Scan barcode
labunnywtf's review against another edition
5.0
Received via netgalley in exchange for a fair unbiased review.
There are comics. And there is horror. And there are horror comics.
And then there's horror comics written by the son of Stephen King, and that is just a hell you can't conceive of until you read it.
A part of me wants to lay the blame for just how incredibly freaky and did-I-just-see-something-behind-me-in-my-peripheral-and-does-it-have-big-teeth this books is on the illustrations. Because quite sincerely, Charles Paul Wilson III deserves very serious kudos for these drawings.
I had so much in my brain about Christmasland after finishing NOS4A2, and it was freaky. But when the illustrations spread out before me, I got up and started turning on lights in my house.
I love (LOVE) that we got the backstory on Charlie Manx. So much back story, filling up the only empty feeling left after the original book. More information than I could've dreamed, waaaaaaay more good god, his wife and his children and 20 pages in I was walking away and trying to clear the images.
The story of the convicts was brilliantly well done. The idea that this awful creature had a rule, and the rule was we do not hurt children, and "Scissors for the drifter" and it was just so intense and so creepy.
And then the end that was so confusing. It doesn't feel like part of the story, and you wonder, "Is this more Manx backstory?" And slowly, slowly, slowly unfolding and oh. Oh, my. Oh, he's...holy shit, that was amazing.
I cannot recommend this book to anyone with a faint heart. But if you think you can handle it, get your hands on this immediately. I'm ready for the next installment.
There are comics. And there is horror. And there are horror comics.
And then there's horror comics written by the son of Stephen King, and that is just a hell you can't conceive of until you read it.
A part of me wants to lay the blame for just how incredibly freaky and did-I-just-see-something-behind-me-in-my-peripheral-and-does-it-have-big-teeth this books is on the illustrations. Because quite sincerely, Charles Paul Wilson III deserves very serious kudos for these drawings.
I had so much in my brain about Christmasland after finishing NOS4A2, and it was freaky. But when the illustrations spread out before me, I got up and started turning on lights in my house.
I love (LOVE) that we got the backstory on Charlie Manx. So much back story, filling up the only empty feeling left after the original book. More information than I could've dreamed, waaaaaaay more good god, his wife and his children and 20 pages in I was walking away and trying to clear the images.
The story of the convicts was brilliantly well done. The idea that this awful creature had a rule, and the rule was we do not hurt children, and "Scissors for the drifter" and it was just so intense and so creepy.
And then the end that was so confusing. It doesn't feel like part of the story, and you wonder, "Is this more Manx backstory?" And slowly, slowly, slowly unfolding and oh. Oh, my. Oh, he's...holy shit, that was amazing.
I cannot recommend this book to anyone with a faint heart. But if you think you can handle it, get your hands on this immediately. I'm ready for the next installment.
geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
'The Wraith: Welcome To Christmasland' by Joe Hill is another story set in the world of his novel 'NOS4A2,' and it's a nightmarish story. I haven't read the original book, but now I want to.
Charles Talent Manx III drives a special Rolls Royce. With this antique car, he can go places that others can't. One of those is Christmasland, a creepy amusement park that he has a connection to. He ferries children to this place and they become something else. In this graphic novel, we learn the origin of Christmasland.
Along with this, we get the story of some convicts being transported to prison. It turns out that one of them has made a deal with Mr. Manx, but it's going to lead all of them into strange and terrifying territory.
It's pretty wordy, but I did like it. The art feels like old time illustrations in places and I liked it, but sometimes the character perspectives were a bit strange. There is a backup written story about a conman that figures into the story. It was creepy and scary. Think little kids with pointy sharp teeth and a scary amusement park. Shudder.
I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Charles Talent Manx III drives a special Rolls Royce. With this antique car, he can go places that others can't. One of those is Christmasland, a creepy amusement park that he has a connection to. He ferries children to this place and they become something else. In this graphic novel, we learn the origin of Christmasland.
Along with this, we get the story of some convicts being transported to prison. It turns out that one of them has made a deal with Mr. Manx, but it's going to lead all of them into strange and terrifying territory.
It's pretty wordy, but I did like it. The art feels like old time illustrations in places and I liked it, but sometimes the character perspectives were a bit strange. There is a backup written story about a conman that figures into the story. It was creepy and scary. Think little kids with pointy sharp teeth and a scary amusement park. Shudder.
I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
dhschultz29's review against another edition
4.0
I'll always be game for more time in Christmasland.
skullheadface's review against another edition
5.0
This was fucking AWESOME. Tons of lore and backstory, I love love love Charlie Manx! Brutal, weird art style, sick story, just awwwweeesome!!!
5/5 Skulls
☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️
5/5 Skulls
☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️
duparker's review against another edition
4.0
Just like Nos4a2, the writing is stellar, the story is creepy and compelling, and the visuals are crazy good.
I read this before finishing the book, but the two aren't intertwined, just related. It isn't really a comic, more of a graphic novel. Really enjoyable.
I read this before finishing the book, but the two aren't intertwined, just related. It isn't really a comic, more of a graphic novel. Really enjoyable.
carolineinthelibrary's review against another edition
5.0
An incredible graphic novel prequel to Joe Hill's NOS4A2 , Wraith gives you a chilling back story for Charlie Manx. Read all the way to the end because the epilogue is fun and creepy. Seems unrelated at first but when it comes full circle, you'll be shocked.
The artistic depictions of Charlie Manx, Christmasland, and his blood thirsty children are enough to make you want to read and reread this graphic novel. The text also answers some of the unanswered questions that haunted me after NOS4A2.
The artistic depictions of Charlie Manx, Christmasland, and his blood thirsty children are enough to make you want to read and reread this graphic novel. The text also answers some of the unanswered questions that haunted me after NOS4A2.
tasharobinson's review against another edition
4.0
I was a little worried that this graphic novel would be as inessential to Joe Hill's NOS4A2 story as the various one-off graphic novels were to the main storyline of his tremendous Locke & Key — and possibly as slight and unnecessary. But there are a couple of big, solid stories here, and they really surprised me in the way they link up in the end. This book could be read entirely independently from NOS4A2, or as an adjunct, and read before or after it. It's a worthwhile deeper dive into the book's world.
joeydemarco's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75