The urban legend of the Poser killer is proving all too real to Ash and her group of punk friends in Redondo Beach. To make matters worse, copycat killers have sprung up, increasing the body count. No one is safe and hordes of police officers roam the streets in an effort to keep protect everyone. That doesn't stop further bloodshed as the Poser killer's spree continues.

Poser has a terrific pace to it. Writer Matt Miner will go from a terrifying life-and-death scene to several that build up the characters, fleshing them out and bringing some depth to the situations they're in. Right when you think you've had your fill of these, something comes out of nowhere and literally tears a man in half.

That's exactly what happens in this issue. It is a shocking turn of the page to find this brutal bloodshed and I definitely yelled out when I saw it. Artist Clay McCormack adds an impressive amount of splatter to this scene. The stuff really gets everywhere. I can only imagine what this page would look like in 3D. There's a gritty quality to it too, like this is a dirty, messy kill which is certainly true.

The blood in Poser is a dark and gruesome red. It seeps into everything it touches, leaving a distinctly violent after-image. Reds aren't used much else throughout the book, so the blood definitely stands out. Colorist Doug Garback made some great choices in the palettes used.

What makes this whole thing all the more haunting is how little the killer speaks. His face is hidden by the creepy doll-like mask fitted with safety pins over the eyes. His only speech comes when he calls his victims “posers.” That single word comes through in such a chilling manner. Letterer Taylor Esposito packs it with strength and an emotionless demeanor.

This fits with classics of the slasher genre and makes for an interesting experience in the comic book medium. There's no eerie soundtrack to heighten the tension. Instead, you get these stretches of time where there's no dialogue or sound. As you go from panel to panel, the sense of dread grows and grows. You know that something horrible is going to happen. It's just a matter of time until it does.

Poser is racking up the kill count and I have no earthly idea who the killer might be. This could be a little frustrating, as I would hope to be able to start making some guesses by this point, but the tone of the series more than makes up for it. I'm very much along for the ride as Poser hits on all the right marks.