Never By Night: A Comic Anthology Review

I’ve always loved a good horror anthology. From my early years as a Goosebumps kiddo to my teens with Outer Limits and Twilight Zone reruns, they’ve been a part of my life. When I heard about Jonathan Chance’s new anthology he started himself appearing on the indie scene, I had to check it out. It’s intriguing to see an anthology all penned by one person, with different artists per story, and I wanted to see what Chance and company could bring to the table!

This Halloween from Jonathan Chance, writer, creator of nightmare hits PERMADEATH and COVER THE DEAD WITH LIME comes a brand-new collection of horror stories. For anthology fans new and old (school) comes a fresh take on the old familiar and this four tale 80-page graphic novel is no one-shot. Its a year-shot fright pass to a brand-new scare library.

Welcome to your newest annual event read.

NEVER BY NIGHT

Disturbing Passages into the Unknown

There are no hosts. You’re all alone.

1st Story- “If I Never Come Back”

A good twist on the Gargoyle story from Tales from the Darkside, or the Tsuru, if you’re a Japanese mythology fan. A young man nearly meets death by a mysterious lakeside creature but is allowed to live, if he never says anything to anyone about it and never returns. Of course, that’s easier said than done… 

I appreciated the art by Dell Barras in this story, it had heavy linework and hand shading that seemed straight out of a CREEPY or Tales from the Crypt issue from the 60s. The monster design is unique without being too much, and I could see it as fitting for it’s setting, a long hidden swimming hole in the countryside. I would love to see it in a feature film, especially as an animatronic.

A solid short, grisly and to the point. I’d give it 3 out of 5 stars.

 

2nd “Chronicles of the Occult: Tennison”

 

Surrounding a “skeptic” who is about to start another investigation into the paranormal, we are given the reason why he pursues the supernatural, a tale from his childhood…

The idea is spooky but seems unfinished, either it’s the start of some Harry D’amour paranormal mystery investigation or it could have been left as just the children’s tales. While the child’s narrative could have been strong on its own as a one-off, this story is held back by that lack of climax. Even though we are given a box saying “The End” on the final page of the story, the story left me unfulfilled, and like it was intended as the start of a serialized story. I want to know more about this character and his adventures, but this felt like only getting a bite of an appetizer rather than a course of a meal. If I were provided more, I may be willing to retroactively rethink this one, but until Never By Night 2 releases, I give it:

2 out of 5 stars

3rd “Respect Your Elders”

Parents drop their troubled teen off at a behavioral rehabilitation center where all is not as it seems.

This felt like the shortest of the segments, with a rather sudden end, but the art by Ron Joseph reminded me a lot of Bernie Wrightson’s and the color palette provided by colorist Theresa Chiechi really helped sell the eerie fall vibe we love this time of year. Unfortunately, that sudden conclusion came with next to no buildup, and we weren’t given time to sympathize with the main character, only told why we shouldn’t like her, so the gruesome conclusion left me completely indifferent. 

2.5/5 stars

4th “This One’s A Winner”

A family goes on a Vegas Vacation, turns out Dad is not the lucky one… 

The story that seems to have the biggest Tales influence but also the weakest. I had to read through it three times to understand it completely, and that is never a good sign.  The opening really makes it seem like it’s gearing about smoking, but instead, it’s about gambling? I think? Ironically the best characterization in this short is for a character who goes missing from the story on page 4. I’m all for expedited storytelling, but a problem in this is that the art does not provide us details that the writing cannot or does not so we are left dependent on the writing. Sadly, there isn’t any of the detail there that Chance paid to prior shorts to hook my emotional investment or interest. 

1.5/5 stars

Overall, I would say that Never By Night is a good little scare, but not quite a haunt that will linger with you. I particularly shout out stories 1 and 3 as the highlights due to both their art reminiscent of classic anthologies like Tales from the Crypt and House of Mystery, and succinct storytelling. I was left wanting more with story 2, and hope very much to see it continued in one way or another in a sequel or ongoing series, but for now it’s just a nibble.

Never by Night was released on October 23, 2024, and is available now in print and digital format!

You can follow Jonathan Chance here on Instagram.