THE BOOGYMAN

Croquemitaines #1-2

by Mathieu Salvia, Djet (Artist)

Monsters don't only exist in children's minds...

Passionate about reading, Elliott has always had a preference for the stories of boogeymen, those monstrous creatures which, at night, hide in the shadows or under the bed to frighten little children. He can't imagine how much they will change his life... Witnessing the bloody murder of his parents, he will discover that, in reality, boogeymen do indeed exist, and very precise codes govern their existence. When one of the most powerful boogeymen, "Father-Death," decides to protect him, Elliott finds himself plunged into a terrible conflict at the heart of a universe as terrifying as it is fascinating. On a dark, stormy night, Elliott's destiny will be fulfilled...

Creators Mathieu Silvia and Djet craft a stylish, nightmare world and take you on a non-stop action adventure into the realm of the Boogymen. Collects the 6 issue series, along with cover gallery and bonus material.

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

184 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 2023

Reviews

[Tobin Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a gorgeously illustrated and well-written graphic novel about what happens when the enemy of your enemy becomes your greatest protector.

I won't spoil it more than that, but seriously, pick it up for the pretty illustrations, stay for the story.

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted something quick, and The Boogyman did the trick. Despite the title, subject matter, and horror-like aesthetic, it’s not really a horror comic (or at least not a scary one). It’s sort of an action-adventure romp but a bit more traumatic for the protagonist (Ellott) as he witnesses the deaths of his parents and Father Death decides to protect him. The story overall is pretty solid, it really focused on the dynamic between these two figures, and the rest is the icing on the cake. What I particularly enjoyed was seeing Father Death come to terms with the inherent contradiction of his existence. Now what truly shines is the art by Djet. It’s slick, the designs are fantastic, the colours pop, and even the general panel work is pretty good. It reads more like a manga, prioritising visual storytelling and conveying emotions over dialogue. The translation I can’t really comment upon, but I didn’t have an issue with it. Overall, if you have an hour to kill, definitely give it a read. Regardless of what you think of the narrative, it’s a feast for the eyes.

[Presley Hinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had seen this one for a while online so I’m glad I was finally able to read it. And having done so? Honestly, it was solid. I thought the line-work, art style, and paneling all felt *really* masterful. The concept overall of father death and essentially the Babadook was not something I knew I needed, but enjoyed nonetheless.

While the ending wasn’t necessarily a problem, the rest of the story navigated between the emotional ebb and flow quite well. Interestingly enough, the tail end of this story had a lot of similarities with John Wick which was somewhat funny. That said, I’m quite pleased!

P.S. Fantastic action scenes, and beautifully disgusting creature designs.

[L.ivresse.des.mots · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peur primaire

Avec une bonne dose de frissons pour commencer les lectures automnales, de circonstances. Je vous conseille vivement ce roman graphique qui a su m’apporter frissons. Magie noire garantie en bonus !

Je trouve les personnages super attachants et mystérieux. On est plongé dans le monde d’Eliott celui de ses rêves mais surtout de ses cauchemars.

C’est la nuit, les croquemitaines sont de sortis. Je vous avoue que je n’attendais rien de cette histoire mais je voulais savoir. Connaître le moindre mystères qui entourent cette folie.

Le courage de vaincre ses peurs. C’est vrai que c’est un don qu’on perd avec l’âge je trouve. C’était un beau conte, j’ai apprécié à merveille la découverte de cette réalité.

📦🧸🩸🐕‍🦺🪚🧬🚔🏚️😈🏛️🔨🗝️👴🏼

[Facundo Aqua · Rating 3 out of 5]

Muy divertida, bastante tierna y con un genial worldbuilding desarrollado en solo seis capítulos sobre un nene y el mundo de las pesadillas que existe en la sombras.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elliott likes to read horror stories about the Boogyman, seeing as he knows the monsters are in his house. When two demonic characters turn up, and slaughter the darkness-denying parents, it would look like Elliott was wrong, that it's nastiness from the outside world you really have to fear. But he's mistaken, for the house is already inhabited – and protected – by one of the most potentially vicious boogymen of all. What might have been an interesting premise sees the ancient title character try and defend Elliott from all the other ancient characters, as he's waking up in the middle of practically a Boogy-civil war. Now that might still have been interesting, but this is a manga, and eventually the action scenes are by law going to be so ugly and impenetrable you might as well not bother. It's not bad – it remains a single book arc, showing us that humans and the monstrous alike can get better or worse depending on different thoughts and behaviours, but I would have liked a standard western comic to portray it all. That said, for being one of the better manga-styled books I've allowed myself to see in years, this is a healthy three and a half stars.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5) What a phenomenal read, I originally read the first issue randomly as it was a free borrow on Hoopla. I didn’t go in with crazy expectations but which ones I had were blown away.

The writing is done so well that you become attached to the different characters and hate the antagonists. The art by Djet is phenomenal, every character is so unique in their design and so sick! His art can go from heartwarming to brutal in a matter of panels which just goes to show his versatility.

I would love for their to future works connected to this world. Maybe Father Deaths crusades before meeting Elliott or a deeper look at the Massacre? So many great options! The only criticism I have for this series is that the fights were cut too short and the end felt rushed. I feel like if it was longer then it’d be perfect in my eyes.

I will be thinking about that ending for a while😭

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boogymen (and Boogywomen) are fighting! One kid has a newly reformed Father Death, the oldest of the Boogeymen, keeping him safe instead of causing trouble and scaring him. When another Grandma boogy comes along, the new guard so-to-speak go to war to finish off the 'last*' elder boogy.

*Turns out he really isn't the last, because there are two others that make appearances later in the book. There were some other pretty minor inconsistencies in the writing, but overall I really enjoyed the story. It's nothing ground breaking, but it was done well and the artwork is absolutely fantastic.

[Marie-louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHY IS THIS ONLY 180 PAGES?!? I need an entire series! I adore everything about this. I was weirdly touched to see Le Bonhomme mentioned, people forget about us so much haha but… which one is he? (I assume that’s not spoilers) Actually now that I’m thinking about it… was he the main villain? Honestly, I read it so fast because I enjoyed it so much that I didn’t pay as much attention to the boogmen as I should have. This was originally in French? Well, I’ll go read it a second time and figure out who he is.

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really pretty and mostly enjoyable storyline.

Basically a boy's family is murdered and soon the demons or monsters who did it will come for him. But he summons a Boogyman, the Boogyman, to help him, who's been watching over him for years. Leading to basically running and surviving storyline with some brutal fights and flashy art. I think the story lacked the punch I hoped for overall but the art is always fun and exciting. A 3 out of 5.

[Mee Too · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite 4 stars but definitely better then 3. Its a quick read, great art, good storyline. what i get from the story is manage your demons, don't hide, ignore, or let them control you. Face your issues and manage them to benefit your life.

[V.S. Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was OK. Unlike what I usually read. I bought this from a local independent comic book shop and asked for something disturbing and they gave me this. While this wasn't disturbing, I thought the art was excellent.

[Pedro Lombarda · Rating 3 out of 5]

O conceito é muito bom as mais de metade do livro, o seu núcleo, é passado a repetir-se de trazer real evolução.

[Anga Kyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as scary as I expected. It was actually pretty sappy. The art was stellar though.

[Llyr Heller-Humphreys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hauntingly drawn, excellent

[The_J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Atmosphere characters that grow and development with blend to provide a satisfying ending.

[For The Novel Lovers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review
Title: The Boogyman by Mathieu Salvia
Genre: Graphic Novel, Horror, Fantasy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I was expecting a horror following boogymen when I picked this up from Edelweiss but what I got was a surprising wholesome and tear-jerking graphic novel about death and grief. We are following Elliott, who asa young boy believed in boogymen and had quite the obsession with them but he is being questioned by the police so we know something more sinister happened but he seems to be narrating the story as a older person looking back on these events.
We learn that boogymen are real and can influence human behaviour, one of these creatures is controlling a man that murders Elliott’s parents and when he goes after the boy he is protected by another Boogyman who is only called Father Death. After fleeing the house, Father Death intends to bring Elliott to safety but he is being hunted along with Elliott. Elliott is being hunted because he is a meal for the boogymen but Father Death is being hunted because he is an elder meaning in theory he is more powerful than other boogymen but he hasn’t feed for a long time.
This newer generation of boogymen are responsible for the massacre of almost all of the elders so they wouldn’t have to follow the rules and the strict code of conduct boogymen had. While Father Death and Elliott are on the run he seeks help from an old friend who was responsible for selling out the other elders to save himself resulting in his own death. However, this provides Father Death with the power he needs to protect Elliott from the other boogymen. As Father Death lays dying he explains to Elliott he used to be worse than the others but changed after Elliott was born and watching him grow into a curious young boy who saw the best in people. Honestly that ending literally brought me to tears and the full colour and artwork really worked in its favour.

[Justin Soderberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boogyman, written by Mathieu Silvia and illustrated by Djet, is a unique take on a traditional story filled with just the right amount of blood and gore in an action-packed adventure from Ablaze Publishing.

The Boogyman tells the story of Elliott, who witnesses the murder of his parents and gets plunged into the terrifying universe of the Boogymen. The series presents a unique take on classic horror stories by creating a universe where the monsters, rather than hiding in the shadows, live in an imaginary world with each other's rules and codes. The story is gripping and will keep you on the edge of your seat, as you follow Elliott's journey of self-discovery through this dangerous world of Boogymen.

What sets The Boogyman apart from other horror comics is the perfect balance of blood and gore without overdoing it. The artwork by Djet is breathtaking and is a perfect match for Silvia's writing. The illustrations have distinct characteristics with details down to the smallest features of each character, making it easier to recognize which boogymen are who, and helping readers to relate to them.

Besides the artwork, The Boogyman is a non-stop adventure full of action, thrill, and excitement.

The Boogyman is an adventurous take on the concept of boogymen, and it's perfect for fans of the horror genre. The storylines have both compelling and commendable characters to enjoy. The illustrations are amazing, and the writing is precise and rich in detail. The Boogyman is an example of an impressive horror comic that does not disappoint.

[Francesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il babau, il mostro sotto il letto, quello che trasversalmente a tantissime culture evoca tutto ciò che si nasconde nell’ombra, che si nutre di paura e disperazione.
Nella graphic novel scritta da Michael Salvia e illustrata da Djet i babau costituiscono una sorta di terrifico pantheon, si nutrono delle emozioni negative degli esseri umani e, in una sorta di scontro alla “American Gods”, si combattono per averne sempre di più. Perché se gli incubi antichi seguivano un codice, le nuove generazioni sono semplicemente insaziabili. In questo scenario un bambino, Elliot, si troverà a stringere una impensabile alleanza con il babau che vive nella sua cantina. Attraversando tavole dai toni sempre più cupi, Elliot si troverà a fuggire insieme a Papà Morte e Cane, imparando una lezione che lo accompagnerà per sempre. I mostri, soprattutto quelli che creiamo noi stessi, devono essere affrontati e che gli angoli di ombra vanno accettati, ma senza smarrirsi in essi.
Un’altra bellissima graphic novel in cui sono evidenti diversi livelli di lettura e interpretazione, che regalano spunti di riflessione per nulla scontati. A rendere la storia di Salvia ancora più d’effetto troviamo poi le tavole di Djet, con uno stile cupo e dinamico che, personalmente, adoro.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good series to read. I like the art, the characters, and the plot, I love their depiction of the bogeyman, especially of Father Death.
Maybe it is just me, but I think that the artists should go in more depth about the boogeymen and their world. I am still confused on what “little sisters“ are and where they come from. Actually, I am more confused on how Boogeymen came to be. Also, how did the elders, especially Father Death, keep the other bogeyman under control? I guess I want to learn more about their world.
Other than that, the authors did a great job, depicting the loving relationship between Father Death and Elliot. The part that touched me the most was,when Father Death told Elliot to mourn his loss when they are at a safe place. It touched me because Father Death told Elliot that he can cry when it is safe to do so instead of telling him to stop and “man up.”
And of course, I loved the ending. It was beautifully well done!

[Alex M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't sure what to expect but this was a well written, solidly illustrated, standalone story that is a bit dark but engaging and entertaining the whole way through