Many thanks to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for my ARC ♥️

Adam Ellis' horror comics are a thrilling mix of spooky and funny. Each story takes you on a wild ride, making your heart race and your laughter burst out. Especially the last story is super scary and will make you jump out of your seat! But don't worry, Adam adds some hilarious comments after each story to help you catch your breath. It's like having a friend whispering funny secrets in your ear. Fans of horror comics or Adam's humor will love this book. It's like a rollercoaster ride that will make you scream, laugh, and want more! So, grab a flashlight, snuggle up, and get ready for a spooky-funny adventure with Adam Ellis' horror comics!

I liked the assortment of stories and the different title pages for each to match the mood of each piece! Some hit better than others, but overall a fun, creepy read!

Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!

This one was such a fun read! Loved the fact that the author provided an explanation of how he got inspired to write each of the stories!
I really liked the art, I have came across some of the artist instagram posts before, but had no idea he had so many horror stories.

My favorite stories were Milk door - I loved how the story was told using text messages -, Bus stop - I particularly liked the illustration on this one! And also the storyline -, Better Kate than never - Love the color palette and general aesthetic of this one, but would have loved some background on why that was happening to Kate -, Crime party - even though I’m a big fan of true crime podcast, I do agree that some people do not do a respectful job - and last but not least, I loved Viola Bloom! Found it so creepy, I definitely see it becoming movie. And loved how this book was part of the story.

I would definitely recommend this one to people who might not be too used to reading in English. This one might be a good starting point, since it doesn’t use complex vocabulary

New favorite graphic novel just dropped!

Bad Dreams in the Night is fantastic! Every story is a little morsel of horror, and I love how modern they are. The use of text messages as storytelling was delightful. Really left an edge of ‘what’s going to happen next’ because there is no exposition, there’s only texts. I love that. And the swap between different art styles depending on the story that is being told is so much fun. I love the creativity shown in doing that. What a delight! And I haven’t even mentioned the plots of the stories. They're not so scary that I'm going to have trouble sleeping tonight, but every story was eerie, sometimes funny, and all of them had a little oomph at the end that was unexpected. I couldn’t get enough of them. I ate the whole book right up in one sitting.

4.5 Stars!
A collection of Short Scary stories that’ll creep you out!! One in particular gave me this grossed out feeling but was still pretty good. Some were predictable and others were just thought provoking or random but still fun. The illustrations are really good. They’re Quick reads. Recommend.

3.75

I absolute flew through these stories.

I really liked the explanation for each of the stories. Viola Bloom was a good expression of being trapped and not being able to do anything about it.

Hangnail reactivated a fear I had last year of ripping it off too far 😭.

I swallowed this graphic novel whole, that is how intriuged I was. These stories will leave haunting pictures in your mind and a bad after taste of the best kind. They are certainly not for sensitive minds but keep everything that was promised by the synopsis and the title. I loved the various settings and stories and the small explanations of inspiration by the artists a lot!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy of the novel in exchange for my honest review. I follow Adam Ellis on Twitter, but other than that I haven't really seen much of his work. I'm so glad I was approved to read this ARC, as I feel like I understand him so much more now. His art style was so beautiful in this graphic novel and I enjoyed his spin on some classic stories he retold, in particular "The Green Ribbon". One part that did end up breaking my heart is when he detailed one of his stories as being inspired in part by online harassment he had received. I think that story was a beautiful way to release all of his emotions surrounding those events, however I wish it had never been necessary at all. Overall, this collection of horror/spooky stories had a creepypasta-esque vibe that I loved and would definitely read more of in the future! Any fans of Adam Ellis or illustrated short horror story collections will be sure to enjoy this!

I enjoy Adam Ellis' style. There were several of these stories I had read before, but his extra touches and art made them more than they were. The story Butter Corn Ramen almost made me physically ill, and that was all down to the artwork. Milk Door still gives me the jeebies when I think about it. Ellis has done a really good job here, but some of his shorter stories just didn't hit the same way as the longer ones. I will still look forward to any horror offering he puts out in the future.

I've been following Adam Ellis' work for a few years and have really enjoyed his short horror comics over on Instagram. This book collects 11 stories I haven't seen before so i ws excited to read this. Overall this was a fun collection of creepy stories and I look forward to what they do next.

Thank you Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing this ARC in return for an honest review.

What a fun and creepy read! I had a blast reading this but I wish I wouldn’t have started it so late at night. Love the artwork as well!

Like most 90s kids, I grew up on scary stories and urban legends. One of my favorite shows as a kid was “Are You Afraid of the Dark?" A show where kids sit around a campfire and take turns telling ghost stories shouldn’t work, but it did. In a lot of ways, Adam Ellis’s Bad Dreams in the Night reads like a spiritual successor to that.

Reading Bad Dreams In the Night feels like reading a journal of ghost stories and urban legends written down by your best friend. It's personal, honest, and genuinely unsettling at times. Ellis has compiled an excellent anthology of eleven short graphic novel tales, each of which is creepy in its own way. 

The following were my favorite stories in the collection:

--"Me and Evangeline at the Farm," where a man recalls a sci-fi movie from his youth that no one else has seen.
--"Bus Stop," where a bus stop appears seemingly out of nowhere.
--"Murder Party," where a controversial true crime podcaster follows clues.
--"Viola Bloom," which cannot be explained and must be read. It's unsettling and has excellent personal commentary by Ellis following the story.

The art style is incredible, and Ellis's narrative voice is strong in all the stories. You probably know Adam Ellis (@adamtots on Instagram) from his viral comix and webtoons on social media. You can expect to see his typical art style, albeit with an eerie flair, throughout this entire anthology.

Ellis's anthology is perfect for 90s kids who grew up on "Are You Afraid of the Dark?," "Scooby-Doo," and "Courage the Cowardly Dog." Bad Dreams in the Night is a great read for YA and adult horror lovers and everyone who enjoys creepy stories.

** Review will be live on Back Shelf Books at the below link on March 28, 2024.

Bad Dreams in the Night by Adam Ellis is an anthology of horror comics, which Adam Ellis excels at. Having seen how far Adam has come in creating his own horror stories over the many years he's been experimenting with them has been a treat, and this book is just as much one.

Filled with both familiar stories and unfamiliar tales, Bad Dreams in the Night contains a medley of both spooky and silly, as well as outright terror-inducing. His cartoonish yet realistic style lends well to how his horror is presented, using a unique mix of monster and body horror alongside vibrant, bright colors that blends together to form a truly uncanny and horrific experience. Several times while reading, I had to step away and simply grin at how his monsters and horror are displayed.

Stand out stories are his remix on an old tale, detailing the woman with the ribbon around her neck, as well as a recreation and redraw of one of his older comics, Hangnail. Each story is met with author notes at the end of each, which provide brief but valuable insight into Adam Ellis's narrative choices and influences.

Overall Bad Dreams in the Night is a stellar collection of stories that deserves to be on any horror bookshelf. Thank you Adam Ellis and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this advance copy to review!

I followed Adam Ellis back in the days when he was posting his spooky tales to Twitter and I was so excited to see he’s produced a graphic novel of short stories!

Ellis has a superb knack for grabbing the reader's attention in a very short amount of time and the stories were all short and enjoyable to look through! I wasn’t the largest fan of the author's notes that followed each story - I think it would have served the flow of this graphic novel better to have had a singular note at the end of the book but overall they are easy to ignore and just skip onto the next story.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc of this graphic novel! I am leaving this review voluntarily!

I have been following Adam Ellis' work since his years in tumblr (yea, a long time ago). I really enjoy his drifting into horror stuff, I think that horror and humor are two genres that are twins, both play with expectations and cliches to twist the ending of the story (one in a funny way, the other in a not so funny way).

Once I started this comic I couldn't put it down, although these are not his best stories, this is a very solid anthology. The art style is cool and I appreciate that he is doing collabs with other artists like Deb JJ Lee.

I requested this because I liked the cover and the stories it promises. I did not realised who the author/artist was until I started reading and was surprised to see a familiar art style. It took me back to my teenage years when I used to read everything Adam was posting. I was happy to see the beloved style of Adam's through these spooky stories. It was a well received trip to my teen years.

(Thanks to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing this ARC in return for an honest review)
I've been a fan of Adam Ellis' work for a while now and I had high hopes for this book and they have been met quite well!
The stories have been well thought out and executed.
I love the little blurb given after every story showing what inspired the author to make up that story, may it be an experience from the past or just a re-telling (the girl with the green ribbon) of a classic.
The horror elements were well paced and well placed. The author also seems to have a great grasp on making people look hollowed and terrified (in a good way!).
I will definitely be keeping up with other stories from this author and getting a physical copy when the book comes out.

I’ve been a fan of Adam Ellis’ work for years and was excited to read new work of his. He hits the same tone of the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark perfectly. After each story is a casual little author’s note that I think would be better as a forward or author’s note at the end.

This was a fun, short read with some fun, short creepy stories. If you like some creepy stuff this is definitely cool to read if you have 10 minutes to spare. What I thought was really cool is the fact that the author always explained at the end of each story how they thought about the story and where inspiration came from. Thought that was a cool little extra bit. Definitely enjoyed this little graphic novel a lot.

"Bad Dreams in the Night" by Adam Ellis is a captivating graphic novel that seamlessly blends the nostalgia of classic horror anthologies with a fresh and thrilling perspective. Reminiscent of "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark," this collection of original horror tales takes readers on a haunting journey filled with urban legends, unexpected twists, and delightfully eerie narratives.

Ellis's artistic prowess shines through in this graphic novel, bringing each story to life with vivid illustrations that enhance the chilling atmosphere. The visual storytelling complements the narrative seamlessly, creating an immersive experience for readers. The tales are not only spine-tingling but also visually striking, making it a perfect read for chilly autumn evenings and Halloween.
While some stories delve into gruesomeness, it only adds to the overall impact of the horror genre. The variety in storytelling and the unpredictable nature of the narratives make this graphic novel a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable read.

In conclusion, "Bad Dreams in the Night" is a must-read for fans of horror, graphic novels, and those who appreciate a masterfully crafted blend of art and storytelling. With its chilling tales and captivating illustrations, this graphic novel earns a well-deserved 5-star rating from me.