Mommy Blog #1 Review: Image Comics’ Suburban Nightmare
Beneath the pristine veneer of suburban life, a darkness often lurks. Mommy Blog #1, a new one-shot from Ninth Circle, an imprint of Image Comics, dives headfirst into that darkness with gleeful, brutal abandon. This Mommy Blog #1 review explores the unsettling black comedy crafted by writer Marguerite Bennett and artist Eleonora Carlini, offering a spoiler-free look at why this comic demands your attention. Prepare yourself for a story that blends the aspirational toxicity of social media culture with genuine, chilling horror. We at Comic Book Addicts appreciate sharp, boundary-pushing narratives, and this comic certainly delivers.
Unpacking the Horror: A Spoiler-Free Mommy Blog #1 Review
Mommy Blog #1 introduces us to Astrid, a woman desperately trying to achieve “super mommy” status on social media while navigating the treacherous social landscape of her gated community. Her carefully curated online persona clashes sharply with the grim reality brewing beneath the surface. Several children have disappeared in the neighborhood, and Astrid suspects a predator is hiding in plain sight. However, Astrid’s investigation isn’t purely altruistic. She sees catching the killer as a path to social media glory and neighborhood dominance. If her rivals for “Mommy of the Year” become collateral damage, well, that’s just part of the recipe for success, isn’t it?.
Marguerite Bennett, known for her work on Witchblade and the creator-owned hit Animosity, crafts a narrative dripping with satire and menace. Astrid’s internal monologue, often presented through blog post-style captions and classifications of fellow mothers, is both hilarious and deeply disturbing. Bennett masterfully skewers the performative nature of online “mommy culture,” exposing the anxieties, judgments, and competitive streaks that can fester behind smiling selfies and curated posts. The dialogue is sharp, the pacing is relentless, and the underlying horror feels uncomfortably plausible, even amidst the outrageous black comedy. Bennett uses Astrid’s voice to dissect the pressures and absurdities faced by modern mothers, pushing them to a terrifying extreme. The writing constantly keeps the reader off-balance, unsure whether to laugh or recoil, often doing both simultaneously. This delicate balance is where the comic truly shines, making pointed social commentary while delivering genuine thrills. Furthermore, the setup immediately draws parallels to unsettling domestic thrillers, hinting at a blend of Fatal Attraction and Carrie as the solicitation suggests.
Visually, Mommy Blog #1 is brought to life by the distinctive style of Eleonora Carlini, whose credits include Captain Marvel and Vicarious. Carlini’s art perfectly captures the story’s duality. The characters often wear exaggerated, almost manic expressions, reflecting the cracking façade of suburban perfection. There’s a brittle energy to the linework, emphasizing the tension simmering beneath the surface. Carlini excels at depicting both the mundane settings of planned communities and the sudden, shocking intrusions of violence and horror. The seemingly cheerful environments often feel claustrophobic, filled with judging eyes and hidden threats. Colorist Hoyt Silva enhances this mood significantly. Silva employs a palette that often contrasts bright, almost sickly-sweet pastels associated with Astrid’s online persona against darker, more sinister tones that emerge during moments of tension or violence. This color work effectively underscores the thematic conflict between appearance and reality. Joe Martin’s lettering also plays a crucial role, cleanly presenting the often dense internal narration and dialogue while adapting effectively to shifts in tone. The cover art, also by Carlini, immediately sets the unsettling tone. (You can check out more striking cover art in our dedicated section).
The creative team, including editor Joe Pruett, has clearly collaborated closely to ensure a cohesive and impactful reading experience. The integration of social media elements, like Astrid’s search history revealing disturbing juxtapositions (e.g., “How to Get Blood Out of Silk” next to “How to Make a Cheese Soufflé”), is cleverly executed. These visual gags provide dark humor while simultaneously revealing Astrid’s increasingly unhinged state of mind. The comic doesn’t shy away from depicting the uglier aspects of its characters, particularly Astrid, who is complex, deeply flawed, and dangerously ambitious. She is an anti-heroine whose motivations are a tangled mess of insecurity, aspiration, and perhaps something far more sinister.
This one-shot feels like a complete, albeit disturbing, statement. It explores themes of social isolation, the pressure for perfection, the dangers of online validation, and the potential for darkness within seemingly ordinary people. Ninth Circle and Image Comics have delivered a potent dose of suburban horror. It avoids easy answers, presenting a narrative that is likely to linger in the reader’s mind long after the final page. The story builds suspense effectively, even without revealing major plot points here, hinting at disturbing secrets and escalating confrontations. Bennett uses the familiar tropes of suburban life – bake sales, homeowners’ associations, school functions – and twists them into something nightmarish. The narrative structure, weaving Astrid’s blog entries and internal thoughts with the unfolding events, creates a unique and compelling reading experience.
Conclusion: A Must-Read Black Comedy
Mommy Blog #1 is a scathing, witty, and genuinely unsettling read. Marguerite Bennett and Eleonora Carlini, along with the entire creative team, have crafted a standout horror-comedy that effectively satirizes modern social pressures while delivering a chilling narrative. This Mommy Blog #1 review highly recommends the comic for readers seeking sharp social commentary mixed with visceral horror. It’s a brutal, unforgettable look at the darkness that can hide behind the brightest Instagram filters. Pick up this $5.99 one-shot arriving May 28, 2025 – you won’t be disappointed, though you might be disturbed.
What did you think of Mommy Blog #1? Did Astrid’s pursuits resonate or repel you? Share your thoughts and let us know on X!
