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Imaginary Fiends
“Polly Peachpit.” Those were the words 10-year-old Brinke Calle said when she was found covered in her own blood by the woods in rural Cannon Falls. Her best friend, Melba, had just attempted to murder her because a spider girl named Polly Peachpit told her to. Since that day, Melba has spent seven years in a mental health facility. Tomorrow is her 18th birthday. Tomorrow she’ll be transferred to a federal prison. Tomorrow her real sentence will begin.
That is, until she receives a visit from FBI Agent Virgil Crockett. Crockett explains that there is another world beyond ours, where hungry, spectral aliens stalk the minds of the impressionable and weak. These things, called IMPs (Interdimensional Mental Parasites) feed on compliance. They convince hosts to do things for them, and the more they feed, the stronger they become. More IMPs stream into the world each day, invisible to everyone but his or her hosts.
That is, until she receives a visit from FBI Agent Virgil Crockett. Crockett explains that there is another world beyond ours, where hungry, spectral aliens stalk the minds of the impressionable and weak. These things, called IMPs (Interdimensional Mental Parasites) feed on compliance. They convince hosts to do things for them, and the more they feed, the stronger they become. More IMPs stream into the world each day, invisible to everyone but his or her hosts.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 11, 2019
About the author
Tim Seeley
1,715 books624 followersTim Seeley is a comic book artist and writer known for his work on books such as G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, The Dark Elf Trilogy, Batman Eternal and Grayson. He is also the co-creator of the Image Comics titles Hack/Slash[1] and Revival, as well as the Dark Horse titles, ExSanguine and Sundowners. He lives in Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
June 2, 2024
This really worked for me.
That cover looks stupid as hell. And the title made me think this was some kind of a kid's video game ripoff. <--or something equally corny
I never would have given this a second look if a friend hadn't sent me a copy. But he did.
Well, I finally got around to reading it. Very cool.
Thank you, sir.
The skinny gist is that an agent enlists the help of a young woman who was put into an asylum for the criminally insane.
Why is she there?
Because as a child she claimed that her imaginary friend made her kill her real-life friend.
This agent knows that there really are batshit imaginary fiends out there. And it would be helpful if someone who could actually see these fuckers was on his team.
Not everything is what it seems, though.
It's a cool psychological-paranormal trip and I was impressed by what Seeley managed to do with just one miniseries.
I would read more if he continued with it, but even if this was just a one-and-done it was really good.
Recommended for horror fans.
That cover looks stupid as hell. And the title made me think this was some kind of a kid's video game ripoff. <--or something equally corny
I never would have given this a second look if a friend hadn't sent me a copy. But he did.
Well, I finally got around to reading it. Very cool.
Thank you, sir.
The skinny gist is that an agent enlists the help of a young woman who was put into an asylum for the criminally insane.
Why is she there?
Because as a child she claimed that her imaginary friend made her kill her real-life friend.
This agent knows that there really are batshit imaginary fiends out there. And it would be helpful if someone who could actually see these fuckers was on his team.
Not everything is what it seems, though.
It's a cool psychological-paranormal trip and I was impressed by what Seeley managed to do with just one miniseries.
I would read more if he continued with it, but even if this was just a one-and-done it was really good.
Recommended for horror fans.
July 15, 2019
Imagine if imaginary friends were real and they lived off your fear. Melba Li's made her stab someone and now she's working with the FBI to keep it from happening to others. Seeley has done a very good job of laying down some interesting plot threads for future arcs as well as giving us a creepy story this go around. I'm a little disappointed this didn't become a regular series, but this does work as a stand alone arc. There's definitely more to this world to explore though.
October 17, 2024
The plot ideas appealed to me, which is why I picked this up.
My first impression was that both art and writing were quite flat. Visually it seems static even when violent action is happening. The faces aren't very expressive. The conversations seem stilted.
It did get a bit better as went along, although it continued to feel sort of like a storyboard. You know, like a well-developed pitch or pilot episode rather than something ready for the audience. Some characters and story elements barely had a chance to appear and be explained before they died (Cameron, for instance, and his glossed-over connection to Charlie).
Also, this shared a couple major elements with other speculative fiction like American Gods, which made some of the developments easy to guess.
But! there were interesting elements and in the end I didn't resent the time spent reading it. I might even get the next one if it's well-reviewed.
My first impression was that both art and writing were quite flat. Visually it seems static even when violent action is happening. The faces aren't very expressive. The conversations seem stilted.
It did get a bit better as went along, although it continued to feel sort of like a storyboard. You know, like a well-developed pitch or pilot episode rather than something ready for the audience. Some characters and story elements barely had a chance to appear and be explained before they died (Cameron, for instance, and his glossed-over connection to Charlie).
Also, this shared a couple major elements with other speculative fiction like American Gods, which made some of the developments easy to guess.
But! there were interesting elements and in the end I didn't resent the time spent reading it. I might even get the next one if it's well-reviewed.
December 16, 2019
I never had an imaginary friend growing up. Thank god. Especially after reading Tim Seeley and Stephen Molnar’s 2017 graphic novel “Imaginary Fiends”, a disturbing horror/mystery thriller series put out by DC.
The premise: All those so-called “imaginary friends” that many kids talk to and play with and engage in childish antics with are, in actuality, real creatures from an alternate dimension who feed on human attention---fear, loneliness, depression, anger, etc. They have been given the name Interdimensional Mental Parasites, or Imps, by the few people in the FBI who have been trained to hunt them down and kill them.
Not all Imps are bad. Most are harmless, eventually dying off when their child host grows into adulthood. (Think “Bing Bong” from the movie “Inside Out”.) Others, however, have nefarious plans. They can latch onto a person and convince them to do bad things. They can begin to wreak havoc on this plain of existence.
Polly Peachpit is the creepy 10-foot spider-creature that latched on to Melba Li when she was 10 years old and convinced her to kill her best friend by stabbing her multiple times. Li has been serving time in a mental institution for the past eight years.
Virgil Crockett is an FBI Special Agent who sees Li as a potential asset in his crusade to hunt down Imps. He takes her out of the nuthouse and gives her a cubicle next to his. For all intents and purposes, they are partners. Except Polly Peachpit wants Li all to herself.
What to do when your imaginary friend loves you so much she’s willing to kill anyone and everyone in her way?
There is something both adorable and cringe-inducingly horrifying about this series. Polly, I’m not gonna lie, is both. There’s a kind of child-like innocence about this weird psychotic spider-monster, stemming from the fact that she comes from another dimension in which things like morals, love, and compassion were never a part of social upbringing.
This series is dark, but it’s also fun; subtly and not-so-subtly referencing a bevy of eclectic sources, from “Monsters, Inc.” to “The X-Files”.
I’m hoping that this series continued past its initial six-issue run, because I’m looking forward to reading more of the Imp-fighting team of Virgil, Melba, and Polly.
The premise: All those so-called “imaginary friends” that many kids talk to and play with and engage in childish antics with are, in actuality, real creatures from an alternate dimension who feed on human attention---fear, loneliness, depression, anger, etc. They have been given the name Interdimensional Mental Parasites, or Imps, by the few people in the FBI who have been trained to hunt them down and kill them.
Not all Imps are bad. Most are harmless, eventually dying off when their child host grows into adulthood. (Think “Bing Bong” from the movie “Inside Out”.) Others, however, have nefarious plans. They can latch onto a person and convince them to do bad things. They can begin to wreak havoc on this plain of existence.
Polly Peachpit is the creepy 10-foot spider-creature that latched on to Melba Li when she was 10 years old and convinced her to kill her best friend by stabbing her multiple times. Li has been serving time in a mental institution for the past eight years.
Virgil Crockett is an FBI Special Agent who sees Li as a potential asset in his crusade to hunt down Imps. He takes her out of the nuthouse and gives her a cubicle next to his. For all intents and purposes, they are partners. Except Polly Peachpit wants Li all to herself.
What to do when your imaginary friend loves you so much she’s willing to kill anyone and everyone in her way?
There is something both adorable and cringe-inducingly horrifying about this series. Polly, I’m not gonna lie, is both. There’s a kind of child-like innocence about this weird psychotic spider-monster, stemming from the fact that she comes from another dimension in which things like morals, love, and compassion were never a part of social upbringing.
This series is dark, but it’s also fun; subtly and not-so-subtly referencing a bevy of eclectic sources, from “Monsters, Inc.” to “The X-Files”.
I’m hoping that this series continued past its initial six-issue run, because I’m looking forward to reading more of the Imp-fighting team of Virgil, Melba, and Polly.
June 24, 2018
Tim Seeley is one my favourite writers within the medium, Revival was one of the best series I have in quite some time. Imaginary Fiends is an odd book, I actually jumped onto this series with the hopes of it being another long arc storyline, much like Revival. The book is quite open ended but looking at Vertigo's upcoming slate, which appears like a hard reboot of the comic label, doesn't include this book. The overall quality of the book is mixed but undeniably high concept and the 6 issue arc doesn't even scratch the surface of the world building and that leaves a slightly annoyed taste in my mouth. The book starts strong and ticks all the right boxes for crafting an unpredictable storyline but soon slides into predictability. Vertigo has fallen hard over the last 10 years and this book is a clear indicator of why. Image has the very same issue, short books lack depth. I feel like I know nothing about the characters, they only functional to service a flat plotline. Seeley was clearly busy servicing DCs core Superheroes, as this lacks focus. Not every writer can be Jeff Lemire, and I hope Seeley can revisit this book to dive further into the world he has somewhat created.
The one thing I will be doing from now on is adding which book I plan on reading next. Next book will One Punch Vol 13.
The one thing I will be doing from now on is adding which book I plan on reading next. Next book will One Punch Vol 13.
June 22, 2019
I've read a couple of books about imaginary friends recently, but Tim Seeley has built the most cohesive, well-thought-out version of them in this volume, which looks like it could have been the start of a series, but does just find as a standalone. Melba Li has an imaginary friend/nightmare spider-queen named Polly Peachpit, which allows her to see other such creatures. She and her FBI partner investigate the disappearance of a young boy with similar abilities, and discover a town with unsettling secrets, which also uncovers some of their own. The story juggles a number of plot threads, but manages to tie them up fairly well. Melba makes for a troubled protagonist, out of her depth and struggling with a lot of issues, some of which come to the fore here. Polly Peach-Pit feels like it was borrowed from Hack/Slash, but it works here, and she (aside from her innuendo-fueled language) makes for a disturbing companion. The art works for the most part, presenting a fairly staid rural town as ably as the darker parts of the psyche with distinct styles that manage to mesh. I wouldn't have minded seeing more of the characters - there does seem to be a larger world here to explore. But I would recommend this volume on its own, without any continuation. The climactic battle and revelations aren't quite shocking, but they are potent. Cautiously recommended.
December 28, 2022
The artwork is dope, the concept interesting yet familiar (cc Revival) but at times the story got a little hard to follow. 3 stars.
August 24, 2019
Cara, que desenhos incrivelmente bem feitos, que conceitos visuais incríveis para os inimigos imaginários. O trabalho de Stephen Molnar realmente dá uma outra dimensão e um outro impacto para essa HQ. Caso ela tivesse sido feita com os desenhos "feios" do início da Vertigo, provavelmente não se sairia tão bem. Afinal, o roteiro não é assim tão fácil de se entender. Essas histórias com condições imaginárias da existência gostam muito de brincar com o que é real e o que é uma produção metal, então elas vão e voltam no que querem dizer com isso várias vezes. O trabalho de Tim Seeley, entretanto, é cativante, seus personagens são assim desde que acompanho o seu trabalho em personagens do universo do Homem-Morcego. Contudo, Inimigos Imaginários também parece ter caído no esquema "vamos encerrar logo essa série porque todo o selo Vertigo vai acabar, então condensa tudo que tu ia desenvolver em um monte de edições em apenas seis". E então, muitos desenvolvimentos que poderiam ser mais bem estruturados e explicitados ficam para trás. Infelizmente, Inimigos Imaginários é um quadrinho com muito potencial, mas que não chega lá.
October 22, 2021
This was very much a Tim Seeley book, which is a good thing. Imaginary Friends are really extra dimensional creatures. Not a totally original concept, but this is a new spin on things for sure. This reminded me of Revival.
I liked the art but the story got a little hard to follow at times. Not a bad read.
I liked the art but the story got a little hard to follow at times. Not a bad read.
July 12, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Unfortunately, this one didn't really work for me. I was very intrigued by the premise, and I was ready for a spooky story with just as spooky artwork. And while the artwork wasn't bad, it didn't hit the way I wanted. It often came across as more ridiculous than spooky, and the story felt very hard to follow. It tended to jump all over the place with no rhyme or reason, making it very difficult to keep up.
I feel like a lot of things weren't fully explained, and I found myself having to reread passages to figure out connections between characters or plot lines. I think this would have worked much better as a longer book or even a full series.
Unfortunately, this one didn't really work for me. I was very intrigued by the premise, and I was ready for a spooky story with just as spooky artwork. And while the artwork wasn't bad, it didn't hit the way I wanted. It often came across as more ridiculous than spooky, and the story felt very hard to follow. It tended to jump all over the place with no rhyme or reason, making it very difficult to keep up.
I feel like a lot of things weren't fully explained, and I found myself having to reread passages to figure out connections between characters or plot lines. I think this would have worked much better as a longer book or even a full series.
September 3, 2019
I really liked the idea behind this comic, and how the art brought it to life. It's like if our imaginary friends weren't 100% created by us or controllable by us, and some of them were actually evil. It's creepy but in a really neat sort of way, the kind of gross fascination you don't want to look at but can't help to.
I suppose I was expecting something more like Revival in terms of presentation, because that is also by Seeley. But this comic had a weird habit of narrating everything in third person about where every character was at the beginning of every issue and it really threw me out of the comic. Especially because the way some of those parts were worded, it took a few reads to figure out who was being talked about. In the very first comic I was super confused, because there was a bunch of names being mentioned and you have no idea who anyone is yet, and the language used by the 'narrator' is very dense and convoluted, i.e. not the easiest to understand as your reading it.
I also felt like the story fell apart the longer it went on. It started out with the mention of a fish on a bike or something, and then it side tracked into another plot, but was supposed to connect with the original because of the missing children or something? I couldn't quite follow it. I get the gist of what happened but it feels like there's some holes along the way, and that also tugged my attention from the story several times because I was waiting for more information mentioned in one part of the comic while reading further, and that information never came, and this happened a few times. A few characters involved also don't get developed beyond their names for most of the comic and then suddenly play a prevalent part later in the comic, but by then I had forgotten who they were and how they were related to the characters. Not the kind of comic you can read passively.
I suppose I was expecting something more like Revival in terms of presentation, because that is also by Seeley. But this comic had a weird habit of narrating everything in third person about where every character was at the beginning of every issue and it really threw me out of the comic. Especially because the way some of those parts were worded, it took a few reads to figure out who was being talked about. In the very first comic I was super confused, because there was a bunch of names being mentioned and you have no idea who anyone is yet, and the language used by the 'narrator' is very dense and convoluted, i.e. not the easiest to understand as your reading it.
I also felt like the story fell apart the longer it went on. It started out with the mention of a fish on a bike or something, and then it side tracked into another plot, but was supposed to connect with the original because of the missing children or something? I couldn't quite follow it. I get the gist of what happened but it feels like there's some holes along the way, and that also tugged my attention from the story several times because I was waiting for more information mentioned in one part of the comic while reading further, and that information never came, and this happened a few times. A few characters involved also don't get developed beyond their names for most of the comic and then suddenly play a prevalent part later in the comic, but by then I had forgotten who they were and how they were related to the characters. Not the kind of comic you can read passively.
Read
February 2, 2020Melba Li has been institutionalised since she stabbed her best human friend, apparently at the instigation of her imaginary friend, Polly Peachpit. Now she has a chance at release. The FBI has realised Polly and her ilk are real, after a fashion - IMPs, or Interdimensional Mental Parasites. And only an imaginary friend can touch an imaginary friend, so they need Melba as a conduit to Polly.
The small-town horror is nicely done, as you'd expect from the writer of Revival, and the imaginary friends run a good spectrum from cute to weird to utterly horrific. Underlying it all is a depiction of how toxic relationships - with a person, an idea, or something between the two - can trap and corrupt people. But like so many late-period Vertigo series (now a distinctly finite resource, of course), it all comes off the rails as it becomes clear they only have six issues and are going to have to wrap it all up at a gallop. Rules are shifted before they've had chance to feel established, twists come so close on each other's heels they barely land, and all weight evaporates under the sheer procession of events. Most frustrating is that we never get the biggest reveal which has been teased from the off. Apparently the most powerful IMPs can gather more humans to themselves, feeding off their belief and fear. We see small-scale examples in the story. But the obvious punchline is, just imagine what they can do with two millennia...
The small-town horror is nicely done, as you'd expect from the writer of Revival, and the imaginary friends run a good spectrum from cute to weird to utterly horrific. Underlying it all is a depiction of how toxic relationships - with a person, an idea, or something between the two - can trap and corrupt people. But like so many late-period Vertigo series (now a distinctly finite resource, of course), it all comes off the rails as it becomes clear they only have six issues and are going to have to wrap it all up at a gallop. Rules are shifted before they've had chance to feel established, twists come so close on each other's heels they barely land, and all weight evaporates under the sheer procession of events. Most frustrating is that we never get the biggest reveal which has been teased from the off. Apparently the most powerful IMPs can gather more humans to themselves, feeding off their belief and fear. We see small-scale examples in the story. But the obvious punchline is, just imagine what they can do with two millennia...
June 26, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. The character design here is so cool, and there’s some interesting world building. Unfortunately I’ve read my fair share of “imaginary friends are real and they’re EVIL” stories so plot-wise this didn’t completely knock my socks off. Still a lot of fun!
June 28, 2026
A horror graphic novel with some great illustrations! Kinda reminded me of the style of SIKTC. Which I’m a huge fan of!
November 22, 2020
This was great, and had all the Seeley flavor I’ve come to love. As an added bonus, it takes place in my home state. It’s a shame I held off on this for so long, due to some bad reviews on Goodreads.
April 4, 2022
não consegui nem terminar, mto clichê
July 25, 2026
Imaginary Fiends is another series that I remember reading the first issue of, apparently back in 2017, but never finished. I was so excited to see what happened to Melba and her terrifying imaginary friend or “IMP” Polly Peachpit, and in a lot of ways, I was not disappointed.
Melba and Polly, as well as their history and relationship, were very well developed in my opinion. Melba was a believable awkward teenager, having spent most of her life locked up and, before that, as a social outcast/extreme introvert. We aren’t given a lot of information about her family situation beyond the fact that they are no longer available to support her, one way or another. She suppresses a lot, she’s stiff and doesn’t quite understand how she’s supposed to act, but she’s obviously desperate to connect to other people.
Polly, as an eldritch being, initially seems one-dimensional, like a knockoff Pennywise. She feeds off fear, she demands that Melba be afraid of her. But she also demands that Melba makes good choices, tries to look after her, and asks for her affection. Some of the choices Polly makes, especially later in the story, are particularly interesting as they don’t quite fit that selfish, “feeds on fear and only cares about feeding on fear” image. They do, however, fit very well with the big twist about Melba’s past that comes at the climax of the story.
I didn’t feel that Agent Crockett’s subplot or that the case they worked on were as thoughtfully crafted as Melba and Polly, to the point where they could be switched out with any other characters/settings/revelations with very little difference. It isn’t because Melba and Polly were simply given more focus and development, I actually think that the characters’ independent arcs were too separated from each other, and neither of the human protagonists had any real investment in the case. I wish there had been a stronger connection or maybe more of a contrast between Melba and the culprit behind the kidnappings, which may have had more of an impact on Crockett’s arc regarding being betrayed by an IMP and their host.
Stephen Mohar’s designs of all of the imaginary creatures and mindscapes are absolutely amazing. I think that there is one example that’s particularly good about showing how the creature’s form could warp and become more monstrous as the host ages and fails to disengage, but Polly and Charlie are shown to maintain the same form from their inception, which I think might say more interesting things about Melba herself than her state as a host.
I respect Imaginary Fiends as a self-contained story that didn’t go crazy explaining the mechanics of its worldbuilding, but part of me wishes this was an ongoing series so that I could see where Polly and Melba go from here.
Melba and Polly, as well as their history and relationship, were very well developed in my opinion. Melba was a believable awkward teenager, having spent most of her life locked up and, before that, as a social outcast/extreme introvert. We aren’t given a lot of information about her family situation beyond the fact that they are no longer available to support her, one way or another. She suppresses a lot, she’s stiff and doesn’t quite understand how she’s supposed to act, but she’s obviously desperate to connect to other people.
Polly, as an eldritch being, initially seems one-dimensional, like a knockoff Pennywise. She feeds off fear, she demands that Melba be afraid of her. But she also demands that Melba makes good choices, tries to look after her, and asks for her affection. Some of the choices Polly makes, especially later in the story, are particularly interesting as they don’t quite fit that selfish, “feeds on fear and only cares about feeding on fear” image. They do, however, fit very well with the big twist about Melba’s past that comes at the climax of the story.
I didn’t feel that Agent Crockett’s subplot or that the case they worked on were as thoughtfully crafted as Melba and Polly, to the point where they could be switched out with any other characters/settings/revelations with very little difference. It isn’t because Melba and Polly were simply given more focus and development, I actually think that the characters’ independent arcs were too separated from each other, and neither of the human protagonists had any real investment in the case. I wish there had been a stronger connection or maybe more of a contrast between Melba and the culprit behind the kidnappings, which may have had more of an impact on Crockett’s arc regarding being betrayed by an IMP and their host.
Stephen Mohar’s designs of all of the imaginary creatures and mindscapes are absolutely amazing. I think that there is one example that’s particularly good about showing how the creature’s form could warp and become more monstrous as the host ages and fails to disengage, but Polly and Charlie are shown to maintain the same form from their inception, which I think might say more interesting things about Melba herself than her state as a host.
I respect Imaginary Fiends as a self-contained story that didn’t go crazy explaining the mechanics of its worldbuilding, but part of me wishes this was an ongoing series so that I could see where Polly and Melba go from here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for the arc!
I hadn't read the older version of this graphic novel, so I can't compare this version with, but i had a great experience with it!
The art style was perfect for this kind of story. It was disturbing, scary and it has a drop of realism in it, which makes the story more immersive. The expressions and designs of characters were on point. Background number stunning and mesmerising. It was just beautiful. Respect to the artist.
The story was interesting, sometimes it was jumping from one point to another and it was a little bit confusing, but it wasn't a big problem specifically to me. It fits the way story goes. The pace is pretty fast, you just started and it feels like the next second you're halfway through. Very easy to read and no problems in understanding the main plot. Which i find beautiful, i teared in the end. Throughout the whole thing it made me go through many emotions, i was shocked, i laughed, i found things disgusting and icky and many more. One of the plot twists made my jaw drop, i didn't expect that at all(it's on me, maybe there were signs i didn't notice) and I loved the way it was revealed.
And the characters. How i loved them! They all have their own motivations and fears, and it affects them on screen. They all have something to hide(even from themselves) and reveal. I liked Melba's and Polly's ending, such brilliant characters. Forgot fbi's agent name but he was something else. I liked his mentality and his thoughts. The way he acted and how he perceived things. And my favourite thing — imaginary friends... God, they're everything. They're crazy but i love them. They're so different from each other and i loved their relationships with their "hosts".
In the end, i can say it was a great story. Pretty memorable. I would love to read it once again in the future and even recommend to friends. It has horrors, it has moments when you need to stop and think, or sometimes just stop thinking at all. It's not just a simple story about scary imaginary friends, there's more to it. And you'll find out what it is when you read it.
I hadn't read the older version of this graphic novel, so I can't compare this version with, but i had a great experience with it!
The art style was perfect for this kind of story. It was disturbing, scary and it has a drop of realism in it, which makes the story more immersive. The expressions and designs of characters were on point. Background number stunning and mesmerising. It was just beautiful. Respect to the artist.
The story was interesting, sometimes it was jumping from one point to another and it was a little bit confusing, but it wasn't a big problem specifically to me. It fits the way story goes. The pace is pretty fast, you just started and it feels like the next second you're halfway through. Very easy to read and no problems in understanding the main plot. Which i find beautiful, i teared in the end. Throughout the whole thing it made me go through many emotions, i was shocked, i laughed, i found things disgusting and icky and many more. One of the plot twists made my jaw drop, i didn't expect that at all(it's on me, maybe there were signs i didn't notice) and I loved the way it was revealed.
And the characters. How i loved them! They all have their own motivations and fears, and it affects them on screen. They all have something to hide(even from themselves) and reveal. I liked Melba's and Polly's ending, such brilliant characters. Forgot fbi's agent name but he was something else. I liked his mentality and his thoughts. The way he acted and how he perceived things. And my favourite thing — imaginary friends... God, they're everything. They're crazy but i love them. They're so different from each other and i loved their relationships with their "hosts".
In the end, i can say it was a great story. Pretty memorable. I would love to read it once again in the future and even recommend to friends. It has horrors, it has moments when you need to stop and think, or sometimes just stop thinking at all. It's not just a simple story about scary imaginary friends, there's more to it. And you'll find out what it is when you read it.
July 18, 2026
Let's imagine children's imaginary friends in Eldritch being feasting on their fears and attention. Now also, let's turn them into crime detectives.
This comic follows a young woman, freshly released from a mental institution due to a childhood murder affected due to the aforementioned eerie, but quite real imaginary friends. Now, accompanied by her oldest friend, an arachnid with an attitude, she joins a police force specializing in crime relating to imaginary creatures.
That's quite a premise! It does live up to it somewhat, but only how far one comic run is able to, which is juggling multiple story lines and genres. Even if it depicts beings of horror, it never becomes a good horror story; it is rather a synonym of gory.
Second to this, there are the protagonists' personal stories interwoven with a crime case. Both are done alright, but some developments seem too easy or unsatisfactory. I think a better story was hidden in it, if it was focused more on the crime. It would especially have helped if the two detectives (the new girl and the seasoned inspector) would have had more time interacting, compared to being split to deal with their individual storylines. As such, the remaining story often feels like a fast-paced struggle.
The art is well done. A missed opportunity to be more trippy and abstract in parts of the story, though.
A continuation of the story could be quite interesting! Even if I personally never warmed up to this one. Thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for an eARC for an honest review.
This comic follows a young woman, freshly released from a mental institution due to a childhood murder affected due to the aforementioned eerie, but quite real imaginary friends. Now, accompanied by her oldest friend, an arachnid with an attitude, she joins a police force specializing in crime relating to imaginary creatures.
That's quite a premise! It does live up to it somewhat, but only how far one comic run is able to, which is juggling multiple story lines and genres. Even if it depicts beings of horror, it never becomes a good horror story; it is rather a synonym of gory.
Second to this, there are the protagonists' personal stories interwoven with a crime case. Both are done alright, but some developments seem too easy or unsatisfactory. I think a better story was hidden in it, if it was focused more on the crime. It would especially have helped if the two detectives (the new girl and the seasoned inspector) would have had more time interacting, compared to being split to deal with their individual storylines. As such, the remaining story often feels like a fast-paced struggle.
The art is well done. A missed opportunity to be more trippy and abstract in parts of the story, though.
A continuation of the story could be quite interesting! Even if I personally never warmed up to this one. Thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for an eARC for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Imaginary Friends Are TERRIFYING!
Imaginary Fiends by Tim Seeley is such a chaotic, twisted blast that takes the idea of imaginary friends and turns it into something monstrous. Following Melba Li, who’s fresh out of a mental institution and trying to rebuild her life as a faux FBI agent. The story wastes no time throwing her right back into the orbit of Polly Peachpit, her imaginary friend from childhood. However, in this universe, imaginary friends are wholly dangerous. Like a terrifying combination of the monsters from Something Is Killing The Children and supernatural creatures from our worst nightmares. Polly is violent, manipulative, and weirdly charismatic, and watching her clash with Melba as she attempts to save a missing child, makes such a deliciosu tension. These fiends are around every corner and things get BLOODY! It’s bloody, darkly funny, and a little feral in the best way, blending over‑the‑top horror with something sharper underneath about trauma and control. Honestly, it’s the kind of graphic novel that just grabs you and doesn't let you go until the very end! I hope we get more stories in this universe, because you count me in to be the first to read them!
Perfect for Fans of I Will Kill Your Imaginary Friend for $200!
Imaginary Fiends by Tim Seeley is such a chaotic, twisted blast that takes the idea of imaginary friends and turns it into something monstrous. Following Melba Li, who’s fresh out of a mental institution and trying to rebuild her life as a faux FBI agent. The story wastes no time throwing her right back into the orbit of Polly Peachpit, her imaginary friend from childhood. However, in this universe, imaginary friends are wholly dangerous. Like a terrifying combination of the monsters from Something Is Killing The Children and supernatural creatures from our worst nightmares. Polly is violent, manipulative, and weirdly charismatic, and watching her clash with Melba as she attempts to save a missing child, makes such a deliciosu tension. These fiends are around every corner and things get BLOODY! It’s bloody, darkly funny, and a little feral in the best way, blending over‑the‑top horror with something sharper underneath about trauma and control. Honestly, it’s the kind of graphic novel that just grabs you and doesn't let you go until the very end! I hope we get more stories in this universe, because you count me in to be the first to read them!
Perfect for Fans of I Will Kill Your Imaginary Friend for $200!
July 21, 2026
Wow, the art work in this comic is phenomenal. It goes so well with the dark matter at hand. The main character, Melba is recruited by the FBI after spending most of her childhood and adulthood locked up in a mental health facility. Now granted a chance to get her life back she has to work with her new partner, Crockett to hunt IMPs. Creatures she knows all to well as the imaginary friend from her childhood was the one who told her to try to kill her friend.
The concept of imaginary friends was super cool and later disturbing as the story progressed. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Melba and Polly, her spider imp. The story is dark and twisted which only advances as it goes. I originally thought I must be a standalone but after looking more into it’s the first in a series. The first book though could stand on its own as it introduces us into this dark and grim fantastical unknown world and wraps up so well in the end. I’m actually glad there’s more because this is a series I see myself continuing.
The concept of imaginary friends was super cool and later disturbing as the story progressed. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Melba and Polly, her spider imp. The story is dark and twisted which only advances as it goes. I originally thought I must be a standalone but after looking more into it’s the first in a series. The first book though could stand on its own as it introduces us into this dark and grim fantastical unknown world and wraps up so well in the end. I’m actually glad there’s more because this is a series I see myself continuing.
June 23, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Image Comics for a copy of this graphic novel in exchange for my review!
I really enjoyed this graphic novel, I was really drawn into the mystery and I enjoyed the characters and their flaws and I wish their was more! I was a little confused by the lore of imaginary friends and how they were connected to fear, as many of them seem connected to children's love and imagination, but I tried to set that aside to enjoy the story for what it was. It was truly creepy and bloody and I would expect nothing less from a horror comic. I grew to really love the characters and I was so invested in the mystery of the missing children. I would love to read more about these characters and other missions
I really enjoyed this graphic novel, I was really drawn into the mystery and I enjoyed the characters and their flaws and I wish their was more! I was a little confused by the lore of imaginary friends and how they were connected to fear, as many of them seem connected to children's love and imagination, but I tried to set that aside to enjoy the story for what it was. It was truly creepy and bloody and I would expect nothing less from a horror comic. I grew to really love the characters and I was so invested in the mystery of the missing children. I would love to read more about these characters and other missions
July 18, 2026
3 stars
First of all, thank you & Netgalley so much for sending me a copy of this book.
Imaginary Friends is a comic about an 18-year-old girl who is held in a psychiatric hospital. She gets contacted by the FBI to hunt her own monster as well as others..
I really loved the art style of the book. I liked most of the characters but it still felt short to me. I expected more of it, and the storyline fell short to me.
I also struggled to read it due to some of the colour scenes, but it might be just an issue I experience. I also wouldn’t call it horror, the art and artstyle is creepy, but the story didn’t feel like a horror to me. It was too goofy for it at times. I would call this more a horror for teenagers.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It just wasn’t for me.
First of all, thank you & Netgalley so much for sending me a copy of this book.
Imaginary Friends is a comic about an 18-year-old girl who is held in a psychiatric hospital. She gets contacted by the FBI to hunt her own monster as well as others..
I really loved the art style of the book. I liked most of the characters but it still felt short to me. I expected more of it, and the storyline fell short to me.
I also struggled to read it due to some of the colour scenes, but it might be just an issue I experience. I also wouldn’t call it horror, the art and artstyle is creepy, but the story didn’t feel like a horror to me. It was too goofy for it at times. I would call this more a horror for teenagers.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It just wasn’t for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was pretty fun! I wish it wasn't a miniseries because I could definitely read more of this. I think the main knock for me is that it felt like it was missing something. Like it started in the middle of a storyline or something. There were just things that I felt could have been fleshed out better. Still, the art was solid and it was a fun story. It reminded me a bit of Something is Killing the Children. Pretty imaginative and a good time overall for sure. Just a note to Image to please try and make your ARCs more easily readable. It's a pain having to read them on a device that can install Thorium reader.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Nothing about the book stands out except for Polly. I wish I were kidding. The twists are predictable, the characters are cookie-cutter (the stoic agent has a traumatic past in which his partner agent died! Melba, an Asian woman, has a coloured streak in her hair! This is so common it's become a trope. Look it up. ....And more, like Small town with a big secret!), and there's even some outdated language like the r-slur that should've been edited out for the new release. The art was pretty good and elevated the material at times.
**I was given a free copy of this book through NetGalley for review purposes. All opinions are my own.**
**I was given a free copy of this book through NetGalley for review purposes. All opinions are my own.**
June 11, 2022
I liked the concept of this book, and I feel like it had potential. Unfortunately, I think this fell victim to the same fate as Survivors Club, another Vertigo title I thought had promise, in that a larger storyline was planned out, but the series was cancelled so everything had to be hastily concluded. As a result, there are plot threads left dangling, and character arcs that felt too rushed to go in a satisfactory trajectory. Overall, I wish we could have gotten more of a series than this one concentrated story.
May 31, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Image Comics for this arc!
5/5 stars
This was a really interesting take on the killer imaginary friend idea, and I was riveted from start to finish. Melba and Agent Crockett's partnership growing from start to finish was nice to see, and their character growth both individually and together was well thought out and cohesive. The artwork was very well done, the imps were quite creepy!!! I hope this will be a series, as I'd love to see Agents Li and Crockett investigate more of these creatures. Also, I love the X-Files reference with the poster in her office! 👽
5/5 stars
This was a really interesting take on the killer imaginary friend idea, and I was riveted from start to finish. Melba and Agent Crockett's partnership growing from start to finish was nice to see, and their character growth both individually and together was well thought out and cohesive. The artwork was very well done, the imps were quite creepy!!! I hope this will be a series, as I'd love to see Agents Li and Crockett investigate more of these creatures. Also, I love the X-Files reference with the poster in her office! 👽
October 11, 2020
An interesting concept. I liked everything about it except the pacing. This arc was too long and it seems it will be the only arc ever, so it left too much to be desired as a series/book. I am not willing to recommend it to anyone.
Best creepy moment: the children sucking on the giant cat's nipples.
Best use of art: style changeup anytime the cop who took drugs to see imaginary fiends went on one of his trips.
Best creepy moment: the children sucking on the giant cat's nipples.
Best use of art: style changeup anytime the cop who took drugs to see imaginary fiends went on one of his trips.
January 1, 2024
Fun horror
There's stories in the weird horror genre where some ideas aren't formed by thoughts, but instead they're the shape made by things waiting outside for minds to haunt. In this case, it focuses on the imaginary friend in this role as a toxic codependency that feeds on fear. Neat premise, cool execution, and a hearty blend of monster/slasher and psychological horror with a dash of police procedural.
There's stories in the weird horror genre where some ideas aren't formed by thoughts, but instead they're the shape made by things waiting outside for minds to haunt. In this case, it focuses on the imaginary friend in this role as a toxic codependency that feeds on fear. Neat premise, cool execution, and a hearty blend of monster/slasher and psychological horror with a dash of police procedural.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley, all thoughts are my own.
This was a RIDE. Loved the art-style, characters and overall story. Some of the antagonists were slightly rushed to make way for the main characters' development, and I didn't vibe with some of the dialogue but, overall, this was such a treat. I cannot stress how beautiful some of the art in this was: the PCP sequences, the fights between the Imaginary Fiends, the gory details and incredibly monster design. Super enjoyable!
This was a RIDE. Loved the art-style, characters and overall story. Some of the antagonists were slightly rushed to make way for the main characters' development, and I didn't vibe with some of the dialogue but, overall, this was such a treat. I cannot stress how beautiful some of the art in this was: the PCP sequences, the fights between the Imaginary Fiends, the gory details and incredibly monster design. Super enjoyable!
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