GhostBox (Comixology Originals) Vol. 1

by Mike Carey, Pablo Raimondi (Artist), José Villarrubia (Colorist)

Two sisters, Chloe and Jan Peace, come into possession of a carved wooden box and
discover that it has magical properties. Anyone who dies in the vicinity of the box goes
neither to Heaven nor Hell but into the box itself. This makes the box a priceless treasure
to the soul-devouring monsters known as the Estival, who will stop at nothing to get it. All
the sisters want to do is get rid of the thing, but when Jan dies and the ghostbox takes
her soul Chloe faces a stark choice. The Estival will keep coming for her so long as the
box is in her possession. But if she gives it up, the monsters will devour her sister’s soul…

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

Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2025

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Mike Carey was born in Liverpool in 1959. He worked as a teacher for fifteen years, before starting to write comics. When he started to receive regular commissions from DC Comics, he gave up the day job.

Since then, he has worked for both DC and Marvel Comics, writing storylines for some of the world's most iconic characters, including X-MEN, FANTASTIC FOUR, LUCIFER and HELLBLAZER. His original screenplay FROST FLOWERS is currently being filmed. Mike has also adapted Neil Gaiman's acclaimed NEVERWHERE into comics.

Somehow, Mike finds time amongst all of this to live with his wife and children in North London. You can read his blog at www.mikecarey.net.

Reviews

[Tabitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for the advanced copy.

I super enjoyed GHOSTBOX! This is urban fantasy horror, which is basically everything I love. Two sisters are willed their mysterious uncle's estate and in the mess they come across an artifact that only brings trouble. This is a great combo of artists as well, with Mike Carey's writing elevated by Raimondi's art and Villarrubia's fantastical colors.

I appreciate this story kicks off pretty quick and keeps going full throttle clear through to the end. I'm fascinated by the mythology of the ghostbox and its fellow artifacts, and kind of reminded of the Top Cow universe's artifacts (witchblade, the darkness, etc), which I was always a fan of and so I enjoy its similarities.

It's a wild, fun adventure with ancient cosmic monsters, epic battles, and twists and turns of plot and characters. An overall very fun ride. My only real complaint is that it felt like it moved kind of fast at times!

I'm very much looking forward to the sequel Ghostbox: Ghost Wars! I want to see more of the ancient races and learn more about this fun new dark fantasy mythology.

Also, the angel was totally modeled after Matt Smith, aka the Eleventh Doctor lol There was one frame of his face at an angle that was just spot on for Matt Smith.

[Terence James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Mike Carey for a long time, and Ghostbox reminded me why I keep picking up his books. From the start it pulls you in with this uneasy, atmospheric tone, and before long you’re hooked on both the mystery and the characters caught up in it. Carey has a real gift for making the strange feel grounded, so even when the story leans into horror, it always feels rooted in people you care about.

What worked best for me was the way he balances the creepy moments with the emotional ones. There are parts that genuinely gave me chills, but it never felt like shock for the sake of it. The tension builds naturally, the twists land properly, and you’re always invested in what happens next.

If I had one gripe, it’s that some of the side characters felt a bit thin, like they were more there to move the story along than to stand on their own. But honestly, that’s minor compared to how strong the rest of the book is.

This is one of the most engaging things I’ve read from Carey in a while. Smart, eerie, and full of heart. Easy 4.5 stars from me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Mad Cave for this advance copy.

[Jeremy Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paranormal Mysteries Abound!

MR Carey & Pablo Raimondi join forces to deliver an electrifying mystery and readers should be excited to see where it goes! Featuring twins who discover their deceased family member possessed an arcane item, this story starts like wildfire. You are introduced to the characters briefly and then all of a sudden, bodies start hitting the floor. This story delivers on the promise of an unforgettable mystery and the ending is one you’ll not expect. Additionally, there is an open-endedness here that makes me excited to see where the story will go!

[Alex Sarll]

There's some familiar Mike Carey material here; afterlives that aren't quite what was promised, angel wars at the dawn of time, characters from radically different milieux sounding out how to interact. But compared to Lucifer it all feels a lot like a modern Rolling Stones record next to a proper one. Not that this can all be blamed on the writer; Pablo Raimondi may be good at majestic otherworlds and towering, tattered angels, but his West Country brambles are an embarrassment. Hell, even the lettering hasn't quite been thought through; using it to signal a possession seems clever at first, but in this game font implies sound, so by that logic everyone who hears should notice at once. Still, I did like the rural copper who, sucked into this baffling occult struggle, continues to try doing what she does best: proper police work.

[Mireya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for the ARC copy of Ghostbox. This has not affected my review at all, which are my own thoughts.

Twins Chloe and Jan Peace have very normal, very boring lives, until one of their uncles dies and they inherit his house. Right on time, because Chloe needs the cash as her job situation is quite unstable. And so she advertises everything they can find at said house online, getting a buyer quite soon for a mere lamp. Except, he is more interesting in a particular box that disrupts the twins' lives. When the deal goes south, Chloe is framed for murder and left with only that box as a connection to her missing sister.

And the tension and stakes just go up and up from then on, to be honest, until an explosive climax that left me gaping and speechless. This compilation goes from issues 1 to 5 of the original Ghostbox, that I didn't know anything about prior to this, and now I want more!! I hope Mad Cave brings more compiled volumes, 'cause this one is definitely a series I'll keep an eye on to continue it!

I knew that antique box was going to be a problem right the moment it appears on page, and not only because of the title, but because of how the story is told, the angles shown, the details highlighted... It is evident these authors have years of work behind them. And this is complemented by the story that is being told, with complex characters, well-placed foreshadowing and a centuries old feud that bleeds trough the pages and trough the twins' lives, targeting them without a choice. The strongest point, in my opinion, is, by far, the world they've created. With how it came to be, the different magical peoples and even the more mundane details.

But, really, I just had so much fun reading this one! Rooting for Chloe to succeed, always looking for more details about the world and to see the secondary characters that, in my opinion, sometimes stole the show from her😂 But all in good fashion, complimenting the story with their motivations and personal goals and flaws, enriching it.

Definitely a must-read for fans of ghost, epic battles, complex magic systems, family stories and universe-threatening stakes. Even if comics are not an usual for y'all, I recommend this one for the story alone! Be sure to check this one out when it publishes in October ;)

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting graphic novel, even if it ends up feeling like a Vertigo homage as opposed to its own real thing. Way back in the mists of time there was a lot of fighting between angels and Cthulhu-styled monsters, particularly where a ghostbox was concerned. The box eventually became a limbo for all the souls of the humans that died near it (don't ask how near), which means it was a larder for the monsters, more or less. Possession has changed hands very rarely since, but it could well do so tonight, when two London lasses inherit it, and a lot of pressure from the baddies to get it looks like breaking it – and all the soul contents inside – apart for ever.

Yes, a lot of this feels like a Vertigo title, and it was once en route to that publisher, apparently. There's a broad selection of characters in the box (including a pointless muslima, standing there doing nothing), and one of them has just the very font for his speech you'd expect Vertigo to have found for him. Font? His whole raison d'etre seems Vertigo in the finish.

That's not to say it's a bad thing – Vertigo was a noted house for a reason, after all. And I did say homage rather than pastiche – this is not borrowing too much, or riffing off it for comedy or nostalgia. It's very much adjacent to what a lot of its creators were doing, though, to my taste – including overlaying rich fantasy on a bog standard, modern day England. I enjoyed this enough to want to read the next volume, but I wouldn't call a second such slice of mild deja vu a priority. Three and a half stars.

[Elle (Lost in Wonderland) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was I confused for half of this book? Yes…Did I still enjoy myself? Hell Yes.

The premise of the book was interesting and I can definitely see potential for further development in future episodes.

Two sisters come into possession of a mysterious box after their uncle's passing. Thinking it's an old piece of junk they advertise to sell it. However, the box attracts the attention of the supernatural kind, causing all kinds of deadly problems.

The art and colour were outstanding. The creepiness of certain characters was executed brilliantly, particularly the Estival Leader, who was freaky as hell. Then less obviously scary, but most unsettling, a character is paralysed and their skin is ‘unzipped’ to be used as a disguise for another character. That scene left me with the heebie-jeebies.

Personally, the ending felt a little rushed, and everything seemed to wrap up too quickly. I wish we could have lingered more and taken our time with the realisations uncovered in the final scenes. Not to mention that one of my favourite characters met their end.

The cover art was what originally drew me in, but the story stood up just as well and kept me invested. This was a great introduction to the series which set a solid foundation for the series to build off.

Triggers include but are not limited to:
Death, Violence, Gore, Mild Nudity

** I received a complimentary copy of this book from Mad Cave Studios via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[East of Reality · Rating 4 out of 5]

This omnibus of volumes 1-5 of Ghostbox is … so much fun. I want an entire series, I want a novelization, I want an animated adaptation, all of it. Chloe and Jan might not have as much character development as I’d like so much as suggestions of character, but given how action packed this book is in a mere 130 pages or so, there isn’t much time for them to do much but react — often in horror.

Jan’s death, the possession, the vampire thing, the multiple ghosts, the monsters, the angel, the flesh changing eldritch horrors and more all all vividly drawn in lush, lovely color illustrations. The interior of the Ghost Box has an almost dreamlike feel with castles floating in air and people from all manner of eras and cultures brought together by their untimely deaths. And then there’s the mystery of the box itself, what it’s for and why, who made it and why, what the monsters want to do with it …

And the cops chasing Chloe for killing her sister are also there.

There’s just a lot of plot, but it all ends up tied up together in a nice bow while still leaving more adventures for later books, which I am currently off to go find because I want so much more of this world. The world building is amazing, the writing is strong, the pace is super fast — but not rushed — and all in all it’s just a quick, fun read that I highly recommend.

Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher!

[Lukasz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Sisters Chloe and Jan inherit a cottage and a mysterious box filled with trapped souls. They think it's worthless. Lethal monsters see value in it, and things quickly escalate. Expect lots of action, angels, demons, and violence.

I liked that it was fast-paced, visually striking, and brimming with cool ideas. Pablo Raimondi’s art is at its best when focusing on the surreal dreamscapes of the Ghostbox, and Carey keeps the plot moving at breakneck speed. You won’t be bored.

That said, character depth takes a backseat to spectacle. Chloe, our lead, acts on impulse and isn't really likable, and her sister Jan barely registers as a character before becoming a plot device. Their rushed decisions feel driven more by the need to offer plot twists than by believable motivation. By the time you're juggling possessed corpses, police chases, cleansing rituals, and ghost-world politics, the plot starts feeling convoluted.

Ghostbox works best when it embraces its horror-fantasy elements and worst when it tries to focus on character development. It's an entertaining supernatural romp that's worth a read for fans of Mike Carey's other work, but don't expect the depth of Lucifer or the brilliance of The Girl with All the Gifts.

ARC through NetGalley

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chloe is having a very bad day, but everything changes after a mysterious inheritance, and she finds an antique box. What follows is a tale of ghosts, monsters, and police encounters.

GHOSTBOX is hilarious. Chloe was such a delight to read, and she is such a relatable main character. Each ghost also has their own unique personality and looks, which also immediately explained their character. I have to note that I deeply appreciated how each of them had their own font; it made it a lot easier to follow along than other stories with a lot of characters.

The artwork looks great, particularly the Estival, who look incredibly terrifying. Lion of God also looks incredible, even if I did find him in some panels suspiciously looking like Matt Smith haha.

My only qualm with the story is that I wish we got a bit more explanation of what life is like inside the Ghostbox. The upsides and downsides of that specific form of afterlife. For me, it made some of the character motivations a bit unclear.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mike Carey, and Mad Cave Studios for the advanced copy. This review is left voluntarily and honestly.

[Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read! GHOSTBOX follows two sisters, Chloe and Jan Peace, that come into an inheritance after their uncle dies. They check out their late uncle’s home and find it run-down and filled with antiques. Chloe decides to post these antiques up for sale to earn some cash. A carved wooden box catches the attention of a strange man, who knows the truth about this priceless box. The box has magical properties and if anyone dies near the box, their soul becomes trapped in the box.

Great story! I really enjoyed the illustrations and the character designs. The world inside the box was like a magical realm, with different structures and souls from many years ago. The colors POP! Definitely recommend it if you like magic spells and dark arts.

Thank you, NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios, for the ARC.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank Mad Cave Studios and NetGalley for a free eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Although I liked the idea of this book, I must admit that it didn't keep my attention very well, which is never good. The story lacked propulsion. I think the beginning was slow and by the time the action kicks off, it feels like too little too late. I do appreciate that this is really a full story in this one volume, and if you want to pick it up, I don't think anyone would be mad to just read this one volume and then drop it. It does have a set up for the next volume, but the story arc is completed here and it feels as satisfactory as it will get. I might keep reading to see if the idea gets developed in a more propulsive way, but overall, this was run-of-the-mill for me.

[G · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was... okay. I like Mike Carey, but this time, the story felt pretty thin to me. I really liked the first chapter, but when things started drifting off into factions and groups and the eternal fight between good & evil etc. etc., I basically lost all interest... especially as the characters are not exactly complex. I thought the concept of the ghostbox was kind of dumb too, it's one of those things that probably sounded cool when the author pitched it, but once you really start thinking about it the whole concept comes unglued fairly quickly; it's just not well thought out. Oh well.
The art was good for the most part, although I do have to wonder whether the artist ever saw a human penis IRL. (At least the nudity here was male; no gratuitous female nakedness.)

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

[Tintaglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quando pensi che non ci siano più sorprese nelle scatole maledette, e che le sette spietate e diaboliche abbiano fatto il loro tempo (sulla pagina, nella realtà non passano mai di moda) ecco che arriva una graphic novel originale, divertente, cruenta il giusto, con (tanti) personaggi caratterizzati benissimo.
Scritta con cura, sceneggiata in maniera dinamica e appassionante, disegnata meravigliosamente e colorata meglio, GhostBox è la prima graphic novel davvero soddisfacente che incontro da parecchio tempo a questa parte; e vedere che è previsto un seguito non fa che mettermi di buon umore. ^^

Ringrazio Netgalley e l'editore per la bella scoperta (e mi sa che devo mettere M.R. Carey in cima alla lista di lettura. sarebbe ora).

[Katharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
This was a unique story with a unique cast of characters! Equal parts urban fantasy and horror, this story is fairly riveting. However, the pacing was just a bit off to me. Too many big things happen too quickly and leave the story feeling overwhelming. I was mostly irritated with the epilogue, which appears to be a random story decision just so they could extend the series. This was an enjoyable read, and great for people who loved shows like Buffy, Warehouse 13, or Supernatural. The art was very good, and I loved how they drew the scenery of different locations.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Allen Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing urban fantasy can be a bit of a tightrope act because, unlike with hard fantasy, the world needs to feel very much like our own, while also feeling magical. Anyone familiar with Mike Carey's work on "Lucifer" knows that he can walk the tightrope well. "Ghostbox" feels very reminiscent of early Vertigo titles in the very best way. Pablo Raimondi's art is consistently beautiful throughout the story, with his visuals inside the titular ghostbox being particularly impressive. I'm very happy that there are already plans to continue the story, and can't wait to revisit this world that Mike Cary and Pablo Raimondi have created together.

[Federica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this graphic novel via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

A truly compelling and distinctive graphic novel. While the story itself is not particularly original, it still manages to captivate the reader with its well-timed plot twists and the complex construction of its characters and settings. Among these, the Ghostbox of the title stands out above all others, as imagined by the authors.
The ending leaves us anticipating an equally compelling continuation of the story, which I would be very curious to discover.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two sisters discover a music box that soon draws them into a world of ghosts and monsters. I quite liked this. It's not that far off from other Mike Carey things like Hellblazer and his Felix Castor novels.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only read Mike Carey's novels, so first time reading a comic. It was just as enjoyable. Enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the pacing. The artwork also added greatly to the story. Can't wait to read more of the story. #GHOSTBOX #NetGalley

[Perfection *Sherlock's Girl* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Carey as excellent as always. I need a second volume asap.

[Ronit J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once in a while, I judge a book by its cover and nothing else. Okay, maybe the title too. Ghostbox was one such book. It was about 150 pages long, a quick enough read, and the illustrations looked pretty dope. Taking a risk, I picked it up.

And what a rollercoaster ride it was!

Spoilers Ahead!

What I liked:
The very first thing that stood out to me was the artwork. The illustrations did a fantastic job of 1) grounding the real world in reality, and 2) going crazy with color and framing for the fantastical elements. Suitably balanced and stretching imagination, the illustrations further elevated an already fast paced, gripping plot. I’m saying all this because I legit read the whole volume in a single sitting.

The plot jumps straight into action with our protagonists Chloe and Jan. The Peace sisters come into possession of a dilapidated house, which kickstarts a series of bizarre events the machinations of which have been in motion since the dawn of time. An eternal war with immortals, monsters, and more. Honestly, there wasn’t a dull moment in this entire volume. Right from Chloe’s relatively slack handling of her job, to Jan’s careful navigation of the new possessions, to their dealing with the ‘Ghostbox’, both within and without, every single plot point continued to keep me at the edge of my seat.

Continue reading on SFF Insiders…

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this down once I got started. It is about two sisters who receive a box with magic properties that traps souls. I liked the art and enjoyed the fact that we back and forth between the real world and the world inside the box. It was a really fun comic.

5 stars

[Andrei · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly good story centered around the battle between good and evil. The universe feels well-developed even though there's only 5 issues available, and I could see myself reading more about it in a future installment. The plot has the right amount of mystery up to the point where everything is revealed, and the story ends with a satisfying conclusion that also leaves a little bit of room to continue, should the authors choose to do so in the future.

What I liked: the characters inside the ghost box are pretty interesting, and make me want to know more about their backstory. The antagonists seem genuinely terrifying, both aesthetically and in terms of their actions.

What I didn't like: the main character felt unpleasant, and I couldn't care less if she lived or died. Moreover, she doesn't experience any kind of development going through this story - despite going through tough challenges and seeing people die around her, by the end of the story she is completely unchanged. The same goes for her sister.