Stagtown: Volume 1

by Punko

432 pages, Paperback

Expected publication October 6, 2026

Reviews

[East of Reality · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect blend of horror, mystery, romance, and eldritch abomination. It’s moody and atmospheric, relying more on the growing and unsettling dread rather than gore; so much is set up, so many pieces laid out, giving you the impression that this book is going to be following a rather standard and straightforward narrative of ghoolies and ghastlies with a collection of short stories only to laugh at you, pat you on the shoulder, and push you off a cliff.

In a way it’s very good natured. While the tone is dark and ominous, the book isn’t mean spirited. It’s telling a story, it’s setting a scene, it’s inviting you in. In a way it’s a more mature Gravity Falls crossed with Lovecraft, with your imagination (and Frankie’s) welcome to come along. The small town is wonderfully eerie in how empty it is; the children are suitably creepy in a very childish way; the cameras — featured in the first book — are just unsettling, but the focus isn’t on the horrors. It’s on Frankie.

I like that now matter how much she’s scared, beaten down, worn down and breaking; she’s not a hero, she’s a survivor. She’s not out there with unbelievable fortitude; she’s touched by what’s going on around her, afraid of the scary things, unsettled by the eerie things, lost amongst the mysteries and all she wants is for it all to stop. She’s very relatable.

Felix, a helpful fellow mystery solver, is more determined to escape, but even he is limited by what he can realistically do against unseen and horribly powerful threats. He wants to be a hero, but more than that he just wants to get out, to get away from things. They’re not out to solve the puzzle and save the town, they’re out to save themselves — and the cat.

This is great. The art is solid, the limited color palette works with the story, and for all that it’s a visual medium it’s so much more about showing you than trying to tell you. There’s no visual exposition, just a slow and deliberate twitch of the curtain, giving you just enough of a glimpse to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Horror, like comedy, is so subjective. But this works well for me on every level. Thank you so, so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

[2old4BookTok · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a really good time with this one, though maybe not in the way I expected.

The biggest strength of Stagtown is its atmosphere. The town feels wrong from the start, and the story does an excellent job making bizarre things feel almost normal, which somehow makes them even creepier. I kept turning pages because I wanted to know what was going on and what weird thing would happen next.

That said, I wouldn't personally call this horror. Unsettling? Definitely. Creepy? Absolutely. But for me it felt more like an older, darker version of Goosebumps or Are You Afraid of the Dark? than something genuinely scary. The horror relies more on eerie imagery, mysteries, and the feeling that reality is slightly off-kilter than on gore or psychological terror.

I also started feeling the length toward the end. At over 400 pages, there were moments when I wanted a break from the constant stream of strange events and mysteries. Not because I wasn't enjoying it—I was—but because I was ready for either more answers or a change of pace.

Still, Volume 1 does exactly what a first volume should do: it introduces memorable characters, creates a wonderfully unsettling setting, and leaves me curious enough to continue.

Even though this wasn't a perfect fit for my personal horror tastes, I can absolutely see why so many people love it, and I'm interested to see where the story goes next.

[Jennah Koenig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel follows a young girl who returns to her hometown, only to find herself trapped by a series of unsettling and supernatural events. The eerie, suspenseful atmosphere is reminiscent of the TV show ‘FROM’ on MGM+, as the main character’s every attempt to escape is thwarted by mysterious forces. The sense of claustrophobia and mounting dread is palpable, making it impossible to put down.

I remembered reading this as a WEBTOON years ago. I loved it when I read it and was BEYOND excited to see it appear on NETGALLEY. Rereading what I had read and beyond was just as great, if not better, than the first time. This graphic novel is a must-read for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

The art is spooky and gritty—perfectly matching the story's eerie, mysterious tone. The use of shadows and detailed backgrounds really adds to the unsettling feel. The story unfolds at a great pace, never dragging or rushing, keeping you hooked and always wanting to turn the next page.

As a side note, I love ALL the characters and have grown SUPER attached to them. The way the author makes them so likable in so few words is amazing.

This graphic novel is a must-read for fans of supernatural mysteries and character-driven stories. I cannot recommend it highly enough—I'm already desperate for the next volume!

[Catia Araujo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic comic adaptation of the webtoon of the same name, collecting the first half of the story. Having actually read the original Webtoon a few years ago, it was an absolute pleasure to dive back into this world and experience it all over again as a re-read!

The plot consists of multiple self-contained episodes, usually depicting a new attempt at escape or gathering information about the town's central mystery. Because of this format, Stagtown is definitely the kind of story that will be heavily defined by its ultimate resolution (which we'll see in Volume 2). Nonetheless, the setup so far remains incredibly intriguing and the characters are highly engaging—just don't expect many answers or explanations just yet.

Visually, the art features more simplistic character designs contrasted with highly intricate sceneries. At first, I couldn't shake the feeling that the characters were missing a layer of shading, but the art style quickly grew on me and fits the atmosphere perfectly.

So far, so interesting! This remains one of the better webtoons I have ever come across, and the print format does it justice.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Waldkauzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl is stuck in a small, eerie town, and any attempt to escape is opposed by terror-inducing forces.

This is a comic adaptation of the same-named webtoon, collecting the first half of the story, which consists of multiple self-contained episodes which usually depict a new attempt at escape or information gathering about the town's mystery. 
Considering that, I think Stagtown is that kind of story which is hugely affected by its resolution (to be seen in volume 2). Nonetheless, the setup of the story so far remains intriguing and the characters are engaging, but do not expect many things to be explained yet. 
The art mostly depicts more simplistic character design and more intricate sceneries. At the beginning, I couldn't shake the feeling that every character was missing a layer of shading, but the art style grew on me.

So far, so interesting! One of the better webtoons I have come across. T​hanks to NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for an ARC for an honest review.

[Jeremy Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Junji Ito Meets Under the Dome!

Stagtown by Punko is such a bizarre, immersive ride that feels like you’ve stepped into something you’re not entirely supposed to understand. It is exactly like a creepy Junji Ito story. That’s exactly what makes it so addictive. The story drops you into this eerie, looping town where things feel just slightly off at first, and then progressively, unsettlingly wrong in ways that are hard to even articulate. There are creepy cameras (which made me paranoid), creatures, holes in the walls, sealed-over walls, and a terrifying mystery. It has that perfect blend of mystery, quiet horror, and creeping dread, where you’re constantly trying to piece together what’s happening while also accepting that the answers might not come cleanly. It’s weird, it’s atmospheric, and it’s one of those stories that gets under your skin without ever needing to scream.

[Mehsi]

I received this book from the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

So I read a bit of this on Webtoon MANY years ago before I stopped reading (not sure why, maybe because WT removed things as they like to do, or maybe I just got too much of a backlog and gave up). Either way, I did love it so I was excited when I saw this first volume on Edelweiss. This is a crazy series and I had so much fun reading it. Great characters, fantastic terrifying mystery, strange town and scary monsters (deers and more), and you never know what is coming next. I loved the last part with Jeremy and learning more about a certain character + the extra bonus story with the cute cat.
I NEED MORE.

Review to come in October!

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Okay wow, this was a great thriller/ mystery comic. I love how each chapter focused on a different terror but was all part of an interconnected plot. The more simple art style suited the more complicated story - love that juxtaposition.

Our main girl Frankie goes through a lot during this volume - honestly it's generous to call this 1 volume, it felt like 2 - definitely not a bad thing. I also really liked the twist in the end that brought things back full circle and added yet another layer of complexity which i really hope we get to explore more in volume 2.

If you're looking for a thirller/ mystery comic that will keep you on the edge of your seat - this ones for you!

[Haruka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read!!!! Took me a while to finish the story but it cuz it soooo good!! There mysteries there suspense. Everything is just right!! I savour every drop of mystery this book had. The town is super mysterious. I really want to read more!! I wanna see Frankie and Felix getting out of there!! So many things happen to them both and I wanna see them finally get out of there. Love every minute of reading this book!!!
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Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book in advance~

[Cristian Marrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Amazing book. Incredible volume. This story had me hooked. Still by still, page by page. I never knew this was something on WebToons. Over 400 pages. 14 to 15 chapters. Great town scare and mystery. What is the power? What is the history? What are the routes? Why a particular symbol? Horror, mystery, romance, everything is sprinkled in here and not overdone. This book will definitely have a multitude of followers.
Punko keep writing. I can wait for volume 2!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this! I went into this ARC blind and was not disappointed. Frankie was a great FMC. She made decisions I would make and I really felt when she was stressed. There were some horrifying and anxiety spiking moments.

I also like that it did not feel rushed. At 400+ pages, everything was given enough time to tell the whole story. Looking forward to volume 2!

[Hone]

(Review copy courtesy of Ten Speed Graphic, Punko, and NetGalley.)