THOUGHT BUBBLE MONTH 2026! Four years ago at Broken Frontier I reviewed a self-published one-shot from Beck Kubrick introducing us to their Dead Girls comic characters. So impressed was I at the time by that work-in-progress that I said then it was “Time for readers… and publishers… to be taking far more notice of Beck Kubrick.” As is often the case with our BF ‘Six to Watch’ creators those words were prophetic. And here we are today looking at Kubrick’s full-length graphic novel version of Dead Girls, published by Simon & Schuster.
The story is set in the small town of Clossdale where a murderer has begun picking off its young residents. For the locals there’s only one likely candidate – 17-year-old Ash, the daughter of the deceased serial killer Evil Evelyn. But Ash is determined to get to the bottom of events herself. Investigating events with the aid of her best pal Jamie and foster sister Cassie, things take a sinister turn when the killer lets her know she is the next victim…
Since its “pilot” comic Dead Girls has gone in a very different direction but what remains at its heart is its homage to horror film tropes and its ideas of found family. Queer themes are also embedded deeply into the narrative, from Ash’s own sexuality and burgeoning relationship through to the casual homophobia of the local school kids. Kubrick moves the plot along incrementally, the reader uncovering dark conspiracies and secret histories alongside the cast as hidden truths and motivations are gradually revealed. As a mystery and a character study it’s a well constructed story; a slasher thriller that both pays tribute to, and yet subverts and dissects the genre from which it takes its inspirations.
Visual characterisation is impressive throughout, with Kubrick’s expressive cartooning guaranteeing the audience form deep connections with the characters. Kubrick’s art and approach to the page has evolved and matured significantly since we first reviewed their comic Coby, Alone some years back and there are sophisticated uses of page structures and panel layouts to complement theme, movement and a sense of time in abundance here. Colouring (in conjunction with Knack Whittle), too, is employed with consideration in ramping up tension and building mood, sometimes in nuanced and subtle ways, sometimes with an explosion of eye-catching hues. And there are so many clever lettering tricks here that add so much to the overall experience.
There are a number of key scenes and images in Dead Girls that are so visceral and impactful that they serve as a reminder of just why Kubrick has been pointed out as one of the most exciting emerging voices of their generation. Dead Girls is a breakout graphic novel from a rising star on the scene.
Beck Kubrick (W/A/C), Knack Whittle (C) • Simon & Schuster, £12.99
Buy online from Gosh! Comics here
Review by Andy Oliver
Beck Kubrick is at Table B19 in the Travelling Man Hall at Thought Bubble.
Thought Bubble 2026 runs from November 9th-15th with the convention weekend taking place on the 14th-15th. More details on the Thought Bubble site here.
Read all our Thought Bubble 2026 coverage so far in one place here.
Poster art by Núria Tamarit
