I just finished "Nights" and I'm still confused about what the overall plotline is supposed to be. Each chapter is so different in plot tone and the random time jumps do not help me understand where the plot is. The first chapter has maybe one page that is likely connected to the last chapter, but HOW. There are so many different plot lines and they're all so messy and unclear. I'm struggling to even comment on the plot itself because I don't know what the plot is supposed to be! Maybe it will become more clear in the second volume, but right now I'm lost. The biggest thing I liked was the art style. I enjoyed the strange and almost psychedelic areas characters would find themselves in. The artist also clearly excels at drawing interesting-looking characters. I really enjoyed the art and what little of the plot I could understand, I did enjoy. I would be interested in picking up a second volume, just to see if the plot finally achieves coherence.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I gave myself a few days after my first read and re-read the comic. I came to the same conclusion. I liked the artwork, I liked much of the story line. But it jumps about backwards and forwards in time. These jumps didn’t happen, from my perspective, in a coherent and understandable way. However I really like the artistic expression when Gray is actively vampiric destroying monsters, and the Ghost who brings humour to the story line. I look forward to Vol 2. Thank you to Image Comics and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

I just want to start with aaaaaaargh!

Loved the art style of this from the very start, really popped and got the atmosphere across instantly.

This is an alternative US/Florida in 2003, vampires are part of the local community, though only one at a time thank you.

We’re introduced to Vince who’s family have died and goes to stay with his Uncle in Florida, with a motley crew of housemates.

This was fast-paced throughout but never ran away from me, the core is about family and love all wrapped up in the grizzled features of blood and apocalypse.

Shady government organisations are implicated lightly, talking star-moles, and ghosts with a limited time to resolve why they are still walking the earth.

This hit all the right notes for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it right up to the massive cliff-hanger ending!

I’m desperate for volume 2 to arrive as quickly as possible.

I received this from NetGalley and Image comics in exchange for an honest review.

Nights is a paranormal / horror graphic novel, set in the state of Florida (that is incidently owned by Spain for some undiscussed reason). In this world, the paranormal is...well...normal and commonplace. Our main character Vince, is moving in with his older cousin after his parents die, and his new room mates consist of a dead skeleton boy who can't move on, and a vampire girl who he later develops a crush on.

The first issue/chapter was pretty slow for me. There are a lot of characters you're being introduced to and I didn't really care about any of them or feel engaged in the plot at all. After this first chapter though, I started to become really invested in the characters, particularly our dead boy Matt, who is always appearing in adorable onsies. Grey, our vampire girl also gave me big Marceline from Adventure Time vibes,which I loved. She's a rebellious trouble maker who just wants to have fun. And oh there's also a talking star-nosed mole who makes a brief appearance and is hands-down my favourite character.

While you're following this rag-tag group of teens and young adults try to scrape together a functional home, in the background we have a lot of really dark and sinister stuff happening. There are frequent count downs to a big 'end of times' event that you keep forgetting is coming, weird monster appearences, and strange agents that remind me of something out of the game 'Control'. All this paired with a single warning that Grey is dangerous and shouldn't be trusted, which leaves you wondering what's going to happen next and what part she will play in it all.

The illustrations are really nice and pretty much follows the standard 'comic book' illustrative style. They were expressive and funny, and the way Grey is drawn is so cute.

At first I wasn't sure that this was a graphic novel I'd enjoy, but i'm absolutely invested now and with that cliff hanger, i'll be eagerly waiting to see what happens in the next volume!

Netgalley Review
Rating: ☆☆☆

This one was alright, it's got some funny parts, some serious parts, and a lot of room for a lot of dark parts. Always interested when I find a new supernatural/monster/ Magic read.

The reason is only 3 stars though is the story had a lot going on and depending on how they handle the different story lines and flesh out the story would depend on if this goes up stars or down.

Personally, I like the art style, I think it has interesting characters, the story line has possibility and I plan to read the next volume!

I BINGED this story; there was so much going on but in a good way, and I got completely sucked into the story. I loved Gray's character and her storyline, and I'm invested in Ivory's storyline. I want to know more. I especially love the artwork, it's so beautifully done. I would absolutely continue reading this series.

It happened very early on in this comic that I realized I hated a majority of the characters. They do the stupidest most insufferable actions and I understand that those kind of teens exist, but I prefer to not have to read about them. It really sucks too, because the art in the comic is amazing. There’s game and anime references I loved. It references my partners all time favorite anime bobobo directly. I feel like I’d love the people that worked on this as friends.

However, these teens are so deplorable. Their the kinds of teens that deface, steal, and all around cause hell and laugh about it after words. The kinds of teens who think they are invincible and have no moral compass. It makes actual 0 sense that these teens are going to save the world from anything. They are part of the problem.

As for the first love part of the story. I couldn’t root for or care about it at all because these kids are toxic pieces of trash. There’s only 1 character in the whole thing that calls them out for being assholes, but it wasn’t enough to save the comic for me. The combination of this 1 character and the gorgeous art is the only reason I rated this a 2 star instead of a 1 star.

I understand that gaming culture can have the most toxic assholes in it. I understand that these kinds of people exist and that their story’s can be worth telling, but there seemed to be no greater reason for it or any sign that they get to experience consequences for their actions. They’re constantly shitty and just laugh and run away and I’m supposed to care that they’re crushing on each other? This review is turning into a rant.

Another issue I had with this comic is marketed towards teens and yes this is about teens, but it’s like saying that Euphoria is something teens should be watching. I feel like this comic should be marketed towards an adult audience instead, but still the contents just didn’t give me enough enjoyment to recommend it.

The other problem with this comic is that there is pacing issues and jumping around too often with time lines and plot points. The artwork wasn’t enough to save this comic from being something I just did not feel joy while reading.

The Nights Volume 1 was unfortunately disappointing.

So I'm hooked....Nights Volume 1 has started off so strong. The 1st page with the description of Florida being owned by Spain, 31 states & the supernatural being common place + benign hooks you and it doesn't let you go. The ending of the first issue alone? A+ I need volume 2 immediately!
The world is jam-packed with such quirky world building and oddities such as jogging ghosts & moles giving relationship advice. The characters are all wonderful with Matt and his collection of onesies being my favourite. Starven as a one off also top tier.

The end of volume 1 sets up the story nicely and will leave you with lots of questions of what's happening but I'm sure volume 2 won't disappoint!

Thanks to Netgalley & Image Comics for the arc.

Let's start with the positives:
+ The artwork is beautiful. The style is very fun and I enjoyed it.
+ the idea is definitely creative

Negatives:
- I was so confused what was happening
- timeline was confusing even though I know what it's going for.

I don't think I'm the audience for this even though I thought I would be. I was wrong!