Strange Cases: A Graphic Novel

by RiotBones

Genres: Graphic Novels, Horror, Gothic, Fantasy, Comics

288 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication October 13, 2026

Reviews

[vaishnavi ☆ﾟ⁠.⁠* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could've easily finished this in a single sitting, but the artwork is so gorgeous that every page deserved to be admired for a little longer. the story can be a bit difficult to follow at times, but if you're looking for a blend of gothic-inspired art, law, investigations, courtroom drama, and a story where the 'monsters' are simply human, this will absolutely scratch that itch.

count me in if more books are planned for this series, because I'd love to learn more about Jude's past. this ended far too abruptly for my liking :(

[angelinabvby ۶ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and Riotbones for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ཐི ྐ❤︎ ཋྀ law & order with a gothic twist ཐི ྐ❤︎ ཋྀ

a well-crafted set of gothic mysteries interwoven with spanish folklore. the gothic art captured the atmosphere perfectly and brought the story to life. while the paranormal mysteries had me on my toes, the politics were a bit confusing & the law cases were handled too rashly. i would definitely read more of this series for the vibes & intrigue𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶ♱ ྀིྀ

𝖕𝖗𝖊𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉
can you tell im really into gothic horror.

[Lily the Lilac {Semi-ia} ౨ৎ˚₊ · Rating 4 out of 5]

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⚖️≋🐺≋📕 Strange Cases 📕≋🐺≋⚖️

꒰➛ Stars: 4 ⭐!
꒰➛ Pov: N / A
꒰➛ Spice: 1 / 5
꒰➛ Content: Violence; no spice

꒰➛ This review is spoiler-free!
꒰➛ Thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC!

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✎𓂃 Mini Review! ✎𓂃

Did you look at this and think the cover was gorgeous? Of course you did, it's just a plain fact 🤭 Well the art inside is just a great; I was genuinely impressed! The coloring is so nice, and there's so many frames that are creatively drawn (like two frames inside the negative space of a set of scales) or wide, spreading images! It was an absolute treat to look at! 💗

The story, unfortunately, could be a little confusing at times. Especially the feeling like we were teleporting between scenes a bit, but that's my only complaint. Otherwise, I really liked the supernatural creatures and the deeper meaning of people who don't fit rigidly into the conformity of a society being labeled as monstrous. I think a lot of us, but especially minority communities (I myself being a part of the LGBTQ+ community) can relate to that

Overall, I'd recommend people who like mysterious vibes and top-tier art to give this a read! It's short and sweet, perfect for a late-night binge with only a lamp on 👻

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[Bhavya (semi-offline) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars 🌟

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley Read Now Section. All opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I quite liked this book. The story is interesting enough, albeit a bit confusing at times. The art is no doubt gorgeous but I wasn't a big fan of it personally, specially the colouring and font, but I think many will like it. I couldn't tell if this was YA or Adult though.

I am curious to see where this story goes from here, I am expecting there will be sequels. Overall not a bad read at all.


#Book 98 of 2026.
# for Pride Month June 2026- Rep: Queer characters .

Review written on 17th June, 2026.

DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.

How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite

[Mahi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book scratched a very peculiar genre itch of mine with its strangely Gothic/colonial world-building (and the subversion and resistance that entails), “monsters” that are more human than they realise, and a courageous main character in denial about being a nice person and helping these creatures out.

The gaps between fantasy and the human world are deliciously blurred here; I loved how these strange creatures found ways to navigate human life on their own before landing in trouble, and the dialogue in every scene always felt crisp, cutting, and satisfying in every way.

The core of the story is the brokenness of the law and the flaws in judicial systems that allow and even encourage injustice. There was also some surprisingly profound anti-colonial sentiment, especially in the beginnings of the third case “Of the Broken Vow”, and I appreciated how it fitted neatly into the many narratives the novel offers. And of course, Lord Malinao’s scenes were a visual treat!

My most unexpected but memorable 5 star read of the year.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ireland · Rating 4 out of 5]

˖.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖
Strange Cases is a graphic novel following young law student Jude Aguilar as he is suddenly faced with taking over his late mother's legal practice, encountering new and peculiar mysteries that quickly become personal.

I just want to say that the art style for this novel was phenomenal. As a gothic fantasy heavily inspired by folklore, the author does an amazing job of using their art to depict beautiful and emotional scenes that blend the two genres together. The colour palette felt very apt for the vibe and tone of the novel, and each page felt like its own separate piece of art.

The story itself was intriguing, as I appreciated how the author was able to feature unique fantastical mysteries while also highlighting the impact colonization had on these stories. The one issue I had was that it felt little fast paced. Just as I was starting to get invested in the mystery, it was over. I know graphic novels aren't meant to be long, but I found myself wishing for more time spent on the mysteries themselves and getting to better understand the cases.

Overall, I would give this graphic novel a solid 3.5 stars but the illustrations alone could be a 4.5 stars.
˖.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

[Raaven💖 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

A young lawyer in training returns home after many years away to attend his mother’s funeral. After he returns, he realizes how much horrible things have stayed the same and he becomes determined to leave his mark before he goes.

I love the idea of a lawyer that defends magical creatures in the human world. I really think that’s a neat idea that could have been expanded on. I wish there had been more to this story. I liked Jude. He cared about everyone he helped and he wasn’t afraid to do what’s right in the face of danger. The ending was so bittersweet. I honestly felt bad for Jude. But this was a very unique story about a man who is suffocated with this small town life and its corruption. Sometimes you gotta burn it down (literally). The art for this was also so beautiful! I loved all the muted colors and the way the eyes lit up. I really would like to see more from this universe and more from this artist.

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one! The pacing was a bit (very) fast, but the haunting imagery really held my interest and conveyed the poetic writing style. The art style is simplistic, but packs in details when it wants to, and it uses the space so well to direct the reader's attention with the flow of the page. I can definitely see myself picking up a physical copy of this when it comes out in October.

Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. This is an absolute slam dunk, art is beyond gorgeous, gothic, moody, atmospheric. I fucking loved it, will be thinking about this for a long long time

[Autummskies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Artwork for the graphic novel was haunting and beautiful! It really fit the narrative of the court cases and developed an atmosphere of the novel. I especially appreciated the clever page layouts, which really highlighted the artwork! I also loved the commentary on the influence of Spanish colonialism on the Philippines.

I really wish the court cases were more fleshed out to make the novel longer as at times it felt a bit rushed. However, the story was long enough for me to enjoy Jude’s character throughout his journey. The bittersweet ending also felt very fitting for the novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC!

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received form NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!! I have loved RiotBones work for years. It’s always been so special to me and this is no exception. It was so beautifully drawn, and the story drew me in really easily. I found the length of it daunting at first, but now, I wish it was longer. I feel like there was a lot left unsaid for me. The banter between Cecil and Jude was so well written. I can’t wait for more full length graphic novels from them!!

[mtrics · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had a few nitpicks but I can't possibly give it any less than 5 stars. The art is just breathtaking. The drawings, of course, but also how cleverly it was all put together.

The colors are muted, the environments often plunged in darkness with hard lighting. Bright colors are used sparingly, and when present, they tell a story of their own. The poses (of the characters, of the point of view) are always dynamic, you never get bored. The visual bits of storytelling are brilliant (for example, the newspaper headline layered on top of the MC discovering a house on fire...) and sometimes, deeply meaningful (half-remembered, vague memories are just outlines, barely in focus). Every little detail seems to have been given thought (e.g., Manuel Silang's transition markers going from knotted ropes as a sailor to algae when we discover his body was taken over by a sea creature--brilliant!). I really can't praise the visuals in this graphic novel enough; it was stunning from front to back. There were so many page compositions I had never seen before, so many pages that achieve so much with so little (time passing, despair, fear, fuzzy memories, violence)... This was such a joy to read.

However... I can't post this review without also highlighting where it fell a bit short in my opinion. I thought the plot was really engaging until the last quarter, more or less. Some parts became hard to follow, maybe a bit too artsy: I felt like entire pages were missing to give context to a few scenes that passed over my head (like, who the fuck is Cecil? The dog? The lord? Why are we running barefoot into the street screaming his name in the middle of the night?). I could see the story breadcrumbs the author laid out, but I couldn't see how they came together in the end. There are profound reflections about empires, justice, and corruption in there, and the dialogue swings from (pejoratively) over-poetic to hard-hitting bangers in a matter of seconds, like:

The Castellanos gave us their courts and crests and called it justice. Maybe that’s the most efficient kind of conquest. It shapes your very way of thinking, of right and wrong, of fairness, justice, truth. Maybe that’s how an empire lasts forever.

like, yes, put this straight into my veins please!

But despite these themes being present on the page, I didn't think they became fully realized, nor did I understand how they tied into the story. The dedication is for the desaparecidos, and there are a few pages about them in the novel--but where did they come into play in the story? Are they the people being taken away by the floods? It felt almost random to me.

Lastly, I know the author identifies as queer, but I think tagging this graphic novel as LGBTQIAP+ on NetGalley is pushing it a little... (The Goodreads listing is completely fine). The MC's mother is implied to have been in love with Amiah, but it's never actually shown. Amiah explains the MC's father became violent because he saw her smile... is that an euphemism? That's just lacking... The MC also had great chemistry with the lord, but if the references to queerness can be explained away by "awww they were such good friends. besties :')", then, like... yeah, okay... don't we deserve more though? It's not big changes too; I think the "He saw her smile..." panel should have been changed into a kiss--and that's literally it.

The themes are queer; there's a very beautiful throughline woven in about monstrosity, and being a stranger in your own body, in your own life. Not quite fitting in while still integrating... It's beautiful, and incredibly meaningful, and indeed works really well for a queer story. But for it to truly come together, I think it needs to go all the way there instead of stopping at poetic vagueness and trusting the readers to go the extra mile to truly "get it".

So, to conclude: the politics and themes were really well-chosen, though the execution sometimes left me wanting more. Because the ending doesn't leave much room for a sequel, I really would have wanted the graphic novel to be longer and to flesh out its plot more--at least 20 extra pages, though I could have easily read 100! I had the time of my life reading this. I thought the art, composition, and structure were absolutely incredible. This is worth buying for the art and creativity that went into it alone. I highly recommend this graphic novel, and I can't wait to read more from this artist!

[Rustic Red Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the times I don't read the blurb of the book fully so I was surprised that this one is also Filipino inspired. Overall it's just okay.

I read this one since you don't need to request for it in either netgalley or edelweiss and it's a graphic novel, so I assume it's a quick read. I also read this one since it's recommended for fans of James Tynion IV and procedural crime dramas. And I'd say it's a bad recommendation for either of those, more on this later.

For the pros:
I love the art, unfortunately both the Netgalley and Edelweiss readers don't fully support the double page spread this comic have. One does but it's still broken the first half of the spread is in the right hand side and the second half is in the left hand side... of the next page. The best one I could recommend is just read this in the Netgalley app and use a tablet so you can read it in full glory.

The panels and the art is just so dynamic, the water flowing becomes the borders and sometime it just disappears fully.

The art is just my second favorite part of the book, but the setting of this book just tops it. From the very first pages, we are introduced to town of Lazaro, it's culture and it's problems. How the author describes this town is just beautiful and haunting. We are introduced more to the town of Lazaro and it's mystery and myths and it just becomes more and more interesting as it goes on.

I honestly love the prose on how the story of the town or stories told by the suspects. If Riotbones will write a book in the future, I'll (probably - curse the non-evereding TBR) read it.

The misleading recommendation:
I'm went here fully expecting a horror graphic novels, with probably blood and gore, since it's was for Tynion IV fans. Tynion wrote Nice House series, Something is Killing the Children, The Deviant, W0rldtr33 - most of his works are bloody, body horror. I wasn't expecting something else...

But regardless of that I honestly still love it. It's more of a folk tale, mythology, urban fantasy and probably more closer to Ben Aaronovitch works. Aside from also being urban fantasy it's also a police procedural.

Cons:
Now to the police procedural. It's just too fast, I wasn't expecting this 300-page graphic novel to have 3 cases in it. It just too fast - we met the suspect, we get their side of the story, we find some evidence (or something), then we go to court, then results.

It's hard to really connect to the characters, while I enjoy the tale told by the suspect on the first case and the revelation of the third case. We are also introduced to the friends on the first few pages, but they aren't relevant later on. I kind of waiting for the characters to be fleshed out more.

The ending (3-4 pages)
This one feels very abrupt and a bit of deus ex machina, I don't fully get what happened and they mean by that statement. But it seems final? If it's indeed final, I really hope the author makes a return of the world of Lazaro, since despite we also saw just a small part of, it's honestly very interesting.

[ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

A supernatural Rizal-esque mystery collection, just the thing almost tailor-fit for a reader like me! The Noli Me Tángere inspiration is worn proudly on a beautifully rendered sleeve; Jude carries a bit of Crisóstomo Ibarra in his homecoming, trying to do his best for a town haunted by its own ghosts. Included here are three short stories with an overarching plot; they are all part horror fiction, part detective crime mystery, part urban fantasy, and all of it combines into this decadently lush and creepy atmosphere made much more dense as we accompany Jude through his investigations into Lazaro.

However, because of its multi-faceted genres, many of what Strange Cases tries to do often falls flat to me when it goes through its own genres. When it is a courthouse drama, it draws our attention away from its folk horror aspects. When it is a detective mystery, it draws away from the bildungsroman experience that Jude undergoes. It attempts to be many things at once and in doing so, fails to be something with a solid identity. I feel if this was longer, and with enough time to bring about a slow burn that often gives Gothic horror its anticipatory chill, we have the opportunity to stay with Jude for longer, to empathise with his struggles as a character and truly dig deep into what he vows to protect in his law practice. I also think its fictionalisation of Spanish-colonial Philippines does detach a reader from what would have clearly been a very relatable environment, especially a reader who, much like myself, is familiar with Spanish-colonial Philippines and would be prone to picking up a graphic novel like this.

Despite this, unanimous praise must still be had for its gorgeous art style, which helps the stunningly Gothic atmosphere, and I think things like the panel placement, the wide spreads and the precise attention to the smallest details—even in page frames—really help individual story pacing. The characters are brought to life so vividly and in such a creative visual medium, and you can actually feel the age and hackle-raising superstition of Lazaro as Jude sifts through its secrets. This was brilliant, the best kind of eerie that feels right at home with Nick Joaquín and his tropical gothic.

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC through NetGalley.

[Hélène · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5*
A deeply atmospheric graphic novel about a town (and a man) haunted by strange creatures ~
(Thank you to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for making this book available against an honest review)

Gothic horror my belooooved. "Strange cases" leans heavily into its aesthetic, and it does it WELL! The art style is simply gorgeous, the variation in panels/colors/outlines (and even sometimes the style itself, especially exemplifed in the fire effects during the second case) add up to a breathtaking experience. Each illustration is carefully curated, with imagery of skeletons, environments and creatures culminating into an overall very impressive book, art wise.

While I liked the plot, I think the pacing could've done with a little more work. There's an undercurrent of anger in there, something about colonization, and grief, and otherness, and overall monstruosity, but it gets lost into the uneven rhythm and disjointed cases. The throughline doesn't shine as clear as it could, and I almost feel like this could've been 3 different books.
The ending, while beautiful, feels like it comes out of nowhere. We haven't gotten to know Jude as profoundly as I would've liked, so it doesn't 100% seem earned. The moments where we could've delved into his own feelings about things (around Cecil, especially, and damn am I mourning the missed opportunities with those two) are somewhat rushed through for the plot's sake.

The underlying themes, though they could've been clearer, are very important to me, and speak of both nuance and a deep understanding from the author. It is also a subtly queer read, which is always a plus in my book <3

Last but not least, for a graphic novel, some of the prose was ON POINT! Really gorgeously articulated sentiments, some deep reflexions on humanity. The scenes in court also shined strongly with rightful indignation at the condamnation of innocent by a system forever prejudiced against them. Frustrating, but accurate (and cathartic when seeing Jude take matters into his own hands to free his clients)!

Overall, a great debut graphic novel trying to tackle important subjects while maintining beautifully alluring visuals, with some pacing issues that are often a given in this medium, and that could've been solved with a longer length and more room to breathe ~

[Bea · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 Stars. A frustrating debut. Based on art alone, this would be an easy 6 stars. But the story itself is, unfortunately, half baked.

The art is gorgeous. The use of colour is especially great (the first main panel with the red text and the black/white cathedral and the blues of the water? Exquisite. A worthy comp for E M Caroll). The gothic vibes were great, especially because the town truly felt alive. Riotbones clearly has a huge amount of passion for this story, which came through in the attention to detail in their art.

My main frustration was that I wanted so much /more/. As well as the folk-fantastical elements, Strange Cases deals with themes of colonialism and legal injustice and questions what are most effective methods of operating within a corrupt system. It felt like the characters didn’t have time to grow around these ideas; they were almost cramped in the margins. Before we really got to know one character, we would be moving on to the next case. I feel like they would have worked so much better as a trilogy of full-length graphic novels, to give us a little more time to really root for and understand Jude (And like every other reader, I shipped him with Cecil, hard. But also, sort of Isabel, who was an enigma) .

Added to this, the dialogue is very modern; I’m not sure if this was an intentional choice, but it feels anachronistic and pulled me out of the story a little. Annoyingly, the characters all share similar speech patterns (always telling Jude exactly what they are thinking, even when they have no reason to trust him with the secrets that could be their undoing). Part of this is surely a limitation of the graphic format, but I think a longer story could have demonstrated more character development as we..

Despite all of this, I did enjoy visiting Lazaro. The ending was good, very bittersweet, and I will be keeping an eye out for Riotbones’ future work; with a bit more experience, I believe they will have a great future as a storyteller ahead of them.

I’d recommend this to fans of the Tainted Cup, A Study in Emerald or Mexican Gothic. Thank you to the author, Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC.

[readromeda · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing I love about the recent wave of Filipino horror graphic novels — or Filipino fiction in general — is that it is more militant now than ever before.

In this regard, Strange Cases by Riotbones is, may I add, an intriguing example of a story that does not shy away from politics. Indeed, it is a fact that the Philippine system has always been corrupt, even before and after colonial times. Consequently, Strange Cases dives deep into this legacy's underbelly to create a narrative that interrogates how power operates through institutions — how the law, more often than not, becomes a vehicle of oppression rather than justice.

Furthermore, although the procedural law depicted here isn't meant to be taken literally, it still gives us an imaginative glimpse of how such a system might have functioned during Spanish rule.

Meanwhile, I have known many wonderful graphic novel creators; nevertheless, I cannot scream to the world enough how Riotbones did an incredible job — not only in writing, but also in the artwork! Specifically, the transitions between the panels, as well as the images, add to the overall moody and aesthetic ambience. For instance, the pacing is deliberate and unsettling; creatures swallow characters whole, and architectural details evoke the claustrophobia of both colonial mansions and bureaucratic labyrinths. In other words, the visual storytelling does not merely illustrate the story — it is the story, communicating dread and resistance in equal measure.

Honestly, I enjoyed Strange Cases a lot. Perhaps it really is just a great read. Alternatively, maybe I just tend to idolize my amazing UP seniors (as a third-year UP student myself), haha! Nevertheless, I have always been proud of my fellow Iskolar ng Bayan, regardless of which school and/or campuses.

To conclude, regardless of my bias, Strange Cases sits as an outstanding work of Filipino graphic literature. It proves that horror can be both politically urgent and aesthetically sophisticated — a rare and necessary combination in our current cultural landscape.

[Hone · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Review copy courtesy of Andrews McMeel Publishing, Riotbones, and NetGalley.)

4⭐

This is such a weird, stylish, and deeply unsettling graphic novel. The writing is sincere but often obtuse, and the whole thing builds toward an ending that is unsatisfying in the very way life often is.

I couldn’t always follow exactly where the prose was leading me, but the entire aesthetic journey dragged me under by the end.

The linework might not grab you, but the composition and color palette? They do the heavy lifting here—and they do it beautifully. Dark and moody doesn’t have to mean “lacking color” or “illegible,” and Strange Cases is a shining example of that.

I loved that the darkest scenes were rendered in black with clear, bright outlines, so you had the sense of darkness without losing what was happening.

The book is quietly queer in a way that kept catching me by the sleeve. There’s the obvious thread with Jude’s mother and the shepherdess she was in love with. But it was Jude and Cecil’s dynamic that really left me holding my breath.

I kept wondering if something might happen between them romantically. And though there are moments that feel emotionally charged, either nothing happened or I was too dense to realize it had.

Given the ending, that restraint may have been for the best. Anything more concrete would have made the whole thing ache differently. Worse.

One thing I was genuinely confused about: the back of the book says “a rakish law student inherits his dead mother’s practice…” Rakish? I did not see it at all.

I asked someone else who had read the book about it, and he just shrugged and said, “Yeah, no... like... he has a scar?”

📌 TL;DR: Riotbones works with light, dark, and color to paint a stylish and moody gothic horror. Quietly queer, with a satisfyingly unsatisfying ending. This graphic novel is an experience.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of Dishonored, Call of Cthulhu, and The Magnus Archives, I'm so glad I found this ARC. The synopsis grabbed my attention, and the novel really didn't disappoint, with beautiful artwork and a story that hooks you right from the start. As the blurb mentioned, this story really makes you question what makes you human or a monster.

The color choices, lights and shadows, and even the layout with its borders adapting to the scenes manage to shape the story, even on pages without any words.

Jude is an interesting protagonist, headstrong as he follows in his mother’s footsteps, and unshakable whenever he’s faced with things that shouldn’t exist. I loved his interactions with Isa, but my favorites were with Cecil, as I got to watch them grow closer through mutual trust.
As a law student, he’s willing to fight for others, even when the odds are stacked against him, not caring how powerful an enemy he’s making for himself.
The story also shows that the law isn’t about being innocent or in the right, but about having power over the right people and knowing how to play the game to win.

I could have easily read another 300 pages and was sad to see the end approaching; the world Riotbones has created could easily host so many more stories.
However, there were certain parts that confused me and raised questions I didn’t get answers to, making me wonder if I hadn’t paid enough attention, like how the first fire came to be, and sometimes the dialogue between two characters overlapped in such a way that it seemed like just one person was speaking.
The ending also caught me off guard as I was wondering where he would decide to go after working through the cases; it felt pretty fast-paced and unexpected, but he lives by his choices right up until the ending.

I’m looking forward to seeing more works from Riotbones and have already managed to get my friend hooked as well :)

[I live in your walls (real) (go check) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am OBSESSED with this graphic novel.

There is genuinely nothing that gets me more excited to read than a story that takes a genre I already love and uses it to ask bigger, more emotional questions, and *Strange Cases* did exactly that. It’s gothic horror, it’s a legal procedural, it’s a monster story, it’s a mystery, it’s a coming-of-age tale—and somehow Riotbones makes all of those pieces fit together so seamlessly.

First of all, the ART. My god, the art. Every single page is dripping with atmosphere. The creatures are unsettling but also oddly beautiful, the settings feel like they’re decaying right off the page, and there’s this constant feeling that something is lurking just out of sight. Lazaro feels alive in the way the best fictional towns do.

But what absolutely sold me was how much heart this story has. It would have been so easy to make a book about monsters and corruption and strange cases that was just dark for the sake of being dark, but *Strange Cases* is so deeply compassionate. Every case reveals something about grief, loneliness, prejudice, and the desperate desire to be understood. It asks over and over again: who gets to be considered a monster, and who gets to decide?

Jude was such a compelling protagonist because his journey isn’t just about solving his mother’s cases—it’s about inheriting her legacy and realizing that justice is so much more complicated than following the letter of the law.

This is the kind of book that reminds me why I love horror so much. The best horror stories aren’t just scary—they’re sad, they’re weird, they’re deeply human, and they force us to confront the parts of ourselves we’d rather keep hidden.

I genuinely cannot believe this is Riotbones’ debut. It is weird and beautiful and heartbreaking and exactly the kind of story that makes me want to shove it into everyone’s hands and yell, “READ THIS RIGHT NOW.”

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Strange Cases by Riotbones

Strange Cases is a graphic novel that blends gothic horror, mystery, and supernatural elements into an intriguing story about grief, family legacy, and the things that lurk just beyond the ordinary. The premise immediately grabbed my attention, but it was the atmosphere that kept me invested throughout the book. Jude inherits his mother’s law practice, but the work quickly stops feeling like traditional legal defense. Instead, he finds himself pulled into investigating strange cases and uncovering the truth behind clients who may or may not be as guilty as they appear.

The artwork is easily one of the strongest parts of the experience. The illustrations are beautifully done, and the color palette gives the entire story a distinctly gothic feel. Deep shadows, muted tones, and striking contrasts create an eerie mood that perfectly complements the supernatural elements of the plot. Even when little is happening on the page, the artwork does a lot of the storytelling and helps build a sense of unease and mystery.

I also appreciated how the story balances its strange and fantastical elements with more personal themes. At its heart, this is a story about loss, responsibility, and figuring out who you are while carrying the weight of someone else's legacy. The supernatural cases add plenty of intrigue, but the emotional undercurrent gives the book depth.

While there were moments where I wanted a little more development or explanation, I still found myself enjoying the journey. The combination of strong visuals, a compelling gothic atmosphere, and an interesting premise made this a memorable read. If you enjoy graphic novels with supernatural mysteries and a dark aesthetic, Strange Cases is worth picking up. 4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Violet Bernier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gothic architecture, dramatic tones and heavy colonialist undertones are merged in this beautiful little graphic novel. Following Jude Aguilar and his late mother's law practice that he picked up in the wake of her funeral, we explore the mysterious little town of Lazaro. Everything from politics to mystical, inhuman force, all of it is working in scopes that our protagonist can only try and peek at through his keyhole.

The art is incredible. The more basic character designs are still very recognizable, and the environment tells the story just as much as the dialogue. There is such detail in the rooms and in the buildings, with fineline depictions contrasting with the down to earth, neutral tones of the usual artstyle. Flashes of colour also bring us to notice unnatural events- monsters, both in or out. The lettering is also beautiful, with different fonts and colours marking the different tones of characters throughout their interactions. The panels themselves, their structure and their look, also help tell the story. The borders of the panels melt into water at some points, as though a sign of the narrator's perception falling into something more supernatural.

The story is separated into episodic plots that thread together in a broader narrative. It is a very interesting format, allowing us to slowly learn about the town and the character's story. Though, and this is one of my smaller problems with the story, it is easy to get lost in the flow of the book, and it often occurred that I found myself silly for forgetting about some plot threads that had been set up previously. The overall plot too, felt slightly disorganised, and while I could see the story that was being told, I wish it had been clearer. Overall, this book was generally enjoyable, and this was a strong debut.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-executed and beautifully atmospheric gothic graphic novel, following Jude Aguilar and the odd cases that he takes on in his home country of Lazaro following his mother’s death. I’ve been excited for Riotbones’ first full length solo graphic novel, and the mesh of mysteries and the supernatural along with the court proceedings is unique and fun. There isn’t a moment where Jude’s story becomes dull, and each case, as well as Jude’s seemingly blasé attitude, tests the reader’s own observational skills with subtle details that are occasionally too subtle.

One thing I really loved was how Riotbones lets the story unfold on its own without over-packing it with dialogue or extraneous scenery. The negative space of their work is used to great effect, allowing the reader to focus on what draws a character’s attention or ignites their fear. I found this to be particularly striking with how the first case captures the murkiness of the sea, and how various natural, often violent elements like fire haunt Judes’ sleep. There is a prevalent sense of uncanniness especially when the supernatural is possibly involved, making the reader feel, much like Jude, that there’s something just slightly out of sight, out of reach.

I did find the final case to be a bit of let-down despite a very strong build up. The climax felt rushed in comparison to the previous parts and left a few too many questions unanswered. I did like that the overarching queer elements moved to the forefront, but I might not have noticed the threads connecting from previous cases if I wasn’t familiar with the artist and this wasn’t labeled as such. If Riotbones does more with Jude or this world in the future, I would be eager to pick it up, and I look forward to adding this gorgeous comic to my bookshelf and potentially gifting it to others.

[Rhiannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

Strange Cases follows Jude, who has somewhat unintentionally taken over his mother's law practice after her passing, as he takes on cases involving people whose circumstances are affected by the mystical and supernatural. Elements of Filipino folklore, history, and culture are woven throughout, and I really enjoyed the layer that added to the story. The artwork, and especially the character design, was beautiful, and I thought it was the strongest aspect of this book. Each character had a distinct, identifiable look, and it was easy to follow and understand what was being portrayed throughout.

My only real issue with this book was the pacing, which felt a bit rushed. Each of the three cases were really interesting, but there wasn't much time dedicated to any of them individually, so as soon as I was really becoming invested in the person Jude was helping, we were already moving on to the next. (Cecil's case was definitely my favorite, mostly because I liked the developing relationship between him and Jude and was admittedly hoping to see it turn into something romantic.) The ending, while not bad, did come out of left field a bit, and I wish it'd been spread out more because it seemed abrupt. Realistically, I think every aspect of this story would've benefited from it being just a little longer so the characters, their relationships, and important themes like the consequences of colonialism could have been explored more thoroughly.

Overall, though, I enjoyed reading this, and I'd certainly be quick to pick up another graphic novel by this author/illustrator in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessica Mather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, the stories in this Graphic Novel definitely lived up to the title! In Strange Cases we meet Jude, a lawyer who left his home town, but has come back to take over his mothers practice after her death.

The 3 cases are equally intriguing and suspenseful. I loved Jude's passion in the courtroom 🤣 - from helping wrongfully accused convicts to escape, to uncovering a bigger plot that affects the whole town. I do wish that the second case was bigger and was spread across the whole book because that was the most interesting case for me.
The ending was rushed a little bit, i feel. I thought that the case was left in the open and it felt unfinished. I would love to have seen more pages to explore everything just a bit longer.

The art was stunning! From the very beginning it set the tone of a gothic and atmospheric setting, with darker things happening in the background. I would love for there to have been more integration of the myth and legends told in the story

My main criticism of this book comes from the LGBTQ tag, but lack of clear representation within the characters. There was never really any opportunity for the characters to naturally say or do anything to identify their queerness, and so there wasn't any clear way to identify it, I could guess that there may have been something between Jude and Malinao, and there was something between Judes mom and Santos who, judging by the art, was female. But none of that was made clear.

This was a great, unsettling graphic novel that has you on the edge of your seat at points, and leaves you wanting more. 3.5✨
Thank you to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC of this book. I think this is an author/artist to keep an eye open for.

[Dukeofgloom · Rating 3 out of 5]

E-arc provided by Andrews McMeel Publishing for an honest review.

I picked this up because it was a short comic and I was looking for something quick to get through, and I really liked the cover and the artstyle. This is going to be a short review because I didn’t have a lot of thoughts on it.

What Worked for Me

The Artwork: This was definitely the strongest part of the book. The main character had a solid character design and stood out, especially with the facial scar, and I loved how the fire in the second case was rendered in rainbow colors. I thought it was very beautiful. The stylization looked great and I thought it looked cool. I liked the incorporation of Filipino culture. Those were the aspects I cared about the most in this book.

What Didn't Work as Well for Me

The Story and Pacing: The plot felt rushed. It starts with these interesting lines about colonization, storms, and the earth trying to get rid of colonial buildings and pavements, so I assumed those themes would be important and it would be a story about colonization, but they never really came back up, so I felt it was just worldbuilding, mostly just worldbuilding to set up vibes before moving on to the cases. There are about three separate cases in this book that fly by so quickly that I never had enough time to get invested in the characters or what was happening. The ending was also very abrupt and seemed to come out of nowhere.

Final Thoughts

I didn't dislike it enough to give it 2 stars, but I also didn't enjoy it enough to rate it any higher than 3 stars. It's a decent enough short comic with good art, but the story didn't really connect with me.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been on a bit of a graphic novel kick lately, and when I saw this cover, I instantly knew I wanted to read the ARC.

The cover is a fantastic indication of the artwork you’ll find inside. While the storyline and atmosphere were interesting in their own right, the true standout is the art itself, especially the scenery. There are several pages with little to no dialogue, yet the story is still told vividly through the illustrations. Some of my favorite moments in the book were found on those silent pages. Visually, this is an easy 10/10.

I did find myself wishing for a deeper exploration of certain characters and storylines at times, but the story we do get is entertaining and engaging throughout.

The gothic prose helped draw me in from the very beginning, and I thought the balance between the atmospheric writing and the heavier courtroom plotlines was handled well. I especially enjoyed uncovering pieces of the mystery alongside the protagonist as the story unfolded.

Strange Cases delivers on multiple fronts. The pacing remains steady, the mystery continues to evolve, and the horror and supernatural elements provide just enough intrigue to keep the pages turning. I would absolutely recommend giving this one a try, especially considering its relatively short length.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Elara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ⓘ Thanks to NetGalley and the author for giving me access to the ARC of this book.
Ⓘ Disclaimer: English is not my first language, so please excuse any inconsistencies

This graphic novel intrigued me from the moment I saw its cover, and I can confidently say that it did not disappoint when it came to the art style and color palette. It was an absolute visual delight to read.

The story follows a young man who returns to the town where he grew up after his mother's death and becomes entangled in the strange events taking place there. As I mentioned before, I think the book's greatest strength is its visuals. The author has a remarkable ability to immerse the reader, making you feel as though you are standing in the middle of a forest at night while something watches you from the shadows.

That being said, I do think it is fairly noticeable that this is the author's debut work. In my opinion, the book would have benefited from being longer (or perhaps from being developed into a series). The mysteries and the characters were genuinely intriguing, but because of the limited page count, I felt the story was not given the space it deserved to fully develop. The same applies to the relationships between the characters. I found myself wishing there had been more room to explore them and their dynamics in greater depth.

Overall, I think the author shows a lot of promise and can only continue to grow and improve. I am looking forward to reading whatever they create next.

[K.C. Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5* rounded up.

There are two main components here which I felt were, at times, at odds with each other. There's the big picture: the overall themes, the worldbuilding, the aesthetic, and the art. Then there are the details of the plot.

Big picture? Loved it. The art reminded me of stills from '70s/80s animations, along the lines of Ralph Bakshi or Rankin/Bass. The thing where statues of saints decay to reveal the bones beneath? Heckin' cool. Commentary on law, class, wealth, and power? Hell yeah, brother. The color-inverted panels, palette choices, and character designs were all great. Some of my favorite pages focused on the broad lore of the region, and there are smaller comments sprinkled in here and there about imperial legacy, indigeneity, and the collapse of empire.

The plot, however, had a lot more holes. The first case, in which the only surviving sailor of a shipwreck has lost his memories, contradicted itself multiple times and includes details that simply don't make sense. The other cases were a bit more cohesive, but I still had continuity questions.

Overall, I liked this, but I felt it could have been stronger and clearer when it came to the details. I was still very much into it, and I would most definitely read more of this creator's work in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 || dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Then today we drink to the sun!

A poignant masterpiece that carefully blends a dark story with the bright and warm colors of Filipino art, Strange Cases has the mini, episodic thrill of detective stories like Sherlock Holmes mixed with the folktales during the Spanish colonial period. I would say I have a bit of an issue with the pacing, as there wasn't a good transition between the stories despite everything occurring linearly, it just felt like a jump cut between the cases. I did enjoy the cases individually, and how everything circled back to Jude's homecoming.

It's unfortunate that it was that short, as I would have enjoyed more mini cases with the almost-lawyer before the grand finale - I do hope there's a continuation of it. Nevertheless, a very enjoyable read that I highly recommend.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing me this ARC via NetGalley. All quotes are taken from the uncorrected proof. This does not in any shape or form influence my review on this book.