Creatures of the Night

Among Gaiman's comics that aren't part of a series, such as Sandman and such, the two stories in this volume definitely stand out. They are both very haunting, creepy, and really draw the reader in. There is a mythic quality to them, and yet while reading them my unbelief was temporarily suspended. The twists and turns the plots take are rather unexpected at times, and make for a very enjoyable read.

...so I don't really know anything about the book, but my niece had it on her Wish List and all I know is that she really likes it.

If you've never read Neil Gaiman before, this is not the place to start. These are illustrated adaptations of two of his stories collected in Smoke and Mirrors. If you're more interested in his comic work, read Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes. If you like novels, start with American Gods. If you just read Gaiman but aren't a collector, as I've said, these are in Smoke and Mirrors. On the other hand, if you love the beautiful art of Michael Zulli (whom I've loved since the days of Puma Blues) and want to see him adapt two of Gaiman's stories, you won't be disappointed. To see more adaptations of Gaiman's stories, check out Murder Mysteries and Harlequin Valentine.

Able to spin great tales from the endless realms of human dream and natural wonder, Neil Gaiman is among the very finest of writers around today. Touching the bonds between the mundane and the marvelous, with a flair for language and character which can touch gently and brusquely arouse, often at the same time, Gaiman's scope unflinchingly draws our particpation in some of the most illustrious tales ever told. Those who've experienced his gripping work in novels such as AMERICAN GODS, haunting teleplays such as BABYLON 5's "Day Of The Dead", or Sequential landmarks such as THE SANDMAN and the playfully-beckoning 1602, know full well what a Grandmaster of Literature Neil Gaiman is. Yet, an area which Gaiman is drawing renewed attention is the area of the illustrated narrative. Fresh ground was broken when Gaiman and the superb illustrator Charles Vess redefined Faerie lore with the award-winning STARDUST. Now, with the visual depth and engraver's genius of illustrator Michael Zulli, Gaiman strikes deep with Dark Horse Comics' CREATURES OF THE NIGHT. The handsome hardcover offers a pair of tantalizing vignettes which unveil elusive tableaus of what we cannot see, or often refuse to face. With word balloons absent from all but two strategially-placed pages, the result is a daring read for the attentive spirit, and curious soul. In "The Price", a black cat's steadfast ordeal is the window into a deeper mystery as old as Time itself. "The Daughter Of Owls" peers vividly into essential places where the wayward and lustful dare not go. Each tale is delivered with a seamless intimacy which belies the looming, often terrifying issues at stake. An artist whose work spans across entire idioms, Neil Gaiman is a cunning storyteller with much to tell. Those who think Gaiman's gifts are fit only for any one title, or should be limited to any one field, do the author -and themselves- a grave injustice. Enter evening, reading slowly, mindful of all paths......

Granted this book is short (note: 48 pages) and consists only of two stories. But they are new and they are good stories. Gaiman does what he does so well- weaves a tale so well that you're captivated until the end (no matter how long or short the story is). If you're an avid reader of his online journal, you may recognize the black cat in the first story- which has a shocker near the end. I had a, "Whoaaa... No way, man" moment. And the second reads a lot like an old Grimm fairy tale- the kind that doesn't necessarily end "happily ever after" for everyone. And Zulli's artwork is wonderful in both stories. I collect all of Gaiman's work, so this was a no brainer purchase for me. If you're new to his work, maybe try Murder Mysteries or Stardust or definitely the Sandman series first. You'll get hooked, I promise. I gave this 4 out of 5 stars strictly because it was so short. I wouldn't have minded waiting for a hardcover with at least five stories of the same length as these two. Because then the book would have lasted longer than half an hour!