Crossing Midnight Vol. 2: A Map of Midnight [Paperback]

Mike Carey (Author), Jim Fern (Illustrator), Eric Nguyen (Illustrator), Jose Villarrubia (Colorist)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 13, 2008

A fantasy/horror series set in the heart of present-day Nagakaki, Japan where a set of extraordinary twins are born -- one just before midnight and the other just after. They discover the huge impact this minor difference has on their destinies when the after-midnight twin, Toshi, is inducted into a world of supernatural beings and events that intersects with our own world. Now Toshi and her brother, Kai, desperately try to stay one step ahead of their terrifying fates while they learn how far their new world of terror intersects with their own.

In this volume, Toshi must choose her weapons and begin her hazardous training through a fairy- tale-gone-wrong world like nothing anyone has ever experienced. Plus, Kai falls in with the enjokosai -- middle- to high-school-age girls who go on dates for money. It's legal in Japan, but a supernatural slasher is voicing disapproval in the bloodiest ways imaginable.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Siblings Kai and Toshi Hara’s adventure continues from Cut Here (2007). Haunted by vague memories of Kai, Toshi settles in as a scrape grace, a spirit that cuts away nightmare elements from dreams. After Toshi has a run-in with an agent of death, trouble comes looking for her. Kai continues searching for Toshi, eventually amid Tokyo’s seedier streets, and lands in the middle of a murder mystery. Carey merges mythology and mystery as he reveals more about the kami spirits and the unlucky twins. Resembling the more realistic manga styles, Jim Fern’s art conjures an unsettled feeling that suits the clashing of normal and spirit worlds. --Tina Coleman

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Vertigo (February 13, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401216455
• ISBN-13: 978-1401216450
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 0.2 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #573,795 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Home Run From Mike Carey and Vertigo, September 7, 2008

By 

Andrew Shaffer "Author, Blogger" (Iowa) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crossing Midnight Vol. 2: A Map of Midnight (Paperback)

"Crossing Midnight" is touted as a "fairy tale for horror fans," and it thoroughly fulfills this promise. Fans of other Vertigo series, such as "Y" and "Fables," will enjoy this book, as will fans of Japanese horror films. The art, by "Fables" artist Jim Fern, is gorgeous yet again. Carey's handling of Asian culture really shines here, especially in his take on Japanese "enjokosai."

This volume expands on the mythology introduced in volume 1. Unfortunately, it's been canceled as of the third volume, so it will be interesting to see how Carey wraps things up.

4.0 out of 5 stars Best of the Bunch, April 7, 2011

By 

Robi (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crossing Midnight Vol. 2: A Map of Midnight (Paperback)

I just randomly picked up volumes 1 and 2 of Crossing Midnight at the library because I was bored and they looked interesting. It's been awhile since I was really into reading comics and I hadn't heard of Carey before. Honestly, vol. 1 was pretty typical. Aside from the setting in Japan there wasn't anything there I haven't seen and read before. And it took way too long to set the stage. Comparatively, and perhaps as a negative balance, I've just recently read that vol. 3 (which I have yet to read, the library doesn't carry it yet) proceeds much too fast to the resolution. And that is really a shame because the middle volume is juuuuust right. Read it yesterday and it's still rolling around in my mind, always the sign of good story.

Interesting and new writing, new plot developments, characters being flushed out, the story just progresses at a really nice pace; it had a lot going for it. Actually, it reminded me a little bit of Sandman: a page dedicated to an unknown, totally human character that serves to set up the fallout in the following pages. And in a tip to classiness, Mr. Carey dedicates the last page of the graphic novel to awareness of teenage prostitution in three countries with instructions about how to get involved. He is answering the slew of rabid fanmail about the individual comics contained within volume 2 I'm sure, but regardless, it's insightful. And culturally thought provoking.

2 is certainly better than 1 but I haven't read 3 yet.