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March 13, 2026

Baby's First Horror Movie

Here’s a story about the first ever movie I’ve ever seen. I think I’ve told this story a lot (usually at book events) but wanted to try my hand at an autobio-comic! It’s a lot of fun, so I think I’m going to keep doing it.

Enjoy!

"So Vincent, what was the first horror movie you ever watched?" Title card followed by the image of a daycare and the start of an answer--"I was in daycare."
A small child is shown with a doll. The caption reads "I couldn't have been older than...6?" Then  a shadowed adult tells a group of excited children that they will be watching a movie.
Vincent sits, annoyed by the announcement. The narration reads "I was...unenthused. The daycare had a limited number of VHS tapes and I often saw the same thing over and over again. But I was a kid so it's not like I had a choice anyway, you know? So like everyone else, I followed the teacher into the basement." Footsteps then lead to an ominous basement.
An adult Vincent pushes the scene of the dark basement aside and says "I should mention-- this was a regular occurrence. We ALWAYS watched movies in the basement." The scene pivots to a large empty space with a stage and a TV. The narration reads "Because it was well lit, had a raised stage for the TV and was large enough to hold several classrooms."
A VHS tape is passed around and Vincent looks at it annoyed but continues to watch the film. The narration says "As we all took our seats, the teacher passed around a VHS tape cover so we all knew what we were getting into. I was not pleased. Nevertheless, we all sat around to watch..."
The scene suddenly darkens and the TV lights up with IT: Chapter 1, the miniseries. Young Vincent is unexpectedly loving it. The narration reads "Now you would think an inappropriately early introduction to horror would mess me up as a kid. On the contrary, I was ENTHRALLED."
Vincent studies Pennywise the clown like an experiment. The narration says "I could not get enough of this FUCKED UP clown. I wanted to study him."
The TV shows an END title card while someone off screen yells "WHAT?" The narration reads "Unfortunately...even fucked up things must come to an end." As footsteps lead out of the basement, the teacher promises the kids that they'll watch part 2 next time.
"We never did. (I assume someone snitched.)" Bonus art of adult Vincent thinking out loud "Now that I think about it...I still don't think I've seen it."
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