If you want to give a chance to a graphic novel that is a bit under the radar, make this be the one! I love the creepy vibes of it and just the moody atmosphere is what I look for when I read anything. I know we are past the "spooky seasons" but picking this up and reading it has been really interesting as it checks almost all the boxes for me.

The straight up trope of the family who moves to a new town and slowly finds out they are in the midst of a cult. Strong comparisons can be made to The Wicker Man, The Lottery and even Rosemary's Baby. It's done well enough, although it starts off really slow.

This is a strong comic series that unfortunately tapers off near the end. The slow burn deserved at least one more issue so the climax didn't feel rushed.

The art was great and the whole thing had a nice subdued spooky feeling to it and this has the potential to be a movie one day. Possibly by A24 starring Florence Pugh.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for letting me read this arc for free in exchange for an honest review.

This has excellent artwork and a very gripping opening, but I felt my interest wane as I waded in deeper. It could be an issue with pacing or my own personal preferences. Either way, it's worth picking up and giving a shot. The atmosphere is hard to beat.

Autumnal begins with a familiar tale of a mother and daughter moving to an unfamiliar place. From there, it unfolds into a twisted tale of witches, cults, and motherhood. The cover art is what pushed me to request this title with its eerie yet beautiful body horror. The art within did not disappoint though I would highlight that it uses a different style of painting that is more classically colorful in a comic book style. I really enjoyed this one and think it would be perfect for fans of an intense horror tale that calls to mind classic tropes of the genre while still pushing forward with a tale of something new.

This is going to be one of your more spooky/creepy reads of a woman returning to the town where her mom had lived and not knowing what those who live they know when autumn comes around.

This was a fun time for sure! Honestly perfect to read during the autumn season. I think the story was a bit nonsensical, but I actually enjoyed that and just kind of went along with it. It's not that the story was "out there", because I think that can be what makes a really intriguing plot, but a lot of it just didn't add up correctly or make sense. It lost me a few times during my reading experience and that threw me off for obvious reasons. I enjoyed the art style a lot though and it was nice to read a completed comic series. I feel like I'm in the middle of soooo many comic series so it was nice to have a short and completed one to bust out in one reading session. Overall, this was a fun time and a nice read. Not a new favorite, but it was interesting and I enjoyed the horror elements.

Thank you to NetGalley and Vault Comics for an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are, as always, my very own.

This was a very dark book, with the graphics clearly indicating the tone of the narrative.
It is pretty well placed to be read around Halloween. There is a woman and her daughter at the centre of it. With the woman and her mother providing the flashback to something creepy in the offing.
Unfortunately the book expired before I could figure out what that actual creepy part was, but I would recommend this complete story to anyone who finds the blurb interesting because it has all the right working parts

An interesting story with excellent art. While I appreciated the build-up and dark revelations, I also felt the pacing was off in places. I'm not in love with the story but I appreciate it and I'm convinced horror readers will find plenty to enjoy here.

An idyllic town hiding an unsettling and disturbing underbelly is one of my favorite horror tropes. There’s just something inherently scary about places that seem too perfect. And it’s a trope that Daniel Kraus uses to perfection in "The Autumnal". Featuring a tense and emotional script from Kraus, some hauntingly abstract artwork from illustrator Chris Shehan, and gorgeous colors from Jason Wordie, "The Autumnal" delivers a rumination on generational trauma that’s as emotionally satisfying as it is scary. It’s a traditional creepy town story wrapped around an emotionally raw story about a mother and her daughter just trying to survive. And it’s a delightfully haunting read.

After inheriting her estranged mother’s house, Kat Somerville and her daughter Sybil return to the seemingly idyllic town of Comfort Notch. A town where everyone seems wealthy and happy. But Kat and Sybil soon discover Comfort Noth hides an array of secrets underneath its cheerful, welcoming exterior. Children go missing at random. People occasionally turn up dead, with leaves stuffed in their bodies. And tying all of these strange occurrences together is a local legend—the legend of Clementine Biddle. Don’t enter "The Autumnal" expecting any concrete answers to the central mystery. Sure, by the end of the book, you’ll have a vague understanding of what’s going on. (And the general abstractness of the comic’s conclusion is one of its strong points). But that’s not really what "The Autumnal" is about.

While much of the story plays out like a traditional mystery, Kraus seems more interested in exploring how this mystery impacts the characters. For Kat, it ends up forcing her to directly confront her complicated feelings about her late mother and the impact these feelings have had on the way she parents Sybil. And as for the citizens of Comfort Notch, they’re forced to decide how far they’re willing to go to uphold (or dismantle) the status quo. Generational trauma is, perhaps, the biggest theme in "The Autumnal". There’s Kat’s trauma, from her dysfunctional childhood to her even more dysfunctional adulthood, and there’s the trauma she’s passed on to Sybil. But Comfort Notch itself is a town built around traumatic events. And the townsfolk deal with that trauma in different ways. Some deny it, others self-medicate to forget it, and a few even try to change things for the better.

Though Kraus’s exploration of all of these long-lasting traumas is fairly nuanced and complex, there’s just not enough time in "The Autumnal"’s 8-issue run to fully explore these concepts as deeply as one might like. All of the pieces are there, and they do mostly come to an emotionally satisfying conclusion—especially in Kat’s case. But when so much time is spent exploring the mystery (and its red herrings), a lot of the more complex character work gets left on the wayside. The citizens of Comfort Notch never emerge as more than archetypes. And I wish more time could’ve been spent on how Kat’s trauma impacted Sybil. After all, Kraus begins the story suggesting Sybil will play a major role. But in practice, she often fades in and out of focus when the mystery plot doesn’t need her. And that’s a bit of a shame.

Still, "The Autumnal" works very well. The mystery, as traditional and predictable as it is, gives the story a nice frame to hang on. I’ll always have a soft spot for those so-perfect-they’re-creepy towns, and it’s always a joy to see how each new writer that tackles this trope tweaks it. Kraus layers his Comfort Notch with an almost witchy vibe at times. Between the heavy autumn and forest imagery, it’s hard not to immediately go in that direction. And, to be honest, it seems like that’s exactly where Kraus wants your mind to wander. But I greatly appreciate the more abstract direction he ends up steering the story. Some may long for more concrete answers to the central mystery. But I think that level of uncertainty makes the whole thing a bit scarier and complex. After all, there’s always something scary about the unknown.

And speaking of horror, much of "The Autumnal"’s horror comes from Chris Shehan’s artwork and Jason Wordie’s colors. Dead bodies with leaves flowing out of their mouths really do make for spectacular, genuinely haunting images. And a lot of Shehan’s work later in the story ends up being even creepier. By embracing the abstract nature of Kraus's script, Shehan crafts a truly surreal landscape that's very easy to get lost in. In terms of color, Wordie perfectly captures the feeling of autumn. Awash in reds and oranges, the whole book just oozes that mid-October atmosphere. At first, it creates this comfy, nostalgic feeling. But Shehan and Wordie's artwork quickly subverts that nostalgia as the story progresses. Between the combination of Shehan’s artwork and Wordie’s colors, "The Autumnal" is a feast for the eyes. There’s something new to latch onto on every page. It’s that perfect mixture of beautiful and horrifying and you’ll be thinking of some of these images long after you finish the book.

On the whole, "The Autumnal" is an imperfect story. Some of the characters are a bit underdeveloped, and there’s not quite enough time to develop the central mystery and the central theme as well as you’d like. But when "The Autumnal" works, it works very well. It’s a quick-paced, haunting read with some of the most gorgeous artwork in a comic I’ve seen in a long time. I wish the story had been just a touch longer, with an even greater focus on how all of these traumatic events are impacting the characters. But for what it is, "The Autumnal" is a very creepy, very effective horror story. If you’re looking for a quick, spooky read, "The Autumnal" is a great choice.

WOW! WOW! WOW! This enthralling graphic novel from accomplished author Daniel Kraus and rising artist Chris Shehan brings it all: Autumn's scenic glory, historical legends, tall tales, small-town horror, New England folk horror. A perfect Halloween read, it also pulls in contemporary issues such as mother-daughter friction, drug abuse, and the kind of insular mentality demonstrated in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery." This story and art are excellent! I can see this becoming a traditional annual Halloween reread.

The art and story were captivating and made me want to read it super fast. I wasn't expecting it to be this dark but I like this kind of genre and graphic novels are the best to explore it.

As soon as I saw the cover, I knew I needed it. Fall-themed body horror? Yes!

This story follows Kat Somerville, a single mom who moves herself and her daughter, Sybil, back to her hometown if Comfort Notch after leaning that her estranged mother died. Kat inherited her childhood home, and thinks it's the perfect place for her and Sybil to finally settle down. And why not, especially when Comfort Notch is known as the "home of America's prettiest autumn."

Kat doesn't remember much of growing up there, because her mother sent her away when she was young. But after being home for even a short amount of time, her repressed memories start to surface, and old nursery rhymes and local legends seem to be real, and not the spooky fairy tales she once thought they were. Soon, she's fighting to save herself and Sybil, even if everyone else thinks she's overreacting.

I'll admit, I liked the artwork in this series more than the plot. The folklore horror aspects were intriguing, but the beautiful autumn colors and atmosphere were what sucked me in—I'd be dead for sure if I was a character in this story!

Overall, THE AUTUMNAL was good. It takes a beautiful setting and twists it into a macabre tale of survival. It's a great read if you're looking for something spooky and seasonal.

Thank you to the publisher Vault Comics for a digital ARC. THE AUTUMNAL: THE COMPLETE SERIES came out on September 1.

Creepy and culty, with shades of body horror and a weird town that will remind you of The Whicker Man with really beautiful artwork that lends a sinister aura to the entire story.

Thank you NetGalley, Daniel Kraus and Independent Publishers Group for the opportunity to read and review this graphic novel.

This is the perfect horror comic to read in Fall/Autumn or during the spooky season. I thoroughly enjoyed following Kat and Sybil's journey taking them to the supposedly perfectly quaint Comfort Notch. The mythology of the town is fabulous, tension is built at a great pace. The story is top notch and the art work is beautiful. The horror of humanity is delivered so well in this complete volume. I will be telling all my friends who appreciate comics to check this one out.

Oh. My. God. I LOVE THIS! I NEED to get my hands on a physical copy! For those considering reading this, this beautifully illustrated graphic novel very much evoked the movie Midsommar with it’s beautiful atmosphere that has darkness and rot underneath the gorgeous exterior. A story of the ugly things lying below beautiful surfaces and the strength of a mother’s love, this story is still resonating with me long after finishing. The final pieces of artwork are stunning, and I want to frame some of it. Just absolutely beautiful and compelling!

Following the death of her estranged mother, Kat returns to her hometown in Comfort Notch. However, beneath the town’s quaint, idyllic exterior, there may be a sinister force at work. Now Kat must uncover the mystery behind the town’s dark past before it’s too late.

The Autumnal: The Complete Collection by Daniel Kraus (writer) and Chris Shehan (artist) is an eerie read that blends ecohorror with folk horror—portrayed through wonderfully atmospheric and at times grotesque artwork.

Going into this series though, I think it’s important to note that this is slowburn. The majority of the story does not quite deliver the levels of body horror that the fantastic issue covers suggest. Instead this is a slowly creeping horror that builds up to a devastating and chilling end.

At its heart, you’ll find a story about trauma and a mother’s anger and love. We see as Kat a struggling single mom trying to take care of and protect her daughter, and that’s what I think makes the story so compelling.

All in all, The Autumnal is a perfect fall read that’ll have you seeing leaves in a whole new light.

I won't lie... I'm from New Hampshire and when I saw that this was set in NH, I felt obligated to read it. And I'm glad I did!

This was a good, quick and spooky read perfect for the Halloween season. The art is well-done and some of the imagery is quite horrifying. The whole climax of the story did feel slightly rushed, but not too much, and it all tied together nicely by the end of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Kat Somerville is sent away by her mother when she is nine years old. Kat doesn’t understand why. When her mother dies, Kat goes back to Comfort Notch, her home town. She goes with her daughter Sybil to her mother’s funeral. No one comes to the funeral. Why? Kat decides to stay and live in her inherited house. Kat was having a difficult time living in Chicago as she barely made enough to live on and pay the bills. When a man helps Kat, he suddenly dies due to choking on leaves. His widow blames Kat. As Kat finds life odd, she discovers rumors about a woman named Constance Biddle. She is a story that has been going on for a long time that makes Kat wonder if it is just superstition. What is the story about Constance Biddle? Does Kat believe the story?

The graphic novel is not Jonny horror but also the mother-daughter relationship. With the beautiful color of fall that was admired by its beauty, it becomes a creepy and scary time. It has a violent (not gore) yet gripping plot. The colors of the illustrations helps the creepiness of the story. I loved the plot as it was a different type of horror that made me want to know what was going to happen next.

3 stars

A single mum & her young daughter return to their hometown for a family funeral. Their attempts to uncover the town’s dark secrets end in tragedy, & revenge. Striking art, a passable if slightly passé plot, & lots of emotion make this a memorable horror tale perfect to read in autumn.

[What I liked:]

•Kat is a compelling character. Her will to fight, to protect her daughter, & to do what is right make her an engaging protagonist.

•The dread builds & builds up to an explosive ending. This makes for an intense reading experience, where narrative tension ramps up to a fitting climax. The atmosphere & discomfort of the narrative are very satisfying.

•The art is colorful, portrays motion & action in ways that provide momentum, & captures the creepy atmosphere & growing dread of the narrative. It’s skillfully done.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•The ending is rather brutal. There is no hope for the future, no sense that a sacrifice of love was not made in vain. It’s pretty doom & gloom, although I guess the revenge was deserved? But the revenge was carried out on the innocent, which I can’t find satisfying or an acceptable resolution.

•The dark secret the town is hiding isn’t the most original plot point. It is complex enough to carry the story, but after all the build up I was expecting something a bit more creative.

CW: body horror, human sacrifice, murder, substance abuse, sexual harassment, child abuse

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]