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Summer Shadows
The Talented Mr. Ripley meets Dracula, this stylish neo-noir horror graphic novel will sink its teeth into you and leave you infatuated. Forever.
By day the Greek islands are all sand, sea and fun…but by night they’re the perfect hunting ground for vampires! Nick Landry is searching for his ex on the unspoiled island of Avraxos. Anthony was the love of his life, and without knowing why he left, Nick can’t move on. But Anthony isn’t the only one to disappear on Avraxos. Coast guard officer Alekos Kourkoulos is on the trail of another young man who disappeared there. Both men had fallen in with the glamorous set onboard a jet-black superyacht moored offshore before vanishing. As the mystery deepens, Nick and Alekos discover that the brighter the sunshine, the darker the shadows…
Acclaimed writer John Harris Dunning (Tumult, Wiper, Salem Brownstone) and talented artist Ricardo Cabral (Wiper) team up again to bring you this darkly seductive horror.
Collects Summer Shadows #1–#4.
By day the Greek islands are all sand, sea and fun…but by night they’re the perfect hunting ground for vampires! Nick Landry is searching for his ex on the unspoiled island of Avraxos. Anthony was the love of his life, and without knowing why he left, Nick can’t move on. But Anthony isn’t the only one to disappear on Avraxos. Coast guard officer Alekos Kourkoulos is on the trail of another young man who disappeared there. Both men had fallen in with the glamorous set onboard a jet-black superyacht moored offshore before vanishing. As the mystery deepens, Nick and Alekos discover that the brighter the sunshine, the darker the shadows…
Acclaimed writer John Harris Dunning (Tumult, Wiper, Salem Brownstone) and talented artist Ricardo Cabral (Wiper) team up again to bring you this darkly seductive horror.
Collects Summer Shadows #1–#4.
136 pages, Paperback
Published April 22, 2025
1 person is currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
John Harris Dunning
19 books12 followersAs an artist
Born in South Africa in 1974, John Dunning has lived in London for the last decade. He has written for The Guardian and Metro newspapers, and has contributed to magazines like Esquire, Arena, iD and Dazed & Confused, to name a few. He also acted as film editor at Sleazenation magazine. Writing comics is Dunning’s main passion. His work appeared at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts as a part of the Comica Festival in 2003, and he has published the ongoing series ‘Salem Brownstone’ with artist Nikhil Singh in award-winning UK anthology Sturgeon White Moss alongside work by Charles Burns, Daniel Johnston and Jason. 2005 saw Dunning collaborating with artist Sacha Mardou on ‘Lolajean Riddle’. Extracts of ‘Salem Brownstone’ were included in the book ‘Pictures and Words’ that also featured work by Marjane Satrapi, Joe Sacco, David Shrigley, Jason and Jim Woodring. Dunning is currently working on comic projects and completing his novel ‘Tales of Hushlawn Creek’.
Born in South Africa in 1974, John Dunning has lived in London for the last decade. He has written for The Guardian and Metro newspapers, and has contributed to magazines like Esquire, Arena, iD and Dazed & Confused, to name a few. He also acted as film editor at Sleazenation magazine. Writing comics is Dunning’s main passion. His work appeared at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts as a part of the Comica Festival in 2003, and he has published the ongoing series ‘Salem Brownstone’ with artist Nikhil Singh in award-winning UK anthology Sturgeon White Moss alongside work by Charles Burns, Daniel Johnston and Jason. 2005 saw Dunning collaborating with artist Sacha Mardou on ‘Lolajean Riddle’. Extracts of ‘Salem Brownstone’ were included in the book ‘Pictures and Words’ that also featured work by Marjane Satrapi, Joe Sacco, David Shrigley, Jason and Jim Woodring. Dunning is currently working on comic projects and completing his novel ‘Tales of Hushlawn Creek’.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 8, 2025
It’s gay. It has vampires. What more do you need in life?
February 5, 2025
thanks to edelweiss for the drc! this was a little ridiculous plot-wise but honestly, i had a GREAT time. double whammy of vampires on a boat + two kind, queer protagonists - what's not to like? the coloring + paneling was also great, i really liked how a lot of the vampire 'shots' were framed. i do think everyone suffered from same-face syndrome a little bit, and that wasn't helped by everyone having identical body types (skinny, ripped, boring), but those are really my only complaints... a great summery graphic novel, and extra points for the surprise butch lesbian.
if you liked Joe Hill's Basketful of Heads and Sins of the Black Flamingo by Andrew Wheeler (two things I also enjoyed), you would probably also really like this!
if you liked Joe Hill's Basketful of Heads and Sins of the Black Flamingo by Andrew Wheeler (two things I also enjoyed), you would probably also really like this!
June 10, 2025
3.7 ⭐️ Gay horror mystery with vampires? Sign me up 🙂↕️
The first volume is a lot of fun. It’s eerie and gritty and the story is intriguing.
I do feel like we’re introduced to some characters that don’t add much to the story. A more central focus on the MCs would help add clarity to some of the mystery as it progresses. The pacing also felt a little off with the slowburn mystery and sudden hit of action that wasn’t given much focus.
I loved the art style especially for the fantasy and horror elements. It’s creepy and a tad psychedelic in some panels, and beautifully illustrated.
Rep// MCs and SCs are MLM/Gay/Achillian. Queer SC scene involving men and women. Sapphic SCs. Central romance is MLM/Achillian.
Set// Greece.
TWs listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.
TW// blood drinking, bodies, death, on page BDSM/kink scene (brief, not too NSFW), suicidal ideation, suicide attempt (on page, brief), mention of alcoholic parent, abduction, mentions of war and trauma, some gore and bloody scenes, car accident, eye gore, guns, fire and burning, suicide (hanging, on page.)
The first volume is a lot of fun. It’s eerie and gritty and the story is intriguing.
I do feel like we’re introduced to some characters that don’t add much to the story. A more central focus on the MCs would help add clarity to some of the mystery as it progresses. The pacing also felt a little off with the slowburn mystery and sudden hit of action that wasn’t given much focus.
I loved the art style especially for the fantasy and horror elements. It’s creepy and a tad psychedelic in some panels, and beautifully illustrated.
Rep// MCs and SCs are MLM/Gay/Achillian. Queer SC scene involving men and women. Sapphic SCs. Central romance is MLM/Achillian.
Set// Greece.
TWs listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.
TW// blood drinking, bodies, death, on page BDSM/kink scene (brief, not too NSFW), suicidal ideation, suicide attempt (on page, brief), mention of alcoholic parent, abduction, mentions of war and trauma, some gore and bloody scenes, car accident, eye gore, guns, fire and burning, suicide (hanging, on page.)
January 7, 2025
Summer Shadows turned out to be an incredible graphic novel! I was completely drawn in from the very first pages. The story follows Nick as he embarks on a journey to find closure with his ex—only to discover far more than he anticipated. I couldn’t help but become a little obsessed with his dynamic with the coast guard, rooting for them at every turn. The ending twist hit like a dagger I could sense was coming, but it was executed so well that I absolutely loved it. This was such an enjoyable way to spend my day, and I’m eager to see more from these talented authors and illustrators in the future. A great read!
July 3, 2025
Art soooooo good
Story…
Writing………
Vampires 🧛♂️🧛♀️🧛♂️
Story…
Writing………
Vampires 🧛♂️🧛♀️🧛♂️
May 6, 2025
Got this from my library! I love graphic novels about Vampires but they have to have the right vibe. This one is great! First of all the artwork is stunning - great colour distinctions between the vampire world and the daylight world.
Nick is searching for a lost friend and he's about to discover not everything is what it seems. You'd think with all the sun and beaches on the Greek Islands that there wouldn't be a lot of vampires lurking around but they've come up with a perfect plan for drawing people in. At night the vampires throw lavish and hedonistic parties on a yacht...and isn't that just the right thing to lure in tourists.
Loved the supporting characters... this captures a great mix of old scary tails, lost souls and the dark underground.
Nick is searching for a lost friend and he's about to discover not everything is what it seems. You'd think with all the sun and beaches on the Greek Islands that there wouldn't be a lot of vampires lurking around but they've come up with a perfect plan for drawing people in. At night the vampires throw lavish and hedonistic parties on a yacht...and isn't that just the right thing to lure in tourists.
Loved the supporting characters... this captures a great mix of old scary tails, lost souls and the dark underground.
May 29, 2025
Total guilty pleasure. Loved it.
Gay folk, goths :[ and Greek islands.
More please!
4/5
Gay folk, goths :[ and Greek islands.
More please!
4/5
April 19, 2025
Nick heads to a remote Greek island in search of his ex, who may or may not have fallen in with a group of vampires. Meanwhile Coast Guard Alexos is investigating a similar disappearance, putting them both on a collision course with each other, and the undead.
This was kind of depressing, but in a good way, if that makes any sense. There's a feeling of gloom hanging over everything, which feels appropriate for Nick's mindset, and even though Nick's ex's fate seems sealed from the first page, it still plays out in some interesting ways. The ultimate conclusion feels like both closure and a goodbye. It's all very haunting.
Ricardo Cabral's artwork gives me very Francesco Francavilla, though perhaps not as heavy on the shadows (ironically given the title) and the colours. It's a solid visual, and adds to the creep factor for sure.
An enjoyable romp, though not one to read if you're already feeling down.
This was kind of depressing, but in a good way, if that makes any sense. There's a feeling of gloom hanging over everything, which feels appropriate for Nick's mindset, and even though Nick's ex's fate seems sealed from the first page, it still plays out in some interesting ways. The ultimate conclusion feels like both closure and a goodbye. It's all very haunting.
Ricardo Cabral's artwork gives me very Francesco Francavilla, though perhaps not as heavy on the shadows (ironically given the title) and the colours. It's a solid visual, and adds to the creep factor for sure.
An enjoyable romp, though not one to read if you're already feeling down.
August 16, 2025
A queer, Mediterranean vampire mystery, "Summer Shadows" blends Greek sun and surf with dangerous, decadent happenings on a mysterious yacht.
Our focal character, Nick, has come to the islands looking for a former lover who sent him a brush-off postcard. But that man proves hard to find, and other handsome sorts seem to disappearing too.
Nick does some investigating, and mopes, and comes to the attention of a helpful local cop and an "Eyes Wide Shut"-style orgy recruiter. But the flashbacks we see of Nick's romance hardly support all the angst on the page. And while the plotting and characterization aren't bad, they are familiar, and the pacing--first too slow, then too fast--doesn't quite land either.
The art by Ricardo Cabral is engaging, alternating between blown-out sun and the darkest of shadows. His style would be at home in an old Hellblazer comic, and it generally works for the story here.
Our focal character, Nick, has come to the islands looking for a former lover who sent him a brush-off postcard. But that man proves hard to find, and other handsome sorts seem to disappearing too.
Nick does some investigating, and mopes, and comes to the attention of a helpful local cop and an "Eyes Wide Shut"-style orgy recruiter. But the flashbacks we see of Nick's romance hardly support all the angst on the page. And while the plotting and characterization aren't bad, they are familiar, and the pacing--first too slow, then too fast--doesn't quite land either.
The art by Ricardo Cabral is engaging, alternating between blown-out sun and the darkest of shadows. His style would be at home in an old Hellblazer comic, and it generally works for the story here.
May 21, 2025
*2.5 stars*
Ehh was kind of expecting a bit more from this. Felt like a run of the mill vampire story just with a Greek setting. It didn’t do too much to enhance the story, and wish they had gone deeper with the lore. Didnt really care about the main character and him wanting to find his obnoxious ex just got a little unbelievable to me. He was NOT WORTH IT. I just wish there was a bit more characterization too. Characters felt very one note.
Ehh was kind of expecting a bit more from this. Felt like a run of the mill vampire story just with a Greek setting. It didn’t do too much to enhance the story, and wish they had gone deeper with the lore. Didnt really care about the main character and him wanting to find his obnoxious ex just got a little unbelievable to me. He was NOT WORTH IT. I just wish there was a bit more characterization too. Characters felt very one note.
April 27, 2025
Not Great.
I mean if you’re gonna do vampires it needs to be uniquely special and well written. It was mediocre on both accounts. Making the main characters gay was not very special or unique. The writing could of been good but it gave up on itself. Feels like the writer got tired of his own story and just gave up. No depth or substance, just superficial nonsense.
I mean if you’re gonna do vampires it needs to be uniquely special and well written. It was mediocre on both accounts. Making the main characters gay was not very special or unique. The writing could of been good but it gave up on itself. Feels like the writer got tired of his own story and just gave up. No depth or substance, just superficial nonsense.
June 4, 2025
The Talented Mr. Ripley meets Dracula, this stylish neo-noir horror graphic novel will sink its teeth into you and leave you infatuated. Forever. Follow the link for my full review which comes with book recommendations of similar titles.
https://www.marshmyers.com/bookshop-u...
https://www.marshmyers.com/bookshop-u...
September 28, 2025
Although I liked the concept, it was the story of a boy obsessed with an abusive, prick of an ex who told him, "I'm too good for this," disappears, telling him DO NOT LOOK FOR ME, and the boy still goes to another country to find him to save him from who-knows-what. The art is nice, but the idea was debatable at this time, and the ending was severely underwhelming.
May 24, 2025
This was kind of cool. The Talented Mr. Ripley meets Dracula seems very apt. A twenty-something boy heads to Greece after his ex-boyfriend. There's a yacht offshore where people go to party with the rich and some don't come back. It's a slow burn of a vampire story that I dug.
June 17, 2025
I really wanted to like this one, but felt that 1 volume of "story" wasn't enough to actually tell the entirety of the plot in a cohesive flowing way. The characters were very one dimensional and so was the villain.
June 17, 2025
Searching for your missing ex on a dreamy Greek island with a yacht full of sinister vampires should be a whole lot more interesting than this is. The dialogue is as flat as the characters but the art is nice to look at.
July 17, 2025
An intriguing idea but a pretty thin execution with a lot of loose ends. I got to the end and thought ‘That’s it?’, which is not what you want to do at the end of a story. But it says it’s volume one, maybe there’s more coming?
August 4, 2025
Sex, drugs, vampires. SPOILER maybe the good guy will get the love, but the bad guys probably will win in the end. The Great Gatsby with vampires and even more hedonism.
September 12, 2025
The art and atmosphere was really good. Very straightforward plot though, and I think it could have benefitted from one or two more issues
September 22, 2025
3.5 stars. Good story, but due to the length it lacks development. Feels like a summary of a really good story.
October 22, 2025
I expected more from the climax but it was pretty good. I absolutely love the cover art.
December 16, 2025
Nothing all that original, but like the man said, gays and vampires, so it was sexy fun.
January 5, 2026
Good, but one star off for a boring ending.
January 10, 2026
nice art cool setting but the story was lackluster. Honestly maybe the vampires pov would have been better the main characters were pretty boring.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews