Whenever a new publisher announces a slate of comics, a tinge of excitement that comes with seeing what creators come up with to best showcase who they are and what they do. The past few years have seen an uptick in these new publishers, both physical and online, but few have had the sheet breadth of talent behind them like DSTLRY. Launched earlier this summer, DSTLRY has taken a different approach when it comes to showcasing its founding talent. In lieu of coming out with a slew of new number ones, they’ve instead opted for a single anthology in The Devil’s Cut. 

With eleven stories from thirty-five creators, there’s a broad range of work being displayed across these eighty-eight pages. Anything from a non-euclidean cruise ship to demonic priests to spy instructions, there’s a variety of stories that help to showcase not only the variety of talent, but the variety of genres to expect from the fledgling publisher. With each story ranging from five to eleven pages, these pieces also show a mastery of the medium by each creative team. Given these limits, it’s fascinating to see how these writers and artists approach the small space with completely original ideas. Like any strong first issue, each story gives us character and setting, but hyper-condensed to the point where we’re fully immersed by the second panel. If nothing else, this anthology is a masterclass on short comics and working with a small canvas. 

The Devil’s Cut isn’t simply a talent showcase, but a jumping off point for many of these creators. Take “What Blighted Flame Burns in Thee?” by Becky Cloonan, Tula Lotay, and Richard Starkings, a folk horror short story that focuses on Agnes and her imprisonment as an accused witch. While only eleven pages long, it’s already establishing a setting and mood that will lead into the series Somna come November. More than anything, it’s these short pieces as jumping-off points that fascinate me about this anthology. Almost every story here can work as a longer piece—if not a full series, then a one-shot or graphic novel at the very least. It’s what I mean when I say this is a masterclass in short comics: there’s enough here to expand on, but they can still stand on their own as shorts. But, considering how many creators are here and the two series on the horizon from DSTLRY, I can see many of these ending up as series on their own. 

I love a good anthology. I’ve lauded their benefits to the medium before, but sometimes it’s nice to see some of the biggest creators in the medium in one issue. And as a thesis statement for a new publisher, The Devil’s Cutdoes help to show the general comics audience how much can come from these minds when given free reign. And at least this free reign isn’t as blood-soaked as similar attempts in the past. 

Get excited. Get cut.

Drew Barth (Episode 331, 485, & 510) resides in Winter Park, FL. He received his MFA from the University of Central Florida.