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Dead Boy Detectives (2013-2014) (single issues) #1-12
Dead Boy Detectives by Toby Litt & Mark Buckingham
Edwin Paine and Charles Roland have a lot in common - they’re both English schoolboys who love a good detective story, and they’ve been known to dabble in mystery-solving themselves. They’re also both dead, a condition which has proven to be less of a hindrance than one might think.
From the pages of THE SANDMAN, Neil Gaiman's intrepid dead schoolboys head back to the horror that is St. Hilarions School; the place where they both were murdered. This volume collects Toby Litt and Mark Buckingham's Dead Boy Detectives #1-12, as well as well as the short stories “Run Ragged” from Witching Hour #1, Ghosts #1 and Time Warp #1.
From the pages of THE SANDMAN, Neil Gaiman's intrepid dead schoolboys head back to the horror that is St. Hilarions School; the place where they both were murdered. This volume collects Toby Litt and Mark Buckingham's Dead Boy Detectives #1-12, as well as well as the short stories “Run Ragged” from Witching Hour #1, Ghosts #1 and Time Warp #1.
296 pages, Paperback
Published June 13, 2023
15 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Toby Litt
88 books213 followersToby Litt was born in Bedfordshire, England. He studied Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia where he was taught by Malcolm Bradbury, winning the 1995 Curtis Brown Fellowship.
He lived in Prague from 1990 to 1993 and published his first book, a collection of short stories entitled Adventures in Capitalism, in 1996.
In 2003 Toby Litt was nominated by Granta magazine as one of the 20 'Best of Young British Novelists'.
In 2018, he published Wrestliana, his memoir about wrestling, writing, losing and being a man.
His novel, A Writer's Diary, was published by Galley Beggar Press on January 1st 2022.
A Writer's Diary continues daily on Substack.
He lives in London and is the Head of Creative Writing at the University of Southampton.
He lived in Prague from 1990 to 1993 and published his first book, a collection of short stories entitled Adventures in Capitalism, in 1996.
In 2003 Toby Litt was nominated by Granta magazine as one of the 20 'Best of Young British Novelists'.
In 2018, he published Wrestliana, his memoir about wrestling, writing, losing and being a man.
His novel, A Writer's Diary, was published by Galley Beggar Press on January 1st 2022.
A Writer's Diary continues daily on Substack.
He lives in London and is the Head of Creative Writing at the University of Southampton.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 22, 2023
The Dead Boy Detectives are joined by new character Crystal Palace in a series of adventures that start out pretty dire but get steadily better.
It takes this collection the first four issues to really kick into gear. Those first four issues, plus the introductory Run Ragged story, feel disjointed and chaotic, and not in a good way. Edwin, Charles, and Crystal all talk (or monologue!) at once, and it makes it difficult to keep track of what's actually going on. After two issues, I was almost ready to throw in the towel because I couldn't find the energy in myself to care.
Luckily, things refocus after that. The middle two issues are a silly little story about a ghost half-trapped in a mirror, and the final five issue story plus the epilogue bring everything neatly into focus as the Dead Boys deal with the revelation of Charles' half-sister, which actually feels like a mystery rather than just the three characters being thrown into madness and having to work themselves out of it.
All of these issues are drawn, at least in layout, by Mark Buckingham. No matter who's on finishes, the book feels fairly consistent in terms of art, if not particularly special. It's got that Vertigo house style going for it, for better or worse.
Not bad, not great, but there's a pulse and a heart in here once you get past the introductory teething issues.
It takes this collection the first four issues to really kick into gear. Those first four issues, plus the introductory Run Ragged story, feel disjointed and chaotic, and not in a good way. Edwin, Charles, and Crystal all talk (or monologue!) at once, and it makes it difficult to keep track of what's actually going on. After two issues, I was almost ready to throw in the towel because I couldn't find the energy in myself to care.
Luckily, things refocus after that. The middle two issues are a silly little story about a ghost half-trapped in a mirror, and the final five issue story plus the epilogue bring everything neatly into focus as the Dead Boys deal with the revelation of Charles' half-sister, which actually feels like a mystery rather than just the three characters being thrown into madness and having to work themselves out of it.
All of these issues are drawn, at least in layout, by Mark Buckingham. No matter who's on finishes, the book feels fairly consistent in terms of art, if not particularly special. It's got that Vertigo house style going for it, for better or worse.
Not bad, not great, but there's a pulse and a heart in here once you get past the introductory teething issues.
January 26, 2025
I got a lot of enjoyment from this because I loved the show and had all its context, but even so, it feels quite flat: there's hardly any context for Edwin and Charles's operation and how they came to be or, like... any insight into what makes them who they are. There's not very good chemistry between characters and the plots are very weirdly paced and hard to follow. It was really fun for me to see how the show got a lot of it's inspiration (like that Niko was clearly based on Hana, and the changes made to Tragic Mick, and insight on Crystal's eccentric parents), but it definitely doesn't hold up very well on its own.
July 5, 2024
Summerween 2024 - prompt 2
August 3, 2024
Silly and spooky, just like me!
May 29, 2024
"Dead Boy Detectives" to komiks, który zabiera czytelników w mroczną, a zarazem intrygującą podróż przez świat duchów i tajemnic. Główne postacie, Edwin i Charles, to dwaj zmarli detektywi, którzy wraz z nową bohaterką, Crystal Palace, starają się rozwikłać różnorodne zagadki. Seria rozpoczyna się dość chaotycznie, co może zniechęcić niektórych czytelników. Pierwsze cztery zeszyty są nieco zagmatwane, a narracja wydaje się być nieco niezorganizowana, co może utrudniać zrozumienie fabuły.
Jednakże, po przejściu przez początkowe trudności, komiks nabiera tempa i staje się bardziej uporządkowany. Środkowe zeszyty przedstawiają ciekawą historię o duchu uwięzionym w lustrze, a końcowe części koncentrują się na ujawnieniu tajemnicy dotyczącej przyrodniej siostry Charlesa. To właśnie te elementy wprowadzają prawdziwy klimat detektywistyczny, który jest esencją tej serii.
Pod względem artystycznym, komiks utrzymuje spójność dzięki pracom Marka Buckinghama. Jego rysunki są charakterystyczne dla stylu Vertigo, co może być zarówno zaletą, jak i wadą, w zależności od oczekiwań czytelnika. Buckinghamowi towarzyszą inni artyści, ale jego wkład pozostaje dominujący, co nadaje komiksowi jednolity wygląd.
Fabuła "Dead Boy Detectives" jest wzbogacona o wątki z mitologii tajlandzkiej, co dodaje jej głębi i oryginalności. Wprowadzenie postaci z różnych okresów historycznych oraz różnorodność kulturowa sprawiają, że komiks staje się bardziej interesujący i wielowymiarowy. Mimo to, niektóre elementy fabuły mogą być trudne do zrozumienia i wymagają ponownego przeczytania, aby w pełni docenić wszystkie niuanse.
Niestety, komiks nie jest pozbawiony wad. Niektóre decyzje redakcyjne, takie jak niedopasowana kolorystyka, mogą wpływać negatywnie na odbiór estetyczny. Ponadto, fabuła momentami wydaje się być przeładowana zbędnymi elementami, co może wprowadzać zamieszanie i po prostu zniechęcić.
Podsumowując, "Dead Boy Detectives" to komiks, który ma potencjał, ale wymaga cierpliwości i uwagi od czytelników. Tylko dla fanów gatunku i miłośników twórczości Neila Gaimana, może to być interesująca lektura.
Przyjemność 3,3/5
Styl: 3,5/5
Historia: 3,7/5
Ocena 3,49/5
Jednakże, po przejściu przez początkowe trudności, komiks nabiera tempa i staje się bardziej uporządkowany. Środkowe zeszyty przedstawiają ciekawą historię o duchu uwięzionym w lustrze, a końcowe części koncentrują się na ujawnieniu tajemnicy dotyczącej przyrodniej siostry Charlesa. To właśnie te elementy wprowadzają prawdziwy klimat detektywistyczny, który jest esencją tej serii.
Pod względem artystycznym, komiks utrzymuje spójność dzięki pracom Marka Buckinghama. Jego rysunki są charakterystyczne dla stylu Vertigo, co może być zarówno zaletą, jak i wadą, w zależności od oczekiwań czytelnika. Buckinghamowi towarzyszą inni artyści, ale jego wkład pozostaje dominujący, co nadaje komiksowi jednolity wygląd.
Fabuła "Dead Boy Detectives" jest wzbogacona o wątki z mitologii tajlandzkiej, co dodaje jej głębi i oryginalności. Wprowadzenie postaci z różnych okresów historycznych oraz różnorodność kulturowa sprawiają, że komiks staje się bardziej interesujący i wielowymiarowy. Mimo to, niektóre elementy fabuły mogą być trudne do zrozumienia i wymagają ponownego przeczytania, aby w pełni docenić wszystkie niuanse.
Niestety, komiks nie jest pozbawiony wad. Niektóre decyzje redakcyjne, takie jak niedopasowana kolorystyka, mogą wpływać negatywnie na odbiór estetyczny. Ponadto, fabuła momentami wydaje się być przeładowana zbędnymi elementami, co może wprowadzać zamieszanie i po prostu zniechęcić.
Podsumowując, "Dead Boy Detectives" to komiks, który ma potencjał, ale wymaga cierpliwości i uwagi od czytelników. Tylko dla fanów gatunku i miłośników twórczości Neila Gaimana, może to być interesująca lektura.
Przyjemność 3,3/5
Styl: 3,5/5
Historia: 3,7/5
Ocena 3,49/5
September 11, 2024
3.5 stars
Like most I binge watched the Netflix series and that got me interested in the original comics.
Spanning 12 issues from 2013 - 2014 this comic can be divided into two halves.
The first part, issues 1-6, is where the series feels meandering and attempts to find it's footing. This is actually common with Neil Gaiman's writing (though Toby Litt was the one doing the heavy lifting) so for the first 6 issues the comic had a bit of an identity crises. It's aimed at Tweens, the imagery more suitable for teens, the dialogue more for kids though the plot more for adults.
It has the ghosts re-visit the boarding school that was their origin story in The Sandman #25: Season of Mists Chapter 4 and puzzle out it's mystery. Have to say, I almost gave up on it with this arc. It was too kiddy for me.
Issues 7 - 12 is where it actually finds itself. The plot & character more mature and actions less "lol random" and the rules of this world more established.
While the writers did well only taking inspiration from the comics I have to say these characters make more sense and oddly more mature than the aged up ones in the show. I wish the series got a chance because it ended just as things were getting more interesting.
Like most I binge watched the Netflix series and that got me interested in the original comics.
Spanning 12 issues from 2013 - 2014 this comic can be divided into two halves.
The first part, issues 1-6, is where the series feels meandering and attempts to find it's footing. This is actually common with Neil Gaiman's writing (though Toby Litt was the one doing the heavy lifting) so for the first 6 issues the comic had a bit of an identity crises. It's aimed at Tweens, the imagery more suitable for teens, the dialogue more for kids though the plot more for adults.
It has the ghosts re-visit the boarding school that was their origin story in The Sandman #25: Season of Mists Chapter 4 and puzzle out it's mystery. Have to say, I almost gave up on it with this arc. It was too kiddy for me.
Issues 7 - 12 is where it actually finds itself. The plot & character more mature and actions less "lol random" and the rules of this world more established.
While the writers did well only taking inspiration from the comics I have to say these characters make more sense and oddly more mature than the aged up ones in the show. I wish the series got a chance because it ended just as things were getting more interesting.
June 30, 2024
I picked this up after watching season one of the series adaptation, and being familiar with their origins in The Sandman universe.
This is a convoluted set of stories that takes a little bit of time to come together in a form that’s engaging. It really highlights that the TV series writers did an excellent job of distilling some core elements out of this and creating something that works.
The comic version of the boys blur together quite a lot here, while Crystal is fully formed, and less annoying than her TV counterpart.
The story threads of the ghost school, ghosts trading children’s bodies as vehicles for demons, and hunting the truth of a dad being a murderer were all interesting. Some of the other story threads were less so.
Overall, quite a Sandman dream tale vibe, with familiar-feeling art, and some engaging characters and stories.
This is a convoluted set of stories that takes a little bit of time to come together in a form that’s engaging. It really highlights that the TV series writers did an excellent job of distilling some core elements out of this and creating something that works.
The comic version of the boys blur together quite a lot here, while Crystal is fully formed, and less annoying than her TV counterpart.
The story threads of the ghost school, ghosts trading children’s bodies as vehicles for demons, and hunting the truth of a dad being a murderer were all interesting. Some of the other story threads were less so.
Overall, quite a Sandman dream tale vibe, with familiar-feeling art, and some engaging characters and stories.
December 24, 2025
Charles Rowland and Edwin Paine are the Dead Boy Detective Agency. They might be ghosts, but that doesn’t stop them from solving mysteries. Things change for them when they rescue Crystal though. They follow her to their old boarding school, where they discover bullying ghosts and deals with devils. This leads to more adventures with cats, a magic mirror, a half-sister, and the land between life and death. Can they save Crystal’s childhood friend? And can they find the truth about Charles’s father? No case is too weird for the Dead Boy Detectives!
This was an interesting graphic novel, but it needed more polish. The world-building is interesting, but is badly explained. The story is hard to follow because it’s so jumpy at times, like it’s missing panels or a page. And the characters all sound alike. It’s got a lot of potential, but I wanted to like it more than I did.
This was an interesting graphic novel, but it needed more polish. The world-building is interesting, but is badly explained. The story is hard to follow because it’s so jumpy at times, like it’s missing panels or a page. And the characters all sound alike. It’s got a lot of potential, but I wanted to like it more than I did.
December 22, 2024
What intrigued me: My mom got me hooked on the Netflix show, and then it got cancelled. :(
What I liked: I preferred the comic versions of Edwin and Crystal, but Charles is my favorite in both adaptations.
What I didn't like: This didn't feel like a complete trade. I knew it was a selection of issues, but I wanted all of them.
Favorite quote: "The tattoo was fake, of course."
What I liked: I preferred the comic versions of Edwin and Crystal, but Charles is my favorite in both adaptations.
What I didn't like: This didn't feel like a complete trade. I knew it was a selection of issues, but I wanted all of them.
Favorite quote: "The tattoo was fake, of course."
Read
January 7, 2025I remember reading a the Sandman issues of the dead boy detectives when I read the Sandman over a year or so ago. I had no idea until this last summer that they had made a show out of it, let alone how awesome it was. I love that show so much that I really wanted to check out their comics. The sandman’s art style is so cool I’m glad I checked it out but I do think the things I mostly love about the show came from the specific things done for the Netflix adaptation.
January 14, 2025
a fun read! silly and lighthearted despite the inherent morbidity. i had issues with the pacing all throughout; felt like i rushed through a lot of it just to get through. and i feel like the illustrations could’ve pushed the boundaries a bit more - whenever there was a particular dynamic panel or page i really wished there was more of that throughout the book. the colours weren’t really my style either. the characters and stories were very fun once i was able to keep up with what was going on!
August 23, 2024
This was just alright in the end - the stories were fun, but feeling a bit childish and a bit rushed in places. The artwork was great though, as was the friendship between Edwin and Charles.
TW for death of children, kidnapping and attempted murder of children, skeletons, mentions of hell, arson, parental neglect, bullying
TW for death of children, kidnapping and attempted murder of children, skeletons, mentions of hell, arson, parental neglect, bullying
October 28, 2024
When one of your favorite shows gets canceled, the only way to get more is to go back to its original form - comics. I will looking for all the Dead Boys Detective books I can find. This edition has great art work. I just love the cover, took me a while to get the cleverness of the cover, so cool.
October 19, 2023
A bit convoluted (as I often feel like is the case with Sandman-universe books) but I looooove that Mark Buckingham art.
March 30, 2024
Absolutely great fun. It takes a while to get going but it all comes together very well by the end.
September 7, 2024
My babies, they are everything to me
October 25, 2024
Fun read but it was a little hard to understand at times. Love the art style of it all so much!
December 15, 2025
I wasn't the biggest fan of the art style, though I really liked the story and characters.
P.S. I hate Netflix for canceling the show.
P.S. I hate Netflix for canceling the show.
January 17, 2026
Decided to check this out of the library after watching the Netflix show. I should have known (from Sandman) how weird this was going to get, but it still surprised me.
July 15, 2024
Just watch the tv show tbh
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews