The Night eaters vol 1 by Marjorie Liu

Illustrated by Sana Takeda
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Twins Milly and Billy have some polar-opposite parents - their father is open, honest, and loving; their mother, Ipo, is cold, chain-smokes, and cares only for her plants. Despite the lack of love they might have felt, the two have grown up, gone off to college, and returned to run a fairly successful restaurant that's surviving during COVID precautions. The biggest blight on their lives is the house across the street, where their elderly neighbor was murdered, and the plant life has taken over the structure. No one seems to be interested in buying the place in its current state, so Ipo forces the twins to help her get the place back into shape, including taking care of the supernatural entities that still haunt the space.

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Ipo really is a piece of work and not likable at all, but the twist at the end of the story makes everything fall into place and make sense. The authors keep the suspense heightened up until the final few pages, and the ending is highly satisfying. Takeda's illustrations are as beautiful in this story as they are in Monstress. The plants are beautiful and lush, but the entire title has a kind of sepia over it that lends to the creepiness. Every page has a tinge of darkness or something spooky, which makes this something that will definitely appeal for fans of horror comics.

There is quite a bit of blood, some violence, cussing, and some horror elements that would make this better for older readers.

Sara's Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12

Publisher: Abrams
Publication Date: October 11, 2022
ISBN: 9781419758706 (Hardcover)

​Tags: Rating: 9/10, Suitability: High School, Graphic Fiction, Horror, Supernatural, Family, Abrams ComicsArts