Dwellings
When most people think of horror anthologies in the comic medium, they might think of EC Comic’s Tales from the Crypt or The 
Vault of Fear. They might also think of Creepshow, a series of movies and television shows that were an homage to comics like Tales from the Crypt. Very few might think of, or even remember, Harvey Comics, creators of Casper the Friendly Ghost and Wendy the Good Little Witch. Writer and artist Jay Stephens seems to have been thinking of both when he created Dwellings, a more grown-up horror anthology that utilizes Harvey Comics’ artistic style.
The town of Elwich, at first glance, doesn’t appear too different from other small towns in Canada, except that it is cursed. Many of Elwich’s inhabitants have had encounters with ghosts, monsters, demons, and things that go bump (and worse) in the night, and their stories are told in this anthology. But be warned that the ghosts in this book are definitely not friendly nor are the witches (and warlocks) here in any way good.
While it is tempting to dismiss this book as a gimmick, relying on the shock value of seeing characters that could have leaped out of the ‘50s funny pages bleed and be dismembered, Stephens does tell some solid scary stories. Standout tales in this book feature a woman who is searching for her grandmother in a forest along with her hand puppet companion and a tale about a haunted attraction that wreaks havoc on its customers. Those familiar with Creepshow and Tales format (or the format of many horror short stories) will recognize the twist endings that come at the end of these stories while reaching for the readers’ collective throat.
The dichotomy of mature and violent stories told through a cutesy art style might initially draw in the curious, but Stephens shows a commitment that goes beyond merely drawing a few cutesy characters dying horrifically. Those who actually remember when comic books were not only under a dollar but had ads for x-ray specs and exploding gum will marvel at the attention to detail Stephens’ ads add to the book’s overall tone while also hinting at the stories that are contained within.
One particular highlight that strengthens the illusion of this book time-traveling from the fifties is the six panel black-and-white comic “Aw Hell.” When all of “Aw Hell” is read, it eventually reveals the humorous story of how a scoundrel named Jack tricked the devil and later birthed the Jack O’Lantern. Dwellings is full of moments like this that immerse the reader in a universe where it could be bought at the local drug store for pocket change.
This book is specifically geared toward more adult horror fans, but teens (or teen librarians) who aren’t too squeamish might like to give Dwellings a home. Though it might seem like the book is targeting a small niche group of horror fans who also love Casper and Wendy, fans of punchy horror stories, particularly those fans with a sense of humor, should like how Stephens homages horror comics.
Dwellings
By Jay Stephens
Oni Press, 2024
ISBN: 9781637152911
Publisher Age Rating: 12 and up
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16)
Creator Representation: Canadian,
