Writer – Doug Campbell
Artist – J.H. Williams III
Inker – Larry Welch, Dave Lanphear
Colours – Joseph Allen
Letters – Dave Lanphear

Daphne Dunlop is locked inside the Arcadia Toys building with the world’s most frightening teddy bear and some impossibly alive, killer toys. What they want with her, she has no idea, but the entire situation is terrifying, and she almost feels like she could be losing her mind, even though it’s all too real. There is a bit of hope, as her fiancée, Eddie, has shown up to see her home from work. Without knowing exactly what is going on, he knows that Daphne is in trouble, and he has to get in there and save her from whatever has put the fear of God in her. Writer Doug Campbell kicks it up a notch in this issue on nearly every level. The horror is more palpable, and the suspense keeps the reader hanging on every page, wondering just where this story is going to go and wondering if Daphne is going to make it out of this alive. The demonic toys are on the warpath so to speak and Daphne is not the only victim in all of this as those who cross paths with them are unknowingly breathing their last breaths. The pace is brisk, and as previously stated, the horror is quite bold. There is a moment where the little boy who climbed inside the husk of the Arcadia Toys owner to work him like a puppet has a conversation with a woman. To do so, he peeks out from the exposed rib cage of the man, and it is quite gruesome, to say the least. It is the most horrific moment in the entire book, and it is a testament to the artists involved, that being J.H. Williams III, Larry Welch and Dave Lanphear, to have made it so. There are some rough spots throughout the pages where the young Williams III shows he was not quite as polished as he soon would become, but overall, the book is illustrated quite well, especially when it comes to the toys and the horror within. Of course, all of the famous toys are present as well. Baby Oppsy Daisy, Grizzly Teddy, Jack Attack and even Mr. Static all show up to take part in the fun. Additionally, Campbell filters in a couple of new antagonists who are planning on burning Arcadia Toys to the ground, though they take a slight hiatus when Eddie comes upon them. As for where all of this leads, well, that little boy is looking for a more permanent host as the bodies he inhabits temporarily end up breaking down on him. Daphne’s baby will make the perfect host, should everything go to plan. With that, the creators of this issue provide a fun and dastardly tale that will keep readers coming back for more.

3.5 out of 5