Never by Night is a new horror anthology graphic novel from comic creator and writer Jonathan Chance. The 80-page one-shot is the series’ first volume, and Chance has stated that additional stories will be released each year around Halloween. His most recent comic release was Permadeath, which we reviewed here.

The anthology contains four stories written by Chance. It begins with “If I Never Come Back,” which Dell Barras illustrated, Davi Comodo colored, and Wes Locher lettered. It follows a man who returns with his family to his hometown, where he nearly died as a child following a terrifying encounter. This is his first visit since childhood, and he soon realizes he should have kept away.

The colors are vibrant and energetic, welcoming the reader into the unknown. However, this is deceiving because there are no happy endings. “If I Never Come Back” has the most Creepshow-like vibe of all the stories in this book, yet there’s no comeuppance. Well-deserved payback is a staple of horror anthologies, but Chance focuses on regular, mostly decent people, adding an element of sinister pleasure.

The following story, “Chronicles of the Occult: Tennison,” was illustrated by C.E. Zacherl, with colors by Zachary Kjoge and lettering by Andworld Design. It takes place in 1937 England, as a man recalls the childhood incident that inspired him to investigate the paranormal. It has haunted him throughout his life, and he is looking for answers.

Zacherl and Kjoge’s work is absolutely beautiful and transports us back in time. I attempted to take in every detail. The title and ending hint that there may be additional chapters, which I hope is the case. This was my personal favorite.

RELATED: ‘Salem’s Lot’ Cast Talk Using “Real Morgue Equipment” (Exclusive)

Next, “Respect Your Elders” was illustrated by Ron Joseph, colored by Theresa Chechi, and lettered by Wes Locher. It follows desperate parents at the end of their rope with their unruly teen. They take her to a mysterious RV/trailer park full of elderly people who promise to help with their burden.

The plot was darker than anticipated, and the chilly autumn-style artwork complemented it nicely. The ending was both bloody and pleasantly surprising.

The final story, “This One’s a Winner,” was illustrated by Fernando Damasio, colored by Roman Stevens, and lettered by Wes Locher. A young family learns about the not-so-hidden risks of Sin City while on vacation in Las Vegas. The plot did not flow as well as the previous three, with the dialogue and character actions becoming confusing at times.

The artwork was good, but the character expressions weren’t always aligned with what was happening, taking me out of the story. Although this wasn’t my favorite, it was still a fun conclusion.

Chance has big plans for Never by Night, and this collection of stories is an excellent way to kick off the spooky fun. It is now available for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The anthology will be released on October 23rd.

'Never by Night' Vol. 1 Graphic Novel cover
Snowyworks

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.