The World Stops Again as John Carpenter’s ‘PAUSE’ Hits Issue 3

Time stands still once again as John Carpenter’s Tales of Science Fiction: PAUSE returns for its third issue, landing in comic shops on April 30. The latest instalment in Storm King Comics’ long-running anthology series sees the strange odyssey of Henry Jacobs plunge deeper into the chaos of a frozen New York City, where danger is suspended in mid-motion and the line between survivor and opportunist begins to blur.

The concept is deceptively simple. One man, alone in a world suddenly stuck in time, forced to reckon with the isolation, freedom and responsibility of being the only person who can still move, until he learns he isn’t. From that core idea, PAUSE has spun a tension-filled tale that taps into both the existential horror and urban survivalist thrills that John Carpenter’s name has come to represent.

In Issue 3, Henry, having unfrozen a small group of allies – including his brother Derrick, the no-nonsense Jack, and the savvy Halima – steps out into the wider city. The Manhattan landscape is suspended in a state of eerie silence, where every car crash, spilled drink and startled gaze is frozen mid-motion. With society paused indefinitely, every block becomes a new test of morality and trust. Can this makeshift group stay united long enough to unravel what caused the freeze, or will the temptation of unclaimed power and unchecked impulse drive them apart?

Series writer Matthew K. Manning, known for his work with Marvel and DC, continues to explore these heavy themes with a cinematic eye for pacing and character, while artist Conor Boyle delivers page after page of uncanny stillness rendered with uncomfortable clarity. The result is a visually captivating book that echoes the unease of classic time-paralysis horror but adds a fresh sci-fi twist. Long-time comics letterer Janice Chiang keeps the mood sharp, her text floating like whispers in the still air.

PAUSE is the twelfth instalment in the John Carpenter’s Tales of Science Fiction series and has already drawn comparisons to films like The Langoliers and The Quiet Earth. What sets it apart is its human core. Henry isn’t a hero or a villain. He’s flawed, selfish and occasionally paralysed by the sheer scope of what’s happened, making him one of the more grounded protagonists in recent horror comics.

Storm King Comics founder Sandy King has called the series “a movie in slow release,” and it’s easy to see why. The pacing, while methodical, builds with each issue, letting suspense bubble beneath the surface as the world stays frozen above it. With only three chapters left, readers can expect things to heat up fast in a city that refuses to move.

John Carpenter’s Tales of Science Fiction: PAUSE #3 is available exclusively at comic shops from April 30. For more information, visit stormkingcomics.com/