Major Spoilers
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Twitch Discord RSS
    Major Spoilers
    • Home
    • Reviews
      • Random Access Memory
      • Retro Review
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Podcasts
      • Critical Hit
        • Critical Hit House Rules
        • Critical Hit World Building
      • Dueling Review
      • Finally Friday
      • Geek History Lesson
      • The Legion Clubhouse
      • Major Spoilers Podcast
        • MSP TPB for 2019
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2013
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2012
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2011
      • Munchkin Land
      • Top Five
      • Wayne’s Comics
      • Zach on Film
    • Features
      • Casual 60
      • Comic Casting Couch
      • Comics Portal
      • Did You Hear?
      • Editorials
      • Features
      • Gamer’s Corner
      • Hero Histories
      • Let’s Get Nerdy
      • Major Spoilers Adventures
      • Random Access Memory
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Movies
      • Did You Hear
      • Movies
      • Television
    • Comic Previews
    • Patreon
      • Patreon
      • Store
    Major Spoilers
    Clean Room #17 Review
    Featured

    Clean Room #17 Review

    Matthew PetersonBy Matthew PetersonMarch 29, 2017Updated:March 29, 20173 Mins Read

    Astrid Mueller has made many people face their own fears in the Clean Room.  What will happen when she is forced to face her own?  Your Major Spoilers review of Clean Room #17 awaits!

    Clean Room #17CLEAN ROOM #17

    Writer: Gail Simone
    Artist: Walter Geovani
    Colorist: Quinton Winter
    Letterer: Todd Klein
    Editor: Molly Mahan
    Publisher: DC Comics
    Cover Price: $3.99

    Previously in Clean Room: “Something is wrong—very wrong. As ordinary people go through their daily lives, bizarre things are happening everywhere—electricity going out, signals dropping, and most bizarre of all—the stars. The time they feared is coming—the Entities are coming and all of humanity is in danger.

    Astrid Mueller has been preparing for this fight all along. But she must first face her brother who is hell-bent on destroying the Clean Room. Will Astrid be enough to save the world?

    IT AIN’T PRETTY

    As this issue opens, we find a whole city suddenly silenced, with no power, no wi-fi, no internet.  The bewildered citizens take to the streets, only to discover that something is terribly wrong with the stars.  There’s a sloooow build of horror in this section of the story that reminds me of ‘The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street’, as normal citizens slowly start to come to terms with their strange situation and a current of fear (and probably murder) grows with them.  At the same time, Astrid Mueller has been trapped by her possessed brother in the Clean Room, trying to force him to reveal the location of her lieutenants, Chloe and Killian.  They are trapped in Artus Mueller’s memory, reliving part of his horrific past, while he tortures Chloe with her own old horrors.  And then, the tables turn…

    THE KIND OF HORROR THAT LEAVES YOU RATTLED

    This book has been a surprise from the very beginning, with false narrative leads and feints throughout, and even a decoy protagonist or two, but now that it’s hitting this stride, it feels like a classic Vertigo horror title.  Geovani’s art is terrifying, managing to show enough of the monsters to terrify and make your skin crawl without removing all the unknown from their designs.  As for Simone’s script…  I’m just glad she has an outlet for this kind of stuff and doesn’t have to be alone with it.  Astrid Mueller has been frightening since her very first appearance, but this issue shifts the perspective just enough to make her intimidating once again, and the larger story of what’s happening outside the Clean Room just adds to the discomfort, especially the last-page reveal…

    THE BOTTOM LINE: EXCELLENT, IF TERRIFYING

    As always, with a title like this you can’t be too careful:  This is not for the under 18 set or those who dislike body horror and the occasional act of senseless violence.  But, for those who care to partake, Clean Room #17 manages the difficult task of balancing psychological horror bits with a more visceral approach, with excellent art and writing and a stellar cast of characters, for a well-deserved 4.5 out of 5 stars overall.  I don’t say this lightly: There’s a touch of Rod Serling to be had in these pages, balanced with just enough Herschell Gordon Lewis to make something entirely new and awful (in all the right ways.)

    [taq_review]

    Dear Spoilerite,

    At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.

    Clean Room Gail Simone Review Vertigo Comics Walter Geovani
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleMajor Spoilers Question of the Day: In Need Of A Musical Edition
    Next Article Flashback: Abra Kadabra (S03-E18)
    Matthew Peterson
    • Website
    • Twitter

    Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.

    Related Posts

    Geek History Lesson – Wakanda MEGA EPISODE (Black Panther, Shuri, Dora Milaje, Ironheart)

    Read More

    PREVIEW: Uncanny X-Men #17

    Read More

    Munchkin Land #726: Marvel Champions: Civil War

    Read More

    Comments are closed.

    AMAZON AFFILIATE

    Support this site by making a purchase through our Amazon affiliate links

    Reviews
    6.0
    July 8, 2025

    JSA #9 Review

    7.0
    July 7, 2025

    X-Men: Hellfire Vigil #1 Review

    5.7
    July 6, 2025

    Gehenna: Naked Aggression #1 Review

    7.0
    July 6, 2025

    Retro Review: Big Apple Comix (September 1975)

    6.0
    July 5, 2025

    Wolverines and Deadpools #1 Review

    Patreon Support
    Sponsor

    ComiXology Home Page

    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Twitch
    Major Spoilers Patreon
    • About
      • Major Spoilers Terms of Use
      • Major Spoilers Frequently Asked Questions
      • Major Spoilers Privacy Policy Statement
      • Major Spoilers Podcast Gear
    • Contact
    • Cookie Policy (EU)
    Major Spoilers is copyright 2006-2025 by Major Spoilers Entertainment, LLC

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    SAVE & ACCEPT