It’s the season of the witch! In preparation for the new Netflix series debuting in just a few days, I’m reviewing the horror comic Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Vol. 1. Herein lies an overview of this very dark and horrific comic. Hopefully, it will provide a taste of what to expect from the series. (SPOILERS).
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Vol. 1 is written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and illustrated by Robert Hack. Archie Horror originally published the series in 2014 and it’s still ongoing, with a current total of 8 issues.
CAOS is a much darker tale compared to the version most of us may be familiar with.
The ‘90s movie and sitcom Sabrina: The Teenage Witch, starring Melissa Joan Hart was my introduction to Sabrina Spellman. She was a teenage witch, coming into her power, and living the dream. In case you didn’t know, Sabrina Spellman is a character from Archie Comics. I never had much interest in Archie Comics or its characters until watching CW’s Riverdale, which is also bingeworthy for fans of dark mysteries. Since CAOS premiers in just a few days, and since we’re well in the midst of spooky season, CAOS was the perfect choice for this month’s review.
CAOS takes place in the ‘60s, a period fitting for this chilling and mysterious tale.
Chapter titles include: “Something Wicked”, “The Secret History of Madam Satan”, “Unholy Baptism”, “Harvey Horrors”, and “The Trial”, if that gives you any indication of the horror themes contained in this book.
Hack’s art style is very traditional. It consists mostly of dark and neutral tones, with pops of color when necessary. The overall aesthetic and style of the comic definitely make it feel more authentic to the time period. Some of the art is also pretty gory, and will probably give you the creeps, but in the best way possible.
Sabrina Spellman is half-witch and half-mortal.
Her father, Edward Spellman, is a powerful warlock who marries a mere-mortal, a woman named Diana Sawyer. Their marriage violates witch-law, a violation made worse since they now have a child together. Diana attempts to run off with Sabrina, away from the evil influence of Edward, his sisters, and their coven. But Diana is powerless against them.
Edward commits Diana to an insane asylum and Sabrina is put in the care of his sisters, Hilda and Zelda. We then see Sabrina through some of her early years as her powers start to manifest. We meet Salem the cat, Sabrina’s familiar, and Ambrose, Sabrina’s cousin, who comes to live with them in Greendale.
We’re also introduced to Madam Satan, who strolls into Greendale and starts to wreak havoc.
As it turns out, Madam Satan is Edward Spellman’s scorned lover. Edward actually left Madam Satan to be with Diana. And to make the situation even more haunting, Madam Satan was so heartbroken that she committed suicide. But now she has risen, and she’s out for blood.
As Sabrina’s sixteenth birthday approaches, so does her initiation into the coven. As a half-witch and half-mortal, Sabrina must choose between the path of the night and the path of the light. And now is the perfect time for Madam Satan to enact her revenge…
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Vol. 1 is in fact, chilling.
The series is definitely intended for a more mature audience, as this version of Sabrina Spellman isn’t as pure as previous incarnations. Some of the twists and turns that writer Aguirre-Sacasa weaved into the story put me in actual shock. CAOS serves up a deliciously creepy tale that’s sure to feed any horror fan’s cravings.
Writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa also acts as showrunner of the Netflix series. Kiernan Shipka (Sally Draper from Mad Men) will star as Sabrina Spellman. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina premieres on Netflix on October 26 and I’m ready for all the wickedness they’ve got coming.
Want to read the comic before you dive into your Netflix binge? Shop our Amazon affiliate link here!
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