Sons of Heaven is a 24-page one-shot horror comic published by Afterlight Comics in late 2022. The story was created and written by Andy Hamilton, with art by Osadha Siapa, lettering by Joseph Oliveira, colors by Karla Aguilar, and a cover by Christopher Lair. If you’re unfamiliar, Afterlight Comics is an indie comic publisher whose creators and artists have a knack for moody folk horror, and Sons of Heaven is a perfect fit.
The story is set in northern Scotland in 1814 after a shipwreck leaves a group of British sailors stranded on a seemingly uninhabited island. The survivors, led by Captain Oliver, are forced to make the best of things until they can assess the situation. However, they soon discover that the island is home to something quite unexpected.
I always appreciate a good one-shot because of its self-contained nature and limited number of pages. Although this doesn’t give us much opportunity to get to know Captain Oliver and his crew, it doesn’t detract from the story in any way. He is familiar and works well with the narrative as he is portrayed as a classic nautical captain from the 1800s. This is a good illustration of how a cliched character can serve a purpose for readers.
RELATED: Exclusive: ‘Malum’ Director and Co-Star Talk About Reimagining ‘Last Shift’
Sons of Heaven is a slow-burn survival horror story that offers readers much to take in along the way. While allowing our imaginations to wander as the sailors set out to explore their new temporary home, the beautiful art and colors never let us forget that an unseen danger lurks. The payoff was such a startling surprise that I had to restart the story to take it all in.
Sons of Heaven is a fantastic comic to curl up with if you’re in the mood for an atmospheric horror story. You can check it out on Afterlight Comics.
