SILENT HILL: DYING INSIDE #1

[MattBrady]

IDW has provided Newsarama with a six page preview of the February-shipping Silent Hill: Dying Inside #1, a five-issue tie-in to the best-selling horror video game franchise from Konami.

The five-part limited series features two complete and interlocking tales of horror, with the first two issues drawn by 30 Days of Night’s Ben Templesmith while newcomer artist Aadi Salman handles issues three through five.

From Newsarama’s earlier coverage:

Writer Scott Ciencin provided a lowdown into the origin of the town and its urban legends. “Silent Hill is a mist-enshrouded town where something horrible once happened, a haunted place that may appear dead and deserted at first, but is actually possessed by a malevolent force that can take anyone’s deepest and darkest secrets and most terrifying fears and make them flesh. It’s the ultimate crucible for psychological horror stories, an environment that allows great tension and atmospheric chills, an emphasis on rooting interest in the characters, and a chance for shotgun blasting, fast-paced monster-killing madness! This one really has it all. And both Ben and Aadi have brought Silent Hill to life brilliantly. If you watch Asian horror films, you’ll discover camera work, cinematography, and editing tricks that are only now beginning to work their way into American cinema. Konami already employ all these stylistic advances and more in the Silent Hill games, and Ben and Aadi are now using them in comics. It’s riveting and visually dynamic and stunning work.”

Dying Inside takes place in the seventeen-year period between the first and the third games, much like Silent Hill 2. “It works supremely well as a stand-alone story introducing readers to this amazing and frightening environment, while at the same time treating long-time fans to some gruesome favorites from the games and many demons and threats that are all-new creations,” writer Scott Ciencin said. “The underlying mythology from the games is fully at play in Silent Hill: Dying Inside, but one doesn’t need to have played the games to appreciate the limited series. If you love horror films like the American or Asian versions of The Ring or the works of Clive Barker and other dark fantasists or comics like 30 Days of Night and Dark Days, you’ll love this. We’re really telling two stories in these five issues, and the cast is brand new — which means no one is safe and anything can happen.”

The first two issues of the five-part limited series deal with two central characters who go back to Silent Hill. “And we get to learn a little too much about one of them. Plus, Scott has let me create a few new cool looking monsters extra to the game, though some of the old nasties are still in there for sure,” Ben Templesmith said.

“Troy Abernathy is a psychiatrist who has attempted to turn his back on the healing arts and live the high life of money, sex, and fame through a series of mammoth selling self-help books, only — he’s the one who needs help,” Ciencin explained further about the characters and the story. “He carries around a truckload of guilt largely because his wife committed suicide after learning of acts he committed. He’s driving down a very dark road toward self-damnation, an irony considering he doesn’t believe in anything beyond this world, this life. Troy is given the chance to redeem himself when he returns to his old practice and takes on the case of Lynn DeAngelis, a former film student who experienced a horrible trauma in Silent Hill and lived to tell a tale of monsters and a demonic little girl intent on tearing her soul to shreds (though her footage of the event mysteriously went missing). Believing Silent Hill to be nothing more than a deserted town where some all too real tragedy befell this traumatized young woman, Troy takes her back to Silent Hill to confront her nightmares—and quickly finds himself confronting his own!”

“By the end of issue two, we are introduced to teenage goth Lauryn and her boyfriend Clown (the guy who stole Lynn’s footage). Lauryn is convinced that there is incredible power just ripe for the taking in Silent Hill and she gathers a group of fellow goths to go on a dark “treasure hunt” in this reputedly haunted place. But there is much more going on here, because the demon-child who runs through all five issues is Christabella, her dead younger sister, and it is entirely possible that the force that has made Silent Hill a nightmare town could fall into Lauryn or even Troy’s hands — and soon darken the skies of the entire world.”

[kingofcities]

I'm not usually into Video game / comic tie-ins, but I can't wait for this book! LOVE the Templesmith art. It would be nice to see some samples of the Aadi Salman art also.

Kent

[dreddtrw]

I am a huge fan of Silent Hill... The game freaked me out. And this looks to be a great read. I can't wait!!!

-dreddtrw

[Cartoon Jay]

The Silent Hill games are scarry as hell...but I don't know how that will translate to comics. The Resident Evil comics, for example, were terrible. Horror in comics is a tricky thing.

The art for this is interesting, tho. It captures teh "feel" of the game well.

[teen_titan2000]

All I have to say is WOW. The art is creepy as hell, especially the last panel, showing the dead nurse. The art work is as incredible as it is graphic.

[The Creeper]

I'm probably gonna pick this up due to me having Silent Hill 1,2,3, and the recently anounced Silent Hill 4: The Room coming out in the near future.

[kingofcities]

Originally posted by The Creeper
I'm probably gonna pick this up due to me having Silent Hill 1,2,3, and the recently anounced Silent Hill 4: The Room coming out in the near future.

I am very jealous. 3 didn't come out on the X-Box.

[Fazhoul]

The artwork didn't really do anything for me. It reminds me too much of Sienkiewicz at his worst.

[onetimeasianlov]

I'm pretty psyched for this!

[skywatcher]

Originally posted by Cartoon Jay
The Silent Hill games are scarry as hell...but I don't know how that will translate to comics. The Resident Evil comics, for example, were terrible.

This is exactly my sentiment!

[LukeG]

The run looks a little too limited. Any chance it'll be extended if sales are good?

Who am I kidding? As long as there's money in it the comic will go on and on and on... But who cares as long as it' good?

[juggalojess]

Bah I missed issue #1!! My shop didnt order it, guess ill have to pick up a secind printing (plech)

Here is the trailer for silent hill 4 if anyone wants, im only posting it cuz its exceedingly sick:

http://www.sh2004.com/mov/sh4_12m.wmv


Jess

[onetimeasianlov]

Originally posted by juggalojess
Bah I missed issue #1!! My shop didnt order it, guess ill have to pick up a secind printing (plech)

you have to hurry! I had to move fast for it and I missed the second issh.
















psst! you can always try their online store for it!

[JK Parkin]

Pretty sweet!