Scan barcode
rereader33's review against another edition
2.0
This was fine. I hear the original web comic is better, but honestly I don't think it make enough of a difference for me to seek it out. The art was great, but for me this is an example of "good idea on paper, not so great when actually done."
mehsi's review
5.0
This is an amazing graphic novel that will scare the wits out of you by simply giving you one sentence/ a couple of short sentence and a image to go with it.
I was reading blog posts when I bumped against this post by Northern Plunder which featured 5 horror graphic novel recommendations. I spotted this book and just knew I had to read it. Thanks for the recommendation!
This one is short but oh so so creepy. Really, it gave me some delightful and delicious goosebumps while reading. The premise is simple, we get one to a couple of short sentences and then move to the next page which features an image about what is said. In the image we see all sorts of horrors. Some small, some big, and some were just a big fat NOPE and had me wanting to shout to the characters on the pages to just fucking run and go go go get out of the house or whatever place this was taking place. Nowhere was apparently safe as we saw not just cute homes but also graveyards, stores, tunnels, paths.
It is very effective. I was at first wondering if it would work out, but it does. The author really managed with just a short bit of text and an image convey so much horror and spookiness. More than some of the Halloween books (here is a list of most of the things I have read) I have read so far. I was superspooked out.
The art was another one of my favs, the style was just perfection and definitely made those haunting words come to life. Which I am not sure I wanted in all cases.
I was reading blog posts when I bumped against this post by Northern Plunder which featured 5 horror graphic novel recommendations. I spotted this book and just knew I had to read it. Thanks for the recommendation!
This one is short but oh so so creepy. Really, it gave me some delightful and delicious goosebumps while reading. The premise is simple, we get one to a couple of short sentences and then move to the next page which features an image about what is said. In the image we see all sorts of horrors. Some small, some big, and some were just a big fat NOPE and had me wanting to shout to the characters on the pages to just fucking run and go go go get out of the house or whatever place this was taking place. Nowhere was apparently safe as we saw not just cute homes but also graveyards, stores, tunnels, paths.
It is very effective. I was at first wondering if it would work out, but it does. The author really managed with just a short bit of text and an image convey so much horror and spookiness. More than some of the Halloween books (here is a list of most of the things I have read) I have read so far. I was superspooked out.
The art was another one of my favs, the style was just perfection and definitely made those haunting words come to life. Which I am not sure I wanted in all cases.
sarah_brooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
labunnywtf's review
3.0
Delightfully creepy, but rather unmemorable. I would recommend checking out the tumblr, where the images move and add to the creep factor.
brambresseleers's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
lurieta's review
5.0
I could not put this book down and want to teach it in future horror writing workshops.
morganaverena's review
4.0
Coldrick's eerie and whimsical style provides the perfect scenario and setting for spooky candlelight alone at-home reading! I wasn't expecting too much but it definitely delivered a pleasant few minutes of scary atmosphere that I'm not used to. Wouldn't recommend it for a child tho, definitely nightmare fuel haha Enjoyed the setting, made me want to look for more of his works.
helpfulsnowman's review
3.0
The drawings are nice. Especially the people, which are as interesting as the monsters.
I guess I didn't pay attention, because I didn't realize that the title is very literal. Every image is about something behind you.
This book has the same problem as collected editions of The Onion. The Onion is a lot of fun, but when you read a ton of it together, you get bored. The edginess fades, the surprise fades. It works really well in a format that's periodic rather than binge-y, and the way it's consumed has a big effect on it. This is true for me for a lot of micro fiction, whether it be funny, scary, highly-visual, literary, whatever.
Brian Coldrick is a talented artist, for sure, and I do like that so many of the images are Halloween-centric. I would definitely read whatever he does next, and I would be very on board with a longer format.
I guess I didn't pay attention, because I didn't realize that the title is very literal. Every image is about something behind you.
This book has the same problem as collected editions of The Onion. The Onion is a lot of fun, but when you read a ton of it together, you get bored. The edginess fades, the surprise fades. It works really well in a format that's periodic rather than binge-y, and the way it's consumed has a big effect on it. This is true for me for a lot of micro fiction, whether it be funny, scary, highly-visual, literary, whatever.
Brian Coldrick is a talented artist, for sure, and I do like that so many of the images are Halloween-centric. I would definitely read whatever he does next, and I would be very on board with a longer format.
screensense's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
This collection of animated one-shot horror stories is beautifully crafted. The premise is the same on each page — the horror of what could be behind you — but the delivery is different each time. These are hauntingly beautiful depictions of the fear we all share. At the same time, the images and accompanying sentence descriptions illuminate the potential for wonder in the unseen world that surrounds us.
Joe Hill’s introduction is also a wonderful discussion of the unknown. It highlights the type of horror the unknown offers while anticipating the beauty of Brian Coldrick’s style of horror and storytelling.
All in all, this is an engaging collection of short, illustrated horror concepts that leaves room for reader interpretation. I look forward to re-interpreting every story with each new visit to this collection.
Joe Hill’s introduction is also a wonderful discussion of the unknown. It highlights the type of horror the unknown offers while anticipating the beauty of Brian Coldrick’s style of horror and storytelling.
All in all, this is an engaging collection of short, illustrated horror concepts that leaves room for reader interpretation. I look forward to re-interpreting every story with each new visit to this collection.