Spooky Season may be coming to a close, but the team over at Ghost Machine has dropped a dark and twisted horror comic just in time: It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour #1.
Devour is a one-shot comic that revisits the eerie world of Hyde Street. While Hyde Street #1 focuses on Mr. X-Ray and the unsettling character Pranky the Scout, this issue turns the spotlight on Miss Goodbody, a character with a terrifying twist. Miss Goodbody runs a shop called Fat Free, specializing—as the name suggests—in the removal of fat.
If I had to sum up this issue in two words: Messed Up. The story confronts themes of body image and societal pressure to be thin, which I think will resonate deeply with many readers. We follow Lily, a woman preparing for her wedding, as her mother and grandmother pressure and guilt her to lose weight. This issue delves into Lily’s struggle with food, guilt, and self-worth—a theme that feels as real as it is haunting.
The horror in Devour goes beyond social commentary; it’s embodied in Miss Goodbody and her sinister weight-loss pill, which carries the tagline, “All you need is one.” She’s not wrong, but the results are horrifying. The Hyde Street series hints at a scoreboard for “deliveries” (presumably people trapped on Hyde Street), and Miss Goodbody’s high score suggests she’s a long-time player in this twisted game. There’s something genuinely chilling about exploiting insecurities around weight—and this issue captures that perfectly.
A quick aside: Ghost Machine’s printing quality is top-notch, with some of the nicest comic paper I’ve ever encountered. It adds to the immersive experience, making every page feel substantial and well-crafted.
Overall, this issue is dark and disturbing, but if you’re a fan of horror that pushes boundaries, Devour will not disappoint. It adds a new layer to the Hyde Street mythos, giving us a deeper glimpse into its macabre world. I, for one, can’t wait to see what’s in store with Hyde Street #2, releasing later this month.
Check out my review of Hyde Street #1 if you haven’t already!
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