Bad Medicine

by Christopher Twin

A group of Cree teens gather around a fire to share stories of spirits and shapeshifters in this chilling debut graphic novel. "Bad Medicine 's about as good as medicine can get ― stories with blood on the ground, sure, but a lot left in the heart, too." ―Stephen Graham Jones, author of The Only Good Indians After wandering out to the river near their homes, five teens decide to build a fire and exchange horror stories. Chad begins by telling the group about an unfortunate fisher who encountered a cluster of small, malevolent creatures while navigating the river in his canoe. Attempting to defend himself, Carl lashed out with an oar... and his world changed forever. One by one, the teens try to outdo each other, and the evening evolves into an impromptu storytelling competition. On certain nights, if you walk along Loon River and peer under the bridge, you might spot a fire. You might hear a laugh. You might hear a scream. If you edge closer―and the conditions are just right―your view of the river will melt away, into the inky black beyond the firelight. Not to worry―the echoes of rushing water will help you find your way back. Or will they? Inspired by Cree folklore and modern Cree life, Bad Medicine will transport readers to terrifying new worlds that only exist at the edges of human imagination.

Genres: Horror, Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Indigenous, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Comics

116 pages, Paperback

Published October 24, 2023

About the author

Christopher Twin is a Cree writer. He was born and raised on the Swan River First Nations reservation, but now lives and works in Edmonton

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bad Medicine by Christopher Twin was long listed for 2024 Canada Reads.

A group of Cree teens gather around a fire to share stories of spirits and shapeshifters in this chilling debut graphic novel.

Inspired by Cree folklore and modern Cree life, Bad Medicine showcases Christopher Twin's artistic talent and abilities. This book brings awareness to the importance of many critical issues young Indigenous generations and communities are facing today - the plight of MMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls), and the intergenerational trauma left behind due to the residential school system.
4.5 stars

[Shane Hawk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christopher Twin’s editor at Emanta, the YA imprint of Conundrum Press solicited a blurb for this YA Indigenous Dark Fiction graphic novel. I was too excited to oblige. Here’s my blurb below:

Like a peyote-stitch medallion, the interlaced pattern of stories found within Twin’s graphic novel, Bad Medicine, reminds me of belonging, reminds me of cold nights around a warm fire with friends—sharing chilling stories, some all too real and close to home. This Indigenous horror debut is a medallion I’d wear proudly on my chest. And? I have a clawing hunger for more.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5!

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic story and lovely art. Really liked the takes on the monsters, particularly this idea of becoming a monster to protect yourself or get something that you want/need.

[Raven Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stories can be graphic especially the last one. Read between the lines. Interesting illustrations

Read via a reader copy online

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and spooky! I love how it leads you in with shapeshifters and specters, lulling you into a false sense of security. The horrors of the real world pack a punch when the ghost of a murdered indigenous woman takes vengeance on her killer to save another and as a man repeats the cycle of abuse he was subjected to. But there is hope through community, through sharing stories and learning from them. There is a chance to break the cycle. The graphic novel ends on a lighthearted note that gives its reader the sense that everything will turn out okay for our five protagonists. We can all become more than what we were born into and rewrite our own stories.

[Jenx Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this comic without even reading the description. I just saw the cover and checked it out, and wow, I'm sure glad I did! It's a phenomenal read. It's delightfully creepy, emotionally moving, and creatively inspiring. If you get the chance to read this awesome Indigenous horror comic, then please do! Another addition to my 5/5 star reads! 🌟

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another book on the Canada Reads 2024 longlist. In it, a group of Cree teenagers gather to share horror stories in front of a fire. Some of the stories were very moving, and overall, I enjoyed this book. However, I would have enjoyed a longer graphic novel to expand on the stories and enjoy the artwork.

[Lauren Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Someday, he will find himself in a very familiar position. And he'll have to choose, he can keep the cycle going or break it"

I thought this book had a great way of storying telling throughout. I enjoyed how much the book developed characters so quickly. I though the text was hard to read at times.

This book was a quick read, as I read it in under an hour.

I would recommend this book to any into graphic novels

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of Cree teens find themselves sitting around a campfire telling Cree folklore horror stories; some based on real events, while others are pure myth; all creepy in their own merit. This was such a great graphic novel; the horror and spookiness of it were top notch. Twin, did an amazing job with the art; this story was mostly told through his illustrations and not the words and he captured the essence so well. The reader felt all the emotions conveyed through the art and there were times when they thought things look really creepy and horrific, like it stopped them in their tracks how eerie and disturbing some of it was. The fact that he could communicate all these feelings without the use of many words was really powerful because some stories really packed a punch. All the stories were really well told; they went by so quickly because we were following the images. The only story the reader really didn’t quite get was the last story, it was interesting because it was based off of one of the characters around the campfire and his home life. It was interesting in the subject matter and how it was depicted; it was like reality blended with horrendous and frightening myth. This also felt very nostalgic of the TV show Are You Afraid of the Dark, and this reader really enjoyed that vibe. It made the pacing of this well done; each character got to tell a tale, some more fearful than others, but all of them had a good shock to them. This was an all-around freaky read that this reader enjoyed immensely.   

[LadyRemy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only complaint is that there wasn't more. I would've loved to have seen a whole comic anthology of Native American ghost stories in this. I really enjoyed it. The art was very harsh compared to the clean style I'm used to reading, but it fit the tone. These are ghost stories. I loved the introduction with teens sitting around the campfire, it was very reminiscent of, "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" and just really set the vibes. My favorite story was the Missing Girl tale because it shone a light on something serious that is a problem in the community regarding when indigenous women and girls go missing or are murdered. I listen to a LOT of true crime podcasts and it's ridiculous how little a lot of the police do in these cases. I liked that the missing girl story had a bittersweet ending.

This was a quick read and I would highly recommend it for anyone in a spooky mood.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bad Medicine is a great debut graphic novel. Told with the framing device of a group of Cree teens telling scary stories around a fire, the book is a collection of short horror stories based around Cree folklore and real life. My favourite stories were the first two (one about the Mimiskiwaw and one about MMIWG), but all the stories included are solid. The art is great, and I love that the back cover was done in the style of a vintage horror comic cover. I really enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend checking it out. I hope to see more from Christopher Twin in the future!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars...this was an interesting graphic novel story collection where each story is told as a kind of campfire tale. I liked it well enough...the second of the stories was by far my favorite. Its a quick read and id recommend it for teens and older middle grade possibly. I don't see myself ever picking this one up again for a reread though

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I liked how this collection was framed, with a group of Cree teens sitting around a campfire telling stories based on Cree folklore, stories that convey their modern-day problems and worries in frightening, supernatural settings. My favorite story was probably the werewolf one, but the ghost story was good too, especially the art. The use of different color palettes to convey moods and timeframes was well done. I got a little confused by the demon story, but I got there in the end.

[Laila - Stories Steeped in Magic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bad Medicine by Christopher Twin
Rating: 3.5
Thank you EMANATA for providing an e-copy through Edelweiss.

Synopsis & What I Liked: On a dark night by the river, a group of Cree teens start a campfire and gather around to start a little competition: Who can tell the scariest story? In this debut graphic novel, readers will watch as the teens try to outdo each other, telling more creepy, sinister, and haunting tales based on their Cree heritage and folklore. Encounter malevolent monsters that live in the river, unending darkness that will swallow you into the abyss, and beasts of the woods. The stories will chill you to the bone while also using horror as a way to highlight many social issues that young Indigenous communities face today, like missing Indigenous women, trauma from the residential school system, and rampant alcoholism. This graphic novel is a great addition to horror anthologies for diverse teens and a great debut from Cree author Christopher Twin.

What I Didn’t Like: The art style could be rough at times. This works well for horror and grotesque imagery, but not for the human face and realistic details.

Who Would I Recommend this to: Teens who like horror, graphic novels, and/or Native American fiction like Man Made Monsters by Andrea Rogers, Dead Mall by Adam Cesare, and Four Faces of the Moon by Amanda Strong, and the graphic novel This Place: 150 Years Retold.

Review Date: January 15, 2024

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A group of Cree teens hanging out around a bonfire trade urband-legend-style horror stories (the "happened to a friend of a friend of mine" type of thing). Some are spooky 'creature-in-the-woods' style, some touch on intense social issues like MMIWG and family trauma-cycles involving alcoholism. I found the last one a little too allegorical for me, so it wasn't clear what was symbolic vs real and what exactly was meant by some of what was shown happening. But it ends on a hopeful note.

Content warnings/concerns: occasional very mild swearing (like 'what the hell' etc), occasional violence like pushing & punching; one story of kidnapping and violence against women with intent to murder; occasional strategically-shaded nudity, one frame of a sex scene but in silhouette (not graphic); a few scenes of alcohol/drunkenness shown as a negative thing to be overcome, not as a fun activity; some smoking

[Christiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who started their horror book-loving journey because of indigenous horror, just imagine how surprised I was when I came across this sweet surprise at the library.

Bad Medicine features four stories, each different with its aspects of horror but connected through the values instilled within this Cree author.

The first tale is a reminder of why you should always listen to the Elders of your community.

The second is a warning cry of the ever-present danger for indigenous women and girls (MMIWG).

The third is a reflection on what it means to chase your past instead of leaving it be.

And lastly, the fourth is a call-for-action to indigenous youth to break the generational curses that has torn their families apart for ages.

All in all, this was a great read with stunning visuals. My only gripe was that it was difficult to determine which of the teen characters were which at times due to unclear introductions.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bad Medicine by Christopher Twin is a graphic novel featuring a group of Cree teenagers who get together to tell scary stories around the campfire. The stories feature monsters and demons from Cree folklore, touching on issues facing the FNMI community. The most poignant story for me the Ghost Story surrounding MMIWG.

The art style is lovely, making the stories quickly understood. Another reviewer said it felt very like “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” which was peak Canadian broadcasting in the 1990s - 2000s. I couldn’t agree more! I thoughtfully enjoyed this graphic novel, a medium that is new to me. I look forward to bringing this into my classroom. I will be on the lookout for more stories by this author.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drawing from both Cree folklore and modern life, this brief graphic novel is about a group of friends exchanging scary stories around the campfire. I couldn't get into the last story. A little too figurative for me, even though the message came across clearly. The first and third story are nice and creepy, but I liked the second story best. It spotlights the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, in a story that's equally terrifying and heartbreaking. Human monsters are at least as scary as supernatural monsters. The art is really interesting, and I especially liked the use of extreme close up panels to obscure what would otherwise be gory or explicit content. Trust the human imagination to trump any illustration. A quick read, perfect for spooky season.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A group of teens gather around a campfire and tell scary stories to spook each other. Given that they are Cree, some of their spooky stories are based on real-life horrors: disappeared/murdered women, or the demons of generational trauma and substance abuse. Others are based on supernatural indigenous characters, such as the Little People. The gore quotient makes this more of a teen book than a tween book. Pair this with The Marrow Thieves" and "This Place: 150 Years Retold."

[Ramona Jennex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked how this graphic novel used a campfire to share scary stories. The stories are based on actual events (missing and murdered Indigenous Woman and Girls and the intergenerational trauma of residential schools) and Cree stories and legends.
I am honoured to read a graphic novel written and illustrated by a member of the Cree community and I look forward to his next book. Christopher Twin has demonatrated he is a talented artist and storyteller with this book.

[ColleenIsBooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. The art style was cool and I liked the way it was set up like telling campfire stories. I also appreciated that some of the stories touched on important topics like MMIWG2S, generational trauma, and alcoholism. I would be interested to read more graphic novels like this from the author/illustrator.

[jedioffsidetrap · Rating 2 out of 5]

Three tales told around a fire by indigenous yutes: fisherman meets feral water kids, hunter meets a werewolf-ress, abducted girl freed by a ghost of previous victim. Then a fourth, final bit with one of the kids going home to his trailer to protect sister from partying parents & friends then gets all weird & surreal.

Nice contemporary themes, so-so execution.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five short tales told by Cree kids under a bridge at night. Each story weaves together a contemporary protagonist with a bit of supernatural interference. Simple and straightforward, but scary enough to make this a fit for high schools. Could be a good introduction to graphic narratives, or short story as a format. Glad to have read this.

[Myranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel uses campfire tales, as in a group of teens sharing scary stories around a fire, to bring life to Indigenous legends but also real life issues such as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The illustrations are great and as this achieves what I believe it was setting out to do, it gets 5 stars from me.

[Kasi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because it was on the CBC Canada Reads Long List. It was a good move on my part.

Beautiful artwork. Chilling and haunting tales that made me a bit uncomfortable. Horror doesn’t always have that effect on me but oof, these absolutely did.

I appreciated the awareness raising of MMIWG.

[Jane Mulkewich · Rating 4 out of 5]

A graphic novel, and a quick read, portraying a group of Cree teens around a campfire after dark telling horror stories. As the inside cover says, "inspired by Cree folklore and modern Cree life", and that is what is most compelling about this book, is that it describes both the horrors of legend (demons and shapeshifters) and of real life. Lots of love here too, amongst the storytellers.

[Keisha Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

short graphic novel of 4 short stories told as ghost stories around a campfire. One on little people from native mythology, one on werewolves, one for MMIWG, and one on generational trauma. Enjoyed bright and colorful artwork. Mild gore. Good suspense for short story and comic book style.

would have preferred more folklore/mythology stories

[Yona · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art is very unpolished. However, I appreciated the frame story of the teens sitting around a campfire to unify the otherwise unrelated spooky stories. I also appreciated that several of the stories relate to current social issues and human relationships with the natural world. I would recommend this to teens who are looking for horror graphic novels, but I wish I liked the art more.