In his first graphic novel from Ten Speed ​​Graphics, YouTube and podcast star John “MrBallen” Allen offers a unique and terrifying read with MrBallen presents: strange, dark and mysterious. The book is adapted from MrBallen’s stories and illustrated by Andrea Mutti, with editor Matt Inman and letterer Tom Napolitano. This horror comic and anthology contains nine weird and spooky stories readers can look forward to this Halloween.

MrBallen presents: strange, dark and mysterious explores some of MrBallen’s most popular video stories, but now in illustrated form. Even though these stories are strange and terrifying, they are all based on unexplained real events and first-hand accounts that MrBallen and others have experienced. This haunting book reveals a mysterious and frightening world that will make readers wonder what is possible while delving into stories ranging from the paranormal to the cursed wilderness.

MrBallen Presents: Strange, Dark and Mysterious Transcends Mediums

The YouTuber’s gift for storytelling doesn’t disappoint in print

MrBallen presents: strange, dark and mysterious is a testament to the power of MrBallen’s storytelling which has captivated its audience on various platforms. His talent for drawing his audience into his stories and making them feel emotionally connected to the people within them is a rare and exceptional talent. Each chapter of the book begins with a new story and an intriguing title. The title alone quickly sets the scene and introduces the main characters, encouraging readers to continue. The natural flow and rhythm of each story is a hallmark of MrBallen’s storytelling style. It builds suspense and fear as readers come to the terrifying or unexplained conclusion of each of the stories in the book.

Andrea Mutti’s work is very detailed and advanced, reflecting his long and distinguished history of work in comics and illustration. His detailed line drawings provide a layer of depth and realism to his characters, allowing their individual features and facial expressions to tell the story. The sheer terror and distorted facial expressions of his characters convey a vast range of emotions to capture the true fear of the moment. However, some characters shared a minor but notable resemblance, which could potentially lead to confusion. Despite this glaring flaw, Mutti’s illustrations reinforce the horror element throughout the stories, particularly in scenes that include gore or supernatural beings. His haunting and disturbing works successfully transport readers into the dark and unexplained worlds contained within these frightening stories.

The coloring throughout the graphic novel is suitably toned down, relying on earthy and neutral tones rather than bright or vibrant color palettes. The book often leans towards darker color tones due to the nature of the stories being told. Black and light blue seem to be the predominant colors throughout the book as the majority of scenes take place at night or in the forest. Red is also frequently used when stories begin to reach their climax or most terrifying moment due to the depiction of blood or danger in the panels.

Tom Napolitano’s lettering is clean and consistent throughout the book. All bubbles and dialog boxes use the same font in black and white letters for an easier reading experience. Letters are often bolded for emphasis as the story is told, usually placing bolded words where one would normally emphasize a word when verbally telling a story. Irritating and ominous letters are also used in the panels for sounds occurring in the frightening narrative to increase the reader’s overall feeling of fear.

MrBallen Presents: Strange, Dark & ​​Mysterious is a must-read for fans of the unexplained

The anthology’s weak finale barely affects the rest of the book

The episodic format of the book is perfect for the way MrBallen tells stories. The way he shares his stories online translates well to print, and the book preserves both his narrative style and his well-known personality. The book is divided into nine chapters that tell nine self-contained stories from different horror subgenres. Some stories feature classic monsters, while others depict unfathomable terrors beyond mortal comprehension. This variety ensures that there will be something for everyone. While featuring nine complete stories is great from a marketing and creative perspective, MrBallen presents: strange, dark and mysterious might have benefited from a reorganization of the order of these stories.

The final story of the book is arguably the weakest, and this makes the book end on a low note rather than a stronger impression. Although it could have been so much more, it (thankfully) doesn’t completely ruin the book. MrBallen presents: strange, dark and mysterious is filled with such fun and scary treats that it more than makes up for a lukewarm finale. For one, the front of the book contains a labeled map that shows the geographic location of where each mysterious event took place, which is a nice touch that educates the reader. The book also provides a further reading section that cites sources and links for each of the stories that readers can refer to if they wish to learn more and delve deeper into the strange event.

MrBallen presents: strange, dark and mysterious is a gripping and terrifying journey through mysterious events happening across the world. Given the Halloween season, it’s the perfect time to delve into the many scary stories MrBallen tells and share them with others around a metaphorical campfire. For anyone fascinated by supernatural or unexplained events that have never been resolved, MrBallen’s debut horror graphic novel is a must-read.

MrBallen Presents: Strange, Dark & ​​Mysterious is now available wherever books are sold.

MrBallen presents: strange, dark and mysterious

A vividly illustrated graphic novel collection of nine strange, dark, and mysterious stories based on true events from the mind behind the MrBallen YouTube channel and podcast.

WRITER

John B. Allen (aka MrBallen), Robert Venditti

Artist

Andrea Mutti

Cover artist

Rob Avant

Editor

Ten-speed chart

Release date

October 1, 2024

Benefits

• Nine scary stories provide plenty of variety.
• Impeccable storytelling creates suspense and intrigue.
• The artwork adds realism, emotion and terror to the stories.
• The maps and resources cited help educate readers.

Disadvantages

• The book ends on a low note.
• Some characters seemed almost indistinguishable.