It is a gothic story, so I'm not sure what Deadman adds to the story. The art was dtailed, but one artist is better at showing that the protagonist is Asian than the other artist, so it was jarring to realize that halfway through the book.

This was an interesting new type of graphic noel I have never read before. The artwork was impressive, the storyline was compelling and I enjoy reading this so much I would recommend it to anyone.

Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love serves up quite the Gothic romance. This comic is a bit of a change for the Deadman's stories. Berenice can see ghosts, but it's not something she likes to embrace. There's a bit of a love triangle going on with her boyfriend who is always trying to write and her best friend. A very angry entity lives within the mansion. Yes, it's haunted. Berenice is in luck when Boston Brand, the Deadman shows up to help her out with unraveling the past. The ending packs a punch as the truth is revealed. The artwork is perfect, the color psychology worked well giving an emotional depth to the story.

The art was very visually pleasing. Other than that though I found this DC title to be very mediocre at best. Not very memorable to be honest. I might be biased though since I'm unapologetically a Marvel girl.

First off the art is amazing. Never read any Deadman solo stories but this was fun to read. Not great but I'm glad I had a chance to read it.

Book Review

Superhero and gothic and supernatural romance/mystery mixed together? A nice combination. Deadman himself is not the typical superhero being that he is dead. You heard that right, a dead superhero who can communicate with ghosts, possess the living, among other abilities. He has no idea why he hasn't crossed over but decided to use his time trapped on Earth for good. That little bit of info is helpful because I went into this graphic novel pretty blind. I don't recommend that.




Still, there was an amazing story to read. The start was a bit off for me which included my lack of pre-knowledge. But as I read the graphic novel grew on me and I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. The supernatural elements are different from usual superhero arcs and made this rather fresh. No hot, rich or living superhero to ogle at. He's just trying to help others and funny enough gets himself trapped in a haunted mansion for his troubles. But troubles are not over yet as there's a malevolent force inside with him. Meeting a living person who can see him as well as another ghost trapped like himself. Deadman not only works on unraveling the mystery, he has help in his living new 'friend' Bernice who gets to head this graphic novel most of the way. Along the way, there's mystery, romance, dark arts, love, friendship, and heartache. An intriguing read that I really liked. Plus the art was also pretty good, though for reading I had to zoom in because of poor colour choice of font.



Having a female protagonist, Bernice, star who can see ghost and witness her meeting and interaction with Deadman was compelling. Boyfriend Nathan was trying to complete a book in the mansion they were staying in and it turned out to be haunted. Sam her friend was non-binary and went by they/them pronouns. I'm happy to say they was treated like any other character and their sexuality was not pushed on every second. Sam was Bernice's dear friend, sold antiques and lived their own life. Deadman himself was a different superhero than most and brought both positive and negatives to the story. Sadly as someone not very familiar with him the writer's decision to just rush on with the story made me confused. I get that not every graphic novel can re-introduce you to the characters but as an e-galley on Netgalley, it is usually best not to leave those who choose to download your book in confusion. I wouldn't mind getting this graphic novel one day but not very interested in downloading another single issue until I'm well immersed in the character. There's also a ghost and a twist with both the mansion and a surprise villain. But those are things I think you should find out for yourself.

In the end, I would recommend this graphic novel but only if you are interested in supernatural or gothic stories. It's not a regular superhero book so you might want to prepare yourself for something different. I was given an e-copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4 Stars

For those who enjoy comics or a nice gothic romance, then you should check out this Deadman story. Here's your first look at Deadman in the Rebirth arc, and you will not be disappointed. If readers are looking for a more unique comic filled with gothic mystery and suspense.

ARC from Netgalley. 2.5 Stars.
Nothing special here. Deadman gets wrapped up in a very predictable storyline involving ghosts, a man who won't die, and a spooky old house. The story was just ok. Just nothing really stands out here.
Recommend, but not heavily.

Book – Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love
Author – Sarah Vaughn
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 162
Cover – Gorgeous, Creepy
Genre – Graphic Novel, Comic, Paranormal


** COPY RECEIVED THROUGH NETGALLEY **



Now, disclosure time – I'm new to the whole 'Deadman' concept. I'm going into this blind, because I love a good gothic story and I was intrigued by the blurb.

I've got to say, I was drawn in from page one. Berenice is such an interesting character. Not just her gift of seeing the undead/unseen/ghosts whatever it is that she sees. But she's interesting in a relateable way, that says she's just another ordinary person who has been such into this extraordinary world from birth.

I love the graphics. The illustrations are both old-school gothic and classic comic modern at the same time. It's a great combination that is easy on the eye, despite the images having that gritty, grainy look that is so perfect for the genre.

I really loved the whole LGBT acceptance sub-plot that was so awesome. Not only is Berenice bisexual, having had a girlfriend in the past and a current boyfriend, but her best friend Sam is non-binary and an awesome POC with a big role to play and a fun, quirky personality. I was suspicious of Nathan and his “secret” study all along, but I can't say I hated him as much as didn't like him much.

I love the way it all panned out and how there's possibility for not just more from Berenice and Sam, but also more from Deadman, Boston, himself. I'd be happy to read more from both in the future.

Favourite Quote:

“Ah, Sam uses they\them pronouns. They're non-binary, not a woman or a man. Just awesome.”

Deadman fits into the goth noir genre very nicely. This story is lushly ilkustrated and very rich in gothic horror. I loved the atmosphere of the story and Deadmans character arc,

This is a really good – almost great – old school haunted house romance drama. Why then is it not great? Well, there's the title character's Matrix-styled leans-back-in-floaty-shock poses, which are far too common and just look daft, and the stupid decision to have one character inter-sexual, or whatever it's called this month – the fact it's a whole double-sized issue before it's used to explain some of the text in the first couple of pages is really poor. But the look, the drama, the mystique – all are really high quality when it matters.

Boston Brand, a.k.a. Deadman, has a mission to help others. He is a ghost, and the others he often helps are ghosts as well. In this story, he comes to an old mansion, only to find himself trapped in the house. He is unable to leave it. The mansion has new residents: a writer and his fiancee who can see ghosts and interact with them. Deadman and the lady must join forces to solve the mystery of the mansion and the lady ghost that haunts it. However, that ghost may be the least of their concerns as there is another evil lurking.


This comic was a pleasant discovery for me. Deadman was not a character I was familiar with, so I went in as a new reader. This was a good tale. The story combines a bit of superhero narrative, supernatural and paranormal tale, gothic horror, and some romance. The author builds up the story and the suspense, and you stay with the story to find out what exactly is going on. What is the real threat? You will have to read to find out. The story, as I mentioned, is built up well. It has a good, strong pace, and it draws you in. As an added bonus, I found the binary character interesting, and it is a character I would like to see more down the road.


The art is very good, and it captures the suspense, horror, and gothic feel of the tale very well. In some ways, this comic feels like old classic gothic horror, and I say that as a compliment. Fans of the gothic horror genre can enjoy this one.


This is a title I would recommend for libraries with graphic novel collections. It is definitely a good one to add to your Halloween book displays too.

I have always been fascinated with this hero. Deadman is a former daredevil who died while performing a stunt and now remains on this plain to help those in need. Boston Brand has popped up in many different series I have read and I always like the stories he is in. I know he is in the Justice League Dark series but I have yet to read that one. When I saw this book pop up on Netgalley I had to throw my name in the hate to read this. Thanks to DC Comics and Netgalley I got that chance to read this for a review.

Ok so this book is about Boston being drawn to this house. He isn't sure why and he usually helps people but there is something different here. When he finds it he becomes trapped and there is a Spirit in torment. While in the house the current residents come home. A man who is trying to write a book and his girlfriend who has this connection with the spirit world. I have to say this story is a little slow but it is haunting. I was completely fine with the slow build throughout the book because it helped create this eerie atmosphere. Usually a comic has a very short time to get your attention so the action and story need to be right up front. This however needed to be paced out.

The story was great but the art work in this book stole the show. The covers for these issues were fantastic and the best part of the artwork. To be fair though the rest of the book is packed with amazing detail that really stood out. I have included a few examples. The combination of both art work and writing made this book an easy 5 out of 5 stars. I will say this about the book. When our female character lead was thinking the text boxes were a very light blue with white writing. Reading this digitally it was really hard on the eyes and I had to take breaks. I'm sure this wont be a problem in the print version but fair warning if you read this digitally.

I am really impressed with this and I hope to see more adventures with Boston Brand in the future. I would love to read more and I am going to look for his origin story so I can read the beginning of Deadman. Thank you DC for letting me read this for a review.

Boston Brand is a bit more than just a ghost. He is a ghost with a mission. But when he is drawn to Glencourt Manor and trapped, he finds he needs the help of the living to free the dead. The mystery lies with the ghost Adelia and her murder years ago. Once the reason for her death is uncovered, a way forward opens for most of the characters. An interesting haunted house tale.

Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love by Sarah Vaughn is an old fashioned gothic ghost story. This tale deviants from the mainstream comic line of DC but the character of Deadman always has.

A couple enter an old empty house. It's history is one of murder and death, but soon they begin to feel another presence. An angry and dangerous entity. What they don't realize is that tagging along with them is the superhero known as Deadman. A ghost himself, Deadman feels the malevolent spirit and soon finds himself in a battle to save the lives and souls of the innocents that have stepped into the haunted mansion.

Deadman is a pretty awesome character but one I think that DC has not used near his full potential. You almost wished he was moved over to the Vertigo line of comics and lets see what those grittier writers could do with this character.

A good classic ghost story.

In DEADMAN: DARK MANSION OF FORBIDDEN LOVE, Sarah Vaughn tells an intriguing tale of ghosts, enduring evil, and the yearning - by both the living and ghosts -- for an emotional connection. Before reading this story, I had never heard of Deadman aka Boston Brand before. I was initially drawn to this book because of the artwork and description, which had a gothic feel to it. This is a great book for other readers, like me, who may be new to this character and who enjoy a good ghost story. DEADMAN: DARK MANSION OF FORBIDDEN LOVE has made me curious to learn more about Deadman's history.

From the first page, the sublime artwork by Lan Medina, Phil Hester, and Jose Villarrubia entrances the reader immediately, and sets the gothic tone for the book. Berenice's boyfriend Nathan has inherited a stately yet slightly creepy mansion that is starting to unnerve her. Hauntings, in fiction, are often used as a barometer for the relationship of the people being haunted. That is definitely the case in DEADMAN: DARK MANSION OF FORBIDDEN LOVE. Sarah Vaughn does a marvelous job of telling Berenice's backstory and adding an extra layer of complexity to this book. Berenice is a medium and tunes into spirits -- the friendly as well as the more disruptive. Boston Brand aka Deadman enlists Berenice in helping him investigate the ghostly activity, other than his own, in the mansion. I like the way the reader is left to draw her own conclusion about who the villains are and what the love story actually is, until the very end.

DEADMAN: DARK MANSION OF FORBIDDEN LOVE has a tragic love story, a gothic mansion, a dastardly villain, and some super cool spooky ghosts who help solve a mystery. The artwork in DEADMAN: DARK MANSION OF FORBIDDEN LOVE contributes greatly to establishing mood, and making this story come alive. I hope to read more stories with this author and these artists. I'm happy to discover a new comic book character to read about and look forward to reading about Deadman's adventures in the Justice League Dark series.

I have to say, this was not at all what I was expecting it to be. It was something else entirely, and I found it impossible to put down. There was so much story going on in such a short span of time, yet it had a flow to it that made it feel natural. Well, as natural as a super hero ghost can be.

Berenice was a really great main character. On one hand, her quirky attitude and strength was a kick ass edition to the plot. Her lack of confidence in herself given her artistically rendered beauty seemed a bit trite, but it was easy to move past that as a reader.

As the ending came closer, it became obvious that Deadman's story is far from over. To be honest though, it isn't his story I'm hoping to follow. I'd much rather read more about Berenice. I hope she has more story to tell in the future!

~ George 3.5 Stars

Take Crimson Peak and insert Deadman along with some gender politics, now you have pretty much the exact same plot as this book. I found the book yawn-inducing and unoriginal. This is the same story you hear in everything labeled Gothic Romance. Lan Medina's art was quite good though.

The art in this volume was a plus, but the story was pretty thin. A bit predictable, considering the limited number of characters and settings. The whole thing could have been wrapped up in two Brave and the Bold issues instead of three extended premium issues in six chapters.

I went into Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love completely blind. I had never heard of the character Deadman/Boston Brand before. I don't think I've ever read anything by either the writer or illustrator for this book. So, yeah, completely unfamiliar with all aspects of it. 

The art for Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love was simple yet effective. Very straightforwardly illustrated for the most part. It served to make Deadman himself stand out that much more. The color choices went along well with the illustration style. However, one area that gave me a lot of trouble reading Deadman was the white words on the light blue background that relayed the main female character's internal thoughts. The white on red of Deadman's was a bit easier. Because I read this as an epub, it was hard to find a 'just right' setting that enabled me to easily see the character's internal thoughts and not have to scroll inch by inch down through the pages. It made for a somewhat uncomfortable reading experience that left me with a minor headache every time I tackled the story. A more clear font might have made a world of difference.

I liked the diverse representation in Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love. Berenice is (appears to be, at least) bi/ possibly pan-sexual, and Sam is non-binary as well as African American. I also appreciated the fact that that Berenice wasn't your typical model-looking knockout so often found in comic books. She was actually rather plain and dressed in clothes normal women actually wear.

As for the story itself, it was interesting. Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love is sort of a superhero and gothic ghost story mashup. It takes place inside an old mansion that had been closed up for over 150 years. The story is dark with a definite air of mystery to it. The interactions between Brand and Berenice are fun. The twist with one of the other characters caught me by surprise. (It was a good thing, as some of the other elements of the book aren't exactly subtle.)

Given the headache that I suffered through to finish Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love, I can't say I'll ever pick up another volume. However, fans of paranormal fantasy and superhero novels should definitely give Deadman a shot. If it wasn't for the headache, I would have enjoyed the story a lot more than I did. It's not the most well-written or meaningful, but it is entertaining nonetheless. And the message of acceptance is a nice one.