MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live: The Graphic Stories

by MrBallen, Robert Venditti (Contributor), Andrea Mutti (Illustrator)

From the New York Times bestselling author and creator of the hit MrBallen Podcast and YouTube channel, a vividly illustrated graphic novel featuring nine spine-chilling stories—based on real events—of the horror that lurks within the unknown

In MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live, John Allen, known popularly as “MrBallen,” is back with another heart-stopping collection of strange and mysterious stories exploring terrors that lie just beyond our comprehension. From skin-melting encounters in Brazil to a ghost that stalks the English countryside to a bell ringing deep in the Arizona wilderness, MrBallen’s spine-chilling tales—four of which are exclusive to this graphic novel—span multiple centuries and expose bizarre, terrifying, and utterly unforgettable experiences of the unnatural world.

Compellingly creepy, deeply researched, and based on unsettling real events, MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live proves that sometimes our deepest fears are about the things we cannot see. In collaboration with New York Times bestselling graphic novelist Robert Venditti and acclaimed comic book artist Andrea Mutti, this is Allen’s most frightening collection yet.

Welcome. Your nightmares are waiting.

Genres: Horror, Graphic Novels, Paranormal, Mystery, Nonfiction, Comics, Comic Book

208 pages, Paperback

Published September 30, 2025

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of MrBallen’s Strange, Dark & Mysterious podcast, I was beyond thrilled to win this incredible graphic novel! Where Nightmares Live is everything I hoped it would be. It’s a chilling, beautifully illustrated collection that perfectly captures the eerie storytelling style that made me a fan in the first place.

Each story pulls you in with that signature “sit back, relax, and listen” kind of suspense, while the artwork brings the nightmares vividly (and hauntingly) to life. It’s the perfect combination of spooky and stunning!

Huge thanks to Crown and Goodreads for this amazing hardcover gem that I won in a Goodreads Giveaway!!

It’s an instant favorite on my shelf and one I’ll definitely be revisiting when I’m in the mood for something strange, dark, and mysterious!

[Jakob Shingler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listen to a lot of MrBallen’s Strange, Dark and Mysterious episodes on his podcast, and watch his YouTube channel as well. I love his story telling and the endings to them all…don’t get me started. They are peak entertainment!!

I was able to finish this one while on my walk and at the gym tonight! I highly recommend this one. Or at least give him a try with an episode on his podcast or YouTube channel, and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Happy reading everyone!!

[Katie Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where Nightmares Live is an average graphic novel, I like the art style and the stories are mildly interesting however I feel that they are missing that dramatic flare that the first graphic novel and his videos have. They have a good mystery and when I was reading I was intrigued enough to continue but I was just missing that “oh, wow” kind of factor. My favorite stories out of these have to be the Palmyra Wolves and The Bell. Those were the stories that I felt had a good mystery to them and I was decently invested to see where both stories go. Since a majority of them are still unsolved it’s nice to theorize but the endings do end up having a bit of a lackluster feel to them. It sometimes feels like the stories are partially done and could use just a bit more to them. It was a nice quick mystery read though! I’d be interested in more stories from MrBallen. Thank you to the publisher for a complimentary early release review copy of the book.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, I am a fan of the strange, dark, and mysterious. 🫡 I got this on audio because I like listening to him.

[RatGrrrl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

I don't know if I have become to desensitised through being on the internet and reading horror, but this really didn't do anything for me.

The stories are based on real life events, often from the reports of the people experiencing the strange and disturbing events, which allows for a whole lot of skepticism on my part. I think the fact that these are 'true' stories made it much more difficult to suspend my disbelief. This isn't helped by the comic book avatar of Mr Ballen appearing at the beginning of each story and the tone and deliry of the prose, which comes across more like the voice over for video footage than a graphic novel script.

The art is rather nice and expressive pen and ink style, but, as with the reporter tone of the script, it's quite clinical and boring in its presentation.

Ultimately, I feel like the leaning too hard into the 'it's a true story, believe me bro' of it all made it far less interesting and effective. The stories, at least as they were presented, were not enough to be effective for me.

Do I have answers to all these unexplained events? Absolutely not, but humans, animals, nature, and science do a lot of unthinkable and weird stuff.

If you can go into this with a Joe Rogan, 'whoa, that's crazy' attitude, you might enjoy this.

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, thank you to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for sharing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This graphic retelling of some creepy and disturbing lore was very much like how MrBallen presents his stories on his podcast of which I am a fan. I really enjoyed the visual storytelling and the suspenseful illustrations created by Andrea Mutti. This ARC contained five of the nine stories that will be in the final published edition…The Thing, Palmyra Wolves, Dorothy, The Bell, and Melting Man. Most likely intentional by the author this collection of stories takes you on a trip as you visit the location of each story. I appreciated that. You are on a ship, then a farmhouse in Maine, onto ancient Egypt, before hiking in Arizona, and finally a small rural town in Brazil. The broader point being that these events can happen anywhere at any time. I definitely felt the creepy vibes and look forward to finding a copy of the finished book so I can read the other four stories not included.

[James DeSantis · Rating 2 out of 5]

MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live feels like an odd fit for the comic format. While the name might resonate with horror novel enthusiasts, here the storytelling feels mismatched. I could be wrong though as I have never heard of this author.

The collection of shorts, touching on themes like a girl caught between worlds, werewolves, and haunted ships, lacks originality and scares. The reliance on narration over dialogue significantly diminishes the characters, lending a fairy tale-like quality rather than a true comic experience. The artwork is adequate, occasionally strong, but ultimately unremarkable.

This one didn't click for me, earning a 2 out of 5. Perhaps dedicated horror fans will find more to appreciate.

[ReadWithRyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great graphic novel collection of short stories. My favourites were: The Thing, The Reverend, and Dorothy.

The artwork is incredible once again and brings some of the stories to life with how the panels are structured. However overall I preferred the first book as I felt the stories in this one were leaning more mystery than ‘nightmare’.

Would also have loved there to be more exclusive stories told in these collections that MrBallen hasn’t talked about before.

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviews for this one seem to lean heavily one way or another. It definitely looks like this is going to be a book that you either really like or you just don't care for it.

I chose to rate this one 4* not because of the stories themselves but because of the graphic novel side of it. I am a MrBallen fan. have followed his videos for quite some time on YouTube. So nothing in this book really stood out to me story wise. I didn't find them to be particularly scary but they are interesting.

The thing that I loved most was the illustrations and that it was written as a graphic novel. I didn't get to read every story because I read an early copy and a few stories were withheld. I will most likely grab an actual copy though because I am curious to see what those will look like.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Cym Camille Coffman-mitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

strange dark and mysterious! just like you would expect from Mr Ballen!
this is his second book and I think this one is much better. it seems a bit more polished, the stories a bit scarier. the art is fabulous.
I enjoyed it quite a bit! can't wait for his next one. maybe he can do one about the thing in his bed?

[Sonja (っ◔◡◔)っ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is surely where MY nightmares live. Every story was very intriguing and really horrifying, the art was great and very detailed and scary, and I loved this so much! Even better that my copy is signed! Dang I’ll have some scary, strange dark and mysterious dreams tonight folks

[Grayson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only enjoyed 2 or 3 stories which was dissapointing because I actually really enjoy Mr Ballens videos. Not a fan of his cartoon portrait in the book.

[Missi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge fan of Mr Ballen on YouTube for several years, and very much enjoyed his storytelling in the two graphic novels. And of course, read in his voice.

[Chai_Ky · Rating 5 out of 5]

About the same as the first, no real complaints here. His videos go more in depth on a couple of stories in here, but still love the artwork!

Interested what stories he'll tell in the next one!

[Maddy Pickett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never stop releasing these books MrBallen they’re so so good

[Katarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of the ebook.

I have been a die-hard fan of Mr. Ballen since the beginning. The stories chosen for this book were some of his best he told. The graphics were incredible.

I cannot wait to read the stories that were held for the actual publication date.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press - Ten Speed Graphic for an advance copy of this graphic novel that shows the world as it really is, full of mystery, full of things we don't understand, and full of things that can hurt us in thousands of ways, all waiting where the light of flashlights begin to end.

When I was a kid there was an author who I loved more than anything. Each one of his books was a revelation. Showing ghosts, Bigfoot, vampires, haunted houses, strange lights in the sky, and creatures under the bed. Daniel Cohen was his name, and his books are ones that I read over and over. Much of what I am now is because of those books. Much like Fox Mulder, I want to believe, and books like Cohen's made me a fan of ghost stories, Alien lore and more. And probably magick and bigger conspiracies. Reading this graphic novel I had the same feelings that Cohen's books filled me with oh so many years ago. The this can't be real, well maybe some of it is real, oh my god lock the house and clear the basement I am hiding there. MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live: The Graphic Stories is compiled by the YouTube star MrBallen and illustrated by Andrea Mutti and tell stories of nature gone suddenly dangerous, strange noises, spooky events and much more.

The graphic novel is made up of nine stories of about similar length and tell stories of spooky things happening by the people who experienced it. The advance copy was short four stories, but all follow a pattern and a fear factor compiled by the YouTuber. There is a story about a ghost freighter that drives the crew slowly mad, until the spirits that haunt the boat get a soul. A innocent farmhouse far in the Maine countryside becomes under siege from strange wolf life creatures. A young woman who has found a peaceful oasis near her home in the desert is shocked to find dead animals, and a strange creature pursuing her in a torrential flood. Along with other tales.

A collection that I would have enjoyed as a kid years ago. The stories aren't really scary, more unsettling. These would be perfect to read around a campfire, and still let little campers get some sleep. The length is also good, as they don't overextend their welcome. Just as the story is getting to the hey wait a minute moment, it ends. The art is fine for the collection as it fits the story, doesn't really shock in ways, and is perfect for the readers who I assume must be younger. I know my nephews will enjoy this, one will be a little more scared than the other, but this would be a good introduction to young readers about the strange things that happen in the world. A fun collection.

[Verena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley who provided me with an early release copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a 2.5 for me but I rounded it up to a 3 because I like Mr. Ballen. I feel like I can't accurately judge this book though because even if you receive an arc copy through NetGalley some chapters are being withheld and can only be read upon purchasing the book once it's been released. This feels like it defeats the purpose of handing out arcs because if we cannot read half the book, how are we supposed to give an opinion?

Anyhow, aside from that I did love the artstyle. It was beautiful and fit the stories really well. However, as someone who has been watching Mr. Ballen for years, these stories were nothing new to me. I hoped (and perhaps that is my bad) that he would have chosen new stories for his book because the main target for this book is his own audience, who watch his videos and so are undoubtedly familiar with these stories. It felt like nothing new, aside from the added art. I could have gone to his channel and heard these stories for free, and listening to his stories (to me) is more interesting than reading them, even with beautiful art.

Overall I'm not sure whether I recommend. The only reason I would personally buy this is to support Mr. Ballen, but the book itself is not worth it to me.

[Katina The Witch’s Bookmark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed in exchange for an honest review.

As a longtime fan of MrBallen’s “strange, dark, and mysterious” stories on YouTube and his podcast, I was so excited to receive an ARC of Where Nightmares Live. This graphic novel collection delivers exactly what I hoped for: unsettling tales paired with haunting illustrations that capture the eerie atmosphere perfectly.

The book opens with a map of the stories’ locations, which I loved. The storytelling is suspenseful and immersive, and even the familiar tales I’d already heard felt new again thanks to the artwork. Of the five stories I had access to, Dorothy and The Melting Man lingered with me the most.

A special highlight is the Further Reading section at the end, which gives the sources for each story. It’s a thoughtful addition that lets curious readers dig deeper into the origins of these chilling accounts.

My ARC was missing the four new stories exclusive to this collection, so my review reflects only the five I read. Still, I think they set the tone of the book very well, and I’m eager to pick up the full edition when it’s released.

Atmospheric, chilling, and beautifully illustrated. This is a great read for fans of horror graphic novels or anyone who loves MrBallen’s storytelling.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd like to thank Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press, Ten Speed Graphic, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read "MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live" early in return for an honest review. As always, my opinions, good and bad, are strictly my own!

This will absolutely appeal to Mr. Ballen fans. The graphic novel approach had some of the horror aspect diminished for me. As a Mr. Ballen fan, the way he tells his stories is a big part of the creepiness of it (for me personally.)

Four chapters were held back from the ARC, which is fine - I would love to see those when the work is published. The artwork is very reminiscent of the work in the Walking Dead Compendiums, so if you enjoy those, you would enjoy this work.

The stories included thus far were:

a ship that made the crew insane, until the spirit claims one soul
a family who purchases a farmhouse in Maine that ends up under attack by animal like creatures (Stephen King anyone?)
a little girl who will make you question if reincarnation is real (this story was not horror at all to me but VERY fascinating)
a perfect lake is the setting for a perfect nightmare
the melting man

Anticipated publication date of Sep 30, 2025.

[William Barney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sad to say that Mr. Ballen’s sequel to his graphic novel was not as terrifying as his previous book. “Where Nightmares Live” has many of the same stories recounted from his Youtube videos, but sadly, the majority of them I’ve already heard of before and were not so scary. Even the ones I haven’t heard of before were not scary either. Out of the 9 stories selected for this volume, only 4 of them were actually interesting and terrifying. The rest were subpar. The four that were good are:

1. Palmyra Wolves (Palmyra, Maine, USA)
2. Dorothy (The Valley of the Kings, Egypt)
3. Bus Ride (Taipei, Taiwan)
4. Melting Man (Aracariguama, Brazil)

I do want to make a note that the story “The Bell” which originally took place in France, was changed to Sedona, Arizona because of some publishing issues where Mr. Ballen had to change the setting for the story. I find it unfortunate because although that story was good, the original setting would’ve gave it a touch of authenticity. Bells ringing in Arizona just doesn’t sound accurate.

With that said, the illustrations by Andrea Mutti were superb and creative. I just didn’t see the thrills in this book compared to the first edition. Happy October everyone? 😔

[Kaif Malek · Rating 4 out of 5]

After discovering MrBallen Presents: Strange, Dark & Mysterious: The Graphic Stories, it didn’t take long for me to find out about Where Nightmares Live. Naturally, my expectations were already set, this felt like a continuation of a world I had just stepped into.

This book leans even more into the darker side of MrBallen’s storytelling. The stories feel heavier, more unsettling, and at times genuinely disturbing. The graphic format works well here, the illustrations amplify the fear and tension, making some moments linger longer than you’d expect.

What I appreciated most is how the book doesn’t rely only on shock value. Many stories build a slow sense of dread, which makes the payoff more effective. That said, just like the first book, not every story hits equally. A few feel brief or slightly underdeveloped due to the limitations of the graphic format.

This is not a casual or comforting read. It’s meant for readers who enjoy dark, true-style horror and unsettling real-life inspired stories. If you enjoyed the first graphic collection, this feels like a darker, more intense follow-up.

A chilling and immersive read, best suited for MrBallen fans who enjoy stories that stay with you long after you close the book.

[Ingrid Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

In MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live, John Allen, known popularly as “MrBallen,” is back with another heart-stopping collection of strange and mysterious stories exploring terrors that lie just beyond our comprehension

An interesting compilation of stories in this latest addition of Mr. Ballen's stories.  These, unlike his first volume, do not so much look at ghosts, murders, and other things of horror. Where Nightmares Live, focuses on the fear that comes with the things we cannot see. That someone or something that chases you and you know it's there but just can't catch a glimpse of, so you run. You run for your life.
The stories that are included here all carry that feeling of dread and fear.
The artwork is so well done, you feel like you are there.
The writing is clean and clear. You follow the story, paying close attention as you listen to supposedly "true tales".

Very well done. Highly recommend. The expected publishing date is Sept. 30, 2025.
Thanks to @netgalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press | Ten Speed Graphic for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Jemmy Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first volume of “MrBallen Presents”, and this is pretty much more of the same: a collection of creepy and mysterious stories told through the medium of comics.

The real stand-out is the artwork, which is superbly rendered. It’s gritty and very effective for the tense stories. The narration is very simple by comparison, like someone telling a campfire story, but that’s the whole idea. And I did find the tales weird and entertaining.

I lean more towards believing that this is one fans will enjoy more than anyone else, and I myself land in that category. If you’re not familiar with MrBallen, his style of storytelling and ambiguous endings may frustrate you. On the other hand, fans might also be turned off by the comic format, which requires his usually long-format stories to be trimmed down to work with the visuals.

My one negative is that I have heard two of the stories from MrBallen before. It was nice to see them both illustrated so beautifully, but knowing the endings already took away some of the fun, and it feels a little lazy to reuse old stories.

If you enjoyed the first book then I can almost guarantee you’ll like this too.

[Cayenned · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 Stars

I was really impressed by the artwork in Where Nightmares Live, the illustrations are gorgeous, atmospheric, and definitely the highlight of this book. The stories themselves, while interesting per Ballen's typical style, felt a bit disjointed at times. I love MrBallen’s work and would probably still buy a finished copy to support him, but I think his storytelling style hits harder in the audio format. On the page, some of the thrills fell flat, that usually would be a grand slam on his YouTube or spotify formats.

It’s worth noting that not all the chapters were included in the ARC, so it’s possible there are more impactful stories waiting in the final release. Similar to his last book, I felt like I had heard some of these stories before, but I was more intrigued with this collection overall. The pairing of MrBallen’s storytelling with such strong artwork makes me curious to see what else he and this artist could do in the horror space.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A haunted ship, where the crew are intent on screaming their guts out until one jumps overboard… Something werewolfy – or should that be somethingS – attack an isolated home… A girl seems to die – then comes back to life with people fearing foreign accent syndrome, a full 75 years before such a term was coined… A young woman finds terrifying gifts when going to the most isolated lake she could think of… A Brazilian encounters a horrific bright light, making the option of the Carnival he was avoiding very must the better choice…

And an author, or publisher, or at least publicist, gets a nightmarish curse for once again presenting only half a book to the reviewing audience, without declaring this first. I mean, it's a curse easily lifted – all the victim has to do is present a full file some time, and admit whether or not the awful jumps between past and present tense in all the narratives here were intentional or not. Until then, the curse remains – but "we appreciate your understanding!"

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC

I'd like to thank Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press, Ten Speed Graphic, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read "MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live" early in return for an honest review.

Having read MrBallen's previous graphic novel "Strange, Dark, and Mysterious", I was very intrigued to see what stories this volume contained. And I am very happy to say that nearly very story within is really fun and interesting. The styling of the art really suits these stories, offering up horrors that aren't terribly detailed, but let your imagination do some of the work to create horrifying images. The first story was interesting, but was the weakest out of the bunch. It's always interesting to read stories from around the world, which I am glad that this highlights, since there are so many tales to tell from around the world.

Be sure to check this latest graphic novel out when it is published on September 30, 2025!

[Crimson Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Netgalley, for an advanced Readers copy of this graphic novel

I want to say I am a fan of Mr Ballen on YouTube & I have been watching his channel for years, & he gives so much emotion behind the stories he shares.

This is the second graphic novel done on certain stories shared in this format, the art work is really well done and goes with each story well to have you more drawn in & the stories shared are mysterious and exciting in a haunting way. some of the stories have been left out of this advanced readers' copy, which I liked because they show how important the readers are for the physical book.

if you love horror, thriller, and true life stories being shared with no explanation & showing in their own ways how we don't know everything about the world we live in.

I can't wait for more graphic novels to be made and done

[Bookishme_lisamarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy Mr. Ballen’s YouTube stories and enjoyed his previous graphic novel of true scary stories. This one was no different.

The illustrations are fantastic and really fit the tone of the stories. And the book is well written and makes you feel like you’re listening to one of his YouTube posts! Very entertaining and definitely creepy!

My only gripe is that they cut stories out of the ARC making them only available in the purchased edition. They did that with the previous edition too. But I guess they are protecting themselves from any possible piracy, so I can understand that.

I look forward to future Mr. Ballen graphic novels!
5⭐️

As always I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah’s Book Nook Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an Advanced copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review!!

Man, MrBallen has done it again!!
Another great graphic novel that goes into the deep, dark and mysterious stories of those who have seen the dark and macabre!
I watch MrBallen on Youtube, so most of these stories were familiar to me, but I am excited to read the other four bonus stories when the official graphic novel is released. And it is always fun to see these stories depicted in graphic novel format; the art was soooo good!
I highly recommend this novel to those who are a fan of MrBallen, or even those who just like dark graphic novels or horror graphic novels that have good stories and good art. I see this being a popular title at my job!

Five stars all around!