Customer Reviews

Crossing Midnight Vol. 2: A Map of Midnight

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"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.

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.