalie, a private investigator who was previously influenced into accusing camp counsellors of satanic torture. She and the other children involved were dubbed as the Satanic Six. Years later, Natalie now works to protect those in similar situations. After getting involved with an FBI agent, the two team up to find the culprit behind the murders of the children from Natalie's past.

I liked this! It ticked all the boxes: good pacing, developed characters, interesting plot and well-thought-through illustrations that added to the allure of the story. It was great to see all of that compacted into 144 pages.

This being my first Brubaker and Philips read, I will definitely give their other works a go.

Thank you to NetGalley and Image Comics for providing me with the ARC!