Thank you so much NetGalley and Image Comics for this arc!

4.5/5 stars rounded up!

This was so good! It was creepy, beautiful, intriguing, and a bit depressing - everything I was hoping for and more out of this graphic novel! Some things that happened/conversations were a bit confusing, but idk if it was the writing or possibly just the translation didn't capture what was originally intended, which is why it is 4.5 instead of 5. I really really enjoyed this, and I think this would be a perfect fall/spooky season read!

Mirka Andolfo's Mercy is STUNNING!! As an artist myself, the artwork was gorgeous and so captivating and really helped to drive the story along. Not only that, but the story was also so well told through the illustrations. As a gothic horror myself, this book was definitely one worth the read!

A Special Thanks To Image Comics and NetGalley for the ARC.

We’re jumping into another world of horror. One that is filled with beauty, mystery, and suspense. Mirka Andolfo (Unnatural, Sweet Paprika, Hex Wives) brings us back to the Nineteenth Century with Mercy: The Fair Lady, The Frost, and The Fiend. A suspenseful tale filled with mystery, lust, and drama.
This Gothic Tale finds us traveling to Washington State in the late nineteenth century, a time when America was coming off the midst of the Civil War, where the abolitionism movement had great success, which saw the end of slavery in the United States, thanks to people such as Harriet Tubman and Abraham Lincoln. The Women Sufferage Movement was picking up steam and finally, Scientific discoveries and inventions began to increase exponentially. But our focus draws us into the era of the Klondike Gold Rush! An era that brought a profound impact on land, economic development, and native communities amid the discovery of Gold in the Yukon territory.

It’s been a few years since the Swanson mine was closed following the terrible accident that claimed the lives of so many men and women, including the owners and the city is still struggling in search of a new place on the map of the country.

A mysterious and elegantly wealthy woman named Lady Hellaine arrives in town with her butler, Goodwill, who settles in one of the town’s most elegant mansions in town. The town’s name is Woodsburgh, which is close to the Canadian Border.

No one is aware of the reasons that led such a classy lady to move from Seattle to the small village, but her arrival certainly did not go unnoticed. Especially in the eyes of Lady Swanson, widow of the late mine owner and leading figure of the local bourgeoisie. Lady Hellaine’s plans will bring her on a collision course with the powerful Lady Swanson, who, for reasons not entirely rational, distrusts the newcomer.

Meanwhile, the streets and surroundings of Woodsburgh are flooded in blood: a heinous creature is killing incautious citizens, wreaking havoc on their bodies. Enough to induce local authorities to impose a strict curfew after sunset.

And with the falling of the first snow, the “Woodsburgh Devil”‘s fury seems to have even increased. What’s the connection, if any, between this disturbing presence and the ivory-skinned stranger?

Who’s Lady Hellaine, really? And what’s her secret agenda?

An important note to mention before moving further into this review is that this collects issues one through six. Mirika Andolfo’s script for the first half of the story was riveting, a classic horror tale mixed with a hint of history and science fiction, but I have to stress that it features some things that may make a person uneasy. Other than that, the story stands out on its own without relying solely on shock value or cheap thrills. Andolfo brought what worked so well from her other work such as Unnatural. Aside from the horror, the characters were well-written and interesting, which doesn’t always happen in horror films or stories.

The artwork in the story was another element that worked well for Mercy, it was a blend of Gothic and Victorian tones in each panel. Each expression was drawn well and gave an old monster film vibe to the story. I may play favorites, but her artwork was always a treat to view and admire, always offering subtle nods to her previous works. Mercy felt like an elseworld approach to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a monster who questioned her mortality and emotions she wasn’t accustomed to.

‘Mirka Andolfo's Mercy: The Fair Lady, The Frost, and The Fiend’ with story and art by Mirka Andolfo is a gothic inspired horror tale set in 19th-century Washington State.

When Lady Hellaine mysteriously arrives in the small mining town of Woodsburgh with her creepy butler Goodwill, things are set in motion and people start disappearing and dying in gruesome ways. Her plan to buy the mine is opposed by the widow of the late mine owner. Also upending plans is a small orphan who sees Hellaine as a mother figure, but Hellaine is more ‘other’ than mother.

I was drawn in by the art and the gruesome story, but found myself caring less about the story because I found no protagonist to root for. Also the story gets more grim and features an ending that I really didn’t care for. The art is great, but the story lost my interest the further I read.

Arc received from netgalley

Really unique, haunting story with a lot of heart, goegeous art, compelling characters, and lots of twists and turns.

Where this novel shines in my opinion is in its stunning art, the setting (a monster-infested run-down gothic victorian-esque town), and the monsters themselves. Rory and Hellaine were also incredible characters.

Subtracted a star because the ending was really rushed, and felt a bit dissatisfying. But besides that, it was nearly a perfect graphic novel.

This book follows a few characters intermingled in a story about monsters, danger, and small towns set in a historical time period of American late 19th century.

We follow the wake of a great tragedy where a monster is killed in the mines, and everyone is mourning their death at a grave. We are introduced to the matriarch of the family, and her three children. A young orphan girl, a young man and sister, and a few other characters. Everyone is still reeling with the great "Death" figure that was defeated in the mines, and mourning those who were lost, when a mysterious and beautiful woman strolls into town.

This graphic novel works in equal levels ethereal beauty of the female characters, and the gruesome reality of the monsters and men of this era and region of the world. We see deception, longing for love and family, and so much more. We learn about how far one may go to finally be home. Lessons wise, it led to a lot of reflection about our connections to home, family, and found family. (and what we may sacrifice or burn down in the pursuit).

Art wise, this is beautiful and sexy and gritty. The gore is even done beautifully with bright and dark tones contrasting. The art style favors movement, action, and the interactions of the characters (leading to a very emotional and grasping story).

I really enjoyed this novel, I loved the unique take on aliens seen in this. I recommend picking this up if you sound interested, and be cautious of some triggering elements like violence against women and children, gore, and misogyny.

"Mirka Andolfo's Mercy" presents readers with a dark and visually striking tale set in the isolated town of Woodsburgh, where supernatural forces lurk beneath the surface of everyday life. Written and illustrated by Mirka Andolfo, the graphic novel promises a gripping combination of horror, mystery, and intrigue.

Andolfo's artwork is undeniably the highlight of the novel, with each panel meticulously crafted to evoke a sense of dread and unease. The characters are rendered with intricate detail, their expressions conveying a depth of emotion that adds to the overall atmosphere of the story. The use of color and shadow is particularly effective in setting the tone, with dark and moody hues dominating the palette.

However, while the artwork is visually stunning, the narrative itself struggles to live up to its potential. The plot unfolds at a slow and meandering pace, with the central mystery of the town's secrets taking a backseat to the development of the characters and their relationships. While this approach allows for a deeper exploration of the story's themes, it may leave some readers feeling frustrated by the lack of momentum.

Furthermore, the characterization in "Mercy" is somewhat uneven, with some characters receiving more development than others. While protagonist Lady Hellaine is intriguing and complex, other characters feel underutilized or relegated to the sidelines. This unevenness detracts from the overall impact of the story, making it difficult for readers to fully invest in the fates of the characters.

Despite these shortcomings, "Mirka Andolfo's Mercy" remains an engaging and visually arresting read that will appeal to fans of dark fantasy and horror. Andolfo's talent as both a writer and an artist is evident throughout the novel, and while it may not reach the heights of its potential, it still offers plenty of thrills and chills for those willing to venture into the shadows of Woodsburgh.

There was too much swearing for my taste so I didn't end up finishing this. I don't really have much else to say about it. The premise sounded really interesting and I liked the setting. The artwork was also good. Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.

Mercy is such a delight, the story is captivating. It doesn't relent and I was here for it. Fundamentally, what held my attention was indeed the art; utterly gorgeous, intricate and dark. An amazing combination that wins me everytime. It was urging me to discover what the next page would unfold. That's what really sold Mercy in my eyes. I,ve been following Mirka Andolfo's work for many years now and the art never disappoints.

I'm not usually one to be intrigued by a graphic novel but the cover sold me.

I'm glad I gave it a chance because the graphics throughout the book were utterly phenomenal! They really made the story pop from page to page.

An absolute awesome, short read!

I absolutely loved the artwork in this graphic novel. Some of it is so grotesquely beautiful that I found myself staring at the artwork for minutes; so much so that I actually had to go back through and re-read the storyline since I kept stopping the first time around to admire the artwork. That being said, it was still a relatively quick read even with my needing to read the story again, and the artwork really enhanced the story, even if it did distract me from reading at times.

I definitely will check out more from Mirka Andolfo after this because I honestly loved “Mercy”. It is just the right amount of gothic horror, gore and sensuality, coupled with twists and turns in an atmospherically creepy setting.
The whole graphic novel pulls you in right from the cover image, and it manages to be beautiful and human while completely being gruesome and otherworldly at times, which is a juxtaposition that Andolfo does incredibly well.

I do wish the ending was stretched out a little longer (maybe one more issue) so that things didn’t seem as rushed at the end, but honestly the slight rushing in the wrap up didn’t really bother me since the entire graphic novel was so engaging and beautifully rendered.

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy to review. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion.

This was a quick read! Loved the cover and the artwork was amazing. A pleasure to read and I'll definitely want to read through it again!

this was a beautifully done graphic novel, it had beautifully artwork and worked with the story inside. It uses the historical element in a way that was interesting and glad I was able to read this. Mirka Andolfo has a great writing style and left me wanting more. It uses the horror element perfectly and I enjoyed the overall concept of the comic.

Thank you netgalley for the advance Arc of this graphic novel

This was dark gruesome and allot of fun to read, I was hooked from the first page to the last and the art work is so beautiful, u plan to continue to read more of the graphic novels connected to this one

So much of this just leaves you hanging. There's a distinct lack of world building or explanation. It reminds me of John Carpenter's The Thing if it had been set 100 years earlier. It's about this small town where this Lady and her aide arrive. They are secretly some kinds of monsters and this thing is filled with body horror. Andolfo's art is fantastic. Her storytelling is severely lacking though. I had no idea why so many things were happening or it was just left unexplained.

“Mirka Andolfo’s Mercy,” by Mirka Andolfo

The story was confusing because I felt like there were probably way too many things left out. I did like the art and the concept was interesting. The layout of the pages was more superhero comic than I was expecting, with the cover art I was expecting it to fit a little more stylistically a Manga type layout, but it didn’t feel like that too me. That wasn’t a big deal though. I liked the book but if the story had been done better, I think I would’ve loved it more. 3 out of 5 stars.

"Mirka Andolfo's Mercy: The Fair Lady, The Frost, and The Fiend " is a slick and visually lush horror- suspense tale that will keep most readers on the edge of their seats. Set in a frontier town during the late Victorian era this classic Gothic tale balances the horror and mystery elements along with striking illustrations, elegant character designs and truly horrific monsters. Steampunk fans should find this fast paced and engaging tale of terror and intrigue to their liking.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Image Comics for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was drawn to this by the cover. The art inside did not disappoint. It was absolutely stunning. The story felt rushed or just like I was missing vital information? I haven’t totally put my finger on what was lacking, maybe I need to just read more volumes and it will become clear.

Wow! This book was mind-blowing.
A cosmic horror story combined with a tale of love, loss, and humanity, set in a crumbling mining town in late 19th century Washington. It sounds like a real hodge-podge, but it all melds beautifully into a really interesting and poignant story.
The art in this one was absolutely beautiful, with a unique and hauntingly atmospheric color palette. A number of the character designs were effective and well-executed (especially Lady Hellaine and Goodwill).

I would highly recommend this to people who like the idea of Lovecraftian horror, but are intimidated by large tomes and to fans of the Alien film franchise, as well as those who like a little sci-fi/horror in their historical fiction.

My thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for access to a digital copy of this book to review.

The first thing to be said about Mirka Andolfo's Mercy is that the artwork is just stunning. This graphic novel is simply beautiful to look at.

The story however, felt a bit lacking to me. It was difficult to follow at times, and often felt as if I was missing important information necessary to understand what exactly was happening. I wish I could have loved the story as much as I did the artwork, but unfortunately it was not possible.