Nice Spooky Romp: The Night Never Ends

Steve Thueson, renowned cartoonist, entices us with his new graphic novel, “The Night Never Ends.” Published by Silver Sprocket, this masterpiece blends the mundane with the macabre in a familiar suburban setting.

The plot revolves around old friends gathered to celebrate a 30th birthday. Their decision to hold a séance in a supposedly haunted suburban house sets a chilling stage. This dwelling, already host to sinister occult activities, becomes a horrifying maze they must navigate.

A Familiar Setting, An Unsettling Twist

While the locale may seem stereotypically suburban, Thueson’s treatment is anything but ordinary. His clever wit interjected throughout the narrative distinguishes this work from your typical slasher fare.

Thueson’s artistry full of clean, dynamic cartoons teeters between comedic visual gags and forbidding shadowy figures. The sudden transition catches you off guard. It lulls you with a whimsical aesthetic before dousing you with blood-soaked scenes. The unpredictability leaves you on edge, amping up the fear factor.

Unsettling Normality Amidst the Terror

Amidst the conventional horror elements, there lies a deeper, more resonating fear. On the surface, cultists armed with knives may appear terrifying. But the idea of being threatened by a gun-toting homeowner guarding his territory is equally daunting. The heroes may escape the haunted house, but the realization that there’s nowhere safe to escape to is genuinely alarming.

A Distorted Suburbia

The real horror of “The Night Never Ends” supersedes the typical juxtaposition of suburban tranquility versus ghastly violence. This graphic novel presents the suburb as a chilly, terrifying space lacking whiffs of life. Imagine a town where one can’t find a soul to ask for help, where even the iconic all-night diner has shut its doors. Thueson impeccably mirrors a disturbing, growing trend where public spaces in suburbs are gradually evaporating.

The Trojan Horse of Horror

Simultaneously, this graphic novel packs a flavorsome dose of banter and humor. It cleverly disguises itself as an innocent tale that hits you with a chilling realization much later. Thueson brings humor to the horror genre, compelling you to rethink what truly terrified you and why.

If this unique mix of humor, horror, and subverted expectations intrigues you, “The Night Never Ends” may be an ideal kickoff to your Halloween comics binge.