Comic Book Review: Creatures of the Night
Even though we live in a world that for the most part is documented and explored. Many of us feel that there are still elements shrouded in mystery that are yet to be discovered. [easyazon_link identifier=”150670025X” locale=”US” tag=”bounintocomi-20″]Creatures of the Night[/easyazon_link] focuses it’s stories on those elements that not only catch our imagination, but keep us wondering. Within the issue are elements of fantasy, horror, tragedy, and mystery, all of which are told in a classic style that will take you back to the stories of the Brothers Grimm. Both stories are written by Neil Gaiman and drawn by Michael Zulli, who together do an incredible job of laying out good story lines, as well as matching art that hold your eyes.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”150670025X” locale=”US” src=”http://boundingintocomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/61EuCfVyYJL.jpg” tag=”bounintocomi-20″ width=”331″]
The first story is named “The Price.” In this story you’re introduced to a family who go out of their way to take care of stray cats. Some stay and make the property their home, and others go, but this seemingly simple story enjoys a hard twist as you’re shown that there are things going on all around you, and you can have no clue what’s going on. Neil Gaiman provides us with a simple framework and expands it gently until you’re close to the end where he pushes the boundaries and unveils a magical surprise.that completely delivers on the build up.
The story feels like a classic fable in the way it’s written from the perspective of the father of the house, and how he sees the cats he cares for. You see his struggle to understand what’s going on around him in a way that is extremely relatable. It captures the essence of classic fables.by making you believe it could easily happen to you.
The art by Michael Zulli uses a classic element of illustration that was far more common decades ago. The style excellently complements Gaiman’s writing. The storytelling elements are heavy, and is best done by silent star, the black cat. You can also see in the art his range of emotions from watchman, tired, to grateful, all of which is represented by the cat.
The second story, “The Daughter of Owl,” is a very different story compared to “The Price.” Gaiman’s narration is even drastically different. T You’re taken into the story with the perspective of a man telling a friend a tall tale about a “Daughter of Owls”. A daughter who is unlike other children.
The way the people of the town are written remind me of the worst of the worst. Paranoia, superstition, and hate run through them all. As the narrator tells the story you’re given a view of the world that isn’t the most pleasant but it’s one of the most compelling parts of the story. Gaiman expertly captures a lack empathy in the townspeople’s acts of brutality.
The art in this story is very powerful, most of that is because of the subject line it deals with. Michael Zulli presents us with the evil that dwells within man while keeping the details to a minimum. This allows you to see past individuals and see them as a single whole unit. The owls in this story were beautiful to say the least, but they also gave off an aura of strength and resolve in the way they were drawn.
The Verdict
[easyazon_link identifier=”150670025X” locale=”US” tag=”bounintocomi-20″]Creatures of the Night[/easyazon_link] pulls you back to the old days. You’re back in the world of fables, which is the foundations to a lot of our current writing. Neil Gaiman writes two powerful and strikingly different stories that will stay with you. Michael Zulli takes the subjects at hand and provides you with visuals that stay stirring in your mind long after you put them down.
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