Dwellings - by Jay Stephens (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This volume collects Dwellings #1-6 originally published by Black Eye Books."

Book Synopsis

A 2023 National Cartoonists Society Reuben Awards Comics Finalist

A 2024 ALA Best Graphic Novel for Adults

"The kind of nightmare horror fans won't want to wake up from." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Genuinely disturbing...if you feel brave, check it out." --The Toronto Star

"An absolute delight. Probably the most fun I've had while flinching squeamishly on the edge of my seat..." --BOING BOING

Welcome to Elwich--an oasis of small-town perfection, where the schools overflow with cheery-eyed children, lovingly adorned homes line the historic boulevards . . . and only the crows can see the deep, festering rot that lurks beneath the pristine surface.

Murder.
Demonology.
Possession.
Obsession.

Elwich has them all on offer--and behind every dwelling awaits a horrifying new story to be told.

Shock, terror, and wry humor pepper every page of Emmy Award-winning, Eisner Award-nominated cartoonist and animator Jay Stephens's Dwellings.

Review Quotes

"A single, rewardingly complicated narrative [...] It's the sort of thing you can enjoy once, and then resolve not to read again because it was too disturbing and then immediately pick back up."-- "The New York Times"

"Readers who enjoyed Afterlife with Archie by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa or Octopus Girl by Toru Yamazaki will enjoy untangling the plots of these six cutesy yet highly disturbing stories."-- "Library Journal"

"Recommend this book to fans of Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, where along with gory content comes a healthy dose of dark humor."
-- "Booklist"

"A gags and gore combo that looks like Charlie Brown turned into a psychopath."-- "Publishers Weekly, Top 10 Adult Comics for Spring"

"Dwellings is an unnerving collection of interconnected short stories set in the town of Elwich. Each story combines the aesthetics of classic all-ages comics with horror tropes to create a unique, unforgettable reading experience."-- "CBR"

"A twisted horror comedy series where darkness lurks beneath the squeaky-clean exterior of an idyllic small town."

-- "IGN"

"Glorious and gorgeous old-school cartooning with a sinister underbelly. Highly recommended!"--Jeff Lemire

"Quite possibly the best horror comic of the last 20 years."

-- "The Comics Journal"

"Superb... a compelling read from start to finish."
-- "Comics Beat"

"This year's most unique and twisted horror reading experience... Retro cuteness and bloody gore make for a disturbingly nostalgic twinge... An oversized helping of deliciously discomforting horror."-- "House of Nerd"

About the Author

Jay Stephens is a three-decade veteran of the Canadian alt-comics scene, starting out in the early 1990s with the influential creator-owned series' Sin, The Land of Nod, Atomic City Tales, and Jetcat Clubhouse, while also dabbling in licensed comics work like Aliens, Star Wars, Teen Titans, and The Invisibles. Also known for his kids' comic strips Chick & Dee, Arrowhead, and the syndicated newspaper strip Oh, Brother!, as well as the underground weekly strips, Oddville! and Nod. Jay's side career in film includes working in the Art Department on a few low-budget horror movies, and creating and producing animated television like Jetcat, the Emmy Award-winning Tutenstein, and Cartoon Network's The Secret Saturdays.