Graphic Novel Review: Slumber Vol. 1

Published by: Image Comics

Written by: Tyler Burton Smith

Illustrated by: Vanessa Cardinali

ISBN: 9781534323360

Ages: 15+

Three detectives show up at a crime scene. With the strange symbols written on the walls in blood, as well as the message “I seek the DREAM EATER”, they know that another of the Sleepwalker Killings has happened. A random series of murders committed by people who are sleeping as they kill, the cops have turned up no leads… until now. Found at the scene is a business card from Stetson, a nightmare hunter for hire who uses technology to actually enter someone’s dreams where they can fully destroy the nightmare. She knows that the symbols are from Valkira, also known as the Shadow Walker, a dark entity who has plagued Stetson for years as the monster who led to the death of her daughter.

New author Tyler Burton Smith and Italian illustrator Vanessa Cardinali bring a unique premise: What if you could hire someone to go into your dreams and shoot your nightmares right in the face? While the story doesn’t directly go into how it is possible, the tech is believable enough that you suspend your disbelief while you are along for the ride. The book takes a few tense and emotional turns once a specific rule of dream hunting is established, and the end of the book is a cliffhanger that should bring anyone back for Volume 2. SLUMBER VOL. 1 is both familiar and new all at once. A very entertaining read.

15+ for violence and cartoonish gore.

ADAM FISHER, Reference Associate

Author
Recent Posts

Adam Fisher

Adam Fisher has worked for more than a decade at Lane Libraries in Fairfield, Ohio, where he is a Reference Associate. He creates and leads programming for all ages, manages the graphic novel, sci-fi/fantasy, and magazine collections at his branch, and has recently seen great success with his self-created Escape Room programs. He writes reviews for everything he reads and can be found on Goodreads @FisherAd80 and on Twitter @adamreadscomics.

Related