Scan barcode
amberunmasked's review
5.0
When I received a copy of NIGHTMARE WORLD volumes 1 & 2, I was apprehensive. I don't like terrifying horror - AT ALL. I don't like being scared. But one thing I have learned in comics is that there are varying levels of the horror genre from comedic zombies to gory slasher torture porn.
NIGHTMARE WORLD falls in middle but leans towards comedy at times for which I am grateful. Dirk Manning pokes fun at all the horror movie stereotypes but then channels his "inner Gaiman" by creating short stories that actually have intertwining character developments. I think it was my love of Gaiman's SANDMAN which trained my reading skills for expecting art to change once in a while within a title. Manning brought different artists on board for each short story and it's a creative process that works in this case. The entwined stories can be read on their own and cover-to-cover in a comprehensive set.
I look forward to reading volume two since volume one did not give me actual nightmares (then again, I read it during bright daylight hours).
NIGHTMARE WORLD falls in middle but leans towards comedy at times for which I am grateful. Dirk Manning pokes fun at all the horror movie stereotypes but then channels his "inner Gaiman" by creating short stories that actually have intertwining character developments. I think it was my love of Gaiman's SANDMAN which trained my reading skills for expecting art to change once in a while within a title. Manning brought different artists on board for each short story and it's a creative process that works in this case. The entwined stories can be read on their own and cover-to-cover in a comprehensive set.
I look forward to reading volume two since volume one did not give me actual nightmares (then again, I read it during bright daylight hours).
nisforneville's review
4.0
Some stories were better than others, which is pretty normal for a collection of stories. My favorites were "Freak on a Leash" and "Violet." I met the author at IndyPopCon and purchased the next 2 books in the series, so I'm looking forward to reading them!
the_graylien's review
5.0
Wow...
Do I think horror as a genre rocks? Yeah, pretty much.
Have I ever been into horror comics? No.
That said, do I think comic books rock? Yeah, they're a huge part of my life.
Have I ever read any comics that were in an anthology format? Very, very few.
All THAT said: Would I ever think that I would absolutely LOVE a graphic novel that's a horror anthology? Nope... But I really, really do...
Dirk Manning has put forth a genius collection here. Not only does he employ diverse themes such as sci-fi, existentialism, comedy, and theology under the eerie and endlessly entertaining shadow of horror, but he does so with very, very rewarding results. I often forgot I was reading a comic and just got sucked into thirteen little worlds of magic and story.
The song titles as titles for each story are a stroke of genius, too, and a real treat if you're a music buff (much like I consider myself).
I'd recommend this one to any one either loving comics or just interested or starting reading the medium, music fans, horror fanatics, heck... almost anyone!
Do I think horror as a genre rocks? Yeah, pretty much.
Have I ever been into horror comics? No.
That said, do I think comic books rock? Yeah, they're a huge part of my life.
Have I ever read any comics that were in an anthology format? Very, very few.
All THAT said: Would I ever think that I would absolutely LOVE a graphic novel that's a horror anthology? Nope... But I really, really do...
Dirk Manning has put forth a genius collection here. Not only does he employ diverse themes such as sci-fi, existentialism, comedy, and theology under the eerie and endlessly entertaining shadow of horror, but he does so with very, very rewarding results. I often forgot I was reading a comic and just got sucked into thirteen little worlds of magic and story.
The song titles as titles for each story are a stroke of genius, too, and a real treat if you're a music buff (much like I consider myself).
I'd recommend this one to any one either loving comics or just interested or starting reading the medium, music fans, horror fanatics, heck... almost anyone!
More...