Updated 2 years ago
This is Barry Windsor-Smith‘s magnum opus – written in his sixties. This staggering work will be what he is remembered for, and redefines the scope of what a graphic novel means.
Monsters covers 20 years, the tale of a Nazi experiment gone wrong, and how it shatters a family in Ohio, with just the right amount of mysticism, like Stephen King at his best. Parts of it feel very The Shining and The Stand. And elements of an epic manga like Akira. It expertly incorporates both Lovecraftian cosmic horror with Shelleyian body horror, all the while firmly grounded in real human relationships, exploring themes of family, abuse, healing, war, and death.
Monsters is right behind Watchmen in the pantheon of great comics. I read the whole thing in one sitting – at 365 pages, it’s 3/4 of a gigabyte. And as I am future-focused rather than living in the moment these days, I don’t actually consume media on the fly for longer than 2 minutes. (Side note, reading comics is a great way to get back to reading, stretching out your attention span to sane levels, and weaning your brain off of a TikTok dopamine-depleting treadmill)
….Monsters was worth the exception. I look forward to rereading it after a few years (not sooner – it was dark.)
It will stay with you. So what are you waiting for! Treat yourself to a great saga!
https://www.fantagraphics.com/products/monsters
Here are a few low res panels (negligible spoilers):
