Once Upon a Time (Nightmares & Fairy Tales, Vol. 1) [Paperback]

Serena Valentino (Author), FSc (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 20, 2004

This haunting first collection of Annabelle's memories are filled with frightening stories and dark fairy tales about her various owners . Featuring the first 6 issues, as well as some other spookirific surprises, including an introduction by Tommy Kovac (Skelebunnies, Stitch and Autumn) as well as a guest page by Jhonen Vasquez and other SLG creators.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: SLG Publishing (April 20, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0943151872
• ISBN-13: 978-0943151878
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,589 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars dark fantasy at its best, April 12, 2004

By 

Matt O. "Daffyphack" (Boone, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Once Upon a Time (Nightmares & Fairy Tales, Vol. 1) (Paperback)

People familiar with Slave Labor Graphics usually think of the authors that write for it: Jhonen Vasquez, Roman Dirge, Evan Dorkin, the list goes on. Some of them turn out incredible works like "Johnny the Homicidal Maniac", and others turn out rubbish like "Outlook: Grim". I didn't know about SLG's hitandmiss record when I went into my comic book store and bought a handful of different titles. Most of them were disappointing, with the exception of a couple. "Nightmares and Fairy Tales" was the best one I picked up that day.

The series is written by Serena Valentino, the writer of the rather prolific "Gloomcookie". I've never read her other work, so I can't pretend I'm an expert, but in "Nightmares" she's extremely competent. As the title suggests, she takes fairy tales (most of which are already pretty nightmarish in their origins) and adds a little bit more oomph.

The thing that keeps the series from just being a bunch of random stories is the constant presence of a doll, named Annabelle (hence, Annabelle Speaks for the trade title). The doll serves as the connection between all the stories, whether as a character or a narrator. At first glance, I was worried that the doll technique would get irritating, but its done with a light enough touch that it doesn't feel forced. Illustrations are done by FSc (Zeet), and they are one of the main reasons I continue to read. There's definitely a Japanese influence in the artwork, and sometimes it works better than others, but it always looks good.

As for the stories, they're all pretty bittersweet. Some end happily (kinda), and others end on a real down note (notably the first storyline in the series (ish 1 and 2). For me, the best story was from issue number 5. In it, little Gwen has just moved to her new house with her less than appreciative parents. She is convinced that something is lurking in the walls, but her mom and dad refuse to take her seriously. The only time she feels safe are when she meets her next door neighbor (a kindly witch) and is talking to her doll (Annabelle, in the only instance where a human can actually hear her). Its a storyline that begs to be made into something larger. This trade consists of the first six issues of the comic, and at a price under eleven dollars, that's quite a bargain. If you're someone who's into fantasy, but who loathes "happily ever after", this is the collection for you.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Annabelle Speaks....., May 9, 2004

By 

CreepyT "CreepyTendencies" (Colorado, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Once Upon a Time (Nightmares & Fairy Tales, Vol. 1) (Paperback)

Annabelle is a doll who seems to always be present when things go awry. Whether she is part of the cause or merely an unlucky bystander isn't quite known, but either way her luck seems to have run out long ago. "Nightmares & Fairytales" is a string of her memories, all of which seem to be morbid takes on various fairytales we all know and love. This particular collection includes the first six comics collected into one exquisitely done graphic novel at an unbeatable price.

The stories, though varied versions of well-known tales, manage nonetheless to be original and quite unique. No two tales are even remotely the same. With a cast of characters that includes lesbian vampires, evil-harboring nuns, and monsters in the closet/walls, Serena Valentino clearly puts her amazing imagination to work with an array of tales that never ceases to amaze, and never leaves the reader bored. I love the anime-style artwork tinged with a dark twist that can be, at times, rather graphic. Yet, the artist (FSC) accomplishes this without ever being too gruesome.

I definitely recommend this collection to fans of comics such as "Lenore," "Johnny the Homicidal Maniac," and "Squee." Though more morbid and certainly not as humorous as the aforementioned comics, Annabelle Speaks won't disappoint those with a taste for stories and artwork that dance on the darker side of life.

As Tommy Kovac says in the introduction: "Curl up in a big chair with this book, and if it's not raining outside, pretend that it is."

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dolls and Monsters, September 7, 2004

By 

Little Old Me - See all my reviews

This review is from: Once Upon a Time (Nightmares & Fairy Tales, Vol. 1) (Paperback)

The true literary pioneers seem to manifest from small presses and blossom in independent bookstores. But there still is a certain haughty nautre to those successful, yet underrated, literary masterpieces. A reader of the avant-garde would probably never consider including graphic novels and comic books amongst the latter. But, they're still there: countless volumes of cult-classics and unconventional stories told through graphic novels. We overlook such groudbreaking artists like Neil Gaiman (THE SANDMAN series), Jhonen Vasquez (JOHNNY THE HOMICIDAL MANIAC), Allison Bechdel (the DYKES TO WATCH OUT FOR series), Edward Gorey (AMPHIGOREY, THE GASHLYCRUMB TINNIES) and Michelle Tea (RENT GIRL). Yet they are all prolific, artsy and fantastic storytellers. They deserve as much recognition as the break through small press heros.

If this group of artists and writers is to be recognized, then they should be considered their own private avant-garde and Serena Valentino's "NIGHTMARE AND FAIRY TALES" should be included amongst this list.

NIGHTMARES AND FAIRY TALES: ONCE UPON A TIME, combines the first several volumes of Ms. Valentino's underground comic book series, which masterfully blends horror with fantasy elements and placing it in a modern day setting.
The narrator comes into the form of a small demented looking doll, named Annabelle, who is almost magnetically drawn to murderous creatures of the dark and the unfortunate heroines who fall victim to them. As Annabelle states, it is unknown, even to herself, if she is the cause of all the death and despair that befalls her owners, or if she is merely an observer or chronicler to the events.

Her first tales involve an unfortunate young goth girl, invovled in a relationship with another girl who believes she's a vampire. When her friends start getting murdered, Annabelle can only whisper out warnings and watches her owner's downfall. She later retells more demented versions of Snow White and Cinderella, again, hinting that she had some stake in the creation of these horror-fairy tales themselves.

Like one of the previous reviewers, I was most drawn to the fifth story, featuring young Gwen, a polite and shy little girl who moves into a very spooky house. Her next door neighbor is an elderly woman, "Aunt Bea", who offers Annabelle as a gift on move-in day and promises that the strange doll will protect her. As Gwen slowly realizes that disgusting monsters lurk behind the cracks of her bedroom walls, we also learn that her parents are just as monstrous and physically abuse her. Annabelle offers consolence and protection from the monsters, but there's only so many things she can do. When Gwen's father locks her in the closet for a night, Gwen cries at that the monsters are coming to harm her and from next door, Aunt Bea pleads for Annabelle to protect her and kill the monsters. The next morning, Gwen's parents are found ripped apart by some unknown beast.

Certainly not a comic book for young children, NIGHTMARES AND FAIRY TALES is amazing and mystical. Written with wizdom and poisoned ink, it creates the more shadows than one is comfortable with, but sheds a little light for hope that the reader will survive until morning.