Acclaimed artist Lorenzo De Felici, best known for his collaborations with Robert Kirkman on Oblivion Song and Void Rivals, is flying solo on his latest horror project Red Roots. Is it any good? Here’s our review!
Red Roots’ first impression was its creator Lorenzo De Felici. Best known for his work on Oblivion Song with Robert Kirkman, he’s one of those creators whose name alone makes me add their work to my pull list without even thinking. And then I read the description for Red Roots, and it was a little enigmatic: “The lives of a professional killer and a high school teacher are bound by a terrifying, mysterious force.” It doesn’t give much away, that’s for sure.
From the moment I opened this comic, I was instantly hooked. Lorenzo De Felici’s breathtaking and action-fuelled artwork immerses you in a gritty, bloody world. He uses minimal dialogue to create a brutal atmosphere in just a few pages of intense action, where a professional killer, cold and calculated, embarks on a killing spree.
And then the story shifts to a high school teacher, who lives alone with her two cats. When she gets home after a long day at work, she discovers a severed, decaying head inside her wardrobe. It’s clear that this is connected to the professional killer that the comic opened with. However, what’s strange is that the severed head seemingly inexplicably found its way to her home: no signs of intrusion, nothing. This sets up a pretty captivating mystery, with myriad questions being raised, and literally nothing being answered. How fun! De Felici keeps his cards close to his chest.
The two stories presented in issue #1 offer excellent juxtaposition, giving readers a story from the perspective of both the innocent and the killer. But their connection is vague. There’s a middle man — a third, hidden piece of the puzzle that we need to create the link. Even by the ending of issue #1 (which throws another curveball at you), I genuinely can’t anticipate what’s coming. I wouldn’t want to predict what’s up next, but I know to expect the unexpected.
De Felici’s artwork is stunning as always. It’s more grounded, visceral and gritty than his previous work. Panels move quickly and the action flows. It’s clear that he’s learned how to master the art of cliffhangers after his long-time collaboration with Robert Kirkman.
Red Roots #1 debuts April 29, 2026 from Image Comics.
Why not check out some of Lorenzo De Felici's best work? Pick up the compendium of OBLIVION SONG for an excellent price here.
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