Reading this book was indeed an entertaining escape, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The stories were quick and easy to read, while the illustrations were great with the tales of the mysterious and unexplainable. The book all together was an unnerving and very interesting read, and has made me interested in picking up more graphic illustrated stories similar to this in the future. Mr. Ballen’s Strange, Dark and Mysterious Stories are also a great way to get in the spooky season feels with these nine true events. I loved that I picked this one up and that it’s so easy to read imagining Mr.Ballen’s voice narrating just like in his usual creepy videos. Need this is a physical copy asap!

As a fan of the strange, dark, and mysterious I was thrilled when I learned MrBallen had created a book. These stories a great for people who like a wide range of spooky and eerie tales that are based on real accounts from people around the world. Some of the stories cover strange deaths and disappearances, others have possible ghost and cryptid interactions. While listening to MrBall tell the tales on YouTube and in podcasts are already so illustrative on their own, the art of this graphic novel brings the stories more to life than ever before. I definitely recommend for fans of his or people who just want a spooky quick read.

I'm not going to lie, I was really bummed to see four of the stories missing, but I also 100% get it. The omission of them did not damper my excitement when reading the book. I've been a fan of Mr. Ballen for years. Since right around when he started. I think he's a great storyteller with a lot of talent. When I saw he was making a graphic novel my first thought was 'What a great way to get his stories to another audience!' And boy was I right. The illustrations are perfect with just enough spooky in each one to be right for this book. The stories themselves were of course Strange, Dark, and Mysterious enough to keep my attention until the very end. Heck, I even read the resources and checked some of them out too! Over all, this book is fantastic. It keeps on the edge of your seat and it's totally riveting. I would recommend this book for ages 13+. 5 out of 5 stars.

I was already a fan of Mr. Ballen's youtube channel and all of his strange, dark, and mysterious stories. So when I was given an advanced ebook copy from Netgalley, I was very happy!

I admit, I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy his stories in this format. Part of my enjoyment comes from watching and listening to him tell the stories along with looking at the pics (some real, some not). And, I don't normally read graphic novels. But, when I started reading, I could almost hear him telling the stories in my head (some of them were ones that he's presented on YouTube already). The artwork was engaging, and I found myself really enjoying this book!

The ARC was apparently missing 4 stories that are only available in the published version, which was kind of a bummer (but they didn't want them leaked, so I understand). Does that mean that I'm going to have to buy a copy so I can read those 4 unreleased stories? Yes, yes, it does. But, for now, this broke booknerd is adding it to my Amazon wishlist.

This is really a great read for Spooky Season! I hope he sells a ton of copies and makes even more fans from this project!

5⭐️

As always, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As a long time fan of Mr. Ballen, I was excited to see that he had a book coming out. He has a way of telling a story that has you on pins and needles. Even though I was approved to review this book, it wouldn't allow me to download. Luckily, I had ordered a physical copy for my collection. This book doesn't disappoint. The field of telling spooky stories is extremely tight and Mr. Ballen had created a lane all for himself. The book is beautiful and stunning and it feels like you're watching him on television.

#MrBallenPresentsStrangeDarkMysterious
#MRBALLEN
#NETGALLEY

This is an absolute must-read for anyone who loves the strange, dark, and mysterious! 🌌 With gripping tales, it brings the eerie storytelling of Mr. Ballen to life in a whole new way, all with beautiful illustrations. Each story dives into true events that are both chilling and captivating, making it impossible to put down! The variety of stories keeps you on your toes, and the twists will leave you breathless!

Whether you’re reading it alone with a flashlight or sharing the tales around a campfire, this is perfect for spooky season! I can’t wait to add it to my collection and revisit these haunting stories again and again. 🎃📚

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion! 💫📚

Honestly it’s just super cool that this book exists. If you’re familiar with the name, you’ll probably dig it, if not, you may find a new YouTube channel to check out! Anyhow, the stories MrBallen tells on his YouTube channel translate well to the graphic novel format. The art style is sort of pen and ink/ watercolor. Unsolved mysteries and unsettling tales, I’d read another installment for sure! Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy!

If you’re a fan of the strange, dark, and mysterious delivered in graphic novel format then you’ve come to the right place!

I watch Mr. Ballen’s youtube videos religiously and have for a few years now. I knew I needed to pick this up immediately when he announced it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Clarkson Potter / Ten Speed Press for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my
own.

I will admit, graphic novels are not a typical genre for me, but this was great! This book is comprised of a handful of different short graphic stories. Mr. Ballen is such a natural storyteller and this format for his storytelling is no different. The artwork is beautifully done and has good flow with the dialogue. I’ve already ordered a few copies to gift and I think lots of people will enjoy this one!

Content warnings: violence, blood

This was creepy as hell and knowing it’s based on real life events makes it even more creepier.

I do think I prefer watching his videos more to reading about them, the videos make the stories more scary.

I know my brother wants this book as a gift, I’m definitely going to be pre ordering this now!

Thank you to Netgalley for my arc.

MrBallen Presents: Strange, Dark & Mysterious is the highly anticipated graphic novel from YouTube star MrBallen, offering nine chapters of mysterious tales—though four were held back from the review copy.

While longtime fans may recognize these stories from his channel, the stunning, atmospheric artwork brings them to life in a fresh way. As I read, I could almost hear MrBallen narrating each tale.

This graphic novel is a must-read for fans of the strange, dark, and mysterious, and a perfect introduction for anyone who's new to MrBallen.

Thank you Ten Speed Graphic for sending me a free copy for review consideration via NetGalley.

Mr Ballen has a great storytelling power. Not only did I enjoy the retelling of these spooky and eerie stories but I went online to search for more of his retellings. I also loved the art, the illustrations were spooky and eerie.

A vivid, frighteningly illustrated graphic novel collection of nine strange, dark, and mysterious stories, based on true events, from the mind behind the YouTube channel and hit MrBallen Podcast.
In MrBallen Presents: Strange, Dark & Mysterious, Allen reveals the creepy underbelly of the human experience, charting bizarre and downright terrifying instances of the paranormal, the horrors of the natural world, and the danger of our own minds.

A fantastic collection of stories. Tales that are not commonly known or over told like most anthologies of strange occurrences.
Some of these are creepy as all heck.
My favorite was "Thorns". A story of a camp councilor who dreams she is being tortured. A crown of thorns forced deeper and deeper onto her skull, until she awakens with screams of pain and fear.
What really happens is an even greater nightmare.

All the stories are well told and beautifully illustrated. I enjoyed every one and may have to check out his podcast.

Highly recommended. A perfect book to read out loud at an autumn campfire or during a trip through the corn maze.

Thanks to@netgalley for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased option.

So to be upfront, I don't do the whole YouTube thing, so had zero clue who this was, I just really like story collections and horror!

I was not too excited to realize this wasn't the full book and only a excerpt, as it's missing some of the graphics.

Now into the meat, this was wild, and I think I may need to check out the YouTube.

The stories and graphics that were there, were absolutely gripping, and couldn't put it down.

4 stars for content

2 stars for it being an ARC and not being able to review the full item.

I've been a fan of MrBallen's YouTube channels for awhile now. I kept hearing about the upcoming graphic novel and was excited.

I couldn't help but read this and hear his cadence and timing. Especially since I've watched most of these stories in video form on one of his channels. I loved having new original artwork to go with the stories as I read them at bedtime. (Horror stories are a comfort at night.)

I love that even MrBallen got illustrated for this graphic novel. The stories are always perfectly detailed, and just the right amount of creepy.

If you loved Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark as a kid (or even now still), you'll love this as an adult. It feels almost like an older sibling sequel to that series, but with allegedly true tales and a more adult tone.

I can only hope that he works on a Run Fool! graphic novel next. (In addition to more tales that he has told.)

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.

Unfortunately, I don't feel like I can fully review this book. The digital galley is missing 4 chapters (on purpose) and I have never encountered this before. I'm not sure how the publisher thinks anyone can review a book that they haven't fully read. None of this is the fault of the author or illustrator, so I went with 3 stars. The stories are entertaining and the art is superb. But I haven't read the whole book and do t feel comfortable fully reviewing something I haven't really read all of.

While I was a bit upset to discover this wasn't a complete ARC of the full GN, I enjoyed what was included immensely. In true MrBallen style, the whole thing was done in narrative form without any speech bubbles, just the story made graphic -- and graphic it was! The art style could not have better matched MrBallen's own style of storytelling plus his personal rugged looking brand. It included some brand new content as well as stories we know from the YouTube channel now presented graphically, and we got to read a strange, dark and mysterious story of his own! Interwoven is some details of his past as a Navy SEAL which gave it a personal touch. The language was so clearly his own style it really made it easy to feel like I was back listening to MrBallen narrate the stories himself.

The only downside I found was the switching between present and past tense didn't seem to follow any pattern that made sense to me and took me out of the stories a bit.

Before I start this digital-ARC review, let's acknowledge something. I am a fan of Mr. Ballen! I have binge-watched enough episodes of his YouTube channel, that I read this graphic novel in his voice!

Speaking of graphics, these were superb, the renditions of Mr. Ballen on the cover, and throughout the book as he narrates, were spot on. I especially seem to like all representation of trees in various creepy stages of death throughout the book. I do believe that my most enjoyed story was his childhood trip to the mountains, "What I Saw In My Room Still Haunts Me." I must say, I was on edge, primarily because this was 'his story' and not something he'd heard about. My heart also melted for the Mom and Dad who undoubtedly loved each other immensely, even in death.

Well done Mr. Ballen!

**Disclaimer:  I received a free advanced readers copy of Strange, Dark & Mysterious by MrBallen through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this opportunity.

MrBallen Presents: Strange, Dark & Mysterious: The Graphic Stories by MrBallen is a horror graphic novel collection of short stories of spooky encounters.  I think it would be appropriate for young adult and adult audiences.  It is set to be published on October 1st, 2024.  I rated it 4 stars on Goodreads.


Here's the summary from Goodreads:

A vivid, frighteningly illustrated graphic novel collection of nine strange, dark, and mysterious stories, based on true events, from the mind behind the YouTube channel and hit MrBallen Podcast
John Allen, known popularly as “MrBallen,” has been enthralling audiences with his unique brand of storytelling ever since he burst onto the scene, covering strange and mysterious phenomena ranging from the unexplained screaming heard in parts of Nahanni Valley, the Kandahar Giant found in Afghanistan, UFOs appearing at a cattle ranch in Utah, and Allen’s own brush with the paranormal. Deeply researched and seriously compelling, the show rapidly gained a devoted fanbase for the raconteur himself and for the rarely-before-covered unsettling occurrences and true crimes that have taken place throughout the world.
In MrBallen Presents: Strange, Dark & Mysterious, Allen reveals the creepy underbelly of the human experience, charting bizarre and downright terrifying instances of the paranormal, the horrors of the natural world, and the danger of our own minds. With new, exclusive stories and in collaboration with New York Times bestselling graphic novelist Robert Venditti and acclaimed comic book artist Andrea Mutti, this is a haunting collection filled with twists and surprises that will leave you thoroughly spooked.

I have to admit that I have never seen a video by MrBallen, but I was in the mood for something spooky when I requested this graphic novel collection and it definitely followed through.  I will say that the digital galley that I read is not complete compared to the finished volume as they were saving four of the short stories for the final copies.  I was a little disappointed by this because I prefer complete galleys, but I guess I don't read too many short story collections through NetGalley, so maybe this is standard.

That being said, I did really enjoy the stories that were included.  They were all spooky and creepy, and while not all technically ghost stories, they did leave the reader with something to think about.  I think my favourite story in the collection was the first one where gold prospectors kept dying under mysterious circumstances in this one particular remote valley.  It really displayed a certain sense of human stubborness and perhaps a degree of human stupidity.  Either way, I totally enjoyed it.  It was great for a little scare before bed when you're in the mood to get a little scared.

The real star of this was the art though.  I really loved the way the illustrator was able to bring the stories to life with the designs and way they were illustrated.  The use of colour was great, and a lot of information was passed along visually.  The art was really atmospheric.

Overall, I highly recommend the collection.  If this is the kind of content MrBallen makes, then I might have to actually check out a video.

Are you a fan of the strange, dark, and mysterious then this graphic novel is for you! YouTube sensation, podcaster, and master storyteller John B. Allen has curated a truly haunting collection of stories to keep you up late into the early morning hours listening to every bump in the night.

When I first heard that Mr. Ballen was releasing his first graphic novel filled with an assortment of mysterious and chilling phenomenons such as UFOs, giants, and all the eerie paranormal hauntings I immediately knew I had to read it! Upon reading this it is abundantly clear the amount of time, dedication, and passion that has went into this project and to say I was blown away by this graphic novel is an understatement. I absolutely devoured every bone chilling tale! The formatted short stories are just the right length, making reading one story at a time an easy addition to your nightly pre-sleep reading. I also loved the decision to make these short stories into a graphic novel as it added an extra immersive layer to the hauntingly mysterious tales with the amazing illustrations of Andrea Mutti’s bringing them to life. Truly the star of the show tho without a doubt is the way in which Allen weaves these terrifying stories in such a way that you find yourself easily at the edge of your seat completely invested, waiting to see what horror is lurking on the next page. Bottom line whether you choose to share this with friends around the campfire or alone hiding under the covers consuming late into the night this is an absolute must read for spooky season!

Mr. Ballen Presents: Strange, Dark, & Mysterious: The Graphic Stories comes out October 1st, 2024. Thank you NetGalley and Ten Speed Press, Ten Speed Graphic for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun one. As a fan of the Mr Ballen YouTube channel the stories and cadence of these were familiar to be but having heard the stories before did not detract from my enjoyment of the graphic novel. The images were well done and it was written in a way that seemed like you were listening to someone tell you the stories, rather than reading them.

A great graphic novel just in time for the Halloween season!