I mean, it's difficult to go wrong with the talent behind this graphic novel. I mean, Barry Gilford? Author of Wild At Heart AND Lost Highway? Lynch fans will immediately snap this up.

While we mostly see comics or novels adapted into film or tv, but every once in a while we get a novel get a comic adaptation and when done correctly they can be fantastic. Night People from Barry Gifford and Chris Condon is exactly that, a well-crafted adaptation.

A pair of murderous lovers in Florida carrying out a bloody agenda. A perverse political and religious power struggle between a brother and a sister. An easygoing drifter who suddenly finds himself a fugitive on the run. And a bright-eyed young girl discovering her place in the cold dark world. At the end of the twentieth century, chaos and horror were the American dream.

While Barry Gifford is no stranger to crafting narratives that explore the depths of human nature, often blurring the lines between reality and nightmare, I was actually unaware the Night People miniseries was an adaptation of previous work. This was not extremely evident when reading the first chapter and that made for a great reading experience.

The four distinct stories within this collected edition offer us a mosaic of lives caught in tumultuous times—a pair of murderous lovers on a rampage across Florida; siblings entangled in a twisted struggle for power; an unassuming drifter turned fugitive; and a young girl navigating her own coming-of-age against a backdrop of darkness. Each tale threads together themes of desperation, ambition, and survival in an evocative portrayal of America teetering on chaos.

Gifford's collaboration with Condon on this comic book adaptation is something those not familiar with Gifford's work can enjoy while I would feel those who have read his work can also appreciate. The series is wonderfully brought to life in vivid panels that juxtapose beauty with brutality being illustrated by Brian Level, Alexandre Tefenkgi, Artyom Topilin, and Marco Finnegan. Each of the four tales has its own artistic team that brings the stories to life in a unique way to allow us to experience them all separately.

Having not read the original source material, I cannot compare the two. However, as someone new to the tales that lie within Night People I can honestly say you don't need to read anything else. These tales crafted by Chris Condon and artists Brian Level, Alexandre Tefenkgi, Artyom Topilin, and Marco Finnegan based on Barry Gifford's stories are a perfect addition to the world of comics.

I really struggled to get into this, I felt like the story jumped about too much which prevented me from being fully engrossed in it.

I enjoyed some parts and liked how they had been done but others took me right out of the story.

I feel like it has potential but its just not for me.

Thanks to Oni Press and NetGalley for providing me with this arc.

Had a hard time focusing on the story cause of how ugly the art looked to me. I don't know if that was the point of it but it was bothersome to me.

Ugly artwork, bad story. Waited for it to get good but it just wasn't for me. I like gory stories but the art needs to look better than this for me to like it.

This was a graphic novel based on the novel Night People by Barry Gifford. There are four interrelated stories that follow different characters experiencing the horrors of violence. This was graphic and violent (lots of shooting, death, murder). The style of illustration was unique and a highlight of the read for me. The characters' faces, in particular, were so interestingly drawn.

As far as the actual story, I'm not sure how to feel about this one. I felt like the stories were too short to really feel connected to. It took me several pages to orient myself in the story and figure out what was going on and by the time that happened, the story was almost over. I'm not sure how this compares to the original novel, as I haven't read it, but I think this could've benefited from having two volumes with the first two stories taking up the entire first volume.

There is an interview with the authors at the end that helped my understanding of the themes / intention of the stories. I'd actually recommend reading that before starting the actual story. I'd recommend this to fans of the original novel and fans of noir/crime/thriller graphic novels.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Quite raunchy. I liked the style of the drawings, but the story wasn't my vibe. It does delivery on the dark and disturbing, though, so I appreciated that, I just didn't connect.

This collection of stories takes us on a journey through the lives of four different people that show us there is no need for the supernatural or mythical to explore the real depths of horror as that’s there in the world all along.

This collection has a real Grindhouse feel to the art and storytelling, very cinematic, each story is set in the depths of the US South and revolves around how four people take action to resolve their own inner demons.

Bloody and visceral at times there is also a depth of story in each short piece that really takes us on a journey to the inevitable bloody conclusion.

Serial killers, feuding siblings, bloody vengeance, fugitives, drug lords, take us on a road trip into the seedier side of the US, all of these are supported by powerful, energetic, and brutal art that really adds to the atmosphere building which is so important in such short pieces.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this did not work for me. The art style is good and I liked some of the short stories but a lot of different things were happening from page to page which made it very difficult to follow.

An interesting collection of short stories. The graphics are well done, and the stories are well-written. A good read.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

Issue 1: 3 Stars
Good start. Liked the gore.

Issue 2: 1 star
The nakedness triggered me and in general I felt that this part was just weird.

Issue 3: 4 stars
I really liked the story of Earl and how he said that his down there is bigger than his brain, that was funny. And the ending was so shocking.

Issue 4: 2 stars
Overall the whole teenage rebellion was cool and how the mother of the girl already told us indirectly how bad the father actually is. I reduced one star due to the ending triggering me.

Everything put together I would give this book a 3 star rating. I generally don't rate books too high that triggered me, but I really liked the whole idea. Also, the whole thing about how each issue was planned and such was cool to read too! I generally like when books show how they were made.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read comics, especially ones that are mainly about murder and body horror.

———————————————————————————
Thank you Oni Press, for the advanced reader copy of Night People by Barry Gifford and Chris Condon

Started the book: 18. October 2024
Finished the book: 18. October 2024
Wrote the review: 18. October 2024

This is based on a novel which is supposedly very good, but none of the depth or complexity reviewers of the original talk about is here. Zero character development, no narrative arc, no stakes.

Very fun collection of graphic stories. Wonderful story line with superb art and dialogue. A very fun read indeed.

An anthology, so mileage varies from story to story. All of them lurid tales of skuzzy people, none of them particularly illuminating, some of them slightly funnier than others. The art wildly varies in quality and approach as well, making the slender connections between stories a little harder to make.

If you're a fan of Gifford, I don't know what you'd find in these adaptations; if you're new to his work, this probably isn't the best argument either. But the execution is solid, and the read is fairly smooth.

Night People: A Gripping Tale That Will Keep You Up All Night!

This exceptional story unfolds across four captivating chapters, each one diving deep into the life of a unique character. As their paths intertwine, the suspense builds, leaving you breathless. I was completely engrossed, and by the end, I had my jaw on the floor!

But beware—this isn’t a tale for the faint of heart. It’s dark, disturbing, and definitely worth checking trigger warnings before diving in. With masterful storytelling and stunning illustrations, Night People is a must-read for anyone seeking a thrilling experience. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable journey!

"A ballet of brutality and beauty".

I would agree with the hardcover description. The visceral and violent cover drew me in. Both title and cover were kinda misleading. This wasn't what I was expecting to be honest. I was perhaps expecting the story to lean more on apocalyptic/ zombies 'ala walking dead' style but with two bad ass women as main protagonists. Not really disappointing just different from what I envisioned.

Pulpy and provocative. We follow an uneasy cast of wanted men and women, cartel-killers and lost souls through four interlocking tales. Highlights abusive behaviour of men against women and emphasis on feminine rights - and turning the tables and having women take their revenge and then some. This was interesting enough for me and I'd probably read the novel version sometime soon to know more about the characters and their back-stories.


Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for the arc. 🖤

I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

A lush, lurid, tale sprawled across a nightmarish, Through Looking Glass version of America that seamlessly blends horror, mystery, and character study in one unforgettable story.

Any summary of the Night People will fail to do it justice. But in the interest of giving a preview, let’s say it's an adeptly written story of violent, passionate, desperate, people and the sparks that fly as their narratives intersect. There are, first and foremost, feminist, religious fanatics, who have some good points but won’t let something as trivial as murder prevent them from spreading the good word. There’s a man on the run from his past who’s about to run right into something worse than anything he left in his rearview. There’s a shockingly observant little girl who might be even more than she appears, going on an ill advised journey and trying to save her broken father. When these characters find their paths crossing, the result is something rare and memorable, true lightning in a bottle type stuff.

Night People combines the best elements of classic pulp like Tales from The Crypt with its shocking violence and grisly storytelling, while also pausing long enough to make its characters fully fleshed out, tragic human beings. While reading I thought the world of the story was reminiscent of the grittiest elements of Sandman by Neil Gaiman and what would happen if someone were to adapt the show True Detective into expertly lined and colored graphic novel form. The aesthetic virtuosity on display here from the various artists deserves just as much praise as the brilliant narrative elements. Skill and care just seep out of every panel and no matter what’s happening in the story at any given time, the art is a joy to see. In conclusion, this was a gripping and immersive world that fascinates even as it repels, it demands your attention and compels you to finish in one sitting.

A shocking, compelling, pulpy trip, Night People is like a road trip from hell across the Deep South and I for one can’t wait to get on the road again.

Four interconnected stories of convicts, lost souls, and human monsters journeying through a labyrinth of perversion, religious dogma, and murder in the Deep South.

Wow. Not what I was expecting at all. Horror comes in so many packages, lovers with a twisted idea of God, a preacher who signed more than his congregation ever could, a drifted who doesn't know how he signed just that he did, and a child who just wanted to give her father her love.

The artwork was amazing, the story strong as well as shocking. I was floored by this and think it will stay in my head for some time.

Recommended but be aware there should be trigger warnings attached.
Sex, violence, rape, and pedophilia.

Thanks to @netgalley and Oni Press for giving me the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.