Nights Vol. 1
Writer: Wyatt Kennedy
Artist: Luigi Formisano
Colorists: Francesco Segala & Gloria Martinelli
Letterer: Maria Letizia Mirabella
Publisher: Image Comics
Collects: Issues #1-6
Publication Date: June 2024
Nights Vol. 1 is both similar to a lot of things but unlike anything I’ve ever read. On a superficial level, you can draw comparisons to other series and point out references, but the series has a rich personality of its own that the reader can get a solid grasp on over the course of the first volume of the series. When announcing the series, writer Wyatt Kennedy stated:
“I basically wanted to make the greatest Toonami show that ever existed. There’s so many bizarre genre-bending elements with horror, comedy, action, and romance, but the characters are the true heart of this story”
His words write true to the first volume of the ongoing series, because although Nights Vol. 1 feels so familiar in so many ways, like a long-forgotten cult animated show, it’s very much it’s own thing. The series follows teenager Vince Okonma in 2003, after having lost his parents. He moves in with his cousin, secretly a mercenary, makes friends with a skeleton game developer, and falls in love with a vampire. That’s only the first issue, too. There’s plenty more where that came from.
Much of the worldbuilding in the series is both surreal and subtle, such as the existence of 31 American states as opposed to 50, or how casually people react to a walking, talking skeleton as opposed to a vampire. In the wrong hands, I’m sure Nights Vol. 1’s worldbuilding could come off as nonsensical, but every choice feels like the right kind of peculiar – building up mysteries for the reader and engaging them at every turn. This is a series which is going for long-term storytelling, setting things up and paying them off at a somewhat more glacial pace than some comic fans may be used to. There’s also a lot of anime influence, mainly from cult classics such as FLCL and Bakemonogatari.
Wyatt Kennedy‘s greatest strength as a writer is his sense for dialogue and conversation. One of the strongest aspects of his previous series Bolero with superstar artist Luana Vecchio was the witty, realistic dialogue which very much seemed as if it might be spoken by the reader’s actual real life friends, and this same skill returns for Nights Vol. 1. Each character has a distinct voice, with unique phrases and mannerisms. It helps the reader connect, and really deeply begin to empathize with the cast, many of whom are hurting people or otherwise troubled in one way or another. Ensemble casts have to follow a tricky balancing act with their characters, lest you leave any underdeveloped, and Kennedy seems to be performing said act wonderfully.
Speaking of the characters, they truly are the central guiding force of the book. Matt is a loveable goofball skeleton, hiding his own pain and darkness deep below layers of sarcasm and humor. Ivory is probably the character with the least initial personality, but it unveils slowly over the course of the first volume. Vince is a wonderful main protagonist, in that he’s not simply an insert for the reader. He has his own flaws, driving motivations, and imperfections, and feels like a realistic depiction of the mindset many lost young people feel during aimless moments of their lives. The standout character however is Gray, the world’s greatest vampire, whose story is currently packed densely with mystery and intrigue. She’s charismatic, memorable, and confident, taking center stage in issue #5, the standout of the series up to this point.
The artwork by newcomer Luigi Formisanoalongside colorists Francesco Segala & Gloria Martinelli It is one of the best aspects of the book. Formisano‘s artstyle is punchy and memorable, with the right balance of realism and stylized elements that works so well in comic books. His visual sensibility is nothing less than stellar, with each character standing out greatly with their unique designs. The color work by Segala and Martinelli It is top-notch, with bright colors that pop off the page while you read. Formiano seems to be blessed in that he can both draw action and intimate character moments really well, and the story affords him time and space to do both in equal measure.
Overall, Nights is both a story about oddballs and a unique story in and of itself. It’s about the pains of adolescence, but feels rich with new things to say and new ways to explore them. The whole creative team seems to be putting their all into each and every issue, including making custom merchandise for every issue, and the first trade is more than worth the read. If you’re anything like me, and you’re searching for more unique comics with love and effort put in, you should check it out.
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