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Pig Wife
Accidentally trapped in an underground bunker, a teen girl must navigate the bizarre secrets within. This astonishing indie-horror graphic novel will keep readers guessing—and turning pages!
Mary had a bad feeling even before they arrived at dead Aunt Pearl’s house. Dragged to a remote mining town so her mom and stepdad can settle Pearl’s estate, Mary can't wait to escape from her wreck of a family—but she’s stuck with them in the middle of nowhere. After a vicious fight, Mary runs off to hide in an abandoned gold mine. Her escape plan backfires when she realizes she’s trapped inside. Even more terrifying… she’s not alone.
Mary had a bad feeling even before they arrived at dead Aunt Pearl’s house. Dragged to a remote mining town so her mom and stepdad can settle Pearl’s estate, Mary can't wait to escape from her wreck of a family—but she’s stuck with them in the middle of nowhere. After a vicious fight, Mary runs off to hide in an abandoned gold mine. Her escape plan backfires when she realizes she’s trapped inside. Even more terrifying… she’s not alone.
540 pages, Paperback
Published January 13, 2026
9 people are currently reading
454 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
January 28, 2026
A wonderfully artistic portrayal of mental illness and generational family trauma. The artwork is mesmerizing, stunning. Some of these panels, these full page pieces demand extra time spent with them. The detail, the oddities therein. This is a Fever dream, a surrealistic nightmare, call it what you will. There are staggering moments of depth and transparency right alongside the most heinous, scarring imagery you can imagine. A stark, unflinching light on the harem of demons we all think we're concealing. Like microdosing acid for 10 to 20 pages before the paralysis of a full sudden trip blooms on the page and in your mind. An absolute authentic expression of unchecked mental illness and a mind altering display of artistic talent.
FFO 'My Favorite Thing Is Monsters', 'Fatcop' and 'Prison Pit'
FFO 'My Favorite Thing Is Monsters', 'Fatcop' and 'Prison Pit'
February 8, 2026
any book that starts off with a map and family tree is going to have me raring to go! this is a harrowing graphic novel about isolation and neglect. truly a trip. rtc.
Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review. Unfortunately the ARC provided had distracting watermarks obstructing the art, which made it nearly unreadable - thankfully I was able to get a copy from my library :)
Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review. Unfortunately the ARC provided had distracting watermarks obstructing the art, which made it nearly unreadable - thankfully I was able to get a copy from my library :)
September 27, 2025
My first graphic novel read and I’m absolutely floored by it! This is everything I want in a horror story, surprising, funny, unsettling, gross and heartbreaking.
The art style is honestly jarring as well, I started apprehensive that I could enjoy it and by the end I adored it. It brings the creepy level all the way up.
This is such a deep character driven story as well, we are given multiple backstories of characters and somehow it wasn’t overwhelming or boring. Considering the length, this is so easy to devour. Please Abbey Luck I need more from you!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and IDW publishing for this ARC. This is my totally honest review.
The art style is honestly jarring as well, I started apprehensive that I could enjoy it and by the end I adored it. It brings the creepy level all the way up.
This is such a deep character driven story as well, we are given multiple backstories of characters and somehow it wasn’t overwhelming or boring. Considering the length, this is so easy to devour. Please Abbey Luck I need more from you!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and IDW publishing for this ARC. This is my totally honest review.
January 14, 2026
BWAF Score: 6/10
TL;DR: Pig Wife is a claustrophobic, acid-bright bunker nightmare where the real monster is what people do to each other when love gets swapped out for control. It is gross, funny, and weirdly tender in the same breath. It lands more often than it whiffs, even when it gets tonally messy or pokes sore representational nerves.
Abbey Luck comes to Pig Wife from an animation and visual storytelling background, and you can feel that in how the book thinks in images first and exposition second. This reads like a creator who’s used to conveying emotion through pacing, shape, and color, then letting dialogue catch up afterward. Pig Wife is positioned as her first full-length graphic novel, and it plays like a debut that’s not interested in being “nice” or polite. It’s maximal, high-contrast, and willing to get grotesque to make a psychological point. If you’ve followed her broader art and design work, the same instincts show up here: immersive environments, body language that tells on people, and a taste for turning internal panic into external architecture. In other words, this isn’t someone trying horror as a genre exercise. It’s someone using horror as the most efficient tool available to talk about control, shame, and what survives when you’re trapped with people who want to rename you.
Mary starts the book already loaded like a shaken soda can. Her mom and stepdad drag her to a remote mining town to deal with the estate of dead Aunt Pearl, and Mary’s family dynamic is the usual blended-family misery buffet: resentment, money panic, emotional neglect, and the constant sense that everyone is talking past everyone. After a blowup, Mary bolts, slips into an abandoned mine through a hidden entrance, and immediately learns the horror story rule that should be printed on the back of every teenage skull: running away does not fix your life, it just changes which kind of terrible you are trapped with.
She is sealed underground with two men who have been cut off from the outside world, and they greet her like she is a delivery from God and Mommy and the End Times all at once. The stakes are simple and brutal: get out, stay alive, and do not let their fantasy turn you into furniture. From there the story becomes this relentless tug-of-war between Mary’s will to survive and the way captivity works like a slow infection, rewriting the rules of reality until you catch yourself thinking, Okay, maybe this is just how it is now. That is where the book starts to really bite.
What’s special here is how the comic makes isolation feel like a physical substance. The mine is not just a setting, it is a pressure cooker that forces character into the open. The plot keeps sliding between immediate survival and the slow reveal of how these people were made, and that drip-feed backstory is the real engine. You are not just watching a teen try to escape, you are watching a generational chain of neglect and abuse tighten, link by link, until the present-day plot snaps like a trap.
When the book gets mean, it is not mean in a cheap “look at my edgy horror” way. It is mean like real life is mean: petty humiliations, selfish decisions, and the kind of parental damage that leaves a kid furious at the wrong target because the truth is too big to hold. The family stuff is not window dressing. It is the psychological kindling that makes Mary vulnerable to the bunker’s warped little universe. The horror is not just “bad men in a hole.” It is the whole messy apparatus of control that Mary has been swimming in aboveground too, now stripped down to its most obvious, disgusting form.
The best moments are when the book leans into visual metaphor and nightmare logic instead of playing everything straight. It is at its strongest when it lets the art carry emotional information that dialogue never could. When Mary spirals, the page language spirals with her. When the bunker reality becomes unbearable, the comic slips its leash and turns into a fever map. Those surreal interludes and psychedelic breaks are where this feels like a real “indie swing” instead of a competent genre product.
The aesthetic is intentionally ugly-cute in a way that will be polarizing: chunky expressions, grotesque bodies, and a cartoon sensibility that makes the violence feel both more absurd and more upsetting. That clash is either the secret sauce or the reason you bounce off. I loved it, because it keeps the book from becoming a prestige misery-drama where everyone whispers trauma in tasteful lighting. This looks like someone drew it with their teeth clenched. The nastiness is part of the honesty. Also, the book’s comedic timing is sharp enough to be dangerous. Sometimes the jokes land like a pressure valve hissing open, and you laugh and then feel like an asshole because the scene is still horrible. That’s the sweet spot for this kind of horror.
Now the flip side, because I am not handing out charity points. The tone can wobble. When the comic leans into dark humor, it can either intensify the dread or undercut it, and a couple stretches flirt with “I wandered into a different comic for ten minutes” energy. It is a tricky balancing act. Most of the time it works because the underlying situation is so bleak that humor feels like the only sane reaction. But a few beats come off a little too “bit” when the story needs to be fully locked in on dread.
There is also the question of portrayal. The comic is clearly angry at abuse and sympathetic toward its victims, but it sometimes brushes up against horror shorthand around mental illness and disability-coded grotesquerie. I do not think the intention is cruel, but intention does not magically solve impact. It is worth naming because it is part of what might make this feel thorny to some readers. If you have zero patience for that kind of trope-adjacent imagery, this might be a hard no.
This is a story about dehumanization and the lies people tell themselves to justify it, especially the “I’m protecting you” lie that is actually “I’m protecting me.” The horror machinery expresses that theme through confinement and bodily degradation: people reduced to roles (wife, son, burden, sinner), then reduced further to needs (food, sex, obedience), until identity is something you have to fight to keep. How much love can you offer someone who has only ever learned love as ownership?
In the current wave of horror comics that blend trauma, absurdity, and body disgust, Pig Wife sits closer to “swing big, risk the mess” than “polished, safe, bookstore-friendly.” It is not trying to be pretty. It is trying to be sticky. For a debut graphic novel, that ambition is the point, and even its misfires feel like the cost of making something personal instead of product. A nasty, heartfelt, claustrophobic fever-dream that earns its weirdness, even when the tone wobbles and a few choices land like a bruise you keep pressing to see if it still hurts.
Read if you like bunker horror where the “monster” is a whole family system rotting in the dark and you crave surreal, psychedelic visual breaks that translate emotion into nightmare scenery.
Skip if you need clean tonal consistency and hate comedy showing up at the worst possible time.
TL;DR: Pig Wife is a claustrophobic, acid-bright bunker nightmare where the real monster is what people do to each other when love gets swapped out for control. It is gross, funny, and weirdly tender in the same breath. It lands more often than it whiffs, even when it gets tonally messy or pokes sore representational nerves.
Abbey Luck comes to Pig Wife from an animation and visual storytelling background, and you can feel that in how the book thinks in images first and exposition second. This reads like a creator who’s used to conveying emotion through pacing, shape, and color, then letting dialogue catch up afterward. Pig Wife is positioned as her first full-length graphic novel, and it plays like a debut that’s not interested in being “nice” or polite. It’s maximal, high-contrast, and willing to get grotesque to make a psychological point. If you’ve followed her broader art and design work, the same instincts show up here: immersive environments, body language that tells on people, and a taste for turning internal panic into external architecture. In other words, this isn’t someone trying horror as a genre exercise. It’s someone using horror as the most efficient tool available to talk about control, shame, and what survives when you’re trapped with people who want to rename you.
Mary starts the book already loaded like a shaken soda can. Her mom and stepdad drag her to a remote mining town to deal with the estate of dead Aunt Pearl, and Mary’s family dynamic is the usual blended-family misery buffet: resentment, money panic, emotional neglect, and the constant sense that everyone is talking past everyone. After a blowup, Mary bolts, slips into an abandoned mine through a hidden entrance, and immediately learns the horror story rule that should be printed on the back of every teenage skull: running away does not fix your life, it just changes which kind of terrible you are trapped with.
She is sealed underground with two men who have been cut off from the outside world, and they greet her like she is a delivery from God and Mommy and the End Times all at once. The stakes are simple and brutal: get out, stay alive, and do not let their fantasy turn you into furniture. From there the story becomes this relentless tug-of-war between Mary’s will to survive and the way captivity works like a slow infection, rewriting the rules of reality until you catch yourself thinking, Okay, maybe this is just how it is now. That is where the book starts to really bite.
What’s special here is how the comic makes isolation feel like a physical substance. The mine is not just a setting, it is a pressure cooker that forces character into the open. The plot keeps sliding between immediate survival and the slow reveal of how these people were made, and that drip-feed backstory is the real engine. You are not just watching a teen try to escape, you are watching a generational chain of neglect and abuse tighten, link by link, until the present-day plot snaps like a trap.
When the book gets mean, it is not mean in a cheap “look at my edgy horror” way. It is mean like real life is mean: petty humiliations, selfish decisions, and the kind of parental damage that leaves a kid furious at the wrong target because the truth is too big to hold. The family stuff is not window dressing. It is the psychological kindling that makes Mary vulnerable to the bunker’s warped little universe. The horror is not just “bad men in a hole.” It is the whole messy apparatus of control that Mary has been swimming in aboveground too, now stripped down to its most obvious, disgusting form.
The best moments are when the book leans into visual metaphor and nightmare logic instead of playing everything straight. It is at its strongest when it lets the art carry emotional information that dialogue never could. When Mary spirals, the page language spirals with her. When the bunker reality becomes unbearable, the comic slips its leash and turns into a fever map. Those surreal interludes and psychedelic breaks are where this feels like a real “indie swing” instead of a competent genre product.
The aesthetic is intentionally ugly-cute in a way that will be polarizing: chunky expressions, grotesque bodies, and a cartoon sensibility that makes the violence feel both more absurd and more upsetting. That clash is either the secret sauce or the reason you bounce off. I loved it, because it keeps the book from becoming a prestige misery-drama where everyone whispers trauma in tasteful lighting. This looks like someone drew it with their teeth clenched. The nastiness is part of the honesty. Also, the book’s comedic timing is sharp enough to be dangerous. Sometimes the jokes land like a pressure valve hissing open, and you laugh and then feel like an asshole because the scene is still horrible. That’s the sweet spot for this kind of horror.
Now the flip side, because I am not handing out charity points. The tone can wobble. When the comic leans into dark humor, it can either intensify the dread or undercut it, and a couple stretches flirt with “I wandered into a different comic for ten minutes” energy. It is a tricky balancing act. Most of the time it works because the underlying situation is so bleak that humor feels like the only sane reaction. But a few beats come off a little too “bit” when the story needs to be fully locked in on dread.
There is also the question of portrayal. The comic is clearly angry at abuse and sympathetic toward its victims, but it sometimes brushes up against horror shorthand around mental illness and disability-coded grotesquerie. I do not think the intention is cruel, but intention does not magically solve impact. It is worth naming because it is part of what might make this feel thorny to some readers. If you have zero patience for that kind of trope-adjacent imagery, this might be a hard no.
This is a story about dehumanization and the lies people tell themselves to justify it, especially the “I’m protecting you” lie that is actually “I’m protecting me.” The horror machinery expresses that theme through confinement and bodily degradation: people reduced to roles (wife, son, burden, sinner), then reduced further to needs (food, sex, obedience), until identity is something you have to fight to keep. How much love can you offer someone who has only ever learned love as ownership?
In the current wave of horror comics that blend trauma, absurdity, and body disgust, Pig Wife sits closer to “swing big, risk the mess” than “polished, safe, bookstore-friendly.” It is not trying to be pretty. It is trying to be sticky. For a debut graphic novel, that ambition is the point, and even its misfires feel like the cost of making something personal instead of product. A nasty, heartfelt, claustrophobic fever-dream that earns its weirdness, even when the tone wobbles and a few choices land like a bruise you keep pressing to see if it still hurts.
Read if you like bunker horror where the “monster” is a whole family system rotting in the dark and you crave surreal, psychedelic visual breaks that translate emotion into nightmare scenery.
Skip if you need clean tonal consistency and hate comedy showing up at the worst possible time.
November 13, 2025
Freaking weird and gross. Amazing and disturbing artwork! Kind of left speechless by this graphic novel.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author/illustrator, and IDW Publishing for a copy.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author/illustrator, and IDW Publishing for a copy.
October 27, 2025
“Accidentally trapped in an underground bunker, a teen girl must navigate the bizarre secrets within.”
Pig Wife is a true horror experience—from the insane art, to the claustrophobic story, all the way to that ending. It will make you feel disgust, terror, and sadness. More than once did I have to stop reading and just stared at the fever dream on the page in front of me. Where do you even begin to discuss some of those scenes? I still feel somewhat unsettled and uncomfortable when I think about this book. And that’s the whole point. This story isn’t meant to look pretty; it’s meant to make you feel something. This is art. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 And for that, this book gets 5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me access to the ARC. All my opinions are my own.
***
I need some time to digest this book. The feels hit me hard. 😢
Pig Wife is a true horror experience—from the insane art, to the claustrophobic story, all the way to that ending. It will make you feel disgust, terror, and sadness. More than once did I have to stop reading and just stared at the fever dream on the page in front of me. Where do you even begin to discuss some of those scenes? I still feel somewhat unsettled and uncomfortable when I think about this book. And that’s the whole point. This story isn’t meant to look pretty; it’s meant to make you feel something. This is art. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 And for that, this book gets 5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me access to the ARC. All my opinions are my own.
***
I need some time to digest this book. The feels hit me hard. 😢
September 9, 2025
My Selling Pitch:
American Horror Story: Pig Farmer
Pre-reading:
Hi, you know what I’m a slut for? Horror graphic novels.
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
Eyeing the red door in the family tree.
I don’t love the art style. It’s almost Simpsony to me or Rick and Morty.
This story is doing foreboding well.
A sam!
Oh. Poor little critter.
The cop is sending me.
Oh, she’s the pregnant lady who went missing.
The hand people are gnarly. The middle finger for a dick is crazy.
The schizophrenia drawings are so cool.
My jaw dropped. I thought it was a pig. Oh my god.
Poor Tommy.
Oh not her shitbag dad coming back. Leave those women alone ffs.
Post-reading:
What an absolute ride! The plot is right out of American Horror Story. It was well-paced. It had twists. It had humor. I didn't love the art style for the humans. Everything else was pretty and stylistic. The humans fell into that adult cartoon style that reads so ugly to me. I'm sure other people will enjoy the style, and it’s so consistent when she’s clearly capable of greater detail, that it had to be a style she chose on purpose. I did love the thematic play with the title where you have the wife who marries pigs and the wife become pig. It was definitely a darker and more complex story than the first few pages had me anticipating. I’d pick up her work again. I think if you like off-putting graphic novels or family drama horror you should definitely give this a read.
Who should read this:
American Horror Story fans
Horror graphic novel fans
Ideal reading time:
Anytime
Do I want to reread this:
I think I'll remember it, but I'd pick up her work again.
Would I buy this:
Yeah, this was great!
Similar books:
* Killing Stalking by Koogi-horror graphic novel
* Mercy by Mirka Andolfo-gothic horror, family drama, supernatural
* Helpmeet by Naben Ruthnum-gothic horror, revenge thriller, supernatural
* Deliver Me by Elle Nash-psychological horror, unreliable narrator, family drama
* The Lamb by Lucy Rose-psychological horror, family drama, queer
* Brother by Ania Ahlborn-psychological horror, thriller, family drama
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
American Horror Story: Pig Farmer
Pre-reading:
Hi, you know what I’m a slut for? Horror graphic novels.
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
Eyeing the red door in the family tree.
I don’t love the art style. It’s almost Simpsony to me or Rick and Morty.
This story is doing foreboding well.
A sam!
Oh. Poor little critter.
The cop is sending me.
Oh, she’s the pregnant lady who went missing.
The hand people are gnarly. The middle finger for a dick is crazy.
The schizophrenia drawings are so cool.
My jaw dropped. I thought it was a pig. Oh my god.
Poor Tommy.
Oh not her shitbag dad coming back. Leave those women alone ffs.
Post-reading:
What an absolute ride! The plot is right out of American Horror Story. It was well-paced. It had twists. It had humor. I didn't love the art style for the humans. Everything else was pretty and stylistic. The humans fell into that adult cartoon style that reads so ugly to me. I'm sure other people will enjoy the style, and it’s so consistent when she’s clearly capable of greater detail, that it had to be a style she chose on purpose. I did love the thematic play with the title where you have the wife who marries pigs and the wife become pig. It was definitely a darker and more complex story than the first few pages had me anticipating. I’d pick up her work again. I think if you like off-putting graphic novels or family drama horror you should definitely give this a read.
Who should read this:
American Horror Story fans
Horror graphic novel fans
Ideal reading time:
Anytime
Do I want to reread this:
I think I'll remember it, but I'd pick up her work again.
Would I buy this:
Yeah, this was great!
Similar books:
* Killing Stalking by Koogi-horror graphic novel
* Mercy by Mirka Andolfo-gothic horror, family drama, supernatural
* Helpmeet by Naben Ruthnum-gothic horror, revenge thriller, supernatural
* Deliver Me by Elle Nash-psychological horror, unreliable narrator, family drama
* The Lamb by Lucy Rose-psychological horror, family drama, queer
* Brother by Ania Ahlborn-psychological horror, thriller, family drama
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2025
This graphic novel is brutal, haunting, and unforgettable. The artwork is raw, detailed, and perfectly suited to the oppressive atmosphere of the story. The visuals pull the reader into a world of violence, trauma, and suffocating fear.
The first part follows Pearl, whose madness and lies condemn her son Ed to a life of isolation underground. She imprisons Sarah as well, silencing her for years in the darkness. This first half sets the foundation of horror, showing how cruelty and delusion create monsters.
The second part begins after Pearl’s death, when Mary accidentally discovers the mine. She meets Ed and Tommy, and quickly becomes trapped in their twisted reality. For Ed, Mary is another “wife” sent by his mother, and when she resists he locks her away with Sarah. From that moment the tension escalates relentlessly, mixing psychological terror with raw survival as Sarah, Tommy, and Mary struggle to break free.
The narrative is a terrifying exploration of generational trauma, captivity, and the consequences of lies. The mine becomes a character in itself, a dark and suffocating prison where violence repeats in endless cycles. The ending is devastating yet powerful, tying together every thread of this legacy of horror.
Pig Wife is one of the darkest and most compelling horror graphic novels I have read, elevated by extraordinary artwork that amplifies every moment of dread.
The first part follows Pearl, whose madness and lies condemn her son Ed to a life of isolation underground. She imprisons Sarah as well, silencing her for years in the darkness. This first half sets the foundation of horror, showing how cruelty and delusion create monsters.
The second part begins after Pearl’s death, when Mary accidentally discovers the mine. She meets Ed and Tommy, and quickly becomes trapped in their twisted reality. For Ed, Mary is another “wife” sent by his mother, and when she resists he locks her away with Sarah. From that moment the tension escalates relentlessly, mixing psychological terror with raw survival as Sarah, Tommy, and Mary struggle to break free.
The narrative is a terrifying exploration of generational trauma, captivity, and the consequences of lies. The mine becomes a character in itself, a dark and suffocating prison where violence repeats in endless cycles. The ending is devastating yet powerful, tying together every thread of this legacy of horror.
Pig Wife is one of the darkest and most compelling horror graphic novels I have read, elevated by extraordinary artwork that amplifies every moment of dread.
September 6, 2025
I absolutely flew through this. This was probably one of the quickest graphic novel reads of my life. The story was wild. I’m going to be completely honest though, it wasn’t at all what I was expecting. I got lost a little bit after our main character (whose name I unfortunately can’t remember) went down into the mines.
I loved having the insight into Pearl and what exactly happened that led to the mines being closed. I do wish we actually got a big more of her story, maybe as a prologue of sorts? It just felt a little rushed, especially on the page where we see little snippets rather than larger portions of her story.
Overall, I thought this was an interesting read. I’m glad I picked it up, even though I got lost a bit along the way.
Rounded up from 3.5 stars.
Thank you very much to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved having the insight into Pearl and what exactly happened that led to the mines being closed. I do wish we actually got a big more of her story, maybe as a prologue of sorts? It just felt a little rushed, especially on the page where we see little snippets rather than larger portions of her story.
Overall, I thought this was an interesting read. I’m glad I picked it up, even though I got lost a bit along the way.
Rounded up from 3.5 stars.
Thank you very much to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 25, 2026
Wavered between a five star and one star, so gonna split the difference.
This was absolutely fucking vile; unflinching, unhinged, uncomfortable, wholly claustrophobic and, at times, incredibly tone deaf, trite, and predictable. Almost DNF it for mental health reasons. Made me feel extreme levels of rage and revulsion. Reminded me very much of Barbarian. Feel like Mary wasn't freaking out as much as she should've been and that took me out of the narrative. Unsure how I feel about how religious abuse, mental illness, and generational trauma were used here. Also unsure how I felt about Luck's use of humor; some of it landed, some of it really, really did not. And that ending, for me, wasn't hopeful, but filled me with an extreme sense of dread and hopelessness, kinda like when a horror film zooms up on the "dead" antagonist and their fingers twitch.
The art was the ultimate star. That was some psychedelic shit.
This was absolutely fucking vile; unflinching, unhinged, uncomfortable, wholly claustrophobic and, at times, incredibly tone deaf, trite, and predictable. Almost DNF it for mental health reasons. Made me feel extreme levels of rage and revulsion. Reminded me very much of Barbarian. Feel like Mary wasn't freaking out as much as she should've been and that took me out of the narrative. Unsure how I feel about how religious abuse, mental illness, and generational trauma were used here. Also unsure how I felt about Luck's use of humor; some of it landed, some of it really, really did not. And that ending, for me, wasn't hopeful, but filled me with an extreme sense of dread and hopelessness, kinda like when a horror film zooms up on the "dead" antagonist and their fingers twitch.
The art was the ultimate star. That was some psychedelic shit.
October 16, 2025
'Pig Wife' has been such an intense read, and I’m not gonna lie, it instantly made it to my top reads of the year. Seriously... that’s how cool it was. From the start, I had a good feeling about it. The synopsis didn’t reveal much (thank God), but one thing was clear: it was going to be terrifying. I mean, can you imagine being in an abandoned gold mine... and you’re NOT ALONE??? Are you hyperventilating already? EXACTLY! It totally gave me Barbarian vibes (and yeah, it’s kind of similar to that movie because of the tunnels).
But okay, let’s go step by step so you understand why you need to read it. We’ve got a rebellious teenager, and yes, she did get on my nerves several times. But in the end, I was like, hey she’s a teenager, of course she thinks that way (even if she’s totally wrong). Anyway, she’s the one who ends up trapped in this mine... and what she goes through down there, WOW. I mean, it’s intense, like seriously intense. Every time you think something good is finally about to happen, or that the nightmare might be over BAM!... something even worse comes up. But that’s not all, because we also get flashbacks that reveal the reasons behind certain things… and on top of that, the girl’s nightmares. Some of those are super creepy and tied to her own introspection, mixed with what’s happening inside the mine. Weird, I know, but it actually makes sense, and it’s chilling.
And honestly, that’s one of the things I loved most, how everything slowly starts to connect, piece by piece. Every character has something to say, something that adds up. And it’s not just the storytelling that shines here, but also the artwork, because wow. Especially during the nightmare and hallucination scenes just, WOWOWOWOW (how many times am I saying wow?). Absolutely powerful.
And yes, it’s definitely worth reading, even though the ending left me a bit shocked, and honestly, kinda heartbroken :((( You’ll understand once you read it. The final chapters hit hard with some pretty intense scenes and a few relationships that find their way back together… but still, it hurt, especially because of a certain character (you’ll see). Anyway, my final thoughts? If you like something that blends horror with family drama (like A LOT), teenage struggles and weird thoughts here’s Pig Wife.
Oh, and heads-up: there are some trigger warnings, so be careful if you’re sensitive to heavy or disturbing content.
But okay, let’s go step by step so you understand why you need to read it. We’ve got a rebellious teenager, and yes, she did get on my nerves several times. But in the end, I was like, hey she’s a teenager, of course she thinks that way (even if she’s totally wrong). Anyway, she’s the one who ends up trapped in this mine... and what she goes through down there, WOW. I mean, it’s intense, like seriously intense. Every time you think something good is finally about to happen, or that the nightmare might be over BAM!... something even worse comes up. But that’s not all, because we also get flashbacks that reveal the reasons behind certain things… and on top of that, the girl’s nightmares. Some of those are super creepy and tied to her own introspection, mixed with what’s happening inside the mine. Weird, I know, but it actually makes sense, and it’s chilling.
And honestly, that’s one of the things I loved most, how everything slowly starts to connect, piece by piece. Every character has something to say, something that adds up. And it’s not just the storytelling that shines here, but also the artwork, because wow. Especially during the nightmare and hallucination scenes just, WOWOWOWOW (how many times am I saying wow?). Absolutely powerful.
And yes, it’s definitely worth reading, even though the ending left me a bit shocked, and honestly, kinda heartbroken :((( You’ll understand once you read it. The final chapters hit hard with some pretty intense scenes and a few relationships that find their way back together… but still, it hurt, especially because of a certain character (you’ll see). Anyway, my final thoughts? If you like something that blends horror with family drama (like A LOT), teenage struggles and weird thoughts here’s Pig Wife.
Oh, and heads-up: there are some trigger warnings, so be careful if you’re sensitive to heavy or disturbing content.
October 12, 2025
Pig Wife certainly manages to nail the vibe it was going for. The atmosphere in this one is undeniably great, it's super creepy and weird, which is a huge positive and really the only good thing I can say about the whole book. That unsettling feeling is a fantastic hook. Unfortunately, the book runs into major trouble almost immediately, starting with the artwork. I have to be honest, the art is something I just didn't like at ALL. It felt very raw and looked quite amateur, and it just didn't vibe with me. I’m not saying I could draw more than a stick figure, but this particular style actively worked against the storytelling for me.
Beyond the visuals, the narrative had some tough hurdles to clear, too. For one, I really disliked the main character quite a bit, which made it hard to invest in their journey or the stakes of the story. Worse, the story took FOREVER to get going. The pacing felt incredibly slow, and I found myself waiting and waiting for the plot to finally kick off. While the creepy atmosphere was a good start, the combination of the unappealing art, the frustrating pace, and the unlikeable protagonist meant Pig Wife fell flat, earning a disappointing 2 out of 5.
Beyond the visuals, the narrative had some tough hurdles to clear, too. For one, I really disliked the main character quite a bit, which made it hard to invest in their journey or the stakes of the story. Worse, the story took FOREVER to get going. The pacing felt incredibly slow, and I found myself waiting and waiting for the plot to finally kick off. While the creepy atmosphere was a good start, the combination of the unappealing art, the frustrating pace, and the unlikeable protagonist meant Pig Wife fell flat, earning a disappointing 2 out of 5.
October 12, 2025
ARC REVIEW
3.5 stars rounded up to 4!
Soooo… I never thought I’d actually feel queasy from a graphic novel. This made me queasy. I had to skip through a lot because honestly I didn’t expect it to irk me as much as it did - turns out I’m not as great with some types of horror than I am with others. But I honestly, this was a fantastic graphic novel. It was so so nauseating and so so intentional. Everything down to the art style was not quite right, just slightly eery, until it took a real dark turn real quick. Genuinely, a very freaky book. And ENTIRELY coloured!!! Which I know is normal for graphic novels but this is an indie and it’s so well made and so much love and care and thought has been put into it and you can feel that as you read. Very good character development and very good metaphors for growing up and seeing things in your past from a new perspective. Definitely recommend if you think you can handle it… I could not! 😭
3.5 stars rounded up to 4!
Soooo… I never thought I’d actually feel queasy from a graphic novel. This made me queasy. I had to skip through a lot because honestly I didn’t expect it to irk me as much as it did - turns out I’m not as great with some types of horror than I am with others. But I honestly, this was a fantastic graphic novel. It was so so nauseating and so so intentional. Everything down to the art style was not quite right, just slightly eery, until it took a real dark turn real quick. Genuinely, a very freaky book. And ENTIRELY coloured!!! Which I know is normal for graphic novels but this is an indie and it’s so well made and so much love and care and thought has been put into it and you can feel that as you read. Very good character development and very good metaphors for growing up and seeing things in your past from a new perspective. Definitely recommend if you think you can handle it… I could not! 😭
September 16, 2025
Wrong Turn Meets The Goonies!
Pig Wife is the horror graphic novel that readers won't see coming. Abbey Luck’s debut graphic novel is a visceral plunge into psychological horror that left me disturbed in the best way. From the first page, we learn about a teen girl trapped in a decaying mining town with a family that barely functions. When she ends up sealed inside an underground bunker, the story takes a terrifying turn that I did not expect. And I couldn’t look away.
Ruka Bravo’s illustrations are stunning. They carry warmth and humanity even when the story veers into the grotesque. That contrast makes the horror hit harder. Every panel feels intentional, every expression loaded with meaning.
This graphic novel is weird and raw, and it is absolutely deserving of your attention! Check it out!
Pig Wife is the horror graphic novel that readers won't see coming. Abbey Luck’s debut graphic novel is a visceral plunge into psychological horror that left me disturbed in the best way. From the first page, we learn about a teen girl trapped in a decaying mining town with a family that barely functions. When she ends up sealed inside an underground bunker, the story takes a terrifying turn that I did not expect. And I couldn’t look away.
Ruka Bravo’s illustrations are stunning. They carry warmth and humanity even when the story veers into the grotesque. That contrast makes the horror hit harder. Every panel feels intentional, every expression loaded with meaning.
This graphic novel is weird and raw, and it is absolutely deserving of your attention! Check it out!
September 11, 2025
first things first: the art style is deeply unsettling — i just couldn’t get over how creepy it felt. but the story itself? oh wow. after about 100 pages i was completely hooked. i had to stay up late to finish because i needed to know what would happen next. there were moments so tense i literally had to brace myself before turning the page. what a roller coaster of emotions this turned out to be. highly recommend if you’re looking for a horror comic that’s not only chilling and unnerving, but also a strangely beautiful coming-of-age story at the same time — with gorgeously eerie artwork to match
November 2, 2025
Thanks NetGalley for the eARC!
Pig Wife is a weird, unsettling, and surprisingly emotional graphic novel that feels like a fever dream from start to finish.
The story is strange as hell, sometimes confusing and sometimes brilliant, but always compelling enough to keep you turning the pages. The pacing can be uneven and the ending a bit rushed, yet the mix of horror, dark humor, and psychological tension really works.
The art perfectly matches the chaos of the story, making everything feel even more off-balance and eerie. It is bizarre, creepy, and unlike anything else I have read.
Pig Wife is a weird, unsettling, and surprisingly emotional graphic novel that feels like a fever dream from start to finish.
The story is strange as hell, sometimes confusing and sometimes brilliant, but always compelling enough to keep you turning the pages. The pacing can be uneven and the ending a bit rushed, yet the mix of horror, dark humor, and psychological tension really works.
The art perfectly matches the chaos of the story, making everything feel even more off-balance and eerie. It is bizarre, creepy, and unlike anything else I have read.
October 4, 2025
I mean… wow. I’d give this 4.5 stars.
It’s a horror graphic novel, but the story line has great twists and turns. All the characters have some form of character development (for better or worse) and the author manages to keep the tension slowly building right up until the end.
And the pig in the cave… I’ll say no more.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC, this is an honest review.
It’s a horror graphic novel, but the story line has great twists and turns. All the characters have some form of character development (for better or worse) and the author manages to keep the tension slowly building right up until the end.
And the pig in the cave… I’ll say no more.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC, this is an honest review.
September 9, 2025
I want to thank NetGalley for the ARC.
I have some mixed feelings about this one as there are many pros and cons that leave the story as an average yet enjoyable read.
Some of the pros of this story are the spreads and when the author uses less traditional story telling to explain character histories or explore emotional states. This is the benefit of graphic novels as a medium and is extremely enjoyable to see the color, design, and fluidity of panels and pages. It's a bit of a shame that it took a while to delve into this style.
The clear time jumping (to explore other parts of character history) was beneficial for our understanding of the characters and lore, and worked well because the pages were marked effectively.
One con includes the tone of the story. I could see what the author was going for with the police personality, but the humor wasn't landing with me. A lot of the way the comic and storyline was written was in a way that could be much easier to understand in a TV show or movie format, which makes sense based on the author's background. There was a lot of telling not showing during some dialogue heavy portions, and I really appreciated the times where the angles were played with or we could enjoy the character framing.
I have some mixed feelings about this one as there are many pros and cons that leave the story as an average yet enjoyable read.
Some of the pros of this story are the spreads and when the author uses less traditional story telling to explain character histories or explore emotional states. This is the benefit of graphic novels as a medium and is extremely enjoyable to see the color, design, and fluidity of panels and pages. It's a bit of a shame that it took a while to delve into this style.
The clear time jumping (to explore other parts of character history) was beneficial for our understanding of the characters and lore, and worked well because the pages were marked effectively.
One con includes the tone of the story. I could see what the author was going for with the police personality, but the humor wasn't landing with me. A lot of the way the comic and storyline was written was in a way that could be much easier to understand in a TV show or movie format, which makes sense based on the author's background. There was a lot of telling not showing during some dialogue heavy portions, and I really appreciated the times where the angles were played with or we could enjoy the character framing.
September 11, 2025
I hated this at first because the art style made me so uncomfortable and I felt it was trying too hard and while I still think it's a bit too long, the uncomfortableness never left but in an intentional way and it became a genuinely scary story with a really well done ending
October 20, 2025
Happy Spooktober!!
This was a surprisingly awesome horror graphic novel!
Uses horror elements such as monsters, kidnapping, and demonic voices to discuss real-life horrors of abandonment, isolation, and mental illness and what happens when those elements go unchecked for lengths of time and how they can create real-life monsters out of humans who feel isolated and forgotten. I didn't really know much about this going in when I requested in from Netgalley and boy I was surprised in how much I enjoyed this one. The art was minimalistic and reminded me of an adult swim cartoon which grew on me as I progressed in the novel.
I actually am contemplating on buying this one in hard copy when it is released next year because I want to go back and read it the traditional way. I don't think I realized it was a graphic novel when I requested it because I really dislike reading graphic novels in digital format. Just a preference thing on my part, but I think I missed something by not having a physical copy. Nevertheless, this was a great unexpectedly awesome Spooktober read and I look forward to it coming out in January!
4 stars.
I received an ARC of this graphic novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a surprisingly awesome horror graphic novel!
Uses horror elements such as monsters, kidnapping, and demonic voices to discuss real-life horrors of abandonment, isolation, and mental illness and what happens when those elements go unchecked for lengths of time and how they can create real-life monsters out of humans who feel isolated and forgotten. I didn't really know much about this going in when I requested in from Netgalley and boy I was surprised in how much I enjoyed this one. The art was minimalistic and reminded me of an adult swim cartoon which grew on me as I progressed in the novel.
I actually am contemplating on buying this one in hard copy when it is released next year because I want to go back and read it the traditional way. I don't think I realized it was a graphic novel when I requested it because I really dislike reading graphic novels in digital format. Just a preference thing on my part, but I think I missed something by not having a physical copy. Nevertheless, this was a great unexpectedly awesome Spooktober read and I look forward to it coming out in January!
4 stars.
I received an ARC of this graphic novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2025
Dark, but very interesting read.
October 12, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and IDW for the ARC!
This was a perfect graphic novel! I literally couldn't put it down but at the same time didn't want it to end.
Mary has to visit her dead Aunt Pearl's house with her Mom and Stepdad so they can settle her estate and hopefully find something that will be of financial benefit to them. When they get there, Mary ends up getting trapped in an underground bunker on the farm and soon learns she's not alone.
This graphic novel literally had it all. The characters were great, the pacing and plot kept me turning pages and the emotional backstory between Mary, her biological father grounded the whole thing.
I highly recommend this to just about anyone. If you're a horror fan, you'll love it. If you're not typically reaching for horror, this isn't so far out there that it'll turn you off. Such a fun read!
This was a perfect graphic novel! I literally couldn't put it down but at the same time didn't want it to end.
Mary has to visit her dead Aunt Pearl's house with her Mom and Stepdad so they can settle her estate and hopefully find something that will be of financial benefit to them. When they get there, Mary ends up getting trapped in an underground bunker on the farm and soon learns she's not alone.
This graphic novel literally had it all. The characters were great, the pacing and plot kept me turning pages and the emotional backstory between Mary, her biological father grounded the whole thing.
I highly recommend this to just about anyone. If you're a horror fan, you'll love it. If you're not typically reaching for horror, this isn't so far out there that it'll turn you off. Such a fun read!
November 19, 2025
Pig Wife by Abbey Luck is a strange but surprisingly affecting graphic novel. It is incredibly surreal with uncomfortably folklore horror energy but has real heart and emotional honesty. The writing and artwork is vivid and imaginative and it really pulls you into a bizarre world that also feels natural.
For me, the story balances its offbeat premise with genuine depth and there's humour, discomfort, but also a quiet poignancy woven throughout. This is definitely one that will linger because it’s so unique in tone and execution.
I found this to be a weird and thought-provoking tale that will appeal to those who enjoy stories that are offbeat and odd but still have character development and real heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing | Top Shelf Productions for a digital review copy of "Pig Wife" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
For me, the story balances its offbeat premise with genuine depth and there's humour, discomfort, but also a quiet poignancy woven throughout. This is definitely one that will linger because it’s so unique in tone and execution.
I found this to be a weird and thought-provoking tale that will appeal to those who enjoy stories that are offbeat and odd but still have character development and real heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing | Top Shelf Productions for a digital review copy of "Pig Wife" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
At first glance, Pig Wife didn’t win me over. The art style felt harsh and even ugly. Not necessarily because it’s poorly drawn, but because the faces and features are intentionally unpleasant. The characters’ designs exaggerate their flaws: sharp angles, twisted expressions, misshapen proportions. It’s visually jarring and uncomfortable, which initially made it hard to engage with the story.
Still, as the story unfolded, I began to understand that this ugliness is deliberate. The distorted art matches the atmosphere of horror and decay that defines Pig Wife. The grotesque visuals aren’t accidental, they amplify the claustrophobic tension and the deep unease running through the narrative.
The plot is brutal and haunting: a young girl becomes trapped in a bunker with two men who’ve been isolated there for decades. The result is violent, gory, and emotionally exhausting. It’s horror that doesn’t rely on jump scares, but on psychological dread and moral ambiguity. By the end, I felt genuinely shaken and somewhat sympathetic toward everyone involved.
The protagonist’s emotional arc is great too. She starts as a confused, angry kid, resenting her mother for leaving her father, only to realize, painfully, that her mother had been protecting them both all along. Her growth feels raw and believable, and her reactions, even when irrational, make perfect sense for her age and trauma.
Where Pig Wife falters, for me, is in its portrayal of mental illness and physical difference. Aunt Perle, though never explicitly described as such, clearly exhibits signs of schizophrenia, and another character, Ed, seems to have been born with a cleft lip. The story leans heavily on old horror tropes: the idea that visible “ugliness” reflects inner corruption, or that mental instability makes someone dangerous and frightening. In doing so, it risks perpetuating harmful stereotypes that people with mental illnesses still face today. The association of “mentally ill = scary or evil” is a troubling one, and even though the story’s horror elements might justify it narratively, it’s worth questioning what that representation communicates to readers.
Still, as the story unfolded, I began to understand that this ugliness is deliberate. The distorted art matches the atmosphere of horror and decay that defines Pig Wife. The grotesque visuals aren’t accidental, they amplify the claustrophobic tension and the deep unease running through the narrative.
The plot is brutal and haunting: a young girl becomes trapped in a bunker with two men who’ve been isolated there for decades. The result is violent, gory, and emotionally exhausting. It’s horror that doesn’t rely on jump scares, but on psychological dread and moral ambiguity. By the end, I felt genuinely shaken and somewhat sympathetic toward everyone involved.
The protagonist’s emotional arc is great too. She starts as a confused, angry kid, resenting her mother for leaving her father, only to realize, painfully, that her mother had been protecting them both all along. Her growth feels raw and believable, and her reactions, even when irrational, make perfect sense for her age and trauma.
Where Pig Wife falters, for me, is in its portrayal of mental illness and physical difference. Aunt Perle, though never explicitly described as such, clearly exhibits signs of schizophrenia, and another character, Ed, seems to have been born with a cleft lip. The story leans heavily on old horror tropes: the idea that visible “ugliness” reflects inner corruption, or that mental instability makes someone dangerous and frightening. In doing so, it risks perpetuating harmful stereotypes that people with mental illnesses still face today. The association of “mentally ill = scary or evil” is a troubling one, and even though the story’s horror elements might justify it narratively, it’s worth questioning what that representation communicates to readers.
September 28, 2025
This had an unusual art style which added to how bleak it felt, it made me a bit uncomfortable! The overall story was tragic and it was at times quite graphic, which I personally liked.
Thank you NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Abbey Luck, and IDW Publishing for an advanced reader copy of this graphic novel in return for an honest review.
Content Warnings: Death, Murder, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Abuse, Child Abuse, Child Endangerment, Mental Illness, Suicide, Firearms, Alcohol Use, Confinement/Imprisonment, Animal Death, Animal Abuse, Bullying, Fire, Pregnancy, and Cheating/Adultery.
"Pig Wife" by Abbey Luck is not necessarily a horror graphic novel, though it certainly is horrific in nature. The artwork isn't beautiful, but it doesn't have to be. It shouldn't be. It is all rough, surreal, and gory.
I must admit, I am floundering here. How do I describe this graphic novel in a way that conveys how strange, horrifying, disgusting, and heart-wrenching it was to read?
Mary is a young girl currently living with her mother and her step-father. Mary misses her father--but it would seem that he doesn't really miss her that much. Since leaving her childhood home and moving in with her mother's new husband, Mary has been slipping drinks and smokes. She has been acting out, hoping for love and attention, hoping to see her father again, and blaming her mother all of the while for the divorce.
One day, Mary's step-father finds out that one of his family members has passed away, possibly leaving him a lot of money in her will. The will itself is missing, so he takes Mary and her mother to go look for it on the old family farm. Once there, Mary discovers an old door in the floor of the barn. Once she goes down, she becomes trapped, and the horrors waiting for her in the old mining tunnels cannot wait to meet her...and have her as their wife.
"Pig Wife" is a story that revolves around trauma. Around family--and what it means to be a family. It's a story about what mothers will do to protect their children, no matter the cost, even if it means locking them away underground forever so that the demons of humanity cannot find them.
I think part of the reason why I am hit so hard by "Pig Wife" is that, once upon a time, I was in Mary's shoes. Well, in a sense; of course I was never caught underground with two men who hadn't seen the sunlight before. When I was young, my mother and father divorced. My mother was very, very young when she had me. My father was an adult. They tried to make it work, but my father was abusive. Hateful. Controlling. Growing up, I didn't know that. I honestly thought that he was the bee's knees. I loved my dad--and my dad filled me up near to bursting with lies about my mother. He called her all sorts of horrible things, told me that she never loved me, etc. etc.
It wasn't until I was older and estranged from my father that I really sat down with my mom and her side of the family to learn the truth. Like Mary, I had wool over my eyes. I saw the world the way my father wanted me to see. I saw him as a fighter, as someone who had been stabbed in the back by my mom. Instead, I learned that it was very much the other way around.
There is this sort of assumption in society that there is something wrong with children that grow up without fathers. That there is some mistake made by the mother, shoveling negativity onto her. Burdening her. In "Pig Wife," we see this taken to an extreme. We see a mother that is so afraid of the world finding her kids, tainting them, changing them, blaming her for their imperfections, that she is willing to bury them deep underground, to keep them a secret, stupid, untouched. We see it taken to a different extreme with Mary's mother, who leaves an abusive household only to fall into another, all in the hope of finding something solid, finding a way to make sure her daughter is protected and safe.
Maybe that's just what I'm reading into it, but to me, "Pig Wife" is a story about the extremes mothers go through to try to provide a good life for their children. It shows that mothers are not perfect, that they make mistakes, that they are human.
I would gladly recommend "Pig Wife." I think it's a solid read with interesting artwork.
Content Warnings: Death, Murder, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Abuse, Child Abuse, Child Endangerment, Mental Illness, Suicide, Firearms, Alcohol Use, Confinement/Imprisonment, Animal Death, Animal Abuse, Bullying, Fire, Pregnancy, and Cheating/Adultery.
"Pig Wife" by Abbey Luck is not necessarily a horror graphic novel, though it certainly is horrific in nature. The artwork isn't beautiful, but it doesn't have to be. It shouldn't be. It is all rough, surreal, and gory.
I must admit, I am floundering here. How do I describe this graphic novel in a way that conveys how strange, horrifying, disgusting, and heart-wrenching it was to read?
Mary is a young girl currently living with her mother and her step-father. Mary misses her father--but it would seem that he doesn't really miss her that much. Since leaving her childhood home and moving in with her mother's new husband, Mary has been slipping drinks and smokes. She has been acting out, hoping for love and attention, hoping to see her father again, and blaming her mother all of the while for the divorce.
One day, Mary's step-father finds out that one of his family members has passed away, possibly leaving him a lot of money in her will. The will itself is missing, so he takes Mary and her mother to go look for it on the old family farm. Once there, Mary discovers an old door in the floor of the barn. Once she goes down, she becomes trapped, and the horrors waiting for her in the old mining tunnels cannot wait to meet her...and have her as their wife.
"Pig Wife" is a story that revolves around trauma. Around family--and what it means to be a family. It's a story about what mothers will do to protect their children, no matter the cost, even if it means locking them away underground forever so that the demons of humanity cannot find them.
I think part of the reason why I am hit so hard by "Pig Wife" is that, once upon a time, I was in Mary's shoes. Well, in a sense; of course I was never caught underground with two men who hadn't seen the sunlight before. When I was young, my mother and father divorced. My mother was very, very young when she had me. My father was an adult. They tried to make it work, but my father was abusive. Hateful. Controlling. Growing up, I didn't know that. I honestly thought that he was the bee's knees. I loved my dad--and my dad filled me up near to bursting with lies about my mother. He called her all sorts of horrible things, told me that she never loved me, etc. etc.
It wasn't until I was older and estranged from my father that I really sat down with my mom and her side of the family to learn the truth. Like Mary, I had wool over my eyes. I saw the world the way my father wanted me to see. I saw him as a fighter, as someone who had been stabbed in the back by my mom. Instead, I learned that it was very much the other way around.
There is this sort of assumption in society that there is something wrong with children that grow up without fathers. That there is some mistake made by the mother, shoveling negativity onto her. Burdening her. In "Pig Wife," we see this taken to an extreme. We see a mother that is so afraid of the world finding her kids, tainting them, changing them, blaming her for their imperfections, that she is willing to bury them deep underground, to keep them a secret, stupid, untouched. We see it taken to a different extreme with Mary's mother, who leaves an abusive household only to fall into another, all in the hope of finding something solid, finding a way to make sure her daughter is protected and safe.
Maybe that's just what I'm reading into it, but to me, "Pig Wife" is a story about the extremes mothers go through to try to provide a good life for their children. It shows that mothers are not perfect, that they make mistakes, that they are human.
I would gladly recommend "Pig Wife." I think it's a solid read with interesting artwork.
February 5, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley and Top Shelf Productions for providing me with an eARC of Pig Wife in exchange for my honest review!
While I was initially wrestling with skepticism over this graphic novel, it ended up becoming an effectively suspenseful and affecting tale that somehow manages to dish out surrealism and dark comedy. It encourages me to become emotionally invested in this story about the pain, trauma, and isolation that abuse inflicts against you. It shows off how abusers can trap us in these poisonous and controlling prisons that they try to dress up as loving and devoted homes. "I'm doing all of this for you!" they'll claim. "I'm doing everything to take care of you." But in actuality, they treat you like this in order to gain a sense of power. They need to have someone to control and pound down into a position of weakness. In this graphic novel, we not only watch that, but we also see how such an upbringing can twist a victim into becoming an abuser and inflicting those same deeply hurtful actions against other victims. It all continues a cycle of violence that's heartbreaking to contend with in this narrative.
This makes it even more interesting for the tale to weave in a grim sense of humor that gets me laughing amidst all of this suspense. The comedic side of Pig Wife allows me to relieve some of my tension, with the "Instant human — just add coffee" mug providing one of my favorite jokes here. It's such an amusing sight gag that could have felt too jarring in the wrong hands, but it ends up landing just right. That being said, I do think there are other moments where this graphic novel's attempt at humor can come off as strange and get me arching an eyebrow. But it remains an intriguing tonal choice overall whose boldness I can appreciate. As for the illustrations, they add on their own ambition, and I'll be honest here and say that I wasn't clicking with them at first. They had hit me as being too amateurish and cartoonish for a horror tale like this, and they had been a major element that got me thinking early on, "Oh, I don't know if I'll like what Pig Wife presents." But then I'm able to grow fond of the significant contrast between the story and the art style, which serves to exaggerate the terrors and the darkness of this abuse tale. I especially enjoy the times where this crosses over into surreal territory that pulls me away from this mundane plane of reality and uses bizarre and frightening imagery to express the emotional and psychological layers of what these characters are dealing with. One chunk of illustrations that's full of hands particularly sticks with me.
As much as I've been praising Pig Wife, it's got aspects that I'm not wild about, such as the dialogue that can sound forced sometimes. It's the sort of writing that can come across like it stuck around from a first draft and that could have been polished up. Then we have the depiction of mental illness and disabled people, which I don't think is outright horrendous, and I do think this graphic novel is lending sympathy to such characters. But its well-intentioned route doesn't stop it from falling prey to dated stereotyping, and it's worth calling that out. I additionally don't care for the racist stereotype of Mary's Latino dad being the neglectful and irresponsible type.
All in all, I'm officially rating Pig Wife four out of five stars, and I'd recommend giving this a shot. Sure, I don't think this will fit with everyone, and its tonal road could certainly be too irritating for some readers. But it boasts worthwhile substance that has taken guts to deploy, and I admire it for that. I'll keep an eye out for more of Abbey Luck and Ruka Bravo's work.
While I was initially wrestling with skepticism over this graphic novel, it ended up becoming an effectively suspenseful and affecting tale that somehow manages to dish out surrealism and dark comedy. It encourages me to become emotionally invested in this story about the pain, trauma, and isolation that abuse inflicts against you. It shows off how abusers can trap us in these poisonous and controlling prisons that they try to dress up as loving and devoted homes. "I'm doing all of this for you!" they'll claim. "I'm doing everything to take care of you." But in actuality, they treat you like this in order to gain a sense of power. They need to have someone to control and pound down into a position of weakness. In this graphic novel, we not only watch that, but we also see how such an upbringing can twist a victim into becoming an abuser and inflicting those same deeply hurtful actions against other victims. It all continues a cycle of violence that's heartbreaking to contend with in this narrative.
This makes it even more interesting for the tale to weave in a grim sense of humor that gets me laughing amidst all of this suspense. The comedic side of Pig Wife allows me to relieve some of my tension, with the "Instant human — just add coffee" mug providing one of my favorite jokes here. It's such an amusing sight gag that could have felt too jarring in the wrong hands, but it ends up landing just right. That being said, I do think there are other moments where this graphic novel's attempt at humor can come off as strange and get me arching an eyebrow. But it remains an intriguing tonal choice overall whose boldness I can appreciate. As for the illustrations, they add on their own ambition, and I'll be honest here and say that I wasn't clicking with them at first. They had hit me as being too amateurish and cartoonish for a horror tale like this, and they had been a major element that got me thinking early on, "Oh, I don't know if I'll like what Pig Wife presents." But then I'm able to grow fond of the significant contrast between the story and the art style, which serves to exaggerate the terrors and the darkness of this abuse tale. I especially enjoy the times where this crosses over into surreal territory that pulls me away from this mundane plane of reality and uses bizarre and frightening imagery to express the emotional and psychological layers of what these characters are dealing with. One chunk of illustrations that's full of hands particularly sticks with me.
As much as I've been praising Pig Wife, it's got aspects that I'm not wild about, such as the dialogue that can sound forced sometimes. It's the sort of writing that can come across like it stuck around from a first draft and that could have been polished up. Then we have the depiction of mental illness and disabled people, which I don't think is outright horrendous, and I do think this graphic novel is lending sympathy to such characters. But its well-intentioned route doesn't stop it from falling prey to dated stereotyping, and it's worth calling that out. I additionally don't care for the racist stereotype of Mary's Latino dad being the neglectful and irresponsible type.
All in all, I'm officially rating Pig Wife four out of five stars, and I'd recommend giving this a shot. Sure, I don't think this will fit with everyone, and its tonal road could certainly be too irritating for some readers. But it boasts worthwhile substance that has taken guts to deploy, and I admire it for that. I'll keep an eye out for more of Abbey Luck and Ruka Bravo's work.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Top Shelf Productions for this ARC!
“Pig Wife” is a horror graphic novel telling the story of Mary, a teenage girl who is dragged to a remote mansion to settle her stepfather’s estranged aunt’s affairs after her sudden death. Mary is not a happy girl; her parents are split up, she misses her father, hates her stepdad, and her relationship with her mother has done a nose dive. When they inevitably fight once the search for Aunt Pearl’s will has started, Mary runs away and ends up hiding in an abandoned mine on the property. Unfortunately she ends up trapped in said mine, and she discovers that she is not alone…
I think this graphic novel would work really well for someone who really likes reading splatterpunk novels or watching gory horror films, just a kind of simple, gross, old-school horror.
I think the art style works well to tell the story it wants to tell, and it really manages to make everything look gross. Unfortunately I didn’t love the art style, I really don’t know how to explain this, but it felt a little too much like I was looking at something drawn by a teenager. I really liked the surreal scenes, those worked great with this art style and were wonderfully bizarre, but for the “regular” scenes it wasn’t really my cup of tea.
Mary is a very well-written teenager. Lashing out at the wrong people, always angry, telling herself lies to protect herself… really reminds you of your own teenage years, at least if they were as much of a struggle as mine were.
Unfortunately I have one really big criticism of this book, however this is a bit of a spoiler, so if you don’t want to know anything before reading I recommend not reading any further.
The main “villains” of this story are both disabled. Pearl is likely schizophrenic, or at least that is what I’m assuming this book wants to portray her as, and I think making someone with a mental illness which is already heavily demonised is lazy and just not something I thought we would still do in 2025/26. Pearl isn’t totally treated like some monster, the novel has some empathy with her and shows what trauma she experienced which worsened her mental state, but this doesn’t really change that at the root of her character she is a villain because of her mental illness, which I don’t think is portrayed very well or with any compassion.
The other “villain” is the child Pearl ends up having, a boy she names Ed who is born disabled in some way. What we know for certain is that he is born with a cleft lip and it appears there are some other physical anomalies, but I can’t really say if he is supposed to have been born with a mental disability or if the way he ends up is a result of Pearl’s lack of interaction with him and a total lack of mental stimulation. Either way, he definitely acts like a character written to have some sort of mental disability, and while the circumstances under which he was raised are treated with a certain amount of sympathy, I still did not feel comfortable with the way he was portrayed.
I think it is up for debate whether the way these two characters are portrayed is insensitive, but I certainly did not feel comfortable with the portrayal, so I didn’t have a particularly great reading experience.
As I mentioned above, I think this graphic novel could work for people who enjoy splatterpunk novels and other gory horror, but I can’t really say I would recommend reading this.
“Pig Wife” is a horror graphic novel telling the story of Mary, a teenage girl who is dragged to a remote mansion to settle her stepfather’s estranged aunt’s affairs after her sudden death. Mary is not a happy girl; her parents are split up, she misses her father, hates her stepdad, and her relationship with her mother has done a nose dive. When they inevitably fight once the search for Aunt Pearl’s will has started, Mary runs away and ends up hiding in an abandoned mine on the property. Unfortunately she ends up trapped in said mine, and she discovers that she is not alone…
I think this graphic novel would work really well for someone who really likes reading splatterpunk novels or watching gory horror films, just a kind of simple, gross, old-school horror.
I think the art style works well to tell the story it wants to tell, and it really manages to make everything look gross. Unfortunately I didn’t love the art style, I really don’t know how to explain this, but it felt a little too much like I was looking at something drawn by a teenager. I really liked the surreal scenes, those worked great with this art style and were wonderfully bizarre, but for the “regular” scenes it wasn’t really my cup of tea.
Mary is a very well-written teenager. Lashing out at the wrong people, always angry, telling herself lies to protect herself… really reminds you of your own teenage years, at least if they were as much of a struggle as mine were.
Unfortunately I have one really big criticism of this book, however this is a bit of a spoiler, so if you don’t want to know anything before reading I recommend not reading any further.
The main “villains” of this story are both disabled. Pearl is likely schizophrenic, or at least that is what I’m assuming this book wants to portray her as, and I think making someone with a mental illness which is already heavily demonised is lazy and just not something I thought we would still do in 2025/26. Pearl isn’t totally treated like some monster, the novel has some empathy with her and shows what trauma she experienced which worsened her mental state, but this doesn’t really change that at the root of her character she is a villain because of her mental illness, which I don’t think is portrayed very well or with any compassion.
The other “villain” is the child Pearl ends up having, a boy she names Ed who is born disabled in some way. What we know for certain is that he is born with a cleft lip and it appears there are some other physical anomalies, but I can’t really say if he is supposed to have been born with a mental disability or if the way he ends up is a result of Pearl’s lack of interaction with him and a total lack of mental stimulation. Either way, he definitely acts like a character written to have some sort of mental disability, and while the circumstances under which he was raised are treated with a certain amount of sympathy, I still did not feel comfortable with the way he was portrayed.
I think it is up for debate whether the way these two characters are portrayed is insensitive, but I certainly did not feel comfortable with the portrayal, so I didn’t have a particularly great reading experience.
As I mentioned above, I think this graphic novel could work for people who enjoy splatterpunk novels and other gory horror, but I can’t really say I would recommend reading this.
January 22, 2026
I am actually really floored by the level of discomfort this book gave me. I’m not usually a huge graphic novel person but I’m trying to go out of my comfort zone this year with reading more of them. And what better place to start for a bitch like me than a book called pig wife?
What starts as a horror novel about a young girl trying to escape an abandoned gold mine and the people who live in it becomes this emotional gut punch in which we watch what happens when love becomes suffocating and controlling. This book is very interested in what is sold as love vs the steadfast and quiet nature of what love really is. It is also about having relentless understanding of what makes a person who they are and how they have been let down by people in their life.
There’s also this really tender emotional thread between mother and daughter and the validation they seek from men in their lives. This is a book where we watch as someone punishes the parent who stays, who is steadfast and there.
I will say though there are a lot of glaring issues that despite my enjoyment of the work found unable to ignore. But I think you should be able to criticise things you enjoy, and it would be dishonest for me to say I didn’t enjoy it despite noticing these flaws, and so here is a non-exhaustive list of things that didn’t sit right with me:
- I felt that the decision to make the absentee father the only on page man of colour was a really poorly thought out one that reeked of stereotype and frankly racism. While it is emotionally important to the story that the father is absent and not there - creating a paradigm where her white mother becomes the saviour figure didn’t sit right with me at all. I feel this was writing decision made with unconscious bias but I would love a Latinx voice to read this and give their thoughts because I do not want to speak for what would constitute good/bad representation for another group. I just know as a mixed Armenian woman with a father who has been racialised that it didn’t sit right with me and I would hate the representation if it was of my own background despite the competency and care taken with the main character.
- There is significant underlying ableism in this text that is both explicit and implicit. The implicit stuff is the stuff present in lots of horror media where things coded as intellectual or physical disability are seen as monstrous in the context of horror. While I can see an argument for this book that states the authors point is that people can be made into monsters, it doesn’t necessarily negate where these stereotypes and caricatures come from. The more explicit stuff is the demonisation of mental health issues, and those who experience them. The big bad in this book is someone with complex mental illness, and again I can see that the text points to people giving up on this person as the crux of why she didn’t receive care but there’s a fairly cruel slant to the representation that I feel will have a bad impact.
With all that being said this one is hard to rate because it is really emotionally resonate and gutsy as a work of fiction, and yet glaringly flawed. It’s one I would hesitate to recommend without significant caveat.
What starts as a horror novel about a young girl trying to escape an abandoned gold mine and the people who live in it becomes this emotional gut punch in which we watch what happens when love becomes suffocating and controlling. This book is very interested in what is sold as love vs the steadfast and quiet nature of what love really is. It is also about having relentless understanding of what makes a person who they are and how they have been let down by people in their life.
There’s also this really tender emotional thread between mother and daughter and the validation they seek from men in their lives. This is a book where we watch as someone punishes the parent who stays, who is steadfast and there.
I will say though there are a lot of glaring issues that despite my enjoyment of the work found unable to ignore. But I think you should be able to criticise things you enjoy, and it would be dishonest for me to say I didn’t enjoy it despite noticing these flaws, and so here is a non-exhaustive list of things that didn’t sit right with me:
- I felt that the decision to make the absentee father the only on page man of colour was a really poorly thought out one that reeked of stereotype and frankly racism. While it is emotionally important to the story that the father is absent and not there - creating a paradigm where her white mother becomes the saviour figure didn’t sit right with me at all. I feel this was writing decision made with unconscious bias but I would love a Latinx voice to read this and give their thoughts because I do not want to speak for what would constitute good/bad representation for another group. I just know as a mixed Armenian woman with a father who has been racialised that it didn’t sit right with me and I would hate the representation if it was of my own background despite the competency and care taken with the main character.
- There is significant underlying ableism in this text that is both explicit and implicit. The implicit stuff is the stuff present in lots of horror media where things coded as intellectual or physical disability are seen as monstrous in the context of horror. While I can see an argument for this book that states the authors point is that people can be made into monsters, it doesn’t necessarily negate where these stereotypes and caricatures come from. The more explicit stuff is the demonisation of mental health issues, and those who experience them. The big bad in this book is someone with complex mental illness, and again I can see that the text points to people giving up on this person as the crux of why she didn’t receive care but there’s a fairly cruel slant to the representation that I feel will have a bad impact.
With all that being said this one is hard to rate because it is really emotionally resonate and gutsy as a work of fiction, and yet glaringly flawed. It’s one I would hesitate to recommend without significant caveat.
October 9, 2025
The story begins with a man who’s looking for the testament of his late aunt, Pearl Harlow, who recently passed away. He brings his wife and stepdaughter, Mary, to her house. After a fight, Mary hides inside Aunt Pearl’s pig pen, but unfortunately gets trapped in an underground bunker beneath it. Inside, she meets two weird and disturbing-looking men, Ed and Tommy, who believe she’s their “wife.” Then the mystery starts unraveling piece by piece as Mary does everything she can to escape.
First of all, I finished this one in a day! 500+ pages in a day is freaking crazy for me. Once I started, I couldn’t stop reading, so it really tells you something about how entertaining this book is!
If you think this is just a regular comic book, you’re wrong. Pig Wife is weird, dark, haunting, and torturous. It’s a family saga with so many layers, tackling serious issues like mental health, loneliness, trauma, motherhood, abusive relationships, child neglect, and more.
The artwork is stunning! It feels surreal, and some pages look like fever dreams. I love them so much I could frame and hang them in my living room. However, as an adult who constantly consumes horror media, the visuals didn’t quite scare me. Still, they’re fantastic and would probably be terrifying for younger readers.
There’s a map of the town and the Harlow family tree at the beginning, which helps visualize how far Mary travels underground and how complex the bunker actually is. Most of the story takes place down there, so trigger warning if you’re claustrophobic.
It’s very easy to understand and sympathize with Mary because the story is told from her POV. Several full-page artworks illustrates her dreams and thoughts, visualizing her mental state. It really feels like we’re inside her head. Despite all the violence and chaos, her interactions with Ed and Tommy sometimes feel innocent and even funny.
The only thing I think could’ve been better is Aunt Pearl’s flashbacks. They could’ve been longer so we’d get a clearer picture of her secrets and mental turmoil. Honestly, I’d read 600–800 pages of this story with pleasure.
Pig Wife isn’t about sick sexuality or relationships. It’s a manifestation of someone’s desire to be loved, something they never truly had or understood. It’s about irresponsible decision that leads to catastrophe, about how unreliable people can turn into monsters and dehumanize others. It shows how love can twist when it’s starved and warped by madness, fear, and isolation.
Abbey Luck delivers this dark tale with uniquely imaginative storytelling and haunting visuals, you can really feel it was made by someone who understands human loneliness inside out. This isn’t the kind of horror that just makes your skin crawl. It’s tragic horror with deeply unsettling vibes that makes you question what being human really means. If you love graphic novels, this one’s a must-read!
Huge thanks to NetGalley, IDW Publishing, and Abbey Luck for the e-ARC!
First of all, I finished this one in a day! 500+ pages in a day is freaking crazy for me. Once I started, I couldn’t stop reading, so it really tells you something about how entertaining this book is!
If you think this is just a regular comic book, you’re wrong. Pig Wife is weird, dark, haunting, and torturous. It’s a family saga with so many layers, tackling serious issues like mental health, loneliness, trauma, motherhood, abusive relationships, child neglect, and more.
The artwork is stunning! It feels surreal, and some pages look like fever dreams. I love them so much I could frame and hang them in my living room. However, as an adult who constantly consumes horror media, the visuals didn’t quite scare me. Still, they’re fantastic and would probably be terrifying for younger readers.
There’s a map of the town and the Harlow family tree at the beginning, which helps visualize how far Mary travels underground and how complex the bunker actually is. Most of the story takes place down there, so trigger warning if you’re claustrophobic.
It’s very easy to understand and sympathize with Mary because the story is told from her POV. Several full-page artworks illustrates her dreams and thoughts, visualizing her mental state. It really feels like we’re inside her head. Despite all the violence and chaos, her interactions with Ed and Tommy sometimes feel innocent and even funny.
The only thing I think could’ve been better is Aunt Pearl’s flashbacks. They could’ve been longer so we’d get a clearer picture of her secrets and mental turmoil. Honestly, I’d read 600–800 pages of this story with pleasure.
Pig Wife isn’t about sick sexuality or relationships. It’s a manifestation of someone’s desire to be loved, something they never truly had or understood. It’s about irresponsible decision that leads to catastrophe, about how unreliable people can turn into monsters and dehumanize others. It shows how love can twist when it’s starved and warped by madness, fear, and isolation.
Abbey Luck delivers this dark tale with uniquely imaginative storytelling and haunting visuals, you can really feel it was made by someone who understands human loneliness inside out. This isn’t the kind of horror that just makes your skin crawl. It’s tragic horror with deeply unsettling vibes that makes you question what being human really means. If you love graphic novels, this one’s a must-read!
Huge thanks to NetGalley, IDW Publishing, and Abbey Luck for the e-ARC!
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