‘David Dastmalchian’s Through’ is a page-turner fantasy mystery

April 29, 2026

At its core, Through runs on momentum. A new graphic novel by David Dastmalchian and Cat Staggs, the story blends dark fantasy with psychological tension, following a protagonist who is difficult to like but hard to look away from. What starts as a story about a woman stalked by a stranger spirals into something very strange, pulling you into a disturbing yet engrossing mystery. It’s a mystery that needs solving, and it’s hard to put this book down for a second.

The pacing is sharp, with twists that build a steady sense that something is wrong, both around Alix and psychologically. She is not easy to root for. She’s blunt, distant, and often cruel to the people trying to help her.

It’s a risky choice, since readers usually need someone to latch onto, but Dastmalchian commits to it. Alix never softens just to win you over. Instead, the story asks you to sit with her as she is. As things unfold, her behavior starts to click into place, revealing someone who keeps people at arm’s length rather than risk being vulnerable. That idea lands because it feels familiar. A lot of people will recognize that instinct to shut others out instead of asking for help.

That’s unnerving.
Credit: Z2

Before the story dives into the fantasy elements, which come later than you might expect, it builds tension in a more grounded way. You want answers as much as Alix does. Why does this stranger know where she lives, her routines, and other details about her life? The fear is real, especially given her situation, and it only grows as events take a weirder turn into the supernatural.

Visually, the book leans hard into atmosphere. There’s a coldness that runs through nearly every page, due to the darker tones and the fact that it’s set in winter. The lighting does much of the heavy lifting in atmosphere, with streetlamps and reflections on snow giving night scenes a strong sense of place. There are also some standout visual ideas, such as the stained-glass framing during a conversation with a priest, or the disturbing visual of a relentless, zombie-like horde closing in. At times, the character work can feel a bit stiff, which may come from the more photorealistic approach, but the overall mood and creativity carry the book.

There are a couple of minor gripes I found. I spotted two typos, for instance. Alix’s physical therapist, Grace, never fully clicked for me. The story hints she might be more than she seems, and I found myself expecting a bigger reveal that never came. While she has a connection to Alix via similar orphaned backgrounds, her quick emotional investment feels a bit underdeveloped.

The final act of Through takes a tonal shift into something more reflective, delivering satisfying answers. The mystery also gives way to self-discovery, reframing what came before. The final stretch lands because it ties the emotional thread together in a way that sticks.

Through is a gripping, emotionally driven graphic novel that blends dark fantasy with a personal story about isolation and self-understanding. Its lead character may push readers away early on, but the payoff is worth it. Some stiffness in the art holds it back slightly, but the atmosphere and storytelling leave a strong impression.

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