Blue Book Library Edition Volume 1

by James Tynion IV, Michael Avon Oeming (Illustrator)

From the New York Times bestseller and multi-Eisner award-winner James Tynion IV (Something is Killing the Children, The Nice House on the Lake, The Department of Truth) and Eisner award-winning Michael Avon Oeming (Powers, B.P.R.D., Judge Dredd) comes this ambitious, non-fiction comic book experience depicting true stories of UFO abductions with an eye to capturing the strange essence of those encounters in a deluxe, oversized hardcover format.

James Tynion IV presents what he calls his “True Weird” stories. Tales of ordinary people encountering the strange and the impossible. Teaming with artist Michael Avon Oeming and letterer Aditya Bidikar, they retell some of the most popular UFO and alien encounter accounts starting with two infamous

First, the Betty and Barney Hill abduction—the widely-publicized and very first abduction that went on to shape and influence all future encounter stories.

Second, we follow pilot Kenneth Arnold who flew his Call-Air A-2 over the skies of the Pacific Northwest and encountered otherworldly blinding flashes of silver light that would change the course of his life forever.

Collects the first two arcs of Blue Book in a deluxe, oversized, library edition format.

Tiny Onion Studios and Dark Horse Comics present a line of upcoming creator-owned work from the mind of James Tynion IV across a broad spectrum of his interests, from non-fiction supernatural encounters to high concept coming-of-age monster comics.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics

Kindle Edition

Published July 8, 2025

About the author

Prior to his first professional work, Tynion was a student of Scott Snyder's at Sarah Lawrence College. A few years later, he worked as for Vertigo as Fables editor Shelly Bond's intern. In late 2011, with DC deciding to give Batman (written by Snyder) a back up feature, Tynion was brought in by request of Snyder to script the back ups he had plotted. Tynion would later do the same with the Batman Annual #1, which was also co-plotted by Snyder. Beginning in September 2012, with DC's 0 issue month for the New 52, Tynion will be writing Talon, with art by Guillem March. In early 2013 it was announced that he'd take over writing duties for Red Hood and the Outlaws in April.

Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.

Reviews

[The Void Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Blue Book Library Edition Volume 1
by James Tynion IV & Michael Avon Oeming

James Tynion IV’s Blue Book is a masterclass in what he calls “True Weird”—stories where ordinary people collide with the extraordinary. This deluxe library edition collects the first two arcs, and it’s a stunning showcase of how comics can retell history’s most infamous UFO encounters with both gravity and wonder.

The volume opens with the Betty and Barney Hill abduction, the landmark case that shaped the language of alien encounters for decades. Tynion and Oeming capture the unease, intimacy, and surreal terror of the Hills’ story without sensationalism, grounding it in human vulnerability. From there, we move to Kenneth Arnold’s flight over the Pacific Northwest, where blinding flashes of silver light forever altered his life—and the cultural imagination.

Michael Avon Oeming’s art, paired with Aditya Bidikar’s lettering, gives these accounts a noir-like atmosphere: stark, moody, and cinematic. The stripped-down palette emphasizes the uncanny, while the storytelling remains empathetic to the witnesses at the heart of these legends.

What makes this volume shine is its balance of myth and humanity. Even if you’ve heard these stories before, the presentation feels fresh, and for me, a few accounts were completely new discoveries. That sense of uncovering hidden history is part of the thrill.

This oversized edition is more than a collection—it’s a statement of intent from Tiny Onion Studios and Dark Horse Comics, promising a line of creator-owned projects that explore the strange, the supernatural, and the deeply personal.

Verdict: A must-read for fans of UFO lore, paranormal history, or simply great comics storytelling. Tynion and Oeming transform “True Weird” into something haunting, empathetic, and unforgettable.

Happy reading from the Void 🛸👽🪐📚

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

the artwork was stunning and i loved the first chapter, but not much else.

[AviChaim Snyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Library Edition collects both volumes of The Blue Book, 1961 and 1947, presented in that order. Going in, I was not entirely sure what to expect. I enjoy Tynion’s writing and I am a fan of sci-fi and alien stories, but this collection only partially worked for me.
The first half, 1961, which centers on Betty and Barney Hill, is easily the strongest material in the book. It presents a clear narrative and follows the Hills through their alleged encounter and the lasting effects it had on their lives. I was fully engaged from start to finish and loved every moment of this story.
The second half shifts focus away from character-driven storytelling and instead examines UFOs as a broader concept within the American psyche and culture. While there are a few recurring figures, the emphasis is more on ideas and historical context than on dialogue or relationships. This approach did not connect with me as much. It felt overly wordy and dragged at times. While still interesting, it came across more like a history lesson than a compelling narrative. Reading it all in one sitting may not have helped, but pacing is something that should be considered when structuring a story like this.
The art throughout is solid. Nothing particularly stood out, but it was consistently enjoyable. I especially liked the heavy use of blue tones, which gave the book a strong and cohesive atmosphere.
Overall, I found the collection to be fairly middle of the road. The first half is excellent, while the second is just okay. I would recommend picking up the 1961 trade on its own and only checking out the second volume if you are particularly invested in the genre and do not mind a slower, denser read.
Grade: C

[Zachary Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! The artwork is excellent in the oversized format with the use of two different blues that fits the vibe of the accounts of the UFO sightings covered in this collection. Volume 1 is more suspenseful and unsettling than volume 2 which is more an account of US government’s response to UFO sighting over the years. I hope we get additional volumes in the future from James Tynion about aliens or other historical mysteries.

[Memphis Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh this was great! Two of my favorite comics creators team up to take an even-handed and gorgeous look at the history of UFOs in America.

Fans of Tynion IV, Oeming, and/or UFO phenomena will not want to miss this one!

Ultimately you have to make up your own mind as to whether we have been visited by extraterrestrials but boy a fair few credible folks have seen SOMETHING!

May have to follow up on some of these people/incidents with deep dives on Wikipedia and maybe Reddit.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

In retrospect, this wasn't for me. I hope it was to the liking of others, those more inclined towards UFOs.

[Dom Nuno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched and drawn, even if quite an irrelevant subject…

[Al Capwned · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book is excellent but the second one is extremely tiring. I don't understand why the author made this choice with it.

[Amethyst · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was initially good and interesting but then it just started to drag around halfway.

[Jaq · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well balanced and told - two sides to every story, including the modern mythology.