Сомна. Сказка на ночь

by Becky Cloonan, Tula Lotay, Бекки Клунан

«СОМНА» — настоящее колдовское зелье из эротики и сверхъестественного в антураже семнадцатого века, которое отправит читателя в мир страстей и духов, сыграет на чувствах и оставит глубоко удовлетворёнными, но жаждущими добавки! Это первая совместная работа от сценаристок и художниц Беки Клунан и Тулы Лотей. Объединение двух талантливейших комиксисток создало шедевр, а сам графический роман получил премию Айснера!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Horror, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics

200 pages, Paperback

First published July 17, 2024

About the author

Becky Cloonan is an American comic book creator, known for work published by Tokyopop and Vertigo. In 2012 she became the first female artist to draw the main Batman title for DC Comics.

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Prepare yourself for what apparently is an unpopular opinion. I'll start by saying that there is no doubt the art is wonderful. And if that is all that is required to tick your boxes, you should really enjoy this.

If, however, you assumed that this was a story in which a stereotypical wide-eyed young woman in an oppressive society finds her voice and acts with agency, you would be disappointed. There is no character development here at all. Stereotypes and boring tropes persist throughout. As I turned the pages, I was hoping that Ingrid would shed that skin with the help of the erotic demon who haunts her dreams and by the end we would see a woman who, if not fully imbued with her own power and confidence, would be taking steps in that direction. Spoiler alert: it does not happen

In fact, we continue to punish women for their sexuality and for wanting more from life. We also see the tired old trope of pitting women against women. I had heard great things about this comic and from my male friends, they touted how it was great because it was written by women about women and so gave a different perspective in what has long been a male dominated genre. Perhaps the expectation set up by the praise increased my expectations, but I think I would have felt the same way regardless. This still very much feels like it was created only for the male gaze. I can ascribe not one action taken by the main character. It seems as though she is there to simply be naked.

There are several other inconsistencies and anachronisms that also take away from the story for me, primarily in the dialogue. But at the end of the day, this is just another witch trial story with not much new or exciting to recommend it. Sad to see these stereotypes and tropes persisting in 2024.

[Zana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here for the demon fucking. 👺👹

Nov. 2, 2024 update: Happy to say that the demon fucking delivered. 😈🍆💦

[Mirnes Alispahić · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, this graphic novel has one of the best drawings out there, especially dreamlike scenes. Two writers/artists, with two different styles that blend perfectly. One naïve, with cute, big eyes, the other dreamlike, full of eroticism.
The story is beautifully written, which is another plus, and makes us wonder whether the narrator was unreliable or if was it all a dream.
I guess some of the readers were expecting a graphic novel about a woman's sexual awakening or whatever and they were disappointed after reading this. While traces of that can be found, Becky and Tula were just playing with the notion of the Devil having sex with witches and sex being something sinful in 1600s England.
In short, it's a folk "horroresque" story with erotic and romantic parts. Robert Eggers would probably made a great movie out of it.

[Urbon Adamsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

PT Por alguma razão, estava um pouco reticente em relação a esta obra. Apesar de ter adorado o pouco que vi sobre ela, as críticas não eram unânimes quanto à sua qualidade, e isso deixava-me com receio de acabar por não gostar.

Mas não podia estar mais enganado. Muito pelo contrário: adorei.

Começando pelo óbvio — as cores e a fantástica direção artística. As autoras combinam os seus talentos de forma magistral, criando uma obra visualmente deslumbrante. Confesso que não sei ao certo qual das duas é responsável pelos desenhos mais realistas, mas esses momentos são tão bem conseguidos que parecem autênticas fotografias.

A história centra-se numa mulher em pleno período da caça às bruxas. Ela vive atormentada por sonhos de luxúria com uma entidade que evoca claramente a figura do Diabo. Ao longo da narrativa, acaba por tornar-se um peão num jogo de intrigas e tensão que envolve várias outras personagens. Não vou revelar mais, para evitar spoilers.

É uma obra com um toque bastante feminino, erótico e sobrenatural — e gostei imenso.

--

EN For some reason, I was a bit hesitant about this work. Even though I loved the little I had seen of it, the reviews weren’t unanimous in their praise, and that made me worry I might end up not liking it.

But I couldn’t have been more wrong. Quite the opposite: I loved it.

Let’s start with the obvious — the colours and the fantastic artistic direction. The authors blend their talents masterfully, creating a visually stunning piece. I must admit I’m not sure which of the two is responsible for the more realistic drawings, but those moments are so well executed they look like actual photographs.

The story focuses on a woman during the witch hunts. She is tormented by dreams of lust involving an entity that clearly resembles the Devil. As the narrative unfolds, she becomes a pawn in a web of intrigue and tension that draws in several other characters. I won’t say much more to avoid spoilers.

It’s a work with a distinctly feminine, erotic, and supernatural touch — and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Drew Canole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exquisitely drawn sexual horror story set in the witch hunt era (1600s in England). It feels quite fantastical with dream sequences (that blur the line between fantasy, dream and reality) taking up much of the story.

Ingrid is the main character, in a sexless relationship with the town's witch hunter. Her friend is eyeing up a recent widower whose wife was accused of being a witch. The body is still hanging in the town square. There's something disturbing about how that "witch" was outed and Ingrid gets caught up in the conspiracy.

The covers hint at way more sexuality than is actually present in the comics which is more hinted at.

Reminds me of Robert Eggers's The Witch (2015) with the sombre tone and threat of being accused.

Becky Cloonan draws the main story and Tula Lotay draws the dream/fantasy sequences. Both are fantastic. Hopefully they continue to make more comics together!

[Oscar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark story beautiful artwork!

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story of the 1600s in which a woman is tormented by nightmares of demon sex and learns to love it. There's little to the story, which includes witch trials, adultery and a friend's betrayal, but it all seems like just a vehicle for the sexy parts. Maybe there's just not a lot more you can do with this subject but I feel like I've seen it all before. It ends on a sudden note that is probably meant to be revelatory but feels jarring. The artwork is very nice (though I prefer Cloonan's traditional line art to Lotay's painting.) Does not compare favorably with Brom's Slewfoot which I read earlier this year.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

An eerie and erotic spin on The Crucible.

Burn that witch! Dream and wail!
Hump a damn demon and you land in jail!

I wasn't a fan of switching between the two very different art styles and wish they had just gone with one or the other.


FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Chapter I. A Lily on Thy Brow -- Chapter II. O for This Quiet -- Chapter III. Whisper and I'll Come to Thee -- Chapter IV. Whose Had Was at the Latch -- Chapter V. Let Me Be Thy Choir -- Chapter VI. A Prick of the Tongue -- Chapter VII. Awake in Sweet Unrest -- Extras

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely stunning. What a beautiful theme, for a young woman to utilize her nightmares to explore her own sexuality during the time of witch hunts and Puritanical murder. The art was beautiful and I breezed through the story with a level of investment I haven't easily found in books lately. 10/10 recommending this to anyone who enjoys folk horror and eroticism, historical witch hunt stories, and/or The VVitch.

[amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

who wouldn’t want to get their back blown out by a demon

[embo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for the first issue, 3.5 but rounded it to 4:

This ticks every box that gets my 🎺y heart going. We have folk horror, we got gorgeous art from Tula Lotay, we got a mysterious devil-like entity liberating a woman through her 🐱 but in, like, a spooky way. Plot isn’t intricate or too deep, but it makes up for it in ~vibes~

Lotay’s hazy art style works well for the dream sequences and the moments when our FMC is in the throws of ecstasy. Most of the “panels” aren’t contained by a border. The images flow and the art carries your eye from one 🌶️ image to the next. Truly captures the devil’s smooth seductiveness and how it feels to fall under someone’s control.

I counted down the days until I got this comic, idk how I’ll wait until the second issue’s January release!

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art of this story is beautiful, and the changing styles brilliantly reflect the story being told.

Set during the witch trials, our protagonist finds herself seeking pleasure in dreams. But is she really only dreaming?

This is definitely one that takes a while to absorb - I'm still not entirely sure what the truth of the story was. But I enjoy thinking about it and all the things it could mean.

The artwork is the real win here. I was sucked in and loved just taking in all the colours and the surrealism of it all.

A beautiful, melancholy sort of haunting, this one. Really enjoyed it.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most beautiful comics I’ve ever seen

[C Sarah S · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art is a 10, but the story is a 2.5. So I gave it a 3.

I’ve read similar - this is just a sexy version. I feel like it could have been a bit better in several places. Maybe some of the side characters needed to be more developed? Maybe the lead more flawed or the monster hotter? I just felt like all the elements and characters were very tepid versions of themselves. I didn’t like the whole idea of the sexy monster guy coming to the lead in her dreams. There had to be a better way to do that. The whole conflict with her friend never felt urgent enough. It’s sexy, but I never bought into the attraction between the main two romantic leads. The ending was kind of a vague let down. Overall, just a below average story.

But - the art is above and beyond incredible. It’s switches between two absolutely amazing artists at the top of their game. The illustrations are beautiful and haunting. The artists play with format to create this dream like quality that forces you to question what’s real and what’s not. It switches between the two artists at very clever moments to create really interesting tone shifts. And the art makes up in the sexy department when the story is a let down. It’s an absolutely beautiful graphic novel, just stunning.

It’s worth picking up if you’re a fan of Becky Cloonan and Tula Lotay. But if you don’t care for the art, you can skip it.

[wellreadkait · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot, creepy, fantastic. Who wouldn’t want an erotica set during the witch trials?

[Leslie Carnahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art in this book is INCREDIBLE! it's SO unique and different. The story is equally as great. A spooky story for sure. And quite spicy. If you are into that, this book is for you! DSTLRY is starting off as a great new publisher!

[RoXXie | The Art of Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somna: Schöne Illustrationen, schwache Figuren – ein stilvoller, aber klischeehafter Albtraum

Somna ist ein visuell beeindruckender Graphic Novel, der in der düsteren Atmosphäre eines puritanischen Dorfes im England des frühen 17. Jahrhunderts spielt. Die Geschichte verspricht eine Mischung aus Historie, Erotik und übernatürlichem Folk-Horror – und zumindest optisch liefert das Werk genau das: Die Illustrationen sind mitunter atemberaubend, detailverliebt und tragen stark zur Stimmung bei. Besonders die düsteren Waldszenen, das Spiel mit Licht und Schatten und die ätherischen Figuren schaffen eine eindringliche, fast traumartige Atmosphäre. Auch die farbliche Gestaltung unterstreicht die Sinnlichkeit und das Bedrohliche der Geschichte gleichermaßen.



Somna ♦ Becky Cloonan & Tula Lotay — Eine Rezension

Meinung
Was allerdings weniger überzeugt, ist die narrative Tiefe. Die Figuren bleiben seltsam eindimensional, selbst die Protagonistin Ingrid, um die sich alles dreht, wirkt eher wie eine Projektionsfläche für klassische Motive als wie eine lebendige, sich entwickelnde Persönlichkeit. Ihre vermeintliche Emanzipation verläuft klischeehaft, ihr innerer Konflikt wird angerissen, aber nie glaubwürdig oder konsequent entfaltet. Der Klappentext spricht von einem „sinnlichen Ausbruch“ – was in der Praxis allerdings hauptsächlich in formelhaft erotisierten Szenen gipfelt, ohne tatsächliche Charakterentwicklung oder psychologische Tiefe.

Das größte Problem: Der Graphic Novel greift bekannte Stereotypen rund um Hexenverfolgung auf, ohne ihnen etwas Neues entgegenzusetzen. Wieder einmal sehen wir Frauen, die anderen Frauen misstrauen oder sie aktiv verraten, und Männer, die entweder grausam oder geheimnisvoll-verführerisch sind. Gerade in einem künstlerischen Werk des Jahres 2025 hätte ich mir mehr Differenzierung und ein bewussteres Spiel mit diesen tradierten Mustern gewünscht. Stattdessen wirkt vieles wie eine ästhetisierte Reproduktion alter Geschlechterrollen, verpackt in ein hübsches, aber letztlich leeres Gewand.

Auch der Wechsel zwischen verschiedenen Zeichenstilen – vermutlich bewusst eingesetzt, um Traum, Realität und Visionen voneinander abzugrenzen – hat mich eher aus dem Lesefluss gerissen. Die Übergänge fühlten sich manchmal abrupt an und verstärkten den Eindruck einer fragmentierten, nicht vollständig durchdachten Erzählung.

Fazit
Unterm Strich ist Somna ein optisches Erlebnis mit atmosphärischem Potenzial, das jedoch erzählerisch auf halber Strecke stehen bleibt. Wer schöne Bilder und düsteren Märchenhorror schätzt, wird hier visuell sicher auf seine Kosten kommen. Wer aber auf eine komplexe Geschichte mit echten Entwicklungen und neuen Perspektiven auf alte Themen hofft, wird eher enttäuscht sein.

Through NetGalley I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This review was first published at The Art of Reading.

[Rahul Nadella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book despite it not being the type of horror I usually go for. Both artists do stunning work and the interplay between their styles is a pleasure. Everything about this series has been phenomenal from the writing to the art to the themes. This was a fantastic portrait of the human condition. Anyone could relate to this book if they're honest enough with themselves. There were some pages in this final issue that really took my breath away. I loved it and can't recommend it enough to anyone who hasn't checked the series out.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somna foi muito celebrada ao chegar no Brasil. Fui ler, na esperança de que gostasse bastante do quadrinho. A arte, realmente, se destaca das demais. É inegável que Becky Cloonan e Tula Lotay são responsáveis por desenhos e colorizações incríveis, inclusive muito sensuais, dentro das possibilidades do puritanismo e do machismo estadunidense. Mas o roteiro não é tão incrível assim como me foi vendido. Principalmente por ter acompanhado a carreira de Cloonan desde o começo e saber que temas medievais relacionados com sexo e religião são uma constante no seu trabalho desde que colaborou com Brian Wood em Northlanders (Vikings, no Brasil). Então, Somna parece um episódio desta série da Vertigo com uma arte mais caprichada. Ela tem lá os seus pontos altos? Até tem, mas também lembra uma versão satânica de um quadrinho de romance dos anos 1950. Poderia ser mais ousado no sexo, no satanismo, no gore, em um monte de coisa. Mas por ser um quadrinho para o mercado dos Estados Unidos, ele não é.

[Alex Sarll]

The first full story I've read from new publisher DSTLRY, who always gave the impression of being art-led, a notion Somna does nothing to dispel. The Witch is an obvious and acknowledged inspiration, but where that scrupulously drew every line from records of the time, this is much more a Hammer approximation of 1600s England, with no indication of any confessional tensions between a priest called 'Father' and a distinctly Puritan-presenting witchfinder. The latter's wife, Ingrid, is our protagonist, her husband's failure to attend to her needs leaving her ready prey for nocturnal visitations from a lustful, demonic figure. Genuine infernal incursion, or simple sexy nightmares - and if her husband finds out, will it matter either way? The story is nothing remotely new, but it looks amazing, Tula Lotay and Becky Cloonan trading art back and forth; initially Lotay does the erotic reveries and Cloonan the harrowed, haunted everyday, but as Ingrid is further ensnared, the boundaries begin to break down.

(Edelweiss ARC)

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason I didn't know this was about the witch trials days, but it turned out nice and bleak, and my type of story.

Ingrid is our main character and this poor woman isn't getting fucked at all by her husband. Her husband is basically a "Witchfinder" in those days and Ingrid is having very very horny dreams of being sexually pleased by a demon looking things. Of course as the story progresses, and truths reveals, her dreams become a concern, and the trails only heat up the plot.

It's sad, scary, and heartless how people are. Not just men either, as the main antagonist is one evil bitch. So many layers to terrible people, and the art...omfg the art here is SO good. Some look paint like during the dreams, which make it look very different from the reality of it during the day but both styles work well. There's a good portion of sex, very vivid, so if nipples, and down below sections aren't your thing, might want to walk away.

I wish the ending was expanded with a few more pages but overall I enjoyed this dark and twisted bedtime story.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up 3.5 to 4 stars

Somna collects issues 1-3 of the DSTLRY series written and drawn by both Becky Cloonan and Tula Lotay.

Set during the 17th century New England witch hunts, the young wife of the town’s witch hunter discovers that her best friend is having a secret affair with the husband of a woman who was recently burned alive after being accused of a witch.

This was a solid story but I’m a bit confused about the amount of praise that is being heaped upon this book. The art is absolutely stunning but I don’t believe the story adds much to any other tale that covers the same period in American history. It adds a sexual awakening aspect but that has been covered in other works. Maybe I am missing something. Like I said, it isn’t bad but I am just really surprised that this won Best New Series at the 2024 Eisner Awards.

[Erin Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting for the digital release of this graphic novel. I am so hooked on this story. Poor Ingrid is stuck, married to such a boring man. She is having these vivid, erotic dream where this being is a catering to her needs. The needs that her husband is trying his best to make her repress. I don’t know if this being is the devil or not but his offer is tempting. The writing is captivating in my opinion. I didn’t want this issue to end, but I will wait patiently for the next one.

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful artwork- no notes 😍

And that's pretty much it, the stars are all for the art since the story and characters were one-dimensional.
The fmc Ingrid, I had high hopes for her, and in the end she's betrayed by her hubby and honestly by the writer too. Cloonan, how could you?! It's giving not a girls girl 😒
The plot leaves a lot to be desired with an ending that honestly pissed me off.
It's short so it has that going for it *shrugs*

[Dolly Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take a bit of folk horror and mix it with Belladonna of Sadness: you got yourself a spicy, dreamy yet also nightmarish result that hooked me right at the beginning.
Can't wait to see what Cloonan and Lotay will cook for the next issue(s).

[Austin Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 1600 English village, witch trials, and demon erotica lol

The art is beautiful and I’m super interested in seeing where the story goes!

[Brianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erotic, beautiful, unsettling. Can’t wait to see where it’s going.

[Senga krew_w_piach · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ten komiks do mnie nie trafił. Przekonuję się, że zupełnie nie jestem odbiorczynią erotyków, których głównym tematem jest prężące się kobiece ciało. Chociaż stworzony przez dwie autorki i w założeniu teoretycznie wpisujący się w feministyczną narrację, wygląda jak rysowany dla mężczyzn. Nie jestem też fanką horrorów, ale jeśli już mam czytać ten gatunek, to chciałabym się bać. Tutaj raczej czułam jakiś krindż, nie niepokój.
„Somna” to dziejąca się w małej angielskiej wiosce w XVII wieku opowieść o Ingrid, żonie miejscowego łowcy czarownic i baliwa, którą w snach zaczyna nawiedzać demon przyprawiający kobietę o grzeszne myśli i cielesne rozkosze bez udziału jej świadomości. W miejscu, gdzie plotki wystarczają do tego by zostać spalonym na stosie, jest to sytuacja dość ryzykowna, szczególnie jeśli najsurowszy sędzia jest twoim najbliższym towarzyszem.
Czuję się oszukana przez samą historię. Opis mówi o kobiecie walczącej z purytańskimi okowami - ja tego nie widzę. Dla mnie to historia o samotnej młodej dziewczynie, niezauważanej przez męża skupionego na walce z diabłem, bojącego się pokus, a przede wszystkim nieczułego i niezainteresowanego bliskością z drugim człowiekiem. Tu nie ma buntu, tylko instynkty i pragnienie, któremu zresztą bohaterka nie chce się poddać. Wątek polowań na czarownice też jest dla mnie niewykorzystany, ani historycznie, ani feministycznie. Jeśli chcemy zgodnie z prawdą historyczną, że palenie kobiet na stosach wynikało z jakichś lęków i uprzedzeń społeczności, a przede wszystkim z męskiej dominacji, a portretujemy główną bohaterkę jako opętaną przez mężczyznę, któremu podlega i seksualne fantazje, które wyrażają się na zewnątrz w sposób dość niepokojący, to ja za bardzo nie rozumiem jaki zamysł za tym stoi. Podobnie jak stawianiem w centrum kobiecej zdrady. Chciałabym żeby to była opowieść o siostrzeństwie. Widzę tu wiele stereotypów, przez które książka nie dowozi tego, co obiecuje tylna strona okładki.
Bardzo duży problem miałam też z warstwą graficzną. Artystki rysowały ten komiks wspólnie, każda z nich po kilka stron w zupełnie różnym stylu - jedna bardzo oldschoolową komiksową kreską, druga w stylu digital painting. Te dwie formy nie współgrały ze sobą, ich częste zmiany wybijały mnie z rytmu, o ile kreska rysunkowa mi się podobała, obrazy komputerowe zupełnie nie trafiały w moją estetykę. Rozczarowanko.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the realistic artwork used to further the narrative in the real world and also the flowing, less-paneled and more colorful artwork to convey the dream sequences, but I didn’t like when that separation slipped and they seemed to cross purposes. They were both effective and beautiful in their own way, but when the trial scene gets suddenly dreamy…I’m like what? I noticed a few anachronistic uses of phrases and words that weren’t jarring but I did, as I said, notice them which is at least a bump if not a jar.

But my main problem is the story never really went anywhere. Lots of dreamy scenes of a repressed and neglected and lustful (and very beautiful in face and form) young wife being tempted and seduced and satisfied by a demon or is it a devil or is it her imagination, who knows? But does she learn anything, grow or change, take action or become a better (or even worse) self? No.

A lot of stuff happens around her which does involve her, but mostly we see a lot of scenes of her naked (or in various stages of undress) positioned or posed for sexual purposes some of which further the narrative story but do nothing to develop her character.

[Santy Portela · Rating 4 out of 5]

La historia resulta bastante entretenida, aunque no me ha parecido demasiado original. Pero las ilustraciones me han encantado, cada autora con un estilo muy personal y remarcable. Solo por eso merece la pena.