4 out of 5 stars

Writers: Scott Snyder and Scott Tuft

Artist: Attila Futaki

Publisher: Image Comics Inc.

Horror gets a bad reputation a lot of the time. People tend to see films like Saw and Hostel as representative of the whole genre and imagine there’s nothing to be found but blood, gore and mindless violence.

In truth, the “torture porn” subgenre is only one part of the world of horror. The other type of horror, the kind that focuses more on building a creepy atmosphere and touching on the genuine fears people have, is what the genre first rose to prominence on.

In Severed, writers Scott Snyder and Scott Tuft create a more classical horror tale. In telling a very human story about a boy searching for his father in 1916 America, the duo touches on themes of isolation, desperation and the unknown. As a result, Severed not only provides a touching and harrowing narrative, but it represents all of the best elements of the horror genre.

Severed follows 12-year-old runaway Jack Garron as he travels the country pursuing his biological father. Jack, a talented musician like his dad, hopes to find his purpose in life playing the clubs alongside his pop.

Along the way, Jack makes a friend out of another young drifter named Sam. However, it’s not long before the duo runs into Alan Fisher, a man who seems all too eager to help Jack achieve his dream. Little does the pair know the secrets Fisher hides behind a pair of false teeth.

While Severed features a monster–and a unique one at that–it’s the way Snyder and Tuft manage to build in real world threats that make the horror come to life. The threat of rape and robbery follow Jack throughout his journey; the harsh realities of trying to make it on his own are never out of sight.

Beyond that, even the monstrous Mr. Fisher poses a plausible threat. Though he is steeped in supernatural elements, the idea of exploiting a young boy’s dream in order to trick and kill him is one that happens a lot in real life.

It’s the realism of the horror that makes Severed such an atmospheric powerhouse of a story. Jack himself is a likable character, if a bit foolhardy at times. The reader can’t help but like him, which makes the horrible things that happen to him that much harder to watch.

This is a far cry from the standard slasher flick, where the audience is often left cheering for the death of the idiotic lead characters.

Adding to the sense of atmosphere is the artwork of Attila Futaki . The detailed facial illustrations and tight panel arrangements make for a story told as much through the body language of the characters as through what those characters say.

Further, the way the artwork and layouts become more chaotic as the action picks up does wonders for increasing the sense of immersion.

Simply put, Severed feels like a celebration of all the best things about horror. It focuses on the characters and setting over the supernatural, allowing readers to truly become invested in the plight of its heroes. It avoids cheap jump scares to instill a true sense of dread in the reader.

As far as horror comics go, Severed is easily one of the best. Those willing to let themselves be sucked in will find a twisted journey that doesn’t let up, even by the last page.