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The October Faction #3
The October Faction Vol. 3
Merle Cope and his frightful family have been destroyed and Fred Allan has been rescued. Now that the kids have proven themselves, the whole Allan family is back in business ready to take on the monstrous, paranormal, and downright strange. Collects issues #13–18.
142 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2016
11 people are currently reading
258 people want to read
About the author
Steve Niles
836 books457 followersSTEVE NILES is one of the writers responsible for bringing horror comics back to prominence, and was recently named by Fangoria magazine as one of it's "13 rising talents who promise to keep us terrified for the next 25 years."
Niles is currently working for the four top American comic publishers - Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse. He got his start in the industry when he formed his own publishing company called Arcane Comix, where he published, edited and adapted several comics and anthologies for Eclipse Comics. His adaptations include works by Clive Barker, Richard Matheson and Harlan Ellison.
Steve resides in Los Angeles in his bachelor pad with one cat. While there's no crawlspace, there is a questionable closet in one corner and no one is quite sure what is hidden in there...but we have an idea.
--from the author's website
Niles is currently working for the four top American comic publishers - Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse. He got his start in the industry when he formed his own publishing company called Arcane Comix, where he published, edited and adapted several comics and anthologies for Eclipse Comics. His adaptations include works by Clive Barker, Richard Matheson and Harlan Ellison.
Steve resides in Los Angeles in his bachelor pad with one cat. While there's no crawlspace, there is a questionable closet in one corner and no one is quite sure what is hidden in there...but we have an idea.
--from the author's website
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
June 9, 2020
The storytelling has become more focused and picking up some steam. The plot with the Erl-King was cool and vampires are never a bad thing. Plus, the book remains fun and kooky like an Addams Family for grownups.
October 18, 2023
In my reviews of the previous two volumes I said I thought it felt as if we got dropped into the middle of the story. This volume finally feels as if everything is "caught up". There's plenty going on here including alternate dimensions and an army of vampires, as well as a fairly major death. However, in this series I'm not sure if "death" is the end. This series really started to grow me as it went along, looking forward to future volumes.
June 6, 2020
This volume amped things up a bit, with Vampires and the Erl-King becoming adversaries of the family, to be dealt with in memorable fashion. All of the characters get chances to shine, including previous peripheral characters like Phillip. The alternate dimension stuff is well done, with the art really doing some good heavy lifting in the separation of worlds, and while the vampires are mostly cannon fodder to action sequences that aren't quite bright enough to be legible, the showdown wit the Erl King was probably my favorite sequence of the series. If you've made it this far in the series, you're rewarded for your persistence.
August 31, 2018
For many this volume was not as great as the previous ones, but I loved this one more.
The art was great as usual.
The storyline was good enough with a lot of vampires.
I particularly loved the part where the story was stated in rhymes by using the poem of Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe.
Poetic and vampiric
The art was great as usual.
The storyline was good enough with a lot of vampires.
I particularly loved the part where the story was stated in rhymes by using the poem of Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe.
Poetic and vampiric
May 16, 2018
This was my least favorite of the three volumes I've read so far, but still okay.
Volume three felt disjointed to me. The transitioning between scenes and issues is what I had a problem with. Also, I felt very little tension. That's because the writing didn't give me a chance to. Everything just moved so quickly without any building. However, it was still okay to read. The art is great, the family is interesting, and there's various elements of EVIL. I love evil shit. I love Satan and shit.
Volume three felt disjointed to me. The transitioning between scenes and issues is what I had a problem with. Also, I felt very little tension. That's because the writing didn't give me a chance to. Everything just moved so quickly without any building. However, it was still okay to read. The art is great, the family is interesting, and there's various elements of EVIL. I love evil shit. I love Satan and shit.
July 7, 2021
(3,3 of 5 for continuing the monster hunter horror-ish story)
The art - nothing changes for good or bad. The story - I like how it continues, but now it feels maybe too straightforward. Basic tropes without any upgrades, no real character evolution, it feels like just another episode in a long-running sitcom.
The art - nothing changes for good or bad. The story - I like how it continues, but now it feels maybe too straightforward. Basic tropes without any upgrades, no real character evolution, it feels like just another episode in a long-running sitcom.
February 10, 2020
Porad stejne skvely, sice se to misty zdalo lehce urychle a nektere se vztahy se vyvynuly z niceho nic. I pres to je to porad skvele a bavi to !!!
Serial je odpad, serte na nej !!!
Serial je odpad, serte na nej !!!
February 10, 2017
4 stars, buy it
The first story in this volume (I wish they’d show the number of the issue damn it), is a bit weird and not up to their usual standard. The kids are getting into the business with their first case but it ends up being a bit antclimatic. Then there is a weird page or two about the woman who is raising the dead. I can’t tell who it is she is raising so I suspect I missed something dramatic. In the second issue, Geoff now boyfriend is attacked by vampires. This issue is fantastic. Issue 3 is good, just continues the story of Geoff’s boyfriend Philip who has been bitten by vampires. Issue 4 starts with a story within a story which I found a bit boring. Most of the issue was ok, but not fantastic until the end in which it ends with me saying “ Oh Shit.” Issue 5 is good, but nothing fantastic, a lot of stuff is starting to be tied up from the vampires. Issue 6 takes a very sad turn but I don’t want to spoil it for it for anyone. The issue 6 is short (I think) but ends dramatically.
Overall this was a good, but not super fantastic volume. All the issues would have different ratings I think. The story was good, I love vampires, but still I felt their wasn’t as much emotional involvement with this volume until the end of it. Still, it’s a good series, and I’ll definitely continue in the deadly season, but I do have to give this 4 instead of 5 stars.
The first story in this volume (I wish they’d show the number of the issue damn it), is a bit weird and not up to their usual standard. The kids are getting into the business with their first case but it ends up being a bit antclimatic. Then there is a weird page or two about the woman who is raising the dead. I can’t tell who it is she is raising so I suspect I missed something dramatic. In the second issue, Geoff now boyfriend is attacked by vampires. This issue is fantastic. Issue 3 is good, just continues the story of Geoff’s boyfriend Philip who has been bitten by vampires. Issue 4 starts with a story within a story which I found a bit boring. Most of the issue was ok, but not fantastic until the end in which it ends with me saying “ Oh Shit.” Issue 5 is good, but nothing fantastic, a lot of stuff is starting to be tied up from the vampires. Issue 6 takes a very sad turn but I don’t want to spoil it for it for anyone. The issue 6 is short (I think) but ends dramatically.
Overall this was a good, but not super fantastic volume. All the issues would have different ratings I think. The story was good, I love vampires, but still I felt their wasn’t as much emotional involvement with this volume until the end of it. Still, it’s a good series, and I’ll definitely continue in the deadly season, but I do have to give this 4 instead of 5 stars.
January 20, 2017
Ok, that does it. After a rather disappointing 2nd volume, I decided to give October Faction a last try. And the last it shall be.
After a pathetic 1st issue (humans can be worse than monsters, gosh, never heard that one before!) based on a ridiculous starting point (a guy hires the OF to get rid of the ghost of the wife he actually killed!! Is that dumb or what?), it doesn't get much better.
In 5 rushed up issues Merle awakes again, the OF fight the elk-king and decimate a horde of vampires coming out of nowhere. And someone dies, too.
There's blood and gore but somehow I have the nagging impression it was written for a 12 year old. Weird, but not good weird. To add insult to injury none of the dialogues ring true; what a tedious read...
To be honest I'll also admit that I find that Damien Worm's art tends to get old after a while and I get tired of distorded plastic faces and rigid movements.
Time for me to get off.
After a pathetic 1st issue (humans can be worse than monsters, gosh, never heard that one before!) based on a ridiculous starting point (a guy hires the OF to get rid of the ghost of the wife he actually killed!! Is that dumb or what?), it doesn't get much better.
In 5 rushed up issues Merle awakes again, the OF fight the elk-king and decimate a horde of vampires coming out of nowhere. And someone dies, too.
There's blood and gore but somehow I have the nagging impression it was written for a 12 year old. Weird, but not good weird. To add insult to injury none of the dialogues ring true; what a tedious read...
To be honest I'll also admit that I find that Damien Worm's art tends to get old after a while and I get tired of distorded plastic faces and rigid movements.
Time for me to get off.
Read
February 7, 2019October Faction is back! I was so disappointed with Volume 2 because it felt like a re-tread of Volume 1. In this third book, though, things really start to move forward again. And it has all the creepy art and atmosphere that I love about this series plus heart-wrenching angst for Geoff, a creepy demon king from another dimension, and plenty of vampires.
May 23, 2019
This series is, I think I have to say, not living up to its potential for me. I love the aesthetic and even the individual sequences, but it just doesn't want to cohere. Doesn't help that this one felt all over the place, lacking a clear narrative drive and introducing elements only to have them immediately dispatched or just randomly drop away.
March 20, 2024
Gothic Fun with Terrific, Spooky Art
Again, a very entertaining story in The October Faction Volume 3. The story picks up where it left off with the Allan extended family of monster hunters. The characters continue to develop, and the end of this book in particular took an interesting direction that I didn't see coming. Predictability has been my main problem with the previous two issues; they are fun and entertaining, but the way an action film is entertaining, where you know the MCs have plot armor & no one important will lose their life. Despite not being the most original GNs I have ever read, I have found it enjoyable. It is definitely entertaining and in my opinion that is the most important aspect of anything you read: do you have fun reading it? The October Faction is fun if campy, rather like the old school monster media it is obviously a tribute to. And the best thing about this book, to me, is the art. It has such a dark, gothic look. The art fits the story being told perfectly. Some panels I have just had to sit and study for a moment to appreciate the little details. The art adds to/intensifies the spooky vibe that the story is giving. Art and story complement each other perfectly.
Again, a very entertaining story in The October Faction Volume 3. The story picks up where it left off with the Allan extended family of monster hunters. The characters continue to develop, and the end of this book in particular took an interesting direction that I didn't see coming. Predictability has been my main problem with the previous two issues; they are fun and entertaining, but the way an action film is entertaining, where you know the MCs have plot armor & no one important will lose their life. Despite not being the most original GNs I have ever read, I have found it enjoyable. It is definitely entertaining and in my opinion that is the most important aspect of anything you read: do you have fun reading it? The October Faction is fun if campy, rather like the old school monster media it is obviously a tribute to. And the best thing about this book, to me, is the art. It has such a dark, gothic look. The art fits the story being told perfectly. Some panels I have just had to sit and study for a moment to appreciate the little details. The art adds to/intensifies the spooky vibe that the story is giving. Art and story complement each other perfectly.
November 12, 2020
Cue the vamps!
Of the first three volumes, I prefer this the one most; I feel like it hits its stride and keeps the momentum going throughout this one. In retrospect, it seemed as if Vol. 1 was all about introductions and Vol. 2 was all about internal (family drama) conflicts and that this was something of crescendo (and a well done one at that).
Highly recommend it for the still-great visuals (dark, rough illustrations that are perfectly in tone with the creepy story and atmosphere of the GN).
By this point, I'm highly invested in the characters and root for them. I also like that they're not indifferent to the shades of gray that come with monster hunting - they're not gung ho, shoot first and ask questions later, in other words. Not always, anyhow.
Great read and a near-perfect balance of spooky and fun for me.
Recommend for those who like their dark visuals and some undercurrents of humor, and family-focused literature.
Happy reading!
Of the first three volumes, I prefer this the one most; I feel like it hits its stride and keeps the momentum going throughout this one. In retrospect, it seemed as if Vol. 1 was all about introductions and Vol. 2 was all about internal (family drama) conflicts and that this was something of crescendo (and a well done one at that).
Highly recommend it for the still-great visuals (dark, rough illustrations that are perfectly in tone with the creepy story and atmosphere of the GN).
By this point, I'm highly invested in the characters and root for them. I also like that they're not indifferent to the shades of gray that come with monster hunting - they're not gung ho, shoot first and ask questions later, in other words. Not always, anyhow.
Great read and a near-perfect balance of spooky and fun for me.
Recommend for those who like their dark visuals and some undercurrents of humor, and family-focused literature.
Happy reading!
December 23, 2020
I watched the netflix series and I decided to give the graphic novel a chance. I actually don't regret it and I find it to be suiting my appetites much more than the series did. The series was just, idk... too soft and mainstream and not that horror at all. This on the other hand had bitching art to compliment the dark atmosphere. On the other hand, it wasn't that innovative and the family just seemed too overpowered whatever enemy they fought against, so it kind of didn't make things intense or unpredictable. I had my fair share of fun reading it though.
December 10, 2024
2.5 Stars - It’s an improvement on the last volume, but it’s still not right. Everything moves so quickly. All conflict is solved within a couple of pages. And as a result nothing has any weight to it. It’s as if the authors want you to know nothing that occurs should matter. A character is killed? They’ll have been revived by the end of the issue. A villain pops up? Don’t worry they’ll be dead in a couple of panels. The characters have a fight? They’ll have made up in a page. A character learns a terrible secret? Oh, they’ll come to terms with it in the span of a speech bubble.
September 4, 2020
I wasn't as into this volume as the previous two. it was fine but felt a bit like filler. I understand that the kids need to train to join the family business but it just wasn't very interesting. I think I wasn't in the mood for dark and super violent. (That's pretty well the definition of this comic so do not pick it up unless you are into that.) I did enjoy the Phillip storyline so maybe the next volume will win me back.
December 4, 2019
Enjoyable and stronger than Volume 2 in my opinion, but failed to recapture the inventiveness and mystery of Volume 1. I love the characters, the world, and especially the art- it's the stories that feel less satisfying than they should be. Still, this series has enough elements to keep me reading.
July 14, 2021
Steve Niles & Damien Worm deliver the best volume of October Faction yet. While this was far from perfect it was fun, sad, action packed, and not stale even though its genre is. The art is the very good and matches the book very well. I think there is a huge upside to this series. Overall, a fun but somewhat mindless read.
October 25, 2021
The story continues to steamroll, with some of my favourite elements being added - two lgbtq characters and vampires. This series does move very quickly and relies on the art alot for story telling, but it gives it this spooky quality and kind of sets you on edge a little, evoking the feeling that danger is around every corner. Really enjoyed this issue.
March 21, 2024
Classic Phase Go
Well, nothing really happens other than getting comfortable. This is the new normal after settling in every awkward transition. It's all good, but some things didn't serve the story as well. Like that arch Rival just being a cockroach, annoying maintenance. Still got good momentum going forward, though.
Well, nothing really happens other than getting comfortable. This is the new normal after settling in every awkward transition. It's all good, but some things didn't serve the story as well. Like that arch Rival just being a cockroach, annoying maintenance. Still got good momentum going forward, though.
June 18, 2017
I have this ongoing opinion that the story keeps on getting better as the story continues on. This volume in particular has some sadness to it. The Erl-King side story was brief and almost pointless but it did give the broken up family teams an objective to tackle more evil forces.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2019
This one improved some on the last one. There is more going on, more fighting. I'm not sure if the story is really going anywhere though. I'm definitely not so intrigued that I can't stop reading. I'd rate it 3.5 rounded down.
December 13, 2020
I'm really digging the werewolf and the issue of
The mood is delightfully gothic, the action is brisk and easy to follow.
The mood is delightfully gothic, the action is brisk and easy to follow.
October 10, 2024
Es cierto que si no se va a aprovechar el concepto de familia de cazamonstruos con hijos adolescentes, al menos pisa el acelerador con las amenazas sobrenaturales. Aunque habría interesado más cancha a todo esto de un Rey Elfo Oscuro a full Dark Fantasy.
May 26, 2025
Review is for five volumes read consecutively
The stories are good and the concept has potential, but there is no real world-building, and no backstory beyond the first volume. Even the recurring baddie just kind of shows up and never develops.
The stories are good and the concept has potential, but there is no real world-building, and no backstory beyond the first volume. Even the recurring baddie just kind of shows up and never develops.
July 12, 2017
Just a well done horror series. Niles rarely disappoints (he doesn't here!), and Worm's art is perfect for the tone of the series.
July 1, 2018
I bit disappointed with the story line, but the artwork is great as usual.
September 29, 2018
Weird volume.
November 1, 2018
4.5*/5
January 27, 2020
Everything but the kitchen sink.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews