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Dark Spaces
Dark Spaces: Dungeon
“TELL NO ONE” what you find in a secret torture dungeon. Or the previous owner might come back. Snyder and Sherman reunite for this installment of the Dark Spaces horror anthology.
A family moves from the rustle and bustle of the Big Apple to upstate New York. However, their father’s dream of a quiet rural life are shattered when he discovers a DUNGEON underneath their land, filled with torture devices, weapons, and a threatening message on the wall that reads, “TELL NO ONE.” Paranoia sets in rapidly as the father realizes anyone in his new hometown could be the dungeon master. Who can he trust? And how will he keep this secret from his family while keeping them SAFE?
From the creative team behind the acclaimed Dark Wildfire comes another dark tale of intrigue and the bad things people do.
A family moves from the rustle and bustle of the Big Apple to upstate New York. However, their father’s dream of a quiet rural life are shattered when he discovers a DUNGEON underneath their land, filled with torture devices, weapons, and a threatening message on the wall that reads, “TELL NO ONE.” Paranoia sets in rapidly as the father realizes anyone in his new hometown could be the dungeon master. Who can he trust? And how will he keep this secret from his family while keeping them SAFE?
From the creative team behind the acclaimed Dark Wildfire comes another dark tale of intrigue and the bad things people do.
144 pages, Paperback
Published August 27, 2024
10 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Scott Snyder
1,770 books5,077 followersScott Snyder is the Eisner and Harvey Award winning writer on DC Comics Batman, Swamp Thing, and his original series for Vertigo, American Vampire. He is also the author of the short story collection, Voodoo Heart, published by the Dial Press in 2006. The paperback version was published in the summer of 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
February 12, 2025
Scott Snyder invents a truly terrifying serial killer, though one that thoroughly stretches the bounds of reality. "The Keep" snatches children and keeps them in underground torture chambers (dungeons) hidden around the country for years at a time. These dungeons have movable nodules that can break bones and keep the person in a stress position indefinitely. Apparently, the Keep somehow feeds and otherwise keeps these people alive, again, for years??
Hard to believe, especially when we're introduced to an FBI agent who apparently escaped from one of these dungeons who is mostly fine. The book works hard to make you think the guy is suffering mentally, but honestly, I'd say he's doing pretty well . The agent teams up with a dad who uncovered one of these dungeons and is now being stalked by the Keep because he called the cops about it.
There's a very obvious twist ending that's sort of undercut by the perfectly acceptable pre-twist ending. Dungeon is well-paced, very tense, and has a grungy artistic appeal, but the more I think about it, the more I think about how nuts the concept is.
Hard to believe, especially when we're introduced to an FBI agent who apparently escaped from one of these dungeons who is mostly fine. The book works hard to make you think the guy is suffering mentally, but honestly, I'd say he's doing pretty well . The agent teams up with a dad who uncovered one of these dungeons and is now being stalked by the Keep because he called the cops about it.
There's a very obvious twist ending that's sort of undercut by the perfectly acceptable pre-twist ending. Dungeon is well-paced, very tense, and has a grungy artistic appeal, but the more I think about it, the more I think about how nuts the concept is.
Read
April 8, 2024The premise here, a serial killer with a network of ingenious automated dungeons hidden across America, owes a clear debt to Saw and various other thrillers whose flavour of nastiness has never appealed to me. The plot relies heavily on clichés (the federal agent investigating him is the only person ever to escape one of the cells), convenient stupidity (he takes a civilian who found one of the cells along on a bust) and crashingly obvious developments (leaving the civilian's family unguarded - what do you think happens next?). There are also some bizarre leaps of logic: the agent is convinced that the killer has given each captive one piece of a riddle that would lead to his identity - "It's something kings did to prisoners in their dungeons in medieval times", apparently, which is news to me. So with a grand total of two clues from probably dozens, the words 'wing' and 'guard', he knows exactly which abandoned penitentiary to investigate next, while I for one would be after a Jason King lookalike. All of which sounds like I was as unimpressed by this as by Snyder and Sherman's previous Dark Spaces mini but no, in spite of being able to see all those problems and more, I couldn't deny that the tension had hold of me anyway, so I kept reading compulsively through - until a final twist which was 30% ingenious resolution of a thread I thought had been dropped, 70% stupid. Interesting contrast to read this right after The Deadly Percheron, where I was forewarned that the resolution sucked; did that make me less ready to accept bits of it might not have? Or just insulate me against the annoyance I felt with Dungeon?
(Netgalley ARC)
(Netgalley ARC)
May 6, 2024
This one blew my mind!!
For all the horror enthusiasts like me, keep your eye out for Dark Spaces: Dungeon. I wouldn’t be surprised if it would be adapted for tv.
A fascinating serial killer has kept agent Madoc in one of his unique dungeons for years as a child. We get Madoc’s backstory through flashbacks and from what he tells his new “partner” and we see him in action on the job. You can only root for him to get his revenge, planning it is what kept him alive down there.
Tyler, a retired programmer, finds a hatch in a forest and this leads to Madoc finally finding the dungeon where he was kept. He was kept in the dark and was practically blind when he escaped so he was never able to find it again. But in the dungeon there’s a message for whoever enters and this leads to Tyler’s family being in danger and soon even worse.. Madoc is taken off the case for endangering a civilian but Madoc and Tyler are a dream team and they keep chasing The Keep. He supposedly has dungeons all over the country and time is running out for someone very dear to Tyler. We learn more and more about this fascinating serial killer and other interesting characters and Madoc’s worst nightmare might be yet to come.
I read this in one go and I was on the edge of my seat and completely glued to “the page” the whole time. This was done so well and I’m grateful NetGalley and IDW Publishing provided me with this arc,, I had the best time reading it!
For all the horror enthusiasts like me, keep your eye out for Dark Spaces: Dungeon. I wouldn’t be surprised if it would be adapted for tv.
A fascinating serial killer has kept agent Madoc in one of his unique dungeons for years as a child. We get Madoc’s backstory through flashbacks and from what he tells his new “partner” and we see him in action on the job. You can only root for him to get his revenge, planning it is what kept him alive down there.
Tyler, a retired programmer, finds a hatch in a forest and this leads to Madoc finally finding the dungeon where he was kept. He was kept in the dark and was practically blind when he escaped so he was never able to find it again. But in the dungeon there’s a message for whoever enters and this leads to Tyler’s family being in danger and soon even worse.. Madoc is taken off the case for endangering a civilian but Madoc and Tyler are a dream team and they keep chasing The Keep. He supposedly has dungeons all over the country and time is running out for someone very dear to Tyler. We learn more and more about this fascinating serial killer and other interesting characters and Madoc’s worst nightmare might be yet to come.
I read this in one go and I was on the edge of my seat and completely glued to “the page” the whole time. This was done so well and I’m grateful NetGalley and IDW Publishing provided me with this arc,, I had the best time reading it!
October 29, 2024
The idea is really fucked. Basically a killer kidnaps you and puts you inside a cell that you can barely move or breath. And stuck there forever till die. And this twist and turned story about the one who escaped when he was a teenager and trying to hunt this killer as a FBI agent is intriguing, and while it lost me a bit here or there, the ending was really fucked up. Like dark as all hell, but I really enjoyed that part and boosted it from a 3 to a 4 for me.
June 12, 2024
Not the worst, but not the best either. The whole time I felt like I want it to end, for some reason. And the last issue felt rushed.. But it had some pretty good moments, it gave me chills here and there.
April 12, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of this graphic novel!
Dark Spaces: Dungeons plays out like an illustrated episode of Criminal Minds and had me hooked right from the start. It tells the story of a man who finds an underground dungeon on his property used to torture people and the assigned detective with a personal connection to the case.
The art in this graphic novel is as gorgeous as it is shocking and truly immerses you into the story. Detective Bohdi is a standout character and someone you find yourself rooting for. The twist at the end had my jaw on the floor!!!
The only criticism I have is there were some redundant dialogue (ex, someone says something along the lines of “you changed your email last year when you left the company last year”) and a strange choice in naming (specifically a character is told a story about their son who has a girlfriend with the same, not common, name as their mother).
I’m happy to say this is my first 5 star read of the year and I am excited to dive deeper into the Dark Spaces series!!
Dark Spaces: Dungeons plays out like an illustrated episode of Criminal Minds and had me hooked right from the start. It tells the story of a man who finds an underground dungeon on his property used to torture people and the assigned detective with a personal connection to the case.
The art in this graphic novel is as gorgeous as it is shocking and truly immerses you into the story. Detective Bohdi is a standout character and someone you find yourself rooting for. The twist at the end had my jaw on the floor!!!
The only criticism I have is there were some redundant dialogue (ex, someone says something along the lines of “you changed your email last year when you left the company last year”) and a strange choice in naming (specifically a character is told a story about their son who has a girlfriend with the same, not common, name as their mother).
I’m happy to say this is my first 5 star read of the year and I am excited to dive deeper into the Dark Spaces series!!
May 31, 2024
Not nearly as good as the first in the series. This was probably my most anticipated ARC so far because I ADORED Wildfire, but it fell so damn flat. I'm just not into brutal torture serial killers who build crazy contraptions because of "sadism", and there is nothing more to Dark Spaces: Dungeon's story. The twist the whole thing hinges on is blatantly obvious from pretty much the beginning, the characters aren't fleshed out in a meaningful way whatsoever - everything I liked about Wildfire is either absent or not as well executed. Also, I don't know if my eyesight is getting worse, but the art was substantially less exciting in this one, even though both Wildfire and Dungeon are illustrated by the same artist - which is a shame cause I loved Wildfire's art and was really looking forward to Dungeon's visuals.
I might've found it okay if I hadn't read the first volume, but I'm just kinda disappointed. For what it's worth, I think Dungeon didn't align with my personal taste as much, so that definitely plays into me liking it less. Since all volumes are standalones, I'm still looking forward to the next one. Fingers crossed it's gonna be better again.
- ARC provided by NetGalley -
I might've found it okay if I hadn't read the first volume, but I'm just kinda disappointed. For what it's worth, I think Dungeon didn't align with my personal taste as much, so that definitely plays into me liking it less. Since all volumes are standalones, I'm still looking forward to the next one. Fingers crossed it's gonna be better again.
- ARC provided by NetGalley -
June 25, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
If you love the horror genre and enjoy detective fiction then I think you will like this dark thriller.
Tyler is a family man. He has a son, a wife, and a lot of money. At fifty, he is already retired. He used to be a very succesful programmer.
One day after a walk through nature he stumbles upon a hatch. A manhole cover that leads to a dungeon full of chambers designed to torture people slowly.
Bodhi Madoc is an FBI agent. When he was seven years old, he was kidnapped and tortured in an underground chamber for three years. One day, he escaped this nightmare. But having not seen the sun for years, he ran through the forest blind until someone found him and helped him. Because of that, he does not remember where the entrance to the dungeon is, but he has spent his whole life searching for it. Searching for The Keep, his kidnapper, who, while torturing him for days, would tell him about his other dozens of victims and dungeons scattered through the country.
When Tyler reports the discovery of this dungeon, he finds himself in danger and gets quickly involved in Madoc's case and investigation.
I think Madoc, as the main lead is great. His character is really well developed and established. The flashbacks to his childhood, the trauma he carries from those three years in hell, all of that makes him such a good lead. However, Tyler is not as lucky. For the most part, he's very shallowly depicted as the desperate father trying to protect his son. And this choice makes sense, but also made it hard to engage while reading the story.
The art style was not to my liking. It's not a pretty story, so the art is not either. It's gritty, but honestly, a little underwhelming.
I think this graphic novel would have worked better with a couple more issues because the ending feels rushed. It also feels predictable. Yet, I feel like it could be a great source for an adaptation. With a little more space, a better characterization of Tyler, it cold have worked so much better.
I also feel like there was a bit of a plot hole in the beginning (in issue 1). But maybe that's just me.
3.5 stars
If you love the horror genre and enjoy detective fiction then I think you will like this dark thriller.
Tyler is a family man. He has a son, a wife, and a lot of money. At fifty, he is already retired. He used to be a very succesful programmer.
One day after a walk through nature he stumbles upon a hatch. A manhole cover that leads to a dungeon full of chambers designed to torture people slowly.
Bodhi Madoc is an FBI agent. When he was seven years old, he was kidnapped and tortured in an underground chamber for three years. One day, he escaped this nightmare. But having not seen the sun for years, he ran through the forest blind until someone found him and helped him. Because of that, he does not remember where the entrance to the dungeon is, but he has spent his whole life searching for it. Searching for The Keep, his kidnapper, who, while torturing him for days, would tell him about his other dozens of victims and dungeons scattered through the country.
When Tyler reports the discovery of this dungeon, he finds himself in danger and gets quickly involved in Madoc's case and investigation.
I think Madoc, as the main lead is great. His character is really well developed and established. The flashbacks to his childhood, the trauma he carries from those three years in hell, all of that makes him such a good lead. However, Tyler is not as lucky. For the most part, he's very shallowly depicted as the desperate father trying to protect his son. And this choice makes sense, but also made it hard to engage while reading the story.
The art style was not to my liking. It's not a pretty story, so the art is not either. It's gritty, but honestly, a little underwhelming.
I think this graphic novel would have worked better with a couple more issues because the ending feels rushed. It also feels predictable. Yet, I feel like it could be a great source for an adaptation. With a little more space, a better characterization of Tyler, it cold have worked so much better.
I also feel like there was a bit of a plot hole in the beginning (in issue 1). But maybe that's just me.
August 6, 2024
⫘⫘⫘ᴅᴀʀᴋ ꜱᴘᴀᴄᴇꜱ: ᴅᴜɴɢᴇᴏɴ🕳️
Thank you to @netgalley and @idwpublishing for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
From the creative mind of Scott Snyder- this graphic novel was intense and awesome! My only complaint is that I wished it was longer. The story was downright creepy, and the incredible artwork by Hayden Sherman paralleled this thriller perfectly. By the time I got to the end, I was sad there wasn't more; I'd read every one of this series!!
The villain of this story, The Keep, is absolutely bonkers; a sadistic creep who keeps his captives alive as long as he can, torturing them in terrifying and monstorus ways within hidden vaults underground. The only one who ever escaped him, Bodhi, is now a cop, resuming the hunt when another man's young son becomes The Keep's next captive.
Can Bodhi overcome his trauma and inner demons in order to rescue the boy in time? Will he find The Keep and will be able to reveal his true identity?
4.5🌟
Thank you to @netgalley and @idwpublishing for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
From the creative mind of Scott Snyder- this graphic novel was intense and awesome! My only complaint is that I wished it was longer. The story was downright creepy, and the incredible artwork by Hayden Sherman paralleled this thriller perfectly. By the time I got to the end, I was sad there wasn't more; I'd read every one of this series!!
The villain of this story, The Keep, is absolutely bonkers; a sadistic creep who keeps his captives alive as long as he can, torturing them in terrifying and monstorus ways within hidden vaults underground. The only one who ever escaped him, Bodhi, is now a cop, resuming the hunt when another man's young son becomes The Keep's next captive.
Can Bodhi overcome his trauma and inner demons in order to rescue the boy in time? Will he find The Keep and will be able to reveal his true identity?
4.5🌟
May 6, 2024
This book was somewhat a disappointment. The premise for this book was exiting and in fact, the story told in the book was interesting and refreshing, however, I think that the overall comic was not that good. There was way too much writing per page and specially on a small screen like my phone it made it really hard to read. There were certain pages that I simply had to skip because the text was unreadable. The art style was overwhelming as well with too many details that just felt like noise after a few pages.
August 27, 2025
Gripping throughout but completely let down by a silly and pointless twist, which itself comes only a page or two after another revelation, which would have been perfectly fine. It’s an extremely farfetched but entertaining premise, let down by the writer going too far. It’s a fun read though. Very well set up even if the leaps in logic were frustrating to follow. Beautifully illustrated.
October 28, 2024
This book is so much in my wheelhouse that it practically is my wheelhouse.
August 24, 2024
3.75⭐️, I got the ARC of this book off NetGalley, I really enjoyed this story the art was very nice and I loved that creepy smile near the end, the story itself i enjoyed the little clues and how they figured things out I also really just like the concept of the dungeons I’d like to see more of the torture chambers themselves.
April 5, 2024
ARC provided by the publisher in conjunction with Edelweiss Plus
A Saw-like torture/horror thriller with enough twists to keep the plot engaging despite the intentional mystery of patient backstory and motivations.
I think Madoc is an extremely well- written protagonist with concise and timely choices of when to reveal his trauma and PTSD from his past. His evolution through out the novel was well executed for such a short story.
I thought the art direction was very well done. The beginning was a little darker than I’m accustomed to but the overall animation style really worked. The torture devices though ambiguous were portrayed extremely well.
I feel the only plot hole I found was in Part 1. After reading, I know realize that Madoc is the child who escapes at the beginning. Other than diversion or being an evil mastermind, why/how would Tyler not know about the hatch he trips over spurring the investigation.
Overall I really enjoyed Part 5 and the ultimate reveal. While I wish that we could have let to an additional project with Tyler being the overarching villain. I think the pay off wand u,Tim ate conclusion were excellent.
Overall 3.5 stars
A Saw-like torture/horror thriller with enough twists to keep the plot engaging despite the intentional mystery of patient backstory and motivations.
I think Madoc is an extremely well- written protagonist with concise and timely choices of when to reveal his trauma and PTSD from his past. His evolution through out the novel was well executed for such a short story.
I thought the art direction was very well done. The beginning was a little darker than I’m accustomed to but the overall animation style really worked. The torture devices though ambiguous were portrayed extremely well.
I feel the only plot hole I found was in Part 1. After reading, I know realize that Madoc is the child who escapes at the beginning. Other than diversion or being an evil mastermind, why/how would Tyler not know about the hatch he trips over spurring the investigation.
Overall I really enjoyed Part 5 and the ultimate reveal. While I wish that we could have let to an additional project with Tyler being the overarching villain. I think the pay off wand u,Tim ate conclusion were excellent.
Overall 3.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2024
ARC from NetGalley.
I didn’t care for this. The story was all over the place and the art was pretty crap.
I didn’t care for this. The story was all over the place and the art was pretty crap.
May 3, 2024
Absolutely horrifying and brutal. One of the best recent horror comics, in my opinion.
December 31, 2024
this totally shocked me, also the drawings in this are so intense! genuinely made me terrified of something i never thought i would ever be.
May 19, 2024
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher IDW Publishing for an advance copy of the latest addition to the Dark Spaces horror series, this one dealing with confinement, a brutal captor and the fear that even after escaping, one is never truly ever free.
Confinement is something that most humans agree bothers them most. Red tape, rules, regulations speed limits, these are the small confinements that government use to control us every second of every day. Solitary confinement, even though there have been court cases proving that it is brutal and inhumane, is still the number one punishment for people who cause problems in prison. One of the big side effects of confinement, is that one never is sure if they are dreaming about being let go, or if it is all one big hallucination, and one will awake in the dark trapped again. To add to the fear, what if one awoke in confinement, but had no idea why. Stolen from their bed, trapped in a dungeon, crushed by stones, taunted by a voice, never knowing if they would ever escape. Either for real or by dying. Dark Space: Dungeon is written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Hayden Sherman and is one dark tale about a serial killer, the one who got away, and an innocent who thought he was doing the right thing, and what of course lies underneath.
Tyler is living the American dream. Wife, son, and a huge payout from designing a program to help keep track of one's photos. One day while jogging in the woods, Tyler finds a manhole cover in the middle of no where. Instead of leading to a sewer, it leads to a dungeon, with individual cells, that are equipped to keep people alive, as well as crush bone, and contort spines. Agent Madoc knows all about this. As a child he had been kidnapped, and keep in the cell, broken in many ways, except for his need to escape. However by helping Madoc, Tyler has made himself a target to the dungeon"s master, known as "The Keep". And this sadist has his eyes on Tyler's family. As Madoc and Tyler travel the country, finding clues, "The Keep" makes it clear that no one is safe.
This is one creepy, creepy story. The tension ratchets up like one of "The Keep's" cells and just when one thinks ok, it can't get worse, yup it does. Snyder is very good at storytelling, his long Batman runs prove this, but even more Snyder understands horror, and how to make things mean something. The use of flashbacks to tell Madoc's story, how even being free of the dungeon, nothing seemed real. The subtle hints and clues, the bits of story. All add to a really good story, well good in a rough way. There is some violence, but not as much as one expects graphically. Psychologically though, this book plays with you. The art is excellent. Spooky sure, but Sherman creates these wonderful nature landscapes, the woods, the desert, the trailer park even the birds, that lull the senses, and suddenly one sees the dungeons, or something happens, an almost jump scare, maybe the better term would be a panel scare. Even sitting here typing I am still thinking about the interplay of story and art, and it really is impressive.
Recommended for readers who love horror. These is a rough, creepy and tough little story. I'd push this on people who like scary movies, but have never thought of comics. This would be a perfect movie to make, but I think the story would make most streaming services cringe. So read it here.
Confinement is something that most humans agree bothers them most. Red tape, rules, regulations speed limits, these are the small confinements that government use to control us every second of every day. Solitary confinement, even though there have been court cases proving that it is brutal and inhumane, is still the number one punishment for people who cause problems in prison. One of the big side effects of confinement, is that one never is sure if they are dreaming about being let go, or if it is all one big hallucination, and one will awake in the dark trapped again. To add to the fear, what if one awoke in confinement, but had no idea why. Stolen from their bed, trapped in a dungeon, crushed by stones, taunted by a voice, never knowing if they would ever escape. Either for real or by dying. Dark Space: Dungeon is written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Hayden Sherman and is one dark tale about a serial killer, the one who got away, and an innocent who thought he was doing the right thing, and what of course lies underneath.
Tyler is living the American dream. Wife, son, and a huge payout from designing a program to help keep track of one's photos. One day while jogging in the woods, Tyler finds a manhole cover in the middle of no where. Instead of leading to a sewer, it leads to a dungeon, with individual cells, that are equipped to keep people alive, as well as crush bone, and contort spines. Agent Madoc knows all about this. As a child he had been kidnapped, and keep in the cell, broken in many ways, except for his need to escape. However by helping Madoc, Tyler has made himself a target to the dungeon"s master, known as "The Keep". And this sadist has his eyes on Tyler's family. As Madoc and Tyler travel the country, finding clues, "The Keep" makes it clear that no one is safe.
This is one creepy, creepy story. The tension ratchets up like one of "The Keep's" cells and just when one thinks ok, it can't get worse, yup it does. Snyder is very good at storytelling, his long Batman runs prove this, but even more Snyder understands horror, and how to make things mean something. The use of flashbacks to tell Madoc's story, how even being free of the dungeon, nothing seemed real. The subtle hints and clues, the bits of story. All add to a really good story, well good in a rough way. There is some violence, but not as much as one expects graphically. Psychologically though, this book plays with you. The art is excellent. Spooky sure, but Sherman creates these wonderful nature landscapes, the woods, the desert, the trailer park even the birds, that lull the senses, and suddenly one sees the dungeons, or something happens, an almost jump scare, maybe the better term would be a panel scare. Even sitting here typing I am still thinking about the interplay of story and art, and it really is impressive.
Recommended for readers who love horror. These is a rough, creepy and tough little story. I'd push this on people who like scary movies, but have never thought of comics. This would be a perfect movie to make, but I think the story would make most streaming services cringe. So read it here.
July 22, 2024
Dark Spaces: Dungeons
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Hayden Sherman
Publication: August 27, 2024
Recommended for readers of crime thrillers and horror.
Warnings: kidnapping, torture, violence
I loved the previous Dark Spaces series about inmate firefighters, Dark Spaces: Wildfire, so I had high expectations for this one, as I often do for Scott Snyder works.
Thankfully, I was not disappointed. While it is a much different crime focus than Wildfire, Dungeons hooks on every page. Terrifying in so many ways but serves that horror carefully and with impressive focus on character. The use of a sidekick is excellent. Transitions between scenes are impressive (use of narrative connections, design of presentation, the coloring). Little pieces of dialogue are cut off and picked up again in a natural, immersive manner. I count this among my favorite crime horror stories, alongside the movie, Seven.
The artist, Hayden Sherman, does an amazing job on presenting nature as a force of weight that threads in with the desperate emotions of the story, such as when the two main characters meet a dead-end and the entire cafe is bearing down on them, and the characters hands are scrunching up his forehead, and the narrative boxes break up the next page into the photos from the villain pressing on the reader and character then snap, breakthrough, and the next page serves a freeing moment of epiphany. Then the boxes are broken up into slivers for hyper focus when they’re investigating the new lead. Every page adds such immense energy that you’ll be hard pressed to step away from this read.
There’s a scene near the climax with the characters surrounded by nature with stark shadows and lighting that had me cheering at the presentation of the raw tension. Avoiding spoilers but that had me pumped with so much terror and hope, when it hit the end, I found it hard to breathe. That lighting on the woods and the house was a godsend moment of relaxation and brief joy, and the shadow on the house as they chat hint at the haunting left behind by the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to NetGalley and Scott Snyder for allowing me the opportunity to be horrified by Dark Spaces again.
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Hayden Sherman
Publication: August 27, 2024
Recommended for readers of crime thrillers and horror.
Warnings: kidnapping, torture, violence
I loved the previous Dark Spaces series about inmate firefighters, Dark Spaces: Wildfire, so I had high expectations for this one, as I often do for Scott Snyder works.
Thankfully, I was not disappointed. While it is a much different crime focus than Wildfire, Dungeons hooks on every page. Terrifying in so many ways but serves that horror carefully and with impressive focus on character. The use of a sidekick is excellent. Transitions between scenes are impressive (use of narrative connections, design of presentation, the coloring). Little pieces of dialogue are cut off and picked up again in a natural, immersive manner. I count this among my favorite crime horror stories, alongside the movie, Seven.
The artist, Hayden Sherman, does an amazing job on presenting nature as a force of weight that threads in with the desperate emotions of the story, such as when the two main characters meet a dead-end and the entire cafe is bearing down on them, and the characters hands are scrunching up his forehead, and the narrative boxes break up the next page into the photos from the villain pressing on the reader and character then snap, breakthrough, and the next page serves a freeing moment of epiphany. Then the boxes are broken up into slivers for hyper focus when they’re investigating the new lead. Every page adds such immense energy that you’ll be hard pressed to step away from this read.
There’s a scene near the climax with the characters surrounded by nature with stark shadows and lighting that had me cheering at the presentation of the raw tension. Avoiding spoilers but that had me pumped with so much terror and hope, when it hit the end, I found it hard to breathe. That lighting on the woods and the house was a godsend moment of relaxation and brief joy, and the shadow on the house as they chat hint at the haunting left behind by the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to NetGalley and Scott Snyder for allowing me the opportunity to be horrified by Dark Spaces again.
April 9, 2024
free arc received from edelweiss, review won't be affected because of this
This is the fourth series in the Dark Spaces anthology and the second one done by the creative team Snyder & Sherman. The first four issues are already released as of writing this review, only the fifth one wasn't.
Scott Snyder is one of the biggest names in comics, after he wrote the brilliant Batman: Court of Owls and Black Mirror. Haven't read much of his indie comics but planned to - like his Undiscovered Country.
While the mystery is interesting enough from the start, I feel it moves to quickly that it kinda lost its steam in the middle. The duo Tyler and Madoc is just hopping from one place to another after they found a clue. And this is somewhat explained in the last issue but it's still somewhat disappointing.
Also the "advanced technology" of Tyler also makes the mystery move in a faster pace. Because technology is scary and it is indeed scary, especially how The Keep is tracking his victims. The horror part of the story still works very well. Like the torture scenes or how many victims The Keep already has.
Another disappointing one is the characterization... of Tyler. Detective Madoc is the main pillar of this miniseries and he's very fleshed out. From the very first issue until the last, with him dealing with PTSD and his desire to catch The Keep. While Tyler seems to be a just a "solver of mysteries" despite his on issue two. I honestly don't care about him. Once again this could be explained by the last issue, where more or less Snyder attempt to flesh his character out, but it's a little bit too late.
I adored Sherman's art on the Tec backups (together with Dan Watters and Si Spurrier) - The Hole in the Skull of the World & A Tale of Three Halves. While his art in here is fine, I find his art on the Tec backups to be better and more creative. Maybe because it's just they're a lot shorter (like 8 pages long) compared to this one which is around 22 pages.
This is the fourth series in the Dark Spaces anthology and the second one done by the creative team Snyder & Sherman. The first four issues are already released as of writing this review, only the fifth one wasn't.
Scott Snyder is one of the biggest names in comics, after he wrote the brilliant Batman: Court of Owls and Black Mirror. Haven't read much of his indie comics but planned to - like his Undiscovered Country.
While the mystery is interesting enough from the start, I feel it moves to quickly that it kinda lost its steam in the middle. The duo Tyler and Madoc is just hopping from one place to another after they found a clue. And this is somewhat explained in the last issue but it's still somewhat disappointing.
Also the "advanced technology" of Tyler also makes the mystery move in a faster pace. Because technology is scary and it is indeed scary, especially how The Keep is tracking his victims. The horror part of the story still works very well. Like the torture scenes or how many victims The Keep already has.
Another disappointing one is the characterization... of Tyler. Detective Madoc is the main pillar of this miniseries and he's very fleshed out. From the very first issue until the last, with him dealing with PTSD and his desire to catch The Keep. While Tyler seems to be a just a "solver of mysteries" despite his on issue two. I honestly don't care about him. Once again this could be explained by the last issue, where more or less Snyder attempt to flesh his character out, but it's a little bit too late.
I adored Sherman's art on the Tec backups (together with Dan Watters and Si Spurrier) - The Hole in the Skull of the World & A Tale of Three Halves. While his art in here is fine, I find his art on the Tec backups to be better and more creative. Maybe because it's just they're a lot shorter (like 8 pages long) compared to this one which is around 22 pages.
April 23, 2024
This book was really good and actually gives it all away with the premise being people being taken from their loved ones and kept in dungeons by a sadistic someone who loves to torture them and then the central character finding a dungeon again and we find out he was capture din his childhood and somehow escaped and then the one who called him, his child gets targeted by this "The Dungeon keep" and my god its so well done, and its scary.. a psychological thriller if you will and plays with that so well, like each issue is like, you're closer to finding who this keep is, and his secrets and the mystery takes a good turn and when it does happen and you think its over, there is a big twist in the end, which can rub people the other way, but it works here, and seriously flips the script on the whole story and you're forced to reread the whole story and see the clues that were planted each time, and like the ending is just brutal now. The character of Agent Madoc is really well fleshed out, with his past and PTSD and how its driving him today and this is some of Snyder's best character work as he really gives the character such a tragic past and the ending.. you kinda feel for the character here.
My complaint with the previous Wildfire story that Snyder did was it felt a safe ending and this one is anything but that, and on second thought, I prefer the safe ending lmao, because this is just brutal ad is kinda scary and even Snyder must have been like "maybe not every horror story goes the way of the protagonist by the end and maybe they won't win" and seriously its just scary the position the lead character is by the end.
It was a real horror-fuelled read over all and I really like the artist and how he is growing and his art is just so good, between these two volumes I am interested to check what his next work is and if Snyder and him have another good mini planned in this line because its kinda one and done horror stories, akin to movies, and I really like that aspect and its some of the best stuff Snyder has written in a long time.
My complaint with the previous Wildfire story that Snyder did was it felt a safe ending and this one is anything but that, and on second thought, I prefer the safe ending lmao, because this is just brutal ad is kinda scary and even Snyder must have been like "maybe not every horror story goes the way of the protagonist by the end and maybe they won't win" and seriously its just scary the position the lead character is by the end.
It was a real horror-fuelled read over all and I really like the artist and how he is growing and his art is just so good, between these two volumes I am interested to check what his next work is and if Snyder and him have another good mini planned in this line because its kinda one and done horror stories, akin to movies, and I really like that aspect and its some of the best stuff Snyder has written in a long time.
July 24, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.
Scott Snyder’s latest addition to the Dark Spaces anthology, Dungeon, is a masterful blend of psychological horror and crime thriller that grips you from the first page. This chilling tale, illustrated by Hayden Sherman, delves into the darkest corners of human nature and the secrets that lie beneath the surface.
The story begins with a haunting flashback of a young child emerging from a hidden hatch in the woods, setting the tone for the eerie events to follow. Fast forward 21 years, and we meet Tyler Letts, a family man who stumbles on the same hatch near his home.
Snyder excels in character development, presenting a cast that is both complex and relatable. Tyler Letts is portrayed as a loving father, whose life takes a dark turn upon discovering the dungeon. His character contrasts sharply with the mysterious killer, whose deranged hobbies are depicted with chilling precision. Agent Madoc, driven by his past encounters with the killer, adds another layer of depth to the narrative.
Hayden Sherman’s artwork is a standout feature of this series. The visuals are both haunting and beautiful, perfectly complementing Snyder’s tight script. The use of moody tones and watercolor textures by colorist Patricio Delpeche enhances the eerie atmosphere, drawing readers into the story’s dark world.
Dark Spaces: Dungeon explores themes of trauma, secrecy, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their loved ones. The story delves into the psychological impact of past horrors and the ways in which they shape the present.
In Dark Spaces: Dungeon, Scott Snyder delivers a gripping and thought-provoking tale that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. The combination of a compelling plot, well-developed characters, and stunning artwork makes this a must-read for fans of psychological horror and crime thrillers. Whether you’re new to the Dark Spaces anthology or a long-time fan, this installment is sure to captivate and haunt you long after you’ve turned the last page.
Scott Snyder’s latest addition to the Dark Spaces anthology, Dungeon, is a masterful blend of psychological horror and crime thriller that grips you from the first page. This chilling tale, illustrated by Hayden Sherman, delves into the darkest corners of human nature and the secrets that lie beneath the surface.
The story begins with a haunting flashback of a young child emerging from a hidden hatch in the woods, setting the tone for the eerie events to follow. Fast forward 21 years, and we meet Tyler Letts, a family man who stumbles on the same hatch near his home.
Snyder excels in character development, presenting a cast that is both complex and relatable. Tyler Letts is portrayed as a loving father, whose life takes a dark turn upon discovering the dungeon. His character contrasts sharply with the mysterious killer, whose deranged hobbies are depicted with chilling precision. Agent Madoc, driven by his past encounters with the killer, adds another layer of depth to the narrative.
Hayden Sherman’s artwork is a standout feature of this series. The visuals are both haunting and beautiful, perfectly complementing Snyder’s tight script. The use of moody tones and watercolor textures by colorist Patricio Delpeche enhances the eerie atmosphere, drawing readers into the story’s dark world.
Dark Spaces: Dungeon explores themes of trauma, secrecy, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their loved ones. The story delves into the psychological impact of past horrors and the ways in which they shape the present.
In Dark Spaces: Dungeon, Scott Snyder delivers a gripping and thought-provoking tale that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. The combination of a compelling plot, well-developed characters, and stunning artwork makes this a must-read for fans of psychological horror and crime thrillers. Whether you’re new to the Dark Spaces anthology or a long-time fan, this installment is sure to captivate and haunt you long after you’ve turned the last page.
August 4, 2024
Loved, Loved, Loved it. Another one of those reads where I assumed I wasn’t going to enjoy it based on its American Comic book style. There was a little hesitation right at the beginning because I usually don’t read Graphic Novels that follow that strict ‘Floppy Comic’ style. It’s hard not to compare the artstyles when they are so often similar. Hayden did a great job at steering clear of that mold. Lovely, lovely work!
And let's not forget the story of course! The plot line follows this duo as they try to capture a murderer they call by the name of the ‘Keep’. He’s none for stealing people from their lives and torturing them in these chambers known as ‘Dungeons’, hence his name. Tyler gets involved when he stumbles across one of the Keep’s hidden chambers on his property, while Agent Madoc has always been following the Keep’s train since he escaped from the Keep’s clutches as a child all those years ago. The plot line was solid and the characters were easy to relate to. Agent Madoc is my favorite among the two. There were times when I was rooting for them and times when I was scolding them like a troubled mom. lol.
I will say (without any spoilers of course) that the ending was cheesy, but it got a kick out of me regardless and it wasn’t cheesy enough to ruin the story. I actually quite enjoyed how it ended. My rating is a 4/5-star.
My thanks to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for the Digital Advanced Reader’s Copy. This book is expected to be published August 27th, 2024.
And let's not forget the story of course! The plot line follows this duo as they try to capture a murderer they call by the name of the ‘Keep’. He’s none for stealing people from their lives and torturing them in these chambers known as ‘Dungeons’, hence his name. Tyler gets involved when he stumbles across one of the Keep’s hidden chambers on his property, while Agent Madoc has always been following the Keep’s train since he escaped from the Keep’s clutches as a child all those years ago. The plot line was solid and the characters were easy to relate to. Agent Madoc is my favorite among the two. There were times when I was rooting for them and times when I was scolding them like a troubled mom. lol.
I will say (without any spoilers of course) that the ending was cheesy, but it got a kick out of me regardless and it wasn’t cheesy enough to ruin the story. I actually quite enjoyed how it ended. My rating is a 4/5-star.
My thanks to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for the Digital Advanced Reader’s Copy. This book is expected to be published August 27th, 2024.
August 25, 2024
You can never escape from the dungeon in this amazing new Dark Spaces installment.
I am so lucky that I was able to see Scott Snyder at FanExpo Canada this summer. He talked about the industry of comics, and his passion is contagious. You can tell immediately why his stories are so popular, it's because he has this understanding of legacy-fandoms, and the way culture is evolving. He is able to hold onto these two concepts, and find ways to connect them that stays true to fandoms while simultaneously welcoming new readers.
While Scott is best known for his work with DC comics and Superman, I love his passion projects which include Dark Spaces, Clear and Nocterra.
In these passion projects, Scott is pushing the creative envelope of the graphic novel medium, taking the reader beyond a straightforward story and elevating the art form. Throughout the book I'd often stop and read sections outloud to my family and friends. I was blown away by the clever writing and gorgeous imagery. When I got to the end, I went right back to the beginning and read the whole thing again.
Dungeons is a dark mystery about a man who kidnaps and tortures victims for decades. He keeps them trapped inside a coffin like structure that shifts to cause harm to the person trapped inside. We're following the detective, who himself was kidnapped and escaped, from this villain. As we get closer to figuring out who is behind this, we realize we never understood anything to begin with.
Thank you to NetGalley and IDW for the ARC.
This book is best read while locked in a dark room, you may never want to leave.
I am so lucky that I was able to see Scott Snyder at FanExpo Canada this summer. He talked about the industry of comics, and his passion is contagious. You can tell immediately why his stories are so popular, it's because he has this understanding of legacy-fandoms, and the way culture is evolving. He is able to hold onto these two concepts, and find ways to connect them that stays true to fandoms while simultaneously welcoming new readers.
While Scott is best known for his work with DC comics and Superman, I love his passion projects which include Dark Spaces, Clear and Nocterra.
In these passion projects, Scott is pushing the creative envelope of the graphic novel medium, taking the reader beyond a straightforward story and elevating the art form. Throughout the book I'd often stop and read sections outloud to my family and friends. I was blown away by the clever writing and gorgeous imagery. When I got to the end, I went right back to the beginning and read the whole thing again.
Dungeons is a dark mystery about a man who kidnaps and tortures victims for decades. He keeps them trapped inside a coffin like structure that shifts to cause harm to the person trapped inside. We're following the detective, who himself was kidnapped and escaped, from this villain. As we get closer to figuring out who is behind this, we realize we never understood anything to begin with.
Thank you to NetGalley and IDW for the ARC.
This book is best read while locked in a dark room, you may never want to leave.
June 6, 2024
Thank you to the publishers for providing a free ARC for an honest review.
Entertaining enough to spend a couple of hours on, but overall Dark Spaces: Dungeon feels like a later season episode of Criminal Minds with a trite and completely predictable twist ending. I feel like having one more issue (or ideally trimming some of the fat off the existing issues and reallocating that space) to focus on developing that twist or adding something novel to the narrative would have served the story well. Snyder and Sherman seem to be trying to ride the line between graphic, pulpy horror and a more psychological thriller, but more commitment to either avenue would have packed a much harder punch.
Entertaining enough to spend a couple of hours on, but overall Dark Spaces: Dungeon feels like a later season episode of Criminal Minds with a trite and completely predictable twist ending. I feel like having one more issue (or ideally trimming some of the fat off the existing issues and reallocating that space) to focus on developing that twist or adding something novel to the narrative would have served the story well. Snyder and Sherman seem to be trying to ride the line between graphic, pulpy horror and a more psychological thriller, but more commitment to either avenue would have packed a much harder punch.
July 30, 2024
This is the second story in a graphic novel anthology, and I liked it even more than the first. What is great is that these are completely stand alone.
Tyler is jogging in the woods when he trips over a cover in the ground. He discovers what is obviously a torture prison, and is fearful that his young family will be in danger because of his discovery.
(SLIGHT SPOILER AHEAD....it is of a fact revealed fairly quickly in the story)
***********
Detective Bohdi Madoc is in charge of the investigation of this particularly sadistic criminal. The "Keep" has kidnapped an unknown number after victims, possibly thousands, keeping each in their own isolated underground prison. Det. Madoc was once one of those victims. The only one known to have escaped.
As Madoc and Tyler work together to keep Tyler's family safe events unfold quickly to an unforseen end.
Thank you to Netgalley and IDW Publishing for the opportunity to enjoy this suspense filled Graphic Novel e-ARC.
Tyler is jogging in the woods when he trips over a cover in the ground. He discovers what is obviously a torture prison, and is fearful that his young family will be in danger because of his discovery.
(SLIGHT SPOILER AHEAD....it is of a fact revealed fairly quickly in the story)
***********
Detective Bohdi Madoc is in charge of the investigation of this particularly sadistic criminal. The "Keep" has kidnapped an unknown number after victims, possibly thousands, keeping each in their own isolated underground prison. Det. Madoc was once one of those victims. The only one known to have escaped.
As Madoc and Tyler work together to keep Tyler's family safe events unfold quickly to an unforseen end.
Thank you to Netgalley and IDW Publishing for the opportunity to enjoy this suspense filled Graphic Novel e-ARC.
August 17, 2024
I love it when Scott Snyder returns to horror. Dungeon features a modern-day serial killer who abducts victims and places them inside a twisted torture chamber. This chilling story explores themes of trauma response, and asks if we can ever really leave our 'Dungeons.'
A special note of appreciation for Hayden Sherman's art in this one. The puzzle box cells were haunting but in addition to the horrifyingly tight spaces, Sherman also showcases sprawling midwest landscapes and limitless skies, amplifying the claustrophobia at the heart of this story. His ability to paint everyday people/places with an underlying dread embodies all the chills of a great true crime story.
My only complaint here is that I wanted more time with this story. The twists were expected, but effective all the same. Snyder is digging into some unsettling questions about life after traumatic events, but I would have loved to see him go further with this. All in all, I enjoyed this one, I'd easily recommend it to any horror-loving comic fan.
Thank you NetGalley and IDW for the advance copy!
A special note of appreciation for Hayden Sherman's art in this one. The puzzle box cells were haunting but in addition to the horrifyingly tight spaces, Sherman also showcases sprawling midwest landscapes and limitless skies, amplifying the claustrophobia at the heart of this story. His ability to paint everyday people/places with an underlying dread embodies all the chills of a great true crime story.
My only complaint here is that I wanted more time with this story. The twists were expected, but effective all the same. Snyder is digging into some unsettling questions about life after traumatic events, but I would have loved to see him go further with this. All in all, I enjoyed this one, I'd easily recommend it to any horror-loving comic fan.
Thank you NetGalley and IDW for the advance copy!
April 8, 2024
I received a free ARC, and this review is voluntary
Starts off with Tyler, and his family moving to a new place, where they discover a dungeon in a hidden part of the structure. An FBI Agent named Madoc gets involved, because the dungeon is another location, or clue, of the individual responsible for its design, and its usage of torture, that he's been on the trail of for sometime. The hunt for the abductor begins, and Madoc showcases why he's been the lead on the case because of his attention to detail, and obsession in tracking in guy down.
I hate to sound cliche, but this is a perfect example of a "pulse-pounding thriller." As new clues about the killer are revealed, so too are new clues about the rest of the characters presented. It adds layers to not just the story, but to the development of each character. Beautifully written, and the art is amazing. As the second installment in a series, I look forward to its continued development.
Starts off with Tyler, and his family moving to a new place, where they discover a dungeon in a hidden part of the structure. An FBI Agent named Madoc gets involved, because the dungeon is another location, or clue, of the individual responsible for its design, and its usage of torture, that he's been on the trail of for sometime. The hunt for the abductor begins, and Madoc showcases why he's been the lead on the case because of his attention to detail, and obsession in tracking in guy down.
I hate to sound cliche, but this is a perfect example of a "pulse-pounding thriller." As new clues about the killer are revealed, so too are new clues about the rest of the characters presented. It adds layers to not just the story, but to the development of each character. Beautifully written, and the art is amazing. As the second installment in a series, I look forward to its continued development.
August 10, 2024
I made the mistake of judging this graphic novel by the cover and went into it expecting something completely different from what it actually is. That being said I did still really enjoy it, and while it started off slow, it was exciting and tense towards the end.
You follow the POV of two characters, one of whom has stumbled across a strange torture dungeon near his house, and a detective who had been kidnapped and imprisoned in such a dungeon as a child. Certain events unfold that lead them to hunting down this serial torturer together.
I really liked the concept of the story, and I think anyone who was a fan of movies like 'The Cube', will enjoy the similar themes. I did find it to be a little bit obscure and not really believable but it was still fun and I really want to see what happens in the next volume.
The art style was great, and entirely disgusting. Exactly what you'd hope for from a horror graphic novel.
Thank you NetGalley and IDW Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
You follow the POV of two characters, one of whom has stumbled across a strange torture dungeon near his house, and a detective who had been kidnapped and imprisoned in such a dungeon as a child. Certain events unfold that lead them to hunting down this serial torturer together.
I really liked the concept of the story, and I think anyone who was a fan of movies like 'The Cube', will enjoy the similar themes. I did find it to be a little bit obscure and not really believable but it was still fun and I really want to see what happens in the next volume.
The art style was great, and entirely disgusting. Exactly what you'd hope for from a horror graphic novel.
Thank you NetGalley and IDW Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
August 26, 2024
what did I just read? 👀👀👀
Dark Spaces: Dungeon is a horror and a serial killer mystery graphic novel that follows a detective who used to be trapped in one of the Dungeons. Now that he knows where he was locked up, he can follow leads and clues to solve who is the Dungeon Keep and where are all the other Dungeons. Unfortunately, the guy who found the "Detective's" Dungeon is fully pulled into this nightmare when his son is kidnapped by the same Dungeon Keep.
The plot kept me on my toes and I was freaked out most of the time. Not only for the plot, but also the style of illustrations. It was all very dark, far too realistic with exaggerated parts to show how insane this all is. And I wish I could rant about the ending!!! It made me go back to the front and start it again.
5/5 for every aspect of this book. I wish it was a part of a series, but I guess I will have to catch up on author's other graphic novels to catch this "high" feeling.
Thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for providing me with the ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dark Spaces: Dungeon is a horror and a serial killer mystery graphic novel that follows a detective who used to be trapped in one of the Dungeons. Now that he knows where he was locked up, he can follow leads and clues to solve who is the Dungeon Keep and where are all the other Dungeons. Unfortunately, the guy who found the "Detective's" Dungeon is fully pulled into this nightmare when his son is kidnapped by the same Dungeon Keep.
The plot kept me on my toes and I was freaked out most of the time. Not only for the plot, but also the style of illustrations. It was all very dark, far too realistic with exaggerated parts to show how insane this all is. And I wish I could rant about the ending!!! It made me go back to the front and start it again.
5/5 for every aspect of this book. I wish it was a part of a series, but I guess I will have to catch up on author's other graphic novels to catch this "high" feeling.
Thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for providing me with the ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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