‘Look Into My Eyes’ Review: Monsters, Mystery and a Lot of QR Codes

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting into with this one. A horror comic that asks you to pull out your phone and scan codes mid-issue sounded like it could go either way, gimmicky and distracting, or genuinely clever. I went in curious more than convinced, and by the time I hit the last page, that curiosity had turned into something closer to obsession, which, given the subject matter here, feels appropriate. I just finished reading it, so here it is! My take on the very original five issue horror series Look Into My Eyes.

This series is largely the work of Rubine, who both wrote and drew the comic, which makes the level of detail even more impressive, especially since this is actually his first time stepping into the writer’s chair. Rubine is a Spanish artist based in Barcelona, a graduate of the Joso School, and over roughly 15 years in the industry he’s built a career across the American, French, and Spanish comic markets, with credits including The Expanse for BOOM! Studios, Voltron: Legendary Defender, Search for Hu, and Astronaut Down. What really got me, though, is his own backstory: Rubine has talked about being bedridden for years as a child due to a rare illness, and how comics became his escape during that time, the thing that got him through a difficult stretch that eventually included a major surgery and a long recovery. Knowing that, Look Into My Eyes being his first fully self-written project hits a little different, it’s clearly personal in a way that goes beyond just craft.

Colorist Francesco Segala, who also worked on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and House of Slaughter, and letterer El Torres, an award-winning Spanish writer known for Roman Ritual and Nancy in Hell, round out a team that clearly understood the assignment. The story is packed with clues, clues inside clues, and a whole hidden world unlocked through the QR codes. You can really feel how much effort went into blending traditional comic storytelling with digital extras, creating an experience that feels layered and immersive. That’s what got me curious at first, and that’s what kept me reading until the end.

What Is Look Into My Eyes About?

Look Into My Eyes brings us to Cravenwood, a quiet town with way too many secrets. When Suzy disappears after a party and some of her private photos leak online, RJ Nguyen, an Asian teen who runs a small magazine, becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened. RJ turns her investigation into a podcast with the help of her sibling, and the deeper she digs, the weirder things get. The town falls under the influence of a strange social app called Knock Knock, people start acting possessed, something black and disgusting creeps out of bodies, and grotesque creatures with too many eyes lurk around. The comic mixes traditional pages with QR codes that lead to social media feeds, text conversations, news clips and hidden documents, pulling you deeper (wayyyy deeper) into the mystery.

A Comic That Doesn’t Stay on the Page

I had a good time with this series and it surprised me more than once. The QR stuff is actually fun and gives the story a social media vibe that feels close to scrolling X or Bluesky at times, especially when the chaos really kicks in. The horror side of it was very well done; the black goo scenes, the vomiting, the monsters stalking people, the end of the world energy in later issues, all of it goes way further than I expected.

Sometimes I felt a bit lost because there is so much happening, both in the comic and in the QR extras, but when I slowed down and let myself explore everything, I enjoyed it a lot more. The augmented storytelling idea is very cool. Some QR codes are essential, especially in the last issue, which made things feel unique even if the execution got a bit messy at times. Overall I liked the concept and I liked that the series took risks.

Final Thoughts

Look Into My Eyes is strange, messy, creative and worth checking out if you want a horror comic that tries and succeeds at something different. The trade paperback is out on April 15, 2026, and honestly, that might be the better format to experience this one in. If you’re willing to actually slow down and work through all the QR codes properly instead of speeding through single issues a month apart, I think this story rewards that kind of patience.

More Mad Cave Studios Gems

If Look Into My Eyes worked for you, we’ve covered a few other Mad Cave series worth checking out. The Slasher’s Apprentice follows a true-crime podcaster who apprentices under a legendary slasher, and it’s just as darkly funny as it sounds. Dark Pyramid takes readers deep under Alaska’s Mt. Denali chasing a missing streamer and an ancient conspiracy. And Kill Train imagines a near-future New York where random subway trains are picked for mass extermination to control the population, following a single mom who discovers she’s on one.

FAQ

Is Look Into My Eyes worth reading? Yes, especially if you like horror that experiments with format instead of playing it safe.

Do you need to scan every QR code to follow the story? No, but the series is clearly built to reward it. A few codes, especially in the final issue, add real context you won’t get from the panels alone.

Who is writing and drawing Look Into My Eyes? Rubine both writes and draws the series, with colors by Francesco Segala, Agnese Pozza, and Warnia K. Sahadewa, and letters by El Torres.

Is Look Into My Eyes a one-shot, miniseries, or ongoing series? It’s a five-issue miniseries, running from July to December 2025.

When is the trade paperback out? The collected edition is out April 15, 2026.