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Be Not Afraid
Not yet published
Expected 7 Jul 26What if your greatest blessing became a curse you couldn’t escape?
From acclaimed horror writer Jude Ellison S. Doyle and artist Lisandro Estherren comes a Southern Gothic descent into religious dread, generational shame, and cosmic terror.
Cora Reims once embraced a vision of pure light—an angelic messenger who left behind a terrible her son, Jordy. Despite his angelic countenance, it soon becomes apparent that Jordy is a plague upon the Earth, spreading death and cruelty wherever he goes. After years of torment and generational shame for her transgression, Cora receives a divine revelation on the eve of Jordy’s eighteenth God has finally heard her pleas and Heaven demands the destruction of her devastatingly powerful child.
As plagues descend on the town of Enoch and the townspeople's faith fractures under fear, Cora must now confront her past, her purpose, and the divine horror she once mistook for grace with the guidance of a mysterious, new stranger.
Collects Be Not Afraid #1–6.
From acclaimed horror writer Jude Ellison S. Doyle and artist Lisandro Estherren comes a Southern Gothic descent into religious dread, generational shame, and cosmic terror.
Cora Reims once embraced a vision of pure light—an angelic messenger who left behind a terrible her son, Jordy. Despite his angelic countenance, it soon becomes apparent that Jordy is a plague upon the Earth, spreading death and cruelty wherever he goes. After years of torment and generational shame for her transgression, Cora receives a divine revelation on the eve of Jordy’s eighteenth God has finally heard her pleas and Heaven demands the destruction of her devastatingly powerful child.
As plagues descend on the town of Enoch and the townspeople's faith fractures under fear, Cora must now confront her past, her purpose, and the divine horror she once mistook for grace with the guidance of a mysterious, new stranger.
Collects Be Not Afraid #1–6.
160 pages, Paperback
Expected publication July 7, 2026
About the author
Jude Ellison S. Doyle
35 books268 followersJude Ellison S. Doyle is an author, journalist, and comic book writer living in upstate New York.
Under his former pen name “Sady Doyle,” Jude founded the feminist blog Tiger Beatdown in 2008. He is the author of "Trainwreck: The Women We Love to Hate, Mock, and Fear... and Why" (Melville House 2016), which has been called "smart, funny and fearless" (Boston Globe), "compelling" and "persuasive" (New York Times Book Review). The Atlantic predicted that "Trainwreck will very likely join the feminist canon." Doyle’s second book, "Dead Blondes and Bad Mothers: Monstrosity, Patriarchy and the Fear of Female Power" (Melville House, 2019) was named a Best Non-Fiction Book of 2019 by Kirkus Reviews and was shortlisted for Starburst Magazine’s Brave New Words award. His first non-fiction book under his real name, "DILF: Did I Leave Feminism," will be published by Melville House in the fall of 2025.
In 2021, Jude published "Maw," a limited-series horror comic with artist A.L. Kaplan, for Boom! Studios. His follow-up, "The Neighbors" with artist Letizia Cadonici, was published in 2023, and was nominated for a 2024 GLAAD award for “Outstanding Comic.” Both are now available in collected edition, and Jude’s third series, "Be Not Afraid" with artist Lisandro Estherren, is forthcoming from Boom! Studios.
Under his former pen name “Sady Doyle,” Jude founded the feminist blog Tiger Beatdown in 2008. He is the author of "Trainwreck: The Women We Love to Hate, Mock, and Fear... and Why" (Melville House 2016), which has been called "smart, funny and fearless" (Boston Globe), "compelling" and "persuasive" (New York Times Book Review). The Atlantic predicted that "Trainwreck will very likely join the feminist canon." Doyle’s second book, "Dead Blondes and Bad Mothers: Monstrosity, Patriarchy and the Fear of Female Power" (Melville House, 2019) was named a Best Non-Fiction Book of 2019 by Kirkus Reviews and was shortlisted for Starburst Magazine’s Brave New Words award. His first non-fiction book under his real name, "DILF: Did I Leave Feminism," will be published by Melville House in the fall of 2025.
In 2021, Jude published "Maw," a limited-series horror comic with artist A.L. Kaplan, for Boom! Studios. His follow-up, "The Neighbors" with artist Letizia Cadonici, was published in 2023, and was nominated for a 2024 GLAAD award for “Outstanding Comic.” Both are now available in collected edition, and Jude’s third series, "Be Not Afraid" with artist Lisandro Estherren, is forthcoming from Boom! Studios.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
April 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author and illustrators for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
A fun little fucked up comic about religion! Hell yeah!!
The pros: I loved the art, first of all. Obviously a very important piece of a comic. Both the art of the actual panels and the fun little individual cover arts throughout are all incredible and gross and I love it. I also really liked Cora and Jordy, as well as what we saw of the townsfolk and the mysterious man in the hat. But what really stands out about this is the message within the story. This is about religion in many ways. It's pointing out the hypocrisy often seen in modern practice, its pointing out how religion and its organizers expect blind faith and obedience no matter what it is they tell you to do, it's pointing out how religion is just people following patterns. I truly just. I love all of it. I want to go more into it but the best and most hitting parts are near the end so obviously I don't want to spoil it. It was fascinating.
The cons: Honestly my only criticism is the ending. I just didn't feel like it fit. I can't really go into details because spoilers, but just know that I don't mean the last issue, I mean literally the last, like, two pages. I think it should've just ended before then and it would've felt much more complete and meaningful - the ending kind of turned a commentary into a sort of cliche horror movie or something. But this is literally my only criticism.
A fun little fucked up comic about religion! Hell yeah!!
The pros: I loved the art, first of all. Obviously a very important piece of a comic. Both the art of the actual panels and the fun little individual cover arts throughout are all incredible and gross and I love it. I also really liked Cora and Jordy, as well as what we saw of the townsfolk and the mysterious man in the hat. But what really stands out about this is the message within the story. This is about religion in many ways. It's pointing out the hypocrisy often seen in modern practice, its pointing out how religion and its organizers expect blind faith and obedience no matter what it is they tell you to do, it's pointing out how religion is just people following patterns. I truly just. I love all of it. I want to go more into it but the best and most hitting parts are near the end so obviously I don't want to spoil it. It was fascinating.
The cons: Honestly my only criticism is the ending. I just didn't feel like it fit. I can't really go into details because spoilers, but just know that I don't mean the last issue, I mean literally the last, like, two pages. I think it should've just ended before then and it would've felt much more complete and meaningful - the ending kind of turned a commentary into a sort of cliche horror movie or something. But this is literally my only criticism.
Read
February 16, 2026The Estherren art was the big draw for me here, and fits the story perfectly, making every page look like American Gothic as reworked by a German Expressionist. But the story lives up to it. Initially it feels like no more than an echo of It's A Good Life, a small town terrorised by a boy with unthinkable powers and nothing to constrain him. And as a rule, the more you explain a monster's origin, the less scary it becomes. But if that child is like that because his father was an angel? Well, then you've opened the door to the most horrific thing of all – theology, what it suggests about the world, and what that lets humans do to each other while convinced they're serving virtue.
"I didn't get the abortion. My mother begged me to, but I didn't. Because of God. How could it be wrong to kill my child then, and right to kill him now?"
"Cora, God has killed every human being he's ever made. Including his own son. God has killed species and civilizations and planets. God will kill you. God will kill every distant star. It isn't killing God minds. It's choosing."
(Netgalley ARC)
"I didn't get the abortion. My mother begged me to, but I didn't. Because of God. How could it be wrong to kill my child then, and right to kill him now?"
"Cora, God has killed every human being he's ever made. Including his own son. God has killed species and civilizations and planets. God will kill you. God will kill every distant star. It isn't killing God minds. It's choosing."
(Netgalley ARC)
February 24, 2026
This review was originally published at my website.
Jude Ellison S. Doyle serves up a collection plate’s worth of Biblical horrors in Be Not Afraid, and goddamn, do artist Lisandro Estherren and colorist Francesco Segala ever establish a very clear tone right at the outset. Estherren’s scratchy illustrations somewhat recall Ben Templesmith’s work, harkening back to the moodiness of 30 Days of Night. Although slightly less impressionistic and far less digital, it’s hard not to imagine Templesmith as an inspiration in Estherren’s thick line work and abyssal blacks that feature prominently. Matched with Segala’s subdued, oftentimes dark, shadow-laden tones they achieve in very short order that same kind of moody, atmospheric grittiness that warns you to brace yourself for the scares ahead.
Doyle’s opening pages mark the arrival of Cora Rehms’s son into this world, but of course there’s a pretty big catch with this opening sequence of pregnancy horror. Rather than opting for a standard delivery, Jordy appears in the hallway outside Cora’s room fully developed and, as is the remit of kids in horror, looking absolutely creepy as hell, like some kind of nightmarish Cabbage Patch Doll with his thick yellow curls and heavily shadowed cherubic face. Years later, as an almost-18 year old, Jordy is no less a frightful figure, a man in black stalking the countryside of the town of Enoch. His footfalls pave the way for a plague of frogs to fall from the sky and drives canines to war against one another.
As a child, Jordy looked like an angel but, as time has proven, he couldn’t be the furthest thing from it. His father, however, was indeed Heaven-sent and even took a human form to have his way with Cora. I have to give Estherren huge props for drawing the majority of the angels appearing here as the celestial horrors they are, as described in the Bible. While some can and do appear human, others will never be mistaken as creatures of this Earth and appear utterly alien and downright frightening. Thanks to his mixed genes, Jordy is a Nephilim, a half-human half-angel abomination, and God has sent one of his servants to Enoch to destroy him.
Much of the conflict driving Be Not Afraid is internal, as Cora knows it will ultimately be up to her to kill her son, while Jordy has to reckon with what his own existence means knowing that he will never have the love of God. Doyle draws on some neat religious philosophizing as mother and son are forced to reckon with the idea of God as they were taught in Sunday school versus the more unknowable cosmic horror of a bloodthirsty god that rapes and pillages in ways they can barely fathom. It’s dark and chilling, particularly as it calls into question God’s master plan when juxtaposed against Jordy’s supernatural abilities, a touch that can kill, and free will. Be Not Afraid is heady, emotional, and smart, putting the characters first even as it runs them all through the wringer of religious trauma.
Jude Ellison S. Doyle serves up a collection plate’s worth of Biblical horrors in Be Not Afraid, and goddamn, do artist Lisandro Estherren and colorist Francesco Segala ever establish a very clear tone right at the outset. Estherren’s scratchy illustrations somewhat recall Ben Templesmith’s work, harkening back to the moodiness of 30 Days of Night. Although slightly less impressionistic and far less digital, it’s hard not to imagine Templesmith as an inspiration in Estherren’s thick line work and abyssal blacks that feature prominently. Matched with Segala’s subdued, oftentimes dark, shadow-laden tones they achieve in very short order that same kind of moody, atmospheric grittiness that warns you to brace yourself for the scares ahead.
Doyle’s opening pages mark the arrival of Cora Rehms’s son into this world, but of course there’s a pretty big catch with this opening sequence of pregnancy horror. Rather than opting for a standard delivery, Jordy appears in the hallway outside Cora’s room fully developed and, as is the remit of kids in horror, looking absolutely creepy as hell, like some kind of nightmarish Cabbage Patch Doll with his thick yellow curls and heavily shadowed cherubic face. Years later, as an almost-18 year old, Jordy is no less a frightful figure, a man in black stalking the countryside of the town of Enoch. His footfalls pave the way for a plague of frogs to fall from the sky and drives canines to war against one another.
As a child, Jordy looked like an angel but, as time has proven, he couldn’t be the furthest thing from it. His father, however, was indeed Heaven-sent and even took a human form to have his way with Cora. I have to give Estherren huge props for drawing the majority of the angels appearing here as the celestial horrors they are, as described in the Bible. While some can and do appear human, others will never be mistaken as creatures of this Earth and appear utterly alien and downright frightening. Thanks to his mixed genes, Jordy is a Nephilim, a half-human half-angel abomination, and God has sent one of his servants to Enoch to destroy him.
Much of the conflict driving Be Not Afraid is internal, as Cora knows it will ultimately be up to her to kill her son, while Jordy has to reckon with what his own existence means knowing that he will never have the love of God. Doyle draws on some neat religious philosophizing as mother and son are forced to reckon with the idea of God as they were taught in Sunday school versus the more unknowable cosmic horror of a bloodthirsty god that rapes and pillages in ways they can barely fathom. It’s dark and chilling, particularly as it calls into question God’s master plan when juxtaposed against Jordy’s supernatural abilities, a touch that can kill, and free will. Be Not Afraid is heady, emotional, and smart, putting the characters first even as it runs them all through the wringer of religious trauma.
Read
April 3, 2026A tightly crafted story about consent and bodily autonomy around Cora, a young woman who only tries to do good, and her “miraculous” son Jory.
The story flashes from Jory’s “birth” to his 18th birthday, and how Jory brings chaos, disfigurement, and death wherever he goes. The people in the small town become twisted in body and mind against whatever power Jory has. A few flashbacks show him as a young child being confused and upset, but as a young man, he is resigned and a little sociopathic. Cora begs God for a solution.
The book plays with the notions of holiness and who can deal out justice. This is not a merciful God, even as Cora pleads for her son and then eventually for herself and the town.
The art’s tone matches the prose well. However, some of it got a little muddled for me as everything came to a head with the entire town. Visually, the story quickly escalates, and some of the art doesn’t quite keep up with the propulsive, climactic scenes as Cora discovers that perhaps this God isn’t for her.
Read in single issues.
The story flashes from Jory’s “birth” to his 18th birthday, and how Jory brings chaos, disfigurement, and death wherever he goes. The people in the small town become twisted in body and mind against whatever power Jory has. A few flashbacks show him as a young child being confused and upset, but as a young man, he is resigned and a little sociopathic. Cora begs God for a solution.
The book plays with the notions of holiness and who can deal out justice. This is not a merciful God, even as Cora pleads for her son and then eventually for herself and the town.
The art’s tone matches the prose well. However, some of it got a little muddled for me as everything came to a head with the entire town. Visually, the story quickly escalates, and some of the art doesn’t quite keep up with the propulsive, climactic scenes as Cora discovers that perhaps this God isn’t for her.
Read in single issues.
February 14, 2026
The story starts with a pregnant woman, essentially skipping birth, and creepy fully-clothed-Chucky-looking toddler just pops out. As he grows up we learn he’s cruel, lacks empathy, and has powers (like bringing his dead grandmas corpse to life for a bday party🎈 ) that he uses for his grim entertainment. We discover his mother had sex with an angel to create this devilish spawn. The mother, unsure if she can make it right, leaves the town of Enoch in a spiritual predicament 😳.
From the beginning I realized the artwork, although very talented, didn’t fully work for me. The imagery is so dark that there were times I misread the order of the panels because the boundaries of the boxes aren’t always super clear.
This story wasn’t quite what I expected. I do love demon and satanic themes and I even enjoy stories with angels being demons and Christianity turned sour, but something about this just wasn’t for me.
From the beginning I realized the artwork, although very talented, didn’t fully work for me. The imagery is so dark that there were times I misread the order of the panels because the boundaries of the boxes aren’t always super clear.
This story wasn’t quite what I expected. I do love demon and satanic themes and I even enjoy stories with angels being demons and Christianity turned sour, but something about this just wasn’t for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The art? Absolutely stunning. It paints an eerie and unsettling atmosphere, complementing the Southern Gothic horror. This graphic novel examines a mother's relationship with her sociopathic and (literally) angelic son, God, and His messengers. Concurrently, her son's actions terrorize reality, and his existence asks for retribution, which she is tasked to deliver. The story may develop slowly, and I wished for more from the ending's resolution, but this dreadful, beautifully illustrated story is gently recommended if there is any interest in its horror.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If God offers redemption at the cost of your conscience, is it still redemption? *Be Not Afraid* doesn't just explore religious horror - it interrogates the moral architecture that equates dutiful obedience with righteousness.
PREMISE
Be Not Afraid is a Southern Gothic horror graphic novel that reimagines the Book of Enoch and Nephilim mythology through the story of Cora Reims - a woman who once believed she was chosen by divine light. What she received instead was a son, Jordy, whose presence brings plague, cruelty, and spiritual collapse in his wake. On the eve of his eighteenth birthday, Cora is told that Heaven now demands his destruction. As faith fractures in the town of Enoch and divine logic grows increasingly terrifying, Cora must confront whether obedience to God is salvation or something far more monstrous.
WHAT THIS BOOK DOES WELL
This book commits fully to its premise. The Southern Gothic atmosphere is not just decorative. The decay of the town, the isolation, the fractured faith under pressure, and the suffocating moral weight that feel embedded in the soil of the story. The town of Enoch breathes dread from start to finish.
Where this graphic novel truly excels, however, is in its psychological exploration of faith. Rather than offering a simplistic critique of religion, it interrogates divine authority, moral autonomy, maternal guilt, and despair with unsettling balance. The theological arguments presented are sharp, layered, and disturbingly coherent. The dialogue is some of the best I have encountered in religious horror graphic novels. Doyle does not shy away from the uncomfortable questions at the heart of this story.
For readers familiar with the Book of Enoch, this reinterpretation understands its source material while examining it from a different philosophical lens. Even knowing the mythological foundation, the story was able to maintain the tension of uncertainty through the end.
WHERE THIS BOOK COULD FALL SHORT FOR SOME
Very little falters here for me, however, I would recommend that readers review the content warnings if they have sensitivities around death, gore, and religion. Additionally, I would encourage readers who read a digital copy of the graphic novel to use a larger screen - the dark artwork is phenomenal, but can be a little difficult to see the details on small screens.
CRAFT & WRITING QUALITY
Thematically, this novel is balanced in a way that makes it far more powerful than a straightforward critique of faith. The writing is precise and poetic without spilling over into indulgence. The theological debates feel intentional without becoming overly heavy handed.
ARTWORK
Lisandro Estherren's art matches the tone impeccably! The style is gritty and stylized, with heavy use of shadow and darkness that almost feels like the darkness is seeping out of the panels contaminating your world. The artwork amplifies the horror beyond what text alone could achieve. There are sequences where language becomes unnecessary - the shadow, gore, and distortion communicate the dread more effectively than dialogue ever could. The demonic and grotesque imagery is unsettling, but never felt gratuitous to me.
WHO I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS TO
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy religious or theological horror, particularly those drawn to stories that interrogate faith rather than simply exploit it. Fans of Southern Gothic atmosphere will find a great deal to appreciate with the use of shadow and symbolism.
FINAL THOUGHTS & OPINIONS
I was deeply engaged from start to finish! Even with my familiarity with the mythology, I remained hooked by by the psychological unraveling and moral tension. The emotional complexity of the characters definitely elevated the horrors for me and will linger with me.
*Be Not Afraid* delivers exactly what it promises: a descent into religious dread and generational shame that is both intimate and cosmic in scope. It's psychologically sharp, thematically cohesive, and visually arresting. While unflinching in its darkness, it is more thoughtful than sensational. I know I will be thinking about *Be Not Afraid* for a while.
My thanks to NetGalley, BOOM! Studios, and Jude Ellison S. Doyle for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PREMISE
Be Not Afraid is a Southern Gothic horror graphic novel that reimagines the Book of Enoch and Nephilim mythology through the story of Cora Reims - a woman who once believed she was chosen by divine light. What she received instead was a son, Jordy, whose presence brings plague, cruelty, and spiritual collapse in his wake. On the eve of his eighteenth birthday, Cora is told that Heaven now demands his destruction. As faith fractures in the town of Enoch and divine logic grows increasingly terrifying, Cora must confront whether obedience to God is salvation or something far more monstrous.
WHAT THIS BOOK DOES WELL
This book commits fully to its premise. The Southern Gothic atmosphere is not just decorative. The decay of the town, the isolation, the fractured faith under pressure, and the suffocating moral weight that feel embedded in the soil of the story. The town of Enoch breathes dread from start to finish.
Where this graphic novel truly excels, however, is in its psychological exploration of faith. Rather than offering a simplistic critique of religion, it interrogates divine authority, moral autonomy, maternal guilt, and despair with unsettling balance. The theological arguments presented are sharp, layered, and disturbingly coherent. The dialogue is some of the best I have encountered in religious horror graphic novels. Doyle does not shy away from the uncomfortable questions at the heart of this story.
For readers familiar with the Book of Enoch, this reinterpretation understands its source material while examining it from a different philosophical lens. Even knowing the mythological foundation, the story was able to maintain the tension of uncertainty through the end.
WHERE THIS BOOK COULD FALL SHORT FOR SOME
Very little falters here for me, however, I would recommend that readers review the content warnings if they have sensitivities around death, gore, and religion. Additionally, I would encourage readers who read a digital copy of the graphic novel to use a larger screen - the dark artwork is phenomenal, but can be a little difficult to see the details on small screens.
CRAFT & WRITING QUALITY
Thematically, this novel is balanced in a way that makes it far more powerful than a straightforward critique of faith. The writing is precise and poetic without spilling over into indulgence. The theological debates feel intentional without becoming overly heavy handed.
ARTWORK
Lisandro Estherren's art matches the tone impeccably! The style is gritty and stylized, with heavy use of shadow and darkness that almost feels like the darkness is seeping out of the panels contaminating your world. The artwork amplifies the horror beyond what text alone could achieve. There are sequences where language becomes unnecessary - the shadow, gore, and distortion communicate the dread more effectively than dialogue ever could. The demonic and grotesque imagery is unsettling, but never felt gratuitous to me.
WHO I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS TO
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy religious or theological horror, particularly those drawn to stories that interrogate faith rather than simply exploit it. Fans of Southern Gothic atmosphere will find a great deal to appreciate with the use of shadow and symbolism.
FINAL THOUGHTS & OPINIONS
I was deeply engaged from start to finish! Even with my familiarity with the mythology, I remained hooked by by the psychological unraveling and moral tension. The emotional complexity of the characters definitely elevated the horrors for me and will linger with me.
*Be Not Afraid* delivers exactly what it promises: a descent into religious dread and generational shame that is both intimate and cosmic in scope. It's psychologically sharp, thematically cohesive, and visually arresting. While unflinching in its darkness, it is more thoughtful than sensational. I know I will be thinking about *Be Not Afraid* for a while.
My thanks to NetGalley, BOOM! Studios, and Jude Ellison S. Doyle for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
April 13, 2026
My Selling Pitch:
A religious horror banger of a graphic novel.
Pre-reading:
The religious horror goes HARD on this cover.
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
Okay, Chucky.
The shadow silhouette making a beast, but it’s his hat and head is really fucking clever.
That chapter 2 alternate cover is bangin’.
Into a bullhorn, FUCK your religion.
“God has killed every human being he’s ever made, including his own son” is a BAR.
“How do you tell god from a lie with too much power” is also one hell of a line.
“Touch me and see what god can do.”
WHO SAID YOU COULD GO THAT HARD IN A GRAPHIC NOVEL, YEESH
Angels are vultures, hell yeah.
The detail that now he’s stabbed in the back-
I can’t quite tell if the ending is supposed to be hopeful because they’re walking into the light. Like she has changed something, it’s not a strict redo.
Post-reading:
Who asked them to go that hard??? In a short graphic novel no less. It’s a gory mess, but the greater horror definitely comes from philosophizing about religion. There’s a lot of pretty spectacular symbolism, and the darkest panels are the subtlest. The shadow of the beast and kneeling before the creepy priest panels are gonna live rent free in my head. It’s pretty sparse on dialogue-it is a graphic novel after all-but that still didn’t stop it from dropping bar after bar. I’d take a full-length novel of this.
My only complaint is that the ending is a little too ambiguous. You can argue that it underscores the theme that real faith is deeply personal and highly individual, but it’s hard to tell if the ending is supposed to be at all hopeful. It’s very half-glass and open to the reader’s interpretation. Which again, fits thematically, but I like more concrete endings. I think if you like religious horror, it’s a must read.
Who should read this:
Religious horror fans
Ideal reading time:
Anytime
Do I want to reread this:
Yes.
Would I buy this:
It’s a need, not a want.
Similar books:
* When I Lay My Vengeance Upon Thee by Gus Moreno-religious horror graphic novel
* Blink and You’ll Miss It by Ethan S. Parker-dystopian graphic novel, queer, horror, cults, religious commentary, trans
* Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison-magical realism, family drama, horror, revenge thriller, cults
* You Weren’t Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White-dystopian, queer, horror, trans, autism, cults, social and religious commentary
* The Unworthy by Augustina Bazterrica-dystopian, queer, horror, cults, social and religious commentary
* Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle-magical realism, horror, queer, thriller, religious commentary
* American Rapture by C. J. Leede-dystopian, queer, horror, thriller, satire, romance, social and religious commentary
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A religious horror banger of a graphic novel.
Pre-reading:
The religious horror goes HARD on this cover.
(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
Okay, Chucky.
The shadow silhouette making a beast, but it’s his hat and head is really fucking clever.
That chapter 2 alternate cover is bangin’.
Into a bullhorn, FUCK your religion.
“God has killed every human being he’s ever made, including his own son” is a BAR.
“How do you tell god from a lie with too much power” is also one hell of a line.
“Touch me and see what god can do.”
WHO SAID YOU COULD GO THAT HARD IN A GRAPHIC NOVEL, YEESH
Angels are vultures, hell yeah.
The detail that now he’s stabbed in the back-
I can’t quite tell if the ending is supposed to be hopeful because they’re walking into the light. Like she has changed something, it’s not a strict redo.
Post-reading:
Who asked them to go that hard??? In a short graphic novel no less. It’s a gory mess, but the greater horror definitely comes from philosophizing about religion. There’s a lot of pretty spectacular symbolism, and the darkest panels are the subtlest. The shadow of the beast and kneeling before the creepy priest panels are gonna live rent free in my head. It’s pretty sparse on dialogue-it is a graphic novel after all-but that still didn’t stop it from dropping bar after bar. I’d take a full-length novel of this.
My only complaint is that the ending is a little too ambiguous. You can argue that it underscores the theme that real faith is deeply personal and highly individual, but it’s hard to tell if the ending is supposed to be at all hopeful. It’s very half-glass and open to the reader’s interpretation. Which again, fits thematically, but I like more concrete endings. I think if you like religious horror, it’s a must read.
Who should read this:
Religious horror fans
Ideal reading time:
Anytime
Do I want to reread this:
Yes.
Would I buy this:
It’s a need, not a want.
Similar books:
* When I Lay My Vengeance Upon Thee by Gus Moreno-religious horror graphic novel
* Blink and You’ll Miss It by Ethan S. Parker-dystopian graphic novel, queer, horror, cults, religious commentary, trans
* Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison-magical realism, family drama, horror, revenge thriller, cults
* You Weren’t Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White-dystopian, queer, horror, trans, autism, cults, social and religious commentary
* The Unworthy by Augustina Bazterrica-dystopian, queer, horror, cults, social and religious commentary
* Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle-magical realism, horror, queer, thriller, religious commentary
* American Rapture by C. J. Leede-dystopian, queer, horror, thriller, satire, romance, social and religious commentary
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Be Not Afraid was a very interesting story. I found myself losing interest towards the end, but that's only because it was fairly slow-moving and I wished there were more twists and turns. The world build was unique in my opinion, and it tended to bounce around a lot. What I mean by that is that there'd be scene changes that I couldn't really follow. I will say that I believe that was the point, now that I'm at the end of it, so just keep that in mind.
Honestly, the horror aspect of this book was great! I think that the setting and the build-up were eerie and unsettling, which is exactly what you want for this genre. While I thoroughly appreciate this, I really wish there had been more suspense. I do understand this is just a preference, so definitely keep that in mind while considering this book.
While this wasn't my absolute favorite, I also can believe that there are many who would LOVE this graphic novel. I think three stars perfectly encapsulates the vibe of "I found it enjoyable. It's not my favorite, but it's a guarantee that other people will like it." I say that if you like horror and quick, unsettling stories, DEFINITELY check this out!
Another thing, this book has Biblical elements referenced constantly throughout it, and honestly, the tone of the book matched that very well. It felt a tad overplayed (as religious horror isn't very unique anymore). Still, otherwise, I found the spin on certain Biblical teachings useful for the vibe and the plot of the story. I'm fairly religious, and so I will say that if you don't like stories that twist the Word of God to meet the goals of their writing, then this won't be for you whatsoever. There were times it didn't sit right with me, but for the most part, I was able to separate it all and look past some of it.
Honestly, the horror aspect of this book was great! I think that the setting and the build-up were eerie and unsettling, which is exactly what you want for this genre. While I thoroughly appreciate this, I really wish there had been more suspense. I do understand this is just a preference, so definitely keep that in mind while considering this book.
While this wasn't my absolute favorite, I also can believe that there are many who would LOVE this graphic novel. I think three stars perfectly encapsulates the vibe of "I found it enjoyable. It's not my favorite, but it's a guarantee that other people will like it." I say that if you like horror and quick, unsettling stories, DEFINITELY check this out!
Another thing, this book has Biblical elements referenced constantly throughout it, and honestly, the tone of the book matched that very well. It felt a tad overplayed (as religious horror isn't very unique anymore). Still, otherwise, I found the spin on certain Biblical teachings useful for the vibe and the plot of the story. I'm fairly religious, and so I will say that if you don't like stories that twist the Word of God to meet the goals of their writing, then this won't be for you whatsoever. There were times it didn't sit right with me, but for the most part, I was able to separate it all and look past some of it.
February 13, 2026
Thank you so much Netgalley for the ARC! I do wish you didn't lower the resolution of the artwork though. It's a pet peeve of mine when publishers do that with ARCs. How am I supposed to judge the book if you aren't giving me a proper copy? At least it isn't watermarked to hell like other ARCs can be. I’ve read one other previous Jude Ellison work in The Neighbors and after reading this one I just don’t think Jude Ellison is for me. I'll admit I can't parse out all this so trying to say. I mostly got out of it religious guilt, the religious struggle of following a higher beings order when it doesn't make human sense, and the struggle to come to terms with a god that allows suffering. So religious ruminating I guess.
The art on this is spectacular with a wonderful messy pencil, or colored pencil, and charcoal-y look. It really sells the atmosphere, dreariness, and how everything is just gone to shit. The coloring is really strong as well. But the story I’m just stuck and lost on with the dynamic of the Mom and the son really not working for me. I think their dynamic is ok but it’s a main portion and it just wasn’t enough for how long it is stuck on the page. I can see someone really digging this though. The atmosphere is impeccable and it’s clearly got something to say and is still a fine read even if it’s lost on me. I do really enjoy the ending. I think it's strong to have
The art on this is spectacular with a wonderful messy pencil, or colored pencil, and charcoal-y look. It really sells the atmosphere, dreariness, and how everything is just gone to shit. The coloring is really strong as well. But the story I’m just stuck and lost on with the dynamic of the Mom and the son really not working for me. I think their dynamic is ok but it’s a main portion and it just wasn’t enough for how long it is stuck on the page. I can see someone really digging this though. The atmosphere is impeccable and it’s clearly got something to say and is still a fine read even if it’s lost on me. I do really enjoy the ending. I think it's strong to have
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to the folks at NetGalley for this ARC!
Holy Hell (pun intended)! Imma need several days to process what I just read. This graphic novel had me hooked from the first couple pages! The art style is delightfully eerie, with southern gothic imagery mixed with religious iconography (think ‘biblically accurate’ angels). As someone who left evangelicalism I absolutely loved the moral and philosophical complexity of this. It never pulls its punches and is genuinely gruesome to read at points (TW: animal death, gore). If you’re super squeamish maybe give this a pass.
I’ve seen a couple other reviews that have talked about how they felt this was on the nose, and I feel like if you’re concerned with characters and plot it might feel heavy handed. I mainly read this as an exploration and critique of religion. The graphic novel brings up so so many interesting theological questions: Why allow evil to exist (in this case in the form of Jordy)? If Jordy is a mistake how can an omnipotent god make mistakes? What makes God good? How can such an entity be good if he does not share any experiences with his creations? What makes the actions of god good when he kills but not the actions of another being? How does one know that their relationship to the divine is actually with god and not some entity impersonating him? If one cannot be sure then what is the point of belief at all, especially if such a belief can be warped, weaponized, or corrupted to justify evil? It’s all very existential and symbolic (the town is literally called Enoch, i.e. the guy who “walked with god”). If that’s something you’re into, then I definitely recommend picking this up.
Holy Hell (pun intended)! Imma need several days to process what I just read. This graphic novel had me hooked from the first couple pages! The art style is delightfully eerie, with southern gothic imagery mixed with religious iconography (think ‘biblically accurate’ angels). As someone who left evangelicalism I absolutely loved the moral and philosophical complexity of this. It never pulls its punches and is genuinely gruesome to read at points (TW: animal death, gore). If you’re super squeamish maybe give this a pass.
I’ve seen a couple other reviews that have talked about how they felt this was on the nose, and I feel like if you’re concerned with characters and plot it might feel heavy handed. I mainly read this as an exploration and critique of religion. The graphic novel brings up so so many interesting theological questions: Why allow evil to exist (in this case in the form of Jordy)? If Jordy is a mistake how can an omnipotent god make mistakes? What makes God good? How can such an entity be good if he does not share any experiences with his creations? What makes the actions of god good when he kills but not the actions of another being? How does one know that their relationship to the divine is actually with god and not some entity impersonating him? If one cannot be sure then what is the point of belief at all, especially if such a belief can be warped, weaponized, or corrupted to justify evil? It’s all very existential and symbolic (the town is literally called Enoch, i.e. the guy who “walked with god”). If that’s something you’re into, then I definitely recommend picking this up.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you are a fan of religious folk horror and graphic novels, you have to read Be Not Afraid. This book is so unique; I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like it before, and I really enjoyed it.
The story follows Cora Reims, who had an encounter with an angel as a young woman that resulted in a miraculous son, Jordy. Unfortunately, Jordy is not angelic in the slightest, and sows violence and death everywhere he goes. When Cora receives a message from God that her son must die to stop the spread of his evil, she will have to grapple with her religious commitment, her horror at what her son has become, and above all, her undying love for him.
This is extremely well done religious horror. If you love stories like Midnight Mass, Be Not Afraid has many of the same themes. This book plays with several genres and manages to nail them all, dipping into folk horror and the southern gothic as well; sometimes I can feel like I’m loosing the central thread of a story when there’s a few genres in play, but I never once felt that way while reading Be Not Afraid. The author understood their themes and knew exactly where they wanted the story to go.
I liked the art in this book too, and felt that it displayed the story very well. The coloring and shading was played with in interesting ways that reflected the themes of good and evil, and I think the artist / author combos were a great pairing; I hope to see them work together on future projects.
I would recommend Be Not Afraid to readers who love religious horror, folk horror, and southern gothic books.
Thank you to NetGalley & BOOM! Studios for the digital arc! All thoughts & opinions in the review are my own.
The story follows Cora Reims, who had an encounter with an angel as a young woman that resulted in a miraculous son, Jordy. Unfortunately, Jordy is not angelic in the slightest, and sows violence and death everywhere he goes. When Cora receives a message from God that her son must die to stop the spread of his evil, she will have to grapple with her religious commitment, her horror at what her son has become, and above all, her undying love for him.
This is extremely well done religious horror. If you love stories like Midnight Mass, Be Not Afraid has many of the same themes. This book plays with several genres and manages to nail them all, dipping into folk horror and the southern gothic as well; sometimes I can feel like I’m loosing the central thread of a story when there’s a few genres in play, but I never once felt that way while reading Be Not Afraid. The author understood their themes and knew exactly where they wanted the story to go.
I liked the art in this book too, and felt that it displayed the story very well. The coloring and shading was played with in interesting ways that reflected the themes of good and evil, and I think the artist / author combos were a great pairing; I hope to see them work together on future projects.
I would recommend Be Not Afraid to readers who love religious horror, folk horror, and southern gothic books.
Thank you to NetGalley & BOOM! Studios for the digital arc! All thoughts & opinions in the review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5
dark fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Loveable characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
A dark and depressing read that really encapsulates a world that God has forsaken. The atmosphere is eerie, and every page is dripped with the anticipation that judgement is coming—or has already passed and now they are all waiting for their punishment.
The exploration of all the bad things happening because of or in spite of a god was an interesting angle. Coupled with the subversion of Biblical miracles into Lovecraftian horrors, this book had a lot of material that I wish it used a lot more. The horror and gore would have had a larger impact had we have had more development between Cora and Jordy; I would have liked to see more of Cora actually, if I'm being honest.
While Cora's final "fuck you" to the higher powers that have oppressed her (and continue to do so) was written to be fulfilling, it still didn't have that impact as it felt like she was put in the backseat of a story that she should have been central to.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing me this ARC via NetGalley. This does not in any shape or form influence my review on this book.
dark fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Loveable characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
"God has killed species and civilizations and planets. God will kill you. God will kill every distant star. It isn't killing God minds. It's choosing."
A dark and depressing read that really encapsulates a world that God has forsaken. The atmosphere is eerie, and every page is dripped with the anticipation that judgement is coming—or has already passed and now they are all waiting for their punishment.
The exploration of all the bad things happening because of or in spite of a god was an interesting angle. Coupled with the subversion of Biblical miracles into Lovecraftian horrors, this book had a lot of material that I wish it used a lot more. The horror and gore would have had a larger impact had we have had more development between Cora and Jordy; I would have liked to see more of Cora actually, if I'm being honest.
While Cora's final "fuck you" to the higher powers that have oppressed her (and continue to do so) was written to be fulfilling, it still didn't have that impact as it felt like she was put in the backseat of a story that she should have been central to.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing me this ARC via NetGalley. This does not in any shape or form influence my review on this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Be Not Afraid is a beautifully poetic, religion-centered story that dives deep into humanity, human nature, and what happens when faith is tested by temptation and despair. Jude Ellison S. Doyle crafts a narrative that feels both intimate and unsettling, asking hard questions about belief, fear, and what it truly means to be human when faced with the divine.
Doyle’s other works have been sitting on my TBR for a long time, so receiving this ARC through NetGalley, especially while already owning many of the single issues, felt like the perfect excuse to finally immerse myself in this story. The collected format made it an easy, compelling read, but “easy” doesn’t mean light; this is a story that lingers, emotionally and thematically.
What initially drew me in were the biblically accurate angel depictions on the covers, which are striking, eerie, and impossible to ignore. Lisandro Estherren’s artwork is a perfect match for the tone of the story, capturing the intensity, vulnerability, and shifting moods throughout the narrative with incredible precision. The visuals amplify the sense of awe and dread, making the angels feel truly otherworldly rather than comforting.
Together, the writing and art create an experience that is haunting, thoughtful, and deeply affecting, one that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading.
Doyle’s other works have been sitting on my TBR for a long time, so receiving this ARC through NetGalley, especially while already owning many of the single issues, felt like the perfect excuse to finally immerse myself in this story. The collected format made it an easy, compelling read, but “easy” doesn’t mean light; this is a story that lingers, emotionally and thematically.
What initially drew me in were the biblically accurate angel depictions on the covers, which are striking, eerie, and impossible to ignore. Lisandro Estherren’s artwork is a perfect match for the tone of the story, capturing the intensity, vulnerability, and shifting moods throughout the narrative with incredible precision. The visuals amplify the sense of awe and dread, making the angels feel truly otherworldly rather than comforting.
Together, the writing and art create an experience that is haunting, thoughtful, and deeply affecting, one that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and BOOM! Studios for an arc. All opinions are my own.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ .5
Genre: Horror
Are There Gay People in this?*: ❌
I think this was really good, and I enjoyed reading it, but I'm not sure it will be particularly memorable for me.
What I liked: I LOVED the art in this. All of the monsters/biblical creatures look soo unsettling. I particularly loved the chapter 3 cover image. I also really like Cora and Jordy as characters. They were interesting and I was so invested in their relationship.
What I didn’t like: I think I would have gotten more out of this if it had a stronger core plot. There were a couple of really cool graphics and moments, but they all kind of felt like they were floating disconnected in limbo. I also felt like the ending was kind of underwhelming.
Overall: I think if you're a big fan of biblical horror you would probably enjoy this for the illustrations alone.
* I count a book as including gay people if any of the main or secondary characters are implicitly or explicitly queer or trans. This does not necessarily mean the protagonist is queer or that there is a queer romance
Rating: ★ ★ ★ .5
Genre: Horror
Are There Gay People in this?*: ❌
I think this was really good, and I enjoyed reading it, but I'm not sure it will be particularly memorable for me.
What I liked: I LOVED the art in this. All of the monsters/biblical creatures look soo unsettling. I particularly loved the chapter 3 cover image. I also really like Cora and Jordy as characters. They were interesting and I was so invested in their relationship.
What I didn’t like: I think I would have gotten more out of this if it had a stronger core plot. There were a couple of really cool graphics and moments, but they all kind of felt like they were floating disconnected in limbo. I also felt like the ending was kind of underwhelming.
Overall: I think if you're a big fan of biblical horror you would probably enjoy this for the illustrations alone.
* I count a book as including gay people if any of the main or secondary characters are implicitly or explicitly queer or trans. This does not necessarily mean the protagonist is queer or that there is a queer romance
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
be not afraid is a feast for the eyes. the artwork does so much of the heavy lifting here, drenched in southern gothic atmosphere and religious dread. every page feels smeared with judgement, decay, and the sense that something vast and merciless is watching.
the premise is strong. a mother forced to confront the monstrous child she brought into the world, faith curdling into horror, biblical imagery twisted into something almost lovecraftian. there are genuinely unsettling moments, and the tone is consistently moody and oppressive.
for me, though, the emotional depth didn’t always match the dramatic setup. the pacing felt uneven, and i found myself wanting more development, particularly between cora and jordy. cora’s rage and defiance had the bones of something powerful, but i wished it had been given more room to breathe. thematically it’s compelling, but it never quite reached the heights it hinted at.
🩸 religious horror steeped in southern gothic atmosphere
🎨 stunning, bleak artwork that elevates the experience
🕯️ themes of faith, guilt, and motherhood with sharp edges
⚖️ a powerful premise that doesn’t always land emotionally
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3.5 rounded up for the sheer beauty of the illustrations. not flawless, but undeniably striking.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Be Not Afraid is a masterclass in slow-burn horror. From the first panels, it creeps under your skin. Not with gore, but with a pervasive sense of decay, spiritual unease, and mental instability. Jude Ellison S. Doyle’s story, complemented by Lisandro Estherren’s phenomenal artwork, feels like Southern Gothic brought vividly to life: isolated settings, morally complicated characters, and a haunting critique of religious fanaticism.
I didn’t grasp every plot detail on the first read, but the story doesn’t feel incomplete; it trusts the reader to sit with the unease and let the dread build. Estherren’s visuals are the perfect match for this tone: dark, unsettling, and beautiful in their grotesqueness, making even quiet moments feel ominous.
This comic isn’t about jump scares or shocking violence; it’s about the lingering discomfort that stays with you long after the page is turned. Be Not Afraid is a chilling, thoughtful exploration of faith, obsession, and the shadows that live within communities and minds alike.
I didn’t grasp every plot detail on the first read, but the story doesn’t feel incomplete; it trusts the reader to sit with the unease and let the dread build. Estherren’s visuals are the perfect match for this tone: dark, unsettling, and beautiful in their grotesqueness, making even quiet moments feel ominous.
This comic isn’t about jump scares or shocking violence; it’s about the lingering discomfort that stays with you long after the page is turned. Be Not Afraid is a chilling, thoughtful exploration of faith, obsession, and the shadows that live within communities and minds alike.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC
I'd like to thank BOOM! Studios and NetGalley for the chance to givve "Be Not Afraid" an early read in return for an honest reveiw.
For the life of me, I had the most difficult time sitting down and reading this. I was drawn in by the art-styling, which is the highlight of the read. But, I had a difficult time sitting down and digesting the story. There is a lot going on here, especially within the first third, which I found the be the hardest to get through. The art really matches the dark and gritty religious tone, but the actual plot left me a bit underwhelmed. From early on, I figured out what was going on, and the story went exactly where I was thinking it was going to go. The only thing that really kept me wanting to read were the visuals, which, again, really are worth checking out. I wouldn't necessarily call this the most original story, but it's decent enough, I was just hoping that there was going to be a bit more substance here.
Be sure to check "Be Not Afraid" out when it is published on July 7, 2026.
I'd like to thank BOOM! Studios and NetGalley for the chance to givve "Be Not Afraid" an early read in return for an honest reveiw.
For the life of me, I had the most difficult time sitting down and reading this. I was drawn in by the art-styling, which is the highlight of the read. But, I had a difficult time sitting down and digesting the story. There is a lot going on here, especially within the first third, which I found the be the hardest to get through. The art really matches the dark and gritty religious tone, but the actual plot left me a bit underwhelmed. From early on, I figured out what was going on, and the story went exactly where I was thinking it was going to go. The only thing that really kept me wanting to read were the visuals, which, again, really are worth checking out. I wouldn't necessarily call this the most original story, but it's decent enough, I was just hoping that there was going to be a bit more substance here.
Be sure to check "Be Not Afraid" out when it is published on July 7, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The visuals for this graphic novel were stunning and I loved the story, it blended apocalyptic horror with introspective horror seamlessly. It was one of those horrors that you could view from multiple angles and I liked that, the religious angle was the obvious one but then there was also the social one - Cora Reims was not the seducer but the victim and yet was made to suffer because of someone else’s sin and then there was Jordy, born with inherent power for evil and unable to partake in anything else because of the perceived “sin” of his existence. Maybe the true sin was the idea that a woman should carry her abuser’s child and care for it against her will because an unseen entity demands she bare someone else’s sin simply because of someone else’s free will, something that the angel figure in the novel claims not to have.
Content
• Overt religious imagery and themes
• Damian/Anti-Christ Figure
• Apocalypse
• Perception V Truth
The visuals for this graphic novel were stunning and I loved the story, it blended apocalyptic horror with introspective horror seamlessly. It was one of those horrors that you could view from multiple angles and I liked that, the religious angle was the obvious one but then there was also the social one - Cora Reims was not the seducer but the victim and yet was made to suffer because of someone else’s sin and then there was Jordy, born with inherent power for evil and unable to partake in anything else because of the perceived “sin” of his existence. Maybe the true sin was the idea that a woman should carry her abuser’s child and care for it against her will because an unseen entity demands she bare someone else’s sin simply because of someone else’s free will, something that the angel figure in the novel claims not to have.
Content
• Overt religious imagery and themes
• Damian/Anti-Christ Figure
• Apocalypse
• Perception V Truth
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an advanced copy to review, courtesy of NetGalley.
This one had caught my eye as the single issues were released, but I wanted to wait until the whole story could be read in one sitting, and boy oh boy, this did not disappoint.
Although we've seen this plot in horror before with the birth of the anti-christ and subsequent fallout of society, this story takes a different approach by including themes from certain philosophical sectors to create a more heart-pounding tale in the overall discourse. It latches onto what we don't know and amps up the terror.
The visuals were stunning, and said more at times than the text on the page. It captured the dread in the atmosphere. How bleak and depressing the entire scene was. Devoid of hope and faith.
Another great addition from BOOM! Studios, and many thanks to the creators who made this possible.
This one had caught my eye as the single issues were released, but I wanted to wait until the whole story could be read in one sitting, and boy oh boy, this did not disappoint.
Although we've seen this plot in horror before with the birth of the anti-christ and subsequent fallout of society, this story takes a different approach by including themes from certain philosophical sectors to create a more heart-pounding tale in the overall discourse. It latches onto what we don't know and amps up the terror.
The visuals were stunning, and said more at times than the text on the page. It captured the dread in the atmosphere. How bleak and depressing the entire scene was. Devoid of hope and faith.
Another great addition from BOOM! Studios, and many thanks to the creators who made this possible.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ooookay… so ganz hab ich den leider nicht verstanden 🫣 also ja, es geht darum, dass eine sehr gläubige Frau einen Sohn gebärt, dessen Vater ein Engel ist. Und der Sohn - Jordy - ist alles andere als ein Engel - denn alles und jeden, was er berührt, stirbt auf grausame Weise.. an sich ist das thematisch eigentlich ganz interessant, aber die Umsetzung find ich sehr schwierig zu verstehen. Grafisch war's auch etwas gewöhnungsbedürftig, aber sehr detailliert und die Bilder sind auch für sich sprechend und aussagekräftig. Aber der Sinn? Mmmh, ist mir nicht ganz ersichtlich 😬 tatsächlich blieb mir auch nicht allzuviel davon in Erinnerung, was dann auch wieder sehr für sich spricht.. 😅 vielleicht liegt's auch mal wieder an der sprachlichen Barriere bei so einem Thema, aber für mich war das leider nichts 🥲
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eArc of this in return for an honest review.
The story follows Cora who gives birth to something unholy after being visited by an angel. What follows is monstrous and filled with grief.
For me the ending was the strongest part of the whole story; Cora’s question on God and thoughts of the angle that visited her when she was younger. It leaves the story on a powerful note. But, what didn’t hit for me was overall the story never had rising tension, it was at the constant point of horrifying. This didn’t really keep my engaged or scare me, all it did was disturb me…
The art style I think really adds to the story, heightens the creepiness of it all. Sometimes the speech bubbles were hard to read, at first it could be unclear who was speaking.
Overall decent!
The story follows Cora who gives birth to something unholy after being visited by an angel. What follows is monstrous and filled with grief.
For me the ending was the strongest part of the whole story; Cora’s question on God and thoughts of the angle that visited her when she was younger. It leaves the story on a powerful note. But, what didn’t hit for me was overall the story never had rising tension, it was at the constant point of horrifying. This didn’t really keep my engaged or scare me, all it did was disturb me…
The art style I think really adds to the story, heightens the creepiness of it all. Sometimes the speech bubbles were hard to read, at first it could be unclear who was speaking.
Overall decent!
March 9, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for this graphic novel i really enjoyed the story and i also liked the darkness and aesthetic of the artwork and i think this graphic novel had some of my favorite artwork ive read in a graphic novel it was dark and just had such cool artwork and detail in the images and i enjoyed the story as well a lot was going on but i understood it. I enjoyed the main character and her development throughout the story and i thought she was a very good character even the side characters were good overall this was a quick read it did take me a bit to finish just because i got distracted with other titles but i really liked it and if you like horror or just darkness in your books this one is for you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hmmm… High on the eschatology and ecumenical matters (thanks, Father Jack), but low on the drama. This has a woman end up with a serial killer of a son after a dalliance with a kind of fallen angel. The kid might have turned out evil because she was hating on her restrictive mother while carrying him. A slightly less lapsed angel turns up telling her to kill him, and things go round in circles. To the secular audience this shows the problems with religion, from the "no, blame him, or even Him" aspects of the plot and characters to the farm animals begetting plagues of locusts to the thousand-eyed Cthulhu-frogs, and to the religious this is horrendous. Either way it's not exactly a joy to read. Two and a puff of incense stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Let me start by saying this is a suitably creepy book. The illustrations really bring out the atmosphere in the story and add some intensity. I enjoyed this one, it's a little difficult to describe without giving too much away but we follow Cora who has a son, Jordy, but he's not quite human. His destructive power means he can't touch anything without it going horribly wrong. There's something rotten in the town too, crops failing and contaminating the land.
I like the concept of the story and the artwork but for some reason this one just didn't quite hit the right spot for me. I'd still recommend it as it might just be one of those 'not for me' reads, but I was hoping to enjoy it more than I did.
I like the concept of the story and the artwork but for some reason this one just didn't quite hit the right spot for me. I'd still recommend it as it might just be one of those 'not for me' reads, but I was hoping to enjoy it more than I did.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Boom studios for a digital arc of this graphic novel in exchange for my review!
I was really drawn in by the cover art of this graphic novel, but I was not as interested in the art style throughout. It was a lot of blurry gore and shadowed evils lurking. I felt like I was missing something throughout this graphic novel, there was a lot of quoting of the bible and other big and ambiguous statements about the world, good, and evil. Maybe there was intended to be some deeper meaning I wasn't understanding. It was pretty classic horror but I felt like so much more could have been explored with the premise.
I was really drawn in by the cover art of this graphic novel, but I was not as interested in the art style throughout. It was a lot of blurry gore and shadowed evils lurking. I felt like I was missing something throughout this graphic novel, there was a lot of quoting of the bible and other big and ambiguous statements about the world, good, and evil. Maybe there was intended to be some deeper meaning I wasn't understanding. It was pretty classic horror but I felt like so much more could have been explored with the premise.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was interesting! I like the concept a lot. Religious horror is usually a win for me. I think it started to get a little muddled after the first few issues and I got a little lost, but I did enjoy it. One thing I didn't really enjoy was the art. I'm pretty sure it was in colored pencil, so it looked very rough and muddy to me. There were parts of it that I liked. The angels were well done. Not my cup of tea overall, though. All in all, fun Omen type story, but a little hard to follow. Still enjoyed it and it's definitely worth a read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*3.5
The first thing that struck me was how unique the art style was. It seemed done in professional crayon, and it really added to the atmosphere. I also really enjoyed the idea of the plot as well. Religious horror does not always work for me, but a demon spawn was interesting enough for me to want to pick up. The way the plot developed was not so great for me, which was a bit disappointing. I still feel like if you were interested in this, you should still pick it up.
Thank you to BOOM!Studios and NetGalley for an early copy.
The first thing that struck me was how unique the art style was. It seemed done in professional crayon, and it really added to the atmosphere. I also really enjoyed the idea of the plot as well. Religious horror does not always work for me, but a demon spawn was interesting enough for me to want to pick up. The way the plot developed was not so great for me, which was a bit disappointing. I still feel like if you were interested in this, you should still pick it up.
Thank you to BOOM!Studios and NetGalley for an early copy.
April 16, 2026
Horror and religion go hand in hand. Especially in this tale of Old Testament wrath. Nephilim and scary angels included. The problem is there’s too much religiosity and we’re all going to burn and be punished if we don’t do God’s will, even if his desires go against our core beliefs. This is some sick indoctrination level religion and it is not for me. The art was beautiful and horrible, I will keep an eye out for the artist, Lisandro Estherren, but I’m glad that when I first saw this comic I didn’t add it to my pull list. I wouldn’t want it tainting my shelf.
February 15, 2026
4⭐️ thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a truly gorgeous and thoroughly creepy Southern Gothic story centered on organized religion. The art is really atmospheric, completely blew me away. While I think the storyline and messaging were a bit heavy-handed, I do think it’s an interesting meditation on faith that’s really haunting and will certainly stick with me for a long time. I can definitely see myself rereading this multiple times, especially when the trade finally comes out.
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