What do you think?
Rate this book
The Werewolf at Dusk: And Other Stories
Confronting “the beast within” us all, Werewolf at Dusk celebrates the singular genius of David Small, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Stitches . Following the internationally acclaimed publication of Stitches , David Small emerged as a storied figure in graphic literature, eliciting comparisons to Stan Lee and Alfred Hitchcock. Werewolf at Dusk , appearing fifteen years later, is his homage to aging―gracefully or otherwise. The three stories in this collection are linked, Small writes, “by the dread of things internal.” In the title story, an adaptation of Lincoln Michel’s much-loved short, the dread is that of a man who has reached old age with something repellant―even bestial―in his nature. The specter of old age also haunts the semi-autobiographical story “A Walk in the Old City,” with its looming spiders and cascading brainmatter―a dreamscape that gives way to the ominous environs of 1930s Berlin in the final story, a reinterpretation of Jean Ferry’s “The Tiger in Vogue.” As fluid as manga and rife with unsettling imagery, Werewolf at Dusk affirms Small’s place as a modern master of graphic fiction. Full-color throughout
192 pages, Hardcover
First published March 12, 2024
2 people are currently reading
2642 people want to read
About the author
David Small
120 books319 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
David Small is the recipient of the Caldecott Medal, a Christopher Medal, and the E. B. White Award for his picture books, which include Imogene's Antlers, The Gardener, and So, You Want to Be President? He lives in Mendon, Michigan.
David Small is the recipient of the Caldecott Medal, a Christopher Medal, and the E. B. White Award for his picture books, which include Imogene's Antlers, The Gardener, and So, You Want to Be President? He lives in Mendon, Michigan.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
February 1, 2024
A collection of short stories from acclaimed illustrator and graphic novelist David Small. The central story “A Walk in the Old City” is one of Small’s own, the other two are adaptations: one of contemporary writer Lincoln Michel’s “The Werewolf at Dusk”; the other Jean Ferry’s classic, weird tale “The Tiger in Vogue”. What connects all three are Small’s interest in their shared themes of aging, alienation and dread.
Michel’s flash fiction piece “The Werewolf at Dusk” works surprisingly well presented in a primarily visual form. Michel’s allegorical, tragicomic fantasy is centred on a werewolf who’s nearing the end of his life. Small’s poignant images, and creative colour palette, skilfully communicate the possible impact of loss of power, growing social invisibility, and fear of mortality that lies at its heart, as the werewolf finds himself barely able to chase a squirrel let alone chase down larger prey.
Small’s “A Walk in the Old City” is a hauntingly-surreal account of a disillusioned therapist walking the streets in the dead of night who is drawn into an unexpectedly horrifying, uncanny encounter which challenges his very sense of self.
Author and screenwriter Jean Ferry’s “Le Tigre Mondain” was first published in 1947, a favourite of horror writer Thomas Ligotti and heralded by Andre Breton as “the most sensationally new poetical text I have read in a long time.” The original is an unsettling slice-of-life narrative that reads like prose poetry, in which a man makes a visit to a music hall where he’s confronted by an act he loathes. The act featuring a tiger in human garb and their trainer conjures images of looming social collapse and the violence simmering beneath the surface of everyday reality. Ferry changed his name from Levy during WW2 and spent years dodging the Nazis, so Small’s decision to set Ferry’s story in a cabaret hall in 1920s Germany doesn’t feel too far away from the author’s vision. Small’s version draws on visual references to artists of the time notably George Grosz, but his interpretation of the shadowy man who hovers behind the scenes of the tiger act as Hitler felt a little too literal. Part of the force of Ferry’s piece resides in its fragmentary, uncertain quality. But, despite some reservations, there was a lot I really liked about this, particularly Small’s attentive approach and the inventive visual imagery of his artwork.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Liveright, W.W. Norton & Company
Rating: 3.5
Michel’s flash fiction piece “The Werewolf at Dusk” works surprisingly well presented in a primarily visual form. Michel’s allegorical, tragicomic fantasy is centred on a werewolf who’s nearing the end of his life. Small’s poignant images, and creative colour palette, skilfully communicate the possible impact of loss of power, growing social invisibility, and fear of mortality that lies at its heart, as the werewolf finds himself barely able to chase a squirrel let alone chase down larger prey.
Small’s “A Walk in the Old City” is a hauntingly-surreal account of a disillusioned therapist walking the streets in the dead of night who is drawn into an unexpectedly horrifying, uncanny encounter which challenges his very sense of self.
Author and screenwriter Jean Ferry’s “Le Tigre Mondain” was first published in 1947, a favourite of horror writer Thomas Ligotti and heralded by Andre Breton as “the most sensationally new poetical text I have read in a long time.” The original is an unsettling slice-of-life narrative that reads like prose poetry, in which a man makes a visit to a music hall where he’s confronted by an act he loathes. The act featuring a tiger in human garb and their trainer conjures images of looming social collapse and the violence simmering beneath the surface of everyday reality. Ferry changed his name from Levy during WW2 and spent years dodging the Nazis, so Small’s decision to set Ferry’s story in a cabaret hall in 1920s Germany doesn’t feel too far away from the author’s vision. Small’s version draws on visual references to artists of the time notably George Grosz, but his interpretation of the shadowy man who hovers behind the scenes of the tiger act as Hitler felt a little too literal. Part of the force of Ferry’s piece resides in its fragmentary, uncertain quality. But, despite some reservations, there was a lot I really liked about this, particularly Small’s attentive approach and the inventive visual imagery of his artwork.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Liveright, W.W. Norton & Company
Rating: 3.5
December 26, 2023
A collection of three stories, two of which are adapted from other authors. The title story is about a werewolf that has grown old, both in his human and werewolf form and is no longer as dangerous as he used to be. Then there's a surreal story about a man lost in an old city. The last story is about a tiger performing on a stage in a three-piece suit in the 1920's that is an obvious allegory to what happened in Germany between WWI and WWII.
May 30, 2024
3 pretty lackluster stories. All told with single page illustrations reminiscent of Will Eisner but without the detail and polish. It's a quick read, but I really didn't get anything from it.
The blurb compares the illustrations to manga which I find a bit bizarre, I guess manga is selling well these days so might as well make the claim
The blurb compares the illustrations to manga which I find a bit bizarre, I guess manga is selling well these days so might as well make the claim
May 17, 2024
David Small illustrates three melancholy short stories, two adapted and one of his own creation. It's less a graphic novel and more a picture book for adults with the majority of the text being typeset blocks around the illustrations with a few word balloons tossed in for variety here and there or in the rare sequential panels. The look and feel put me in mind of Will Eisner trying his hand at horror, but not in the style of the robust Spirit strips of his youth but rather the contemplative, boring stuff he did late in life.
"The Werewolf at Dusk" is a lament about aging from a werewolf who has passed into senior citizen status. The original version of Lincoln Michel's short story is available to read for free at Buzzfeed.
"A Walk in the Old City" is an annoying dream sequence that at least has a clever twist at the end.
"The Tiger in Vogue" is a depressing allegory about the rise of Adolf Hitler in 1920s Germany. It is adapted from a French short story by Jean Ferry from 1948.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Introduction. The Beast Within -- The Werewolf at Dusk / Story by Lincoln Michel; adaptation and illustrations by David Small -- A Walk in the Old City / Story and illustrations by David Small -- The Tiger in Vogue / Story by Jean Ferry; adaptation and illustrations by David Small -- Author's Note on "The Tiger in Vogue" -- Acknowledgments -- About the Author
"The Werewolf at Dusk" is a lament about aging from a werewolf who has passed into senior citizen status. The original version of Lincoln Michel's short story is available to read for free at Buzzfeed.
"A Walk in the Old City" is an annoying dream sequence that at least has a clever twist at the end.
"The Tiger in Vogue" is a depressing allegory about the rise of Adolf Hitler in 1920s Germany. It is adapted from a French short story by Jean Ferry from 1948.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Introduction. The Beast Within -- The Werewolf at Dusk / Story by Lincoln Michel; adaptation and illustrations by David Small -- A Walk in the Old City / Story and illustrations by David Small -- The Tiger in Vogue / Story by Jean Ferry; adaptation and illustrations by David Small -- Author's Note on "The Tiger in Vogue" -- Acknowledgments -- About the Author
June 1, 2024
I'm feeling a bit mixed on this one. I felt similarly when I've experienced David Small's work previously. I do like the art. This is a trio of stories about overwhelming dread. The first story is underdeveloped even for a graphic short story. It has a one-note premise which it rings over and over.
The second story is better. It has a (rapidly) beating heart of anxiety. My arachnophobic self was definitely unnerved.
The third story is the standout winner: a perfect representation of the Cassandra effect: when you see horrible events coming, but no one else does, and no one would believe you if you told them. The story presents danger and gnawing fear in fully realized expressiveness. Barely disguised horror stands right in front of them, but the people cannot see that the threat is real, and that soon, it will mercilessly destroy their nation.
The second story is better. It has a (rapidly) beating heart of anxiety. My arachnophobic self was definitely unnerved.
The third story is the standout winner: a perfect representation of the Cassandra effect: when you see horrible events coming, but no one else does, and no one would believe you if you told them. The story presents danger and gnawing fear in fully realized expressiveness. Barely disguised horror stands right in front of them, but the people cannot see that the threat is real, and that soon, it will mercilessly destroy their nation.
December 26, 2024
I like the last story the best, about Hitler and what it means to be someone who is ‘neutral’ or someone who sees the evil yet walks on by..
November 8, 2025
***I thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review***
Hauntingly evocative, David Small adapts the stories intricately into his simple yet unsettling artwork in Werewolf at Dusk. I absolutely loved the dark vibes which were captured brilliantly. My favourite one would be the second, A Walk in the Old City. I love slice-of-life tales that turn out to be creepy and horrifying <3
“During this farce, my heart beats excruciatingly under my ribs, for I alone see, I alone know that this tasteless spectacle is made possible by a miracle of willpower... that we are all in a state of frightfully unstable equilibrium which a mere trifle could destroy.”
⊹ . ⋆ ☽ ⋆ . ➶
Hauntingly evocative, David Small adapts the stories intricately into his simple yet unsettling artwork in Werewolf at Dusk. I absolutely loved the dark vibes which were captured brilliantly. My favourite one would be the second, A Walk in the Old City. I love slice-of-life tales that turn out to be creepy and horrifying <3
“During this farce, my heart beats excruciatingly under my ribs, for I alone see, I alone know that this tasteless spectacle is made possible by a miracle of willpower... that we are all in a state of frightfully unstable equilibrium which a mere trifle could destroy.”
⊹ . ⋆ ☽ ⋆ . ➶
August 10, 2024
A mixed bag as most anthologies can be. The headlining story is the shortest of the three and sits in the middle of how I’d rank them.
The first is a pretty straightforward tale of an a werewolf battling relatable aging.
The second involves a man lost in the streets and meeting a stranger. It has a great ambiguous ending which I enjoyed that capitalized on some its themes.
The third wasn’t very interesting as it’s a little bit of a departure from the first two but carries an underlining theme of evil but in a more realistic light as it features an appearance of a young Hitler.
The artwork is also fantastic but as with the stories, I enjoyed what was presented more in the first two stories.
The first is a pretty straightforward tale of an a werewolf battling relatable aging.
The second involves a man lost in the streets and meeting a stranger. It has a great ambiguous ending which I enjoyed that capitalized on some its themes.
The third wasn’t very interesting as it’s a little bit of a departure from the first two but carries an underlining theme of evil but in a more realistic light as it features an appearance of a young Hitler.
The artwork is also fantastic but as with the stories, I enjoyed what was presented more in the first two stories.
March 19, 2025
This isn’t comic book-y at all but rather like a children’s picture book with mostly full page illustrations and frequent (but not on every page) narrative text. But it is not for children. Primarily colored in a blueish-gray, the splashes of color are used to great effect. Author/artist/colorist Small is praised for his facial expressions and he demonstrates this with his impressive flip-page contrast of a young man’s face as a werewolf and his much older face.
I found this easy to read and enjoyable. Not profound but thought provoking. For what it is, it is very well done.
I found this easy to read and enjoyable. Not profound but thought provoking. For what it is, it is very well done.
July 8, 2025
poetic writing and beautiful illustrations, but it's the last story, 'A Tiger in Vogue' by Jean Ferry hat absolutely boosts this to five stars.
May 19, 2024
The images were very well drawn but it was a bit short and not something I would spend my money on unless you’re a fan of the author.
April 1, 2024
The Werewolf at Dusk and Other Stories by David Small (2024) is a haunting, mesmerizing, and thought-provoking work of art. I am guessing that after you read this book parts of it will stay in your mind. Further I am guessing you might/will be rereading it. This is a stimulating book.
Small is the visual artist/drawer/sketcher for each of the three stories in the book. And for one of the stories, he is the writer. In all cases he is the ‘placer of the words or absence of words on the page’. Because that is part of the artistic process of storytelling with words and pictures.
I see this book as visual storytelling for young adults and adults in general. To say that Small ‘illustrated’ these stories is, in my mind, not reflecting the power of these drawings. I believe this book’s visual artwork dramatically amplifies, focuses, and deepens that provocative impact of each story.
The Werewolf at Dusk and Other Stories is full of things to think about, like: werewolves (of course), narrow walkways, a body that is growing old and losing its power, eerie spiders hanging from bridges, splattered blood, vertigo, a fierce tiger, an even more fierce little man with a mustache, and a man shutting the door to any possibility he might help others become aware of what he knows to be a coming tragedy.
Kirkus Review, in their starred review, explain that: “The latest (book) from writer-artist Small is a triptych of short illustrated stories (two adaptions and one original) that explore the idea of lurking monsters.” And they summed up Small’s work on this book as “Surreal and searing.”
David Small is and has been inspiring thoughts, for over forty years, to those of us that have been reading him from: Eulalie and the Hopping Head (1982), to Imogene’s Antlers (1985), to The Gardener (written by Sarah Stewart, his wife - 1997), to Stitches (2009) and dozens of other books he has written and or illustrated.
I highly recommend this book. It is an exceptional and unusually energizing piece of art!
Small is the visual artist/drawer/sketcher for each of the three stories in the book. And for one of the stories, he is the writer. In all cases he is the ‘placer of the words or absence of words on the page’. Because that is part of the artistic process of storytelling with words and pictures.
I see this book as visual storytelling for young adults and adults in general. To say that Small ‘illustrated’ these stories is, in my mind, not reflecting the power of these drawings. I believe this book’s visual artwork dramatically amplifies, focuses, and deepens that provocative impact of each story.
The Werewolf at Dusk and Other Stories is full of things to think about, like: werewolves (of course), narrow walkways, a body that is growing old and losing its power, eerie spiders hanging from bridges, splattered blood, vertigo, a fierce tiger, an even more fierce little man with a mustache, and a man shutting the door to any possibility he might help others become aware of what he knows to be a coming tragedy.
Kirkus Review, in their starred review, explain that: “The latest (book) from writer-artist Small is a triptych of short illustrated stories (two adaptions and one original) that explore the idea of lurking monsters.” And they summed up Small’s work on this book as “Surreal and searing.”
David Small is and has been inspiring thoughts, for over forty years, to those of us that have been reading him from: Eulalie and the Hopping Head (1982), to Imogene’s Antlers (1985), to The Gardener (written by Sarah Stewart, his wife - 1997), to Stitches (2009) and dozens of other books he has written and or illustrated.
I highly recommend this book. It is an exceptional and unusually energizing piece of art!
September 20, 2024
This quick collection of flash fiction was intriguing and illustrative at presenting a sort of 20th century-centric mood. With only three short stories in the collection, there really isn’t much to say, and I do admit that all three carry the same amount of low-stakes heft that makes them almost forgettable.
The first story was my favorite. Though it was snappy and almost corny, having the perspective of the tired old man consumed by this curse was unique, and I thought the tone was somber enough. Definitely the best one.
The second story confused me, though it was definitely written to be that way. I wouldn’t have understood the dream-within-dream deal if I hadn’t read the introduction at the beginning sort of explaining each story.
Finally, the third story was the one that I found to be the most jarring. Going from a Holden Caulfield-like perspective to a completely historical and almost political point of view was a dramatic switch, to say the least. It was the one with the least clarity.
All in all, quite intriguing stories but nothing extraordinary. The first one I would definitely reread.
My individual ratings for each story:
The Werewolf at Dusk - 4/5 stars
A Walk in the Old City - 3/5 stars
The Tiger in Vogue - 2/5 stars
The first story was my favorite. Though it was snappy and almost corny, having the perspective of the tired old man consumed by this curse was unique, and I thought the tone was somber enough. Definitely the best one.
The second story confused me, though it was definitely written to be that way. I wouldn’t have understood the dream-within-dream deal if I hadn’t read the introduction at the beginning sort of explaining each story.
Finally, the third story was the one that I found to be the most jarring. Going from a Holden Caulfield-like perspective to a completely historical and almost political point of view was a dramatic switch, to say the least. It was the one with the least clarity.
All in all, quite intriguing stories but nothing extraordinary. The first one I would definitely reread.
My individual ratings for each story:
The Werewolf at Dusk - 4/5 stars
A Walk in the Old City - 3/5 stars
The Tiger in Vogue - 2/5 stars
May 13, 2024
The Werewolf at Dusk
can best be described as an adult picture book. A collection of 3 short stories which David Small, the artist, has adapted and added his artwork to. I found this experience so... unsettling, moody, gothic, a bit sad, and overall just a quiet horror.
The three stories being told in this little collection all involve some kind of despair and hopelessness. The first delves into the theme of aging, and the other two play with themes of becoming morally "empty" (whether as a society, or as an individual). Interestingly, David Small himself only wrote one of the stories, but all three stories felt cohesive together. I wouldn't have known if the book never mentions it, especially because Small does such an amazing job at binding the three with his atmospheric artwork.
This was a random find for me, and I just fell in love with it. The feeling of darkness, sadness, and loneliness was just spot on for me with this collection. Would definitely be interested to read more in this vein by David Small.
The three stories being told in this little collection all involve some kind of despair and hopelessness. The first delves into the theme of aging, and the other two play with themes of becoming morally "empty" (whether as a society, or as an individual). Interestingly, David Small himself only wrote one of the stories, but all three stories felt cohesive together. I wouldn't have known if the book never mentions it, especially because Small does such an amazing job at binding the three with his atmospheric artwork.
This was a random find for me, and I just fell in love with it. The feeling of darkness, sadness, and loneliness was just spot on for me with this collection. Would definitely be interested to read more in this vein by David Small.
December 31, 2023
3.5 stars !!
I saw in another review this described as an ‘adult picture book’ & I think that fits perfectly! The art is beautiful, simple & expressive, and though the stories are short they convey a lot of emotion. I really enjoyed their open endings. They feel like little glimpses into a bigger picture.
The first story, The Werewolf at Dusk, is the one I loved the most. I easily give it 5 stars. It’s my favourite kind of melancholy story, mundane yet supernatural.
I also enjoyed the second story, ‘A Walk in the Old City’ a lot. The third & final story, ‘The Tiger in Vogue’ I found a little confusing (could just be me missing the analogy’. I think the sentiment of seeing terrible things but walking past them and doing nothing is an important one, but the rest of the story falls a little flat to me.
Overall though, a lovely & short collection of stories with expressive artwork & an important theme running throughout :)
I saw in another review this described as an ‘adult picture book’ & I think that fits perfectly! The art is beautiful, simple & expressive, and though the stories are short they convey a lot of emotion. I really enjoyed their open endings. They feel like little glimpses into a bigger picture.
The first story, The Werewolf at Dusk, is the one I loved the most. I easily give it 5 stars. It’s my favourite kind of melancholy story, mundane yet supernatural.
I also enjoyed the second story, ‘A Walk in the Old City’ a lot. The third & final story, ‘The Tiger in Vogue’ I found a little confusing (could just be me missing the analogy’. I think the sentiment of seeing terrible things but walking past them and doing nothing is an important one, but the rest of the story falls a little flat to me.
Overall though, a lovely & short collection of stories with expressive artwork & an important theme running throughout :)
September 4, 2024
David Small illustrates a trio of dark, strange stories in The Werewolf at Dusk. They're all almost flash fiction, barely two pages of text. Small's art carries the narratives. It's all quite surreal and engaging, but not particularly memorable.
October 27, 2024
All three of these stories were just ok for me. Some interesting ideas but they just didn't quite hit the mark for me personally. None of the three really stood out to me as being more enjoyable than any other...I think this style of storytelling just wasn't for me.
March 20, 2024
Incredibly creative and oddly unsettling. So glad I randomly picked this up. Three stories wasn't nearly enough. I'll be picking up more by this author.
July 4, 2024
Three illustrated short stories. The titular Werewolf and the Tiger En Vogue were great, less enthralled by a Walk in Old City but still good. A quick and worthwhile read.
November 2, 2024
Unsettling
January 10, 2026
Left me believing false tamers behind everything
March 27, 2024
A quick but masterful graphic novel told as three short stories. The Werewolf at Dusk is about the changes an aging werewolf goes through. Still able to change at the full moon, yet hardly able to chase a squirrel or climb up stairs. A Walk in the Old City is about a shrink who loses his way at night. Attempting to psycho-analyze himself will not getting him out of the mess he stumbles across. The final story is The Tiger in Vogue which is a terrifyingly whimsical look at Hitler's rise to power in Germany. Unique and wonderful storytelling in that one. Fantastic illustrations grace the pages of all three stories. I wish it were longer!
Read
June 24, 2024Pretty good, if slight/sketchy. The stories have depth but there's a very light touch with the art, which, along with just using type instead of lettering, made it a little less affecting than I think it could have been. Good, though. Interesting.
October 16, 2023
Beatiful, evocative artwork. I've read some graphic novels lately where the artwork doesn't add much to the story. That is certainly not the case for Werewolf at Dusk--the artwork is so emotional and carries so much of these stories. There is not an over-reliance on the written word in this text.
I'm not sure that these stories really make sense together, though. Based on the cover, I thought all would be about werewolves, which was not the case. They all had animals in them, I guess? I found them beautiful but disjointed.
I think my favorite story was the one the author actually wrote, the second story that is about facing mortality.
I was confused about the third story, and that might just be due to my unfamiliarity with WWII history. I needed clarity on what the allegory of the story was--what was the tiger a metaphor for? I even tried googling it, but my basic search didn't help. Again, this could just be my own failure to understand, but I could have used more clarity either from the artwork or from the words the author chose to include (and not include) from the original story.
I would read more from David Small!
I'm not sure that these stories really make sense together, though. Based on the cover, I thought all would be about werewolves, which was not the case. They all had animals in them, I guess? I found them beautiful but disjointed.
I think my favorite story was the one the author actually wrote, the second story that is about facing mortality.
I was confused about the third story, and that might just be due to my unfamiliarity with WWII history. I needed clarity on what the allegory of the story was--what was the tiger a metaphor for? I even tried googling it, but my basic search didn't help. Again, this could just be my own failure to understand, but I could have used more clarity either from the artwork or from the words the author chose to include (and not include) from the original story.
I would read more from David Small!
November 2, 2023
I was hooked on David Small's books after reading Stitches. His graphic novels are amazing. This particular title has three stories, two adapted by other authors and one by David Small. I really liked them for the most part, but David's story is by far the best.
The first story, Werewolf at Dusk, is by Lincoln Michel. It's about an aging werewolf who is unable to do what he used to. He's depressed that he can't hunt and kill like he could in his younger years.
The second story is A Walking in the Old City. This is David Small's work. The artwork is great and the story is in David's style. It is about a psychiatrist who takes a walk in the city and gets lost. He comes across an elderly man who the psychiatrist thinks will save him. Things go awry and the psychiatrist finds that saving wasn't in the elderly man's plan.
The last story is about Adolf Hitler and how he was able to control a tiger, which is a metaphor for the German people during WWII. It is called The Tiger in Vogue by Jean Ferry.
I hope that David will come out with a new graphic that is all his own soon.
The first story, Werewolf at Dusk, is by Lincoln Michel. It's about an aging werewolf who is unable to do what he used to. He's depressed that he can't hunt and kill like he could in his younger years.
The second story is A Walking in the Old City. This is David Small's work. The artwork is great and the story is in David's style. It is about a psychiatrist who takes a walk in the city and gets lost. He comes across an elderly man who the psychiatrist thinks will save him. Things go awry and the psychiatrist finds that saving wasn't in the elderly man's plan.
The last story is about Adolf Hitler and how he was able to control a tiger, which is a metaphor for the German people during WWII. It is called The Tiger in Vogue by Jean Ferry.
I hope that David will come out with a new graphic that is all his own soon.
June 23, 2025
[3.5]
i can’t say i was expecting to see hitler in this book that i picked up art library because i thought it was a graphic novel about werewolves, but i really enjoyed the illustrations and the stories were very thought provoking.
i liked “The Tiger In Vogue” best i thought it was really interesting… would be good for an english class or a book club. especially the way David Small added extra illustrations really made the story even deeper as you understand the main character’s position as a Mitlaufer even more. it was quite the cautionary tale for americans at the moment too…
i liked “The Werewolf at Dusk” second best. you could say the story was kind of bareboned— is what i would say if i was a HATER. i would describe it as ✨simplistic✨ but i liked it especially for the drawings. they were really smart. i really liked the use of red to show how the werewolf part of him was ultimately different from the human part of him and everyone around him. the visible divide there using the colors was cool.
“A Walk in the Old City” was alright. i liked the ending and the message was cool but i didnt connect with it as much as the other two.
i can’t say i was expecting to see hitler in this book that i picked up art library because i thought it was a graphic novel about werewolves, but i really enjoyed the illustrations and the stories were very thought provoking.
i liked “The Tiger In Vogue” best i thought it was really interesting… would be good for an english class or a book club. especially the way David Small added extra illustrations really made the story even deeper as you understand the main character’s position as a Mitlaufer even more. it was quite the cautionary tale for americans at the moment too…
i liked “The Werewolf at Dusk” second best. you could say the story was kind of bareboned— is what i would say if i was a HATER. i would describe it as ✨simplistic✨ but i liked it especially for the drawings. they were really smart. i really liked the use of red to show how the werewolf part of him was ultimately different from the human part of him and everyone around him. the visible divide there using the colors was cool.
“A Walk in the Old City” was alright. i liked the ending and the message was cool but i didnt connect with it as much as the other two.
November 2, 2023
This fantasy comic book puts the spotlight on aging evil.
We have three stories which explore the ailing body refusing to cooperate or that keeps going on doing the evils of their perpetrator.
I guess this is looking at age in a different light: it's not because you are old that you are toothless. It isn't because you age that you cool down.
The illustrations were very well done, but felt very cold, not only because of the tone - the book is in dark grey and pastel blues, but also because everything felt like it was drawn on screen. For some reason it put me off, I think I would have liked them to feel a little more organic, because we are seeing biology at work. For some reason, it created a bit of a dissonance for me as I was reading, it just looked too neat and clean.
We have three stories which explore the ailing body refusing to cooperate or that keeps going on doing the evils of their perpetrator.
I guess this is looking at age in a different light: it's not because you are old that you are toothless. It isn't because you age that you cool down.
The illustrations were very well done, but felt very cold, not only because of the tone - the book is in dark grey and pastel blues, but also because everything felt like it was drawn on screen. For some reason it put me off, I think I would have liked them to feel a little more organic, because we are seeing biology at work. For some reason, it created a bit of a dissonance for me as I was reading, it just looked too neat and clean.
January 6, 2024
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher W. W. Norton & Company for an advanced copy of this graphic novel collection by an illustrator who has been touching people with his art for many years.
As one gets older we look back at certain events with a sense of wonder. At one point one could do things that today leave one winded. Or sad, or filled with the knowledge that things are changing and not for the best. One even thinks of being forgotten, not for what we were, but for what we became. Not many people like to think in these terms, so this is not something that is talked about much, or shared. David Small is a creator who is not afraid of detailing both human frailties, not human follies. Creator of the revelatory Stitches, Werewolf at Dusk: And Other Stories is a collection of three stories, dealing with aging and fading, the human mind and its challengers, and the human capacity to not see calamity as it comes close enough to bite.
Two of the stories are adaptations. The first is Werewolf at Dusk, by Lincoln Michel, a story about an aging werewolf looking back at his life. From his first being bit, to his hunting prey for years, the werewolf now finds himself not able to hunt mice. Needing a cane, and a trip to the pharmacy to recover from nights out, usually spent wandering without purpose or drive. A Walk in the Old City is an adaptation of a dream the author had. The protagonist is a wanderer in the old city who has become lost. A fellow traveller finds him and leads him to safety, but this haven is just as dangerous as the dangers outside. The final story is again an adaptation this one Jean Ferry's The Tiger in Vogue, about a man in Berlin between the wars just wanting a night of entertainment away from the troubles going on, and instead being stuck in a show with a tiger dressed as a man, doing tricks and dealing with babies, that one day the narrator is sure will not end well.
David Small is avery gifted man, with a skill in both adapting others and his own works in a unique style that is his own, and yet no losing the message, or meaning. I feel I enjoyed the second piece as it was based on his dream, and was the most personal. A story that seems both spooky and melancholic. Werewolf at Dusk though hit me just right as I have just spent time with my nephews, and found myself exhausted trying to keep up with them, and envious of their energy and resilience. Small in the first tale showed me that yes this happens, it is natural, and while one can rage, in the end it doesn't change who you are, only maybe what one can do. The last tale with the Tiger and Hitler, fit well for our current state of affairs. While it might be cute watching a tiger act human, when it rips your face off, it is not the tiger's fault, it is yours for allowing the tiger to get that close. A story that has many truths built into it.
Recommended for adults who enjoy graphic novels, or adults who miss picture books. In many ways this is the perfect picture book for adults, with wonderful clear art on each page, and telling a story that is honest, true, and spooky. A great read, and one that many will come back to.
As one gets older we look back at certain events with a sense of wonder. At one point one could do things that today leave one winded. Or sad, or filled with the knowledge that things are changing and not for the best. One even thinks of being forgotten, not for what we were, but for what we became. Not many people like to think in these terms, so this is not something that is talked about much, or shared. David Small is a creator who is not afraid of detailing both human frailties, not human follies. Creator of the revelatory Stitches, Werewolf at Dusk: And Other Stories is a collection of three stories, dealing with aging and fading, the human mind and its challengers, and the human capacity to not see calamity as it comes close enough to bite.
Two of the stories are adaptations. The first is Werewolf at Dusk, by Lincoln Michel, a story about an aging werewolf looking back at his life. From his first being bit, to his hunting prey for years, the werewolf now finds himself not able to hunt mice. Needing a cane, and a trip to the pharmacy to recover from nights out, usually spent wandering without purpose or drive. A Walk in the Old City is an adaptation of a dream the author had. The protagonist is a wanderer in the old city who has become lost. A fellow traveller finds him and leads him to safety, but this haven is just as dangerous as the dangers outside. The final story is again an adaptation this one Jean Ferry's The Tiger in Vogue, about a man in Berlin between the wars just wanting a night of entertainment away from the troubles going on, and instead being stuck in a show with a tiger dressed as a man, doing tricks and dealing with babies, that one day the narrator is sure will not end well.
David Small is avery gifted man, with a skill in both adapting others and his own works in a unique style that is his own, and yet no losing the message, or meaning. I feel I enjoyed the second piece as it was based on his dream, and was the most personal. A story that seems both spooky and melancholic. Werewolf at Dusk though hit me just right as I have just spent time with my nephews, and found myself exhausted trying to keep up with them, and envious of their energy and resilience. Small in the first tale showed me that yes this happens, it is natural, and while one can rage, in the end it doesn't change who you are, only maybe what one can do. The last tale with the Tiger and Hitler, fit well for our current state of affairs. While it might be cute watching a tiger act human, when it rips your face off, it is not the tiger's fault, it is yours for allowing the tiger to get that close. A story that has many truths built into it.
Recommended for adults who enjoy graphic novels, or adults who miss picture books. In many ways this is the perfect picture book for adults, with wonderful clear art on each page, and telling a story that is honest, true, and spooky. A great read, and one that many will come back to.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews