Universal Monsters: Dracula

Title: Universal Monsters: Dracula

Author: James Tynion IV, Martin Simmonds

Publisher: Image Comics 2024

Genre: Comics; Horror; Classics

Pages: 120

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Spooky Season - D

Where I Got It: Library

THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH creators, James Tynion IV (W0rldtr33, Something is Killing the Children)and Martin Simmonds, reteam to tell a new tale of the monster who started it all!

When Dr. John Seward admits a strange new patient named Renfield into his asylum, the madman tells stories of a demon who has taken residence next door. But as Dr. Seward attempts to apply logic to the impossible...his daughter falls under the spell of the twisted Count Dracula!

Collects UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: DRACULA #1-4.

A wonderfully creepy graphic novel version of a classic story. The art is decidedly vague when it comes to the count and the horror and very clear when we follow our human characters. I loved the dichotomy of style within each page. As for the story being shown, I do appreciate that they focused on the part back in England. We see what happens to Lucy and Mina and Renfield. I do love seeing classic stories retold in different ways. A quick fun read for the day.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Nice House on the Lake Vol. 2

Title: The Nice House on the Lake Vol. 2

Author: James Tynion, Alvaro Martinez Bueno, Jordie Bellaire

Publisher: DC Comics 2023

Genre: Comics

Pages: 176

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: None

Where I Got It: Library

One of the most critically acclaimed and bestselling horror books of 2021 returns for its shocking second act—and now is the perfect time to enter the house! The 10 hardy survivors gathered in the house by their mutual friend Walter thought they’d finally cracked the code on his plans…and now everything they thought they knew has literally changed. Can they free themselves from their patterns? Or are they all just determined to build a prison of their very own?

I finally grabbed the second trade in this series and goodness, it was a journey. The first couple of pages really threw me. The reader has to orient themselves to the story being told. Once I got my bearings, I sped through the next chapters of this story. I loved the interplay of the different personalities and their reactions to the events. I do wish that the story would have a progressed a bit more before we got to the end. Now I just have to wait I guess. No idea when the next chapters will be released.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Nice House on the Lake Vol. 1

Title: The Nice House on the Lake Vol. 1

Author: James Tynion, Alvaro Martinez Bueno, Jordie Bellaire

Publisher: DC Comics 2022

Genre: Comics

Pages: 200

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: None

Where I Got It: Library

Everyone who was invited to the house knows Walter-well, they know him a little, anyway. Some met him in childhood; some met him months ago. And Walter’s always been a little…off. But after the hardest year of their lives, nobody was going to turn down Walter’s invitation to an astonishingly beautiful house in the woods, overlooking an enormous sylvan lake. It’s beautiful, it’s opulent, it’s private-so a week of putting up with Walter’s weird little schemes and nicknames in exchange for the vacation of a lifetime? Why not? All of them were at that moment in their lives when they could feel themselves pulling away from their other friends; wouldn’t a chance to reconnect be…nice? Collects The Nice House on the Lake #1-6.

How did I miss this series? Probably because it came from DC Comics. I’m definitely more of an Image reader. But I finally picked this one up and devoured it. This is a story that starts slow, but hooked me immediately. I desperately wanted to unravel the mystery presented with the inhabitants of the house. We get clues here and there and then the story takes a huge turn. I was absolutely floored and cannot wait to grab the next volume.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Something is Killing the Children Vol. 3

Title: Something is Killing the Children Vol. 2

Author: James Tynion IV, Werther Dell’Edera

Publisher: BOOM 2021

Genre: Comics

Pages: 144

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

As the House of Slaughter arrives to clean up the situation by any means necessary, Erica will find that the true threat to those around her isn’t who - or what - she ever expected. And the cost of saving the day may be too high for anyone to pay...

NOT ALL MONSTERS HIDE IN THE DARK.

Archer’s Peak is in lockdown, as Erica Slaughter has lost control of the situation and news of the killings has spread outside the town. But as the House of Slaughter arrives to clean up the situation by any means necessary, Erica will find that the true threat to those around her isn’t who - or what - she ever expected. And the cost of saving the day may be too high for anyone to pay...

A fitting conclusion to this storyline. I love horror comics and this one did not disappoint. We get a fascinating world full of monsters and monster hunters. Erica is very entertaining, but I loved the inclusion of other members of the House of Slaughter. I’m glad that this storyline wrapped up with this volume, but left the world open for more stories.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Something is Killing the Children Vol. 2

Title: Something is Killing the Children Vol. 2

Author: James Tynion IV, Werther Dell’Edera

Publisher: BOOM 2020

Genre: Comics

Pages: 144

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Erica Slaughter may have slain the monster terrorizing the small Wisconsin town of Archer’s Peak, but now she sets off deeper into the woods -- because the monster she killed was a mother… and now she needs to kill its children.

EVIL NEVER DIES...UNLESS ERICA SLAUGHTER KILLS IT.

Erica Slaughter may have slain the monster terrorizing the small Wisconsin town of Archer’s Peak, but the horror is far from over. As her mysterious handler arrives in town to clean up her mess and quarantine the townsfolk, Erica sets off deeper into the woods -- because the monster she killed was a mother… and now she needs to kill its children.

Oh goodness, this was horrifying and I loved every page of it. This is not for the squeamish. The pages are filled with horrifying deaths and so much blood. Erica solves one problem, but there are so many other problems out there now. I can’t wait to see where the storyline goes from here.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1

Title: Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1

Author: James Tynion IV, Werther Dell’Edera

Publisher: BOOM 2020

Genre: Comics

Pages: 128

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

When children begin to go missing in the town of Archer’s Peak, all hope seems lost until a mysterious woman arrives to reveal that terrifying creatures are behind the chaos - and that she alone will destroy them, no matter the cost.

IT’S THE MONSTERS WHO SHOULD BE AFRAID.

When the children of Archer's Peak—a sleepy town in the heart of America—begin to go missing, everything seems hopeless. Most children never return, but the ones that do have terrible stories—impossible details of terrifying creatures that live in the shadows. Their only hope of finding and eliminating the threat is the arrival of a mysterious stranger, one who believes the children and claims to be the only one who sees what they can see.

Her name is Erica Slaughter. She kills monsters. That is all she does, and she bears the cost because it must be done.

I love the horror comics and this one was definitely a winner. Right from the first page, we’re dumped into a very scary situation and it proceeds to get even stranger as the pages go on. The pages are graphics and not for the feint of heart. I can’t wait to see where the story goes.

Next up on the TBR pile: