Beyond the Pale

Beyond the Pale #1-4

by Christofer Emgård, Tomás Aira (illustrator)

War correspondent Hetta Sawyer is looking into the disproportional loss of black GIs in the Vietnam War, where an unknowable evil awaits her in the jungle…

Leads say losses are especially high at Firebase Tartarus, with most of them simply gone missing, their fate unknown. Something sinister is happening at Tartarus, and the deeper Hetta digs, the more she finds herself spiraling into madness.

Written by Christofer Emgård and featuring art by Tomás Aira, the team that created The Whispering Dark and The Secret Land.

Collects Beyond the Pale #1–#4.

Genres: Horror, Graphic Novels, Comics, Historical

120 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2025

Reviews

[Annalise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this idea a lot with the whole war correspondent in Vietnam trying to get the story behind the disappearances of soldiers of color in a certain base, but I feel like there wasn’t enough. We didn’t really learn too much about the men who disappeared, the guy who ended his life in front of Hetta, if Hetta’s brother was still alive or if she was writing to him to grieve. We also didn’t get too much lore on the entities that were involved either which was a huge bummer for me. I did really like the art style though and the colors were really vibrant!

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lot of unfulfilled potential which is a real shame because it starts strongly with the first 2 issues then descends into a bit of a mess and doesn’t really stick the landing or come across as confident in what the writer wants to say.

The art in the 4th issue is also very rushed

[Diana Flores · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beyond the Pale, the graphic novel, collects issues #1-#4 of the same name.

War correspondent Hetta Sawyer is looking into the disproportional loss of black GIs in the Vietnam War, and discovers a very dark answer to her investigation. I'm not how many issues of Beyond the Pale there are to be sourced for a second volume - but it wasn't to my taste / my liking, so I won't be continuing.

To be published February 2025. Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss+ for the advance reading copy.

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

War is hell. Taken literally. That's the basic premise of this book - a tour of such hell as guided by a war reporter driven by a guilty conscience.
Dark, disturbing, well drawn. But nothing special. Reads quickly.

[AllyP Reads Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good story. I did have trouble differentiating all the characters so I didn't know who was who. Also, at the end she asks Timmy to forgive her. For what? Nothing happened in the narration or story that indicated she did anything to Timmy that required forgiveness.

[Mee Too · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never read a Vietnam story but i seen all the movies back in the day. I must say this is one of the most unique versions. The writer went all in with demons and racism 😂.

Bravo i say 🙌🏾
3.7⭐️