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The Werewolf at Dusk: And Other Stories
Confronting “the beast within” us all, Werewolf at Dusk celebrates the singular genius of David Small, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Stitches . Following the internationally acclaimed publication of Stitches , David Small emerged as a storied figure in graphic literature, eliciting comparisons to Stan Lee and Alfred Hitchcock. Werewolf at Dusk , appearing fifteen years later, is his homage to aging―gracefully or otherwise. The three stories in this collection are linked, Small writes, “by the dread of things internal.” In the title story, an adaptation of Lincoln Michel’s much-loved short, the dread is that of a man who has reached old age with something repellant―even bestial―in his nature. The specter of old age also haunts the semi-autobiographical story “A Walk in the Old City,” with its looming spiders and cascading brainmatter―a dreamscape that gives way to the ominous environs of 1930s Berlin in the final story, a reinterpretation of Jean Ferry’s “The Tiger in Vogue.” As fluid as manga and rife with unsettling imagery, Werewolf at Dusk affirms Small’s place as a modern master of graphic fiction. Full-color throughout
192 pages, Hardcover
First published March 12, 2024
About the author
David Small
91 books302 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
David Small is the recipient of the Caldecott Medal, a Christopher Medal, and the E. B. White Award for his picture books, which include Imogene's Antlers, The Gardener, and So, You Want to Be President? He lives in Mendon, Michigan.
David Small is the recipient of the Caldecott Medal, a Christopher Medal, and the E. B. White Award for his picture books, which include Imogene's Antlers, The Gardener, and So, You Want to Be President? He lives in Mendon, Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
February 1, 2024
A collection of short stories from acclaimed illustrator and graphic novelist David Small. The central story “A Walk in the Old City” is one of Small’s own, the other two are adaptations: one of contemporary writer Lincoln Michel’s “The Werewolf at Dusk”; the other Jean Ferry’s classic, weird tale “The Tiger in Vogue”. What connects all three are Small’s interest in their shared themes of aging, alienation and dread.
Michel’s flash fiction piece “The Werewolf at Dusk” works surprisingly well presented in a primarily visual form. Michel’s allegorical, tragicomic fantasy is centred on a werewolf who’s nearing the end of his life. Small’s poignant images, and creative colour palette, skilfully communicate the possible impact of loss of power, growing social invisibility, and fear of mortality that lies at its heart, as the werewolf finds himself barely able to chase a squirrel let alone chase down larger prey.
Small’s “A Walk in the Old City” is a hauntingly-surreal account of a disillusioned therapist walking the streets in the dead of night who is drawn into an unexpectedly horrifying, uncanny encounter which challenges his very sense of self.
Author and screenwriter Jean Ferry’s “Le Tigre Mondain” was first published in 1947, a favourite of horror writer Thomas Ligotti and heralded by Andre Breton as “the most sensationally new poetical text I have read in a long time.” The original is an unsettling slice-of-life narrative that reads like prose poetry, in which a man makes a visit to a music hall where he’s confronted by an act he loathes. The act featuring a tiger in human garb and their trainer conjures images of looming social collapse and the violence simmering beneath the surface of everyday reality. Ferry changed his name from Levy during WW2 and spent years dodging the Nazis, so Small’s decision to set Ferry’s story in a cabaret hall in 1920s Germany doesn’t feel too far away from the author’s vision. Small’s version draws on visual references to artists of the time notably George Grosz, but his interpretation of the shadowy man who hovers behind the scenes of the tiger act as Hitler felt a little too literal. Part of the force of Ferry’s piece resides in its fragmentary, uncertain quality. But, despite some reservations, there was a lot I really liked about this, particularly Small’s attentive approach and the inventive visual imagery of his artwork.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Liveright, W.W. Norton & Company
Rating: 3.5
Michel’s flash fiction piece “The Werewolf at Dusk” works surprisingly well presented in a primarily visual form. Michel’s allegorical, tragicomic fantasy is centred on a werewolf who’s nearing the end of his life. Small’s poignant images, and creative colour palette, skilfully communicate the possible impact of loss of power, growing social invisibility, and fear of mortality that lies at its heart, as the werewolf finds himself barely able to chase a squirrel let alone chase down larger prey.
Small’s “A Walk in the Old City” is a hauntingly-surreal account of a disillusioned therapist walking the streets in the dead of night who is drawn into an unexpectedly horrifying, uncanny encounter which challenges his very sense of self.
Author and screenwriter Jean Ferry’s “Le Tigre Mondain” was first published in 1947, a favourite of horror writer Thomas Ligotti and heralded by Andre Breton as “the most sensationally new poetical text I have read in a long time.” The original is an unsettling slice-of-life narrative that reads like prose poetry, in which a man makes a visit to a music hall where he’s confronted by an act he loathes. The act featuring a tiger in human garb and their trainer conjures images of looming social collapse and the violence simmering beneath the surface of everyday reality. Ferry changed his name from Levy during WW2 and spent years dodging the Nazis, so Small’s decision to set Ferry’s story in a cabaret hall in 1920s Germany doesn’t feel too far away from the author’s vision. Small’s version draws on visual references to artists of the time notably George Grosz, but his interpretation of the shadowy man who hovers behind the scenes of the tiger act as Hitler felt a little too literal. Part of the force of Ferry’s piece resides in its fragmentary, uncertain quality. But, despite some reservations, there was a lot I really liked about this, particularly Small’s attentive approach and the inventive visual imagery of his artwork.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Liveright, W.W. Norton & Company
Rating: 3.5
December 26, 2023
A collection of three stories, two of which are adapted from other authors. The title story is about a werewolf that has grown old, both in his human and werewolf form and is no longer as dangerous as he used to be. Then there's a surreal story about a man lost in an old city. The last story is about a tiger performing on a stage in a three-piece suit in the 1920's that is an obvious allegory to what happened in Germany between WWI and WWII.
April 2, 2024
***I thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review***
Hauntingly evocative, David Small adapts the stories intricately into his simple yet unsettling artwork in Werewolf at Dusk. I absolutely loved the dark vibes which were captured brilliantly. My favourite one would be the second, A Walk in the Old City. I love slice-of-life tales that turn out to be creepy and horrifying <3
“During this farce, my heart beats excruciatingly under my ribs, for I alone see, I alone know that this tasteless spectacle is made possible by a miracle of willpower... that we are all in a state of frightfully unstable equilibrium which a mere trifle could destroy.”
⊹ . ⋆ ☽ ⋆ . ➶
Hauntingly evocative, David Small adapts the stories intricately into his simple yet unsettling artwork in Werewolf at Dusk. I absolutely loved the dark vibes which were captured brilliantly. My favourite one would be the second, A Walk in the Old City. I love slice-of-life tales that turn out to be creepy and horrifying <3
“During this farce, my heart beats excruciatingly under my ribs, for I alone see, I alone know that this tasteless spectacle is made possible by a miracle of willpower... that we are all in a state of frightfully unstable equilibrium which a mere trifle could destroy.”
⊹ . ⋆ ☽ ⋆ . ➶
April 1, 2024
The Werewolf at Dusk and Other Stories by David Small (2024) is a haunting, mesmerizing, and thought-provoking work of art. I am guessing that after you read this book parts of it will stay in your mind. Further I am guessing you might/will be rereading it. This is a stimulating book.
Small is the visual artist/drawer/sketcher for each of the three stories in the book. And for one of the stories, he is the writer. In all cases he is the ‘placer of the words or absence of words on the page’. Because that is part of the artistic process of storytelling with words and pictures.
I see this book as visual storytelling for young adults and adults in general. To say that Small ‘illustrated’ these stories is, in my mind, not reflecting the power of these drawings. I believe this book’s visual artwork dramatically amplifies, focuses, and deepens that provocative impact of each story.
The Werewolf at Dusk and Other Stories is full of things to think about, like: werewolves (of course), narrow walkways, a body that is growing old and losing its power, eerie spiders hanging from bridges, splattered blood, vertigo, a fierce tiger, an even more fierce little man with a mustache, and a man shutting the door to any possibility he might help others become aware of what he knows to be a coming tragedy.
Kirkus Review, in their starred review, explain that: “The latest (book) from writer-artist Small is a triptych of short illustrated stories (two adaptions and one original) that explore the idea of lurking monsters.” And they summed up Small’s work on this book as “Surreal and searing.”
David Small is and has been inspiring thoughts, for over forty years, to those of us that have been reading him from: Eulalie and the Hopping Head (1982), to Imogene’s Antlers (1985), to The Gardener (written by Sarah Stewart, his wife - 1997), to Stitches (2009) and dozens of other books he has written and or illustrated.
I highly recommend this book. It is an exceptional and unusually energizing piece of art!
Small is the visual artist/drawer/sketcher for each of the three stories in the book. And for one of the stories, he is the writer. In all cases he is the ‘placer of the words or absence of words on the page’. Because that is part of the artistic process of storytelling with words and pictures.
I see this book as visual storytelling for young adults and adults in general. To say that Small ‘illustrated’ these stories is, in my mind, not reflecting the power of these drawings. I believe this book’s visual artwork dramatically amplifies, focuses, and deepens that provocative impact of each story.
The Werewolf at Dusk and Other Stories is full of things to think about, like: werewolves (of course), narrow walkways, a body that is growing old and losing its power, eerie spiders hanging from bridges, splattered blood, vertigo, a fierce tiger, an even more fierce little man with a mustache, and a man shutting the door to any possibility he might help others become aware of what he knows to be a coming tragedy.
Kirkus Review, in their starred review, explain that: “The latest (book) from writer-artist Small is a triptych of short illustrated stories (two adaptions and one original) that explore the idea of lurking monsters.” And they summed up Small’s work on this book as “Surreal and searing.”
David Small is and has been inspiring thoughts, for over forty years, to those of us that have been reading him from: Eulalie and the Hopping Head (1982), to Imogene’s Antlers (1985), to The Gardener (written by Sarah Stewart, his wife - 1997), to Stitches (2009) and dozens of other books he has written and or illustrated.
I highly recommend this book. It is an exceptional and unusually energizing piece of art!
December 31, 2023
3.5 stars !!
I saw in another review this described as an ‘adult picture book’ & I think that fits perfectly! The art is beautiful, simple & expressive, and though the stories are short they convey a lot of emotion. I really enjoyed their open endings. They feel like little glimpses into a bigger picture.
The first story, The Werewolf at Dusk, is the one I loved the most. I easily give it 5 stars. It’s my favourite kind of melancholy story, mundane yet supernatural.
I also enjoyed the second story, ‘A Walk in the Old City’ a lot. The third & final story, ‘The Tiger in Vogue’ I found a little confusing (could just be me missing the analogy’. I think the sentiment of seeing terrible things but walking past them and doing nothing is an important one, but the rest of the story falls a little flat to me.
Overall though, a lovely & short collection of stories with expressive artwork & an important theme running throughout :)
I saw in another review this described as an ‘adult picture book’ & I think that fits perfectly! The art is beautiful, simple & expressive, and though the stories are short they convey a lot of emotion. I really enjoyed their open endings. They feel like little glimpses into a bigger picture.
The first story, The Werewolf at Dusk, is the one I loved the most. I easily give it 5 stars. It’s my favourite kind of melancholy story, mundane yet supernatural.
I also enjoyed the second story, ‘A Walk in the Old City’ a lot. The third & final story, ‘The Tiger in Vogue’ I found a little confusing (could just be me missing the analogy’. I think the sentiment of seeing terrible things but walking past them and doing nothing is an important one, but the rest of the story falls a little flat to me.
Overall though, a lovely & short collection of stories with expressive artwork & an important theme running throughout :)
March 20, 2024
Incredibly creative and oddly unsettling. So glad I randomly picked this up. Three stories wasn't nearly enough. I'll be picking up more by this author.
March 27, 2024
A quick but masterful graphic novel told as three short stories. The Werewolf at Dusk is about the changes an aging werewolf goes through. Still able to change at the full moon, yet hardly able to chase a squirrel or climb up stairs. A Walk in the Old City is about a shrink who loses his way at night. Attempting to psycho-analyze himself will not getting him out of the mess he stumbles across. The final story is The Tiger in Vogue which is a terrifyingly whimsical look at Hitler's rise to power in Germany. Unique and wonderful storytelling in that one. Fantastic illustrations grace the pages of all three stories. I wish it were longer!
October 16, 2023
Beatiful, evocative artwork. I've read some graphic novels lately where the artwork doesn't add much to the story. That is certainly not the case for Werewolf at Dusk--the artwork is so emotional and carries so much of these stories. There is not an over-reliance on the written word in this text.
I'm not sure that these stories really make sense together, though. Based on the cover, I thought all would be about werewolves, which was not the case. They all had animals in them, I guess? I found them beautiful but disjointed.
I think my favorite story was the one the author actually wrote, the second story that is about facing mortality.
I was confused about the third story, and that might just be due to my unfamiliarity with WWII history. I needed clarity on what the allegory of the story was--what was the tiger a metaphor for? I even tried googling it, but my basic search didn't help. Again, this could just be my own failure to understand, but I could have used more clarity either from the artwork or from the words the author chose to include (and not include) from the original story.
I would read more from David Small!
I'm not sure that these stories really make sense together, though. Based on the cover, I thought all would be about werewolves, which was not the case. They all had animals in them, I guess? I found them beautiful but disjointed.
I think my favorite story was the one the author actually wrote, the second story that is about facing mortality.
I was confused about the third story, and that might just be due to my unfamiliarity with WWII history. I needed clarity on what the allegory of the story was--what was the tiger a metaphor for? I even tried googling it, but my basic search didn't help. Again, this could just be my own failure to understand, but I could have used more clarity either from the artwork or from the words the author chose to include (and not include) from the original story.
I would read more from David Small!
November 2, 2023
I was hooked on David Small's books after reading Stitches. His graphic novels are amazing. This particular title has three stories, two adapted by other authors and one by David Small. I really liked them for the most part, but David's story is by far the best.
The first story, Werewolf at Dusk, is by Lincoln Michel. It's about an aging werewolf who is unable to do what he used to. He's depressed that he can't hunt and kill like he could in his younger years.
The second story is A Walking in the Old City. This is David Small's work. The artwork is great and the story is in David's style. It is about a psychiatrist who takes a walk in the city and gets lost. He comes across an elderly man who the psychiatrist thinks will save him. Things go awry and the psychiatrist finds that saving wasn't in the elderly man's plan.
The last story is about Adolf Hitler and how he was able to control a tiger, which is a metaphor for the German people during WWII. It is called The Tiger in Vogue by Jean Ferry.
I hope that David will come out with a new graphic that is all his own soon.
The first story, Werewolf at Dusk, is by Lincoln Michel. It's about an aging werewolf who is unable to do what he used to. He's depressed that he can't hunt and kill like he could in his younger years.
The second story is A Walking in the Old City. This is David Small's work. The artwork is great and the story is in David's style. It is about a psychiatrist who takes a walk in the city and gets lost. He comes across an elderly man who the psychiatrist thinks will save him. Things go awry and the psychiatrist finds that saving wasn't in the elderly man's plan.
The last story is about Adolf Hitler and how he was able to control a tiger, which is a metaphor for the German people during WWII. It is called The Tiger in Vogue by Jean Ferry.
I hope that David will come out with a new graphic that is all his own soon.
November 2, 2023
This fantasy comic book puts the spotlight on aging evil.
We have three stories which explore the ailing body refusing to cooperate or that keeps going on doing the evils of their perpetrator.
I guess this is looking at age in a different light: it's not because you are old that you are toothless. It isn't because you age that you cool down.
The illustrations were very well done, but felt very cold, not only because of the tone - the book is in dark grey and pastel blues, but also because everything felt like it was drawn on screen. For some reason it put me off, I think I would have liked them to feel a little more organic, because we are seeing biology at work. For some reason, it created a bit of a dissonance for me as I was reading, it just looked too neat and clean.
We have three stories which explore the ailing body refusing to cooperate or that keeps going on doing the evils of their perpetrator.
I guess this is looking at age in a different light: it's not because you are old that you are toothless. It isn't because you age that you cool down.
The illustrations were very well done, but felt very cold, not only because of the tone - the book is in dark grey and pastel blues, but also because everything felt like it was drawn on screen. For some reason it put me off, I think I would have liked them to feel a little more organic, because we are seeing biology at work. For some reason, it created a bit of a dissonance for me as I was reading, it just looked too neat and clean.
January 6, 2024
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher W. W. Norton & Company for an advanced copy of this graphic novel collection by an illustrator who has been touching people with his art for many years.
As one gets older we look back at certain events with a sense of wonder. At one point one could do things that today leave one winded. Or sad, or filled with the knowledge that things are changing and not for the best. One even thinks of being forgotten, not for what we were, but for what we became. Not many people like to think in these terms, so this is not something that is talked about much, or shared. David Small is a creator who is not afraid of detailing both human frailties, not human follies. Creator of the revelatory Stitches, Werewolf at Dusk: And Other Stories is a collection of three stories, dealing with aging and fading, the human mind and its challengers, and the human capacity to not see calamity as it comes close enough to bite.
Two of the stories are adaptations. The first is Werewolf at Dusk, by Lincoln Michel, a story about an aging werewolf looking back at his life. From his first being bit, to his hunting prey for years, the werewolf now finds himself not able to hunt mice. Needing a cane, and a trip to the pharmacy to recover from nights out, usually spent wandering without purpose or drive. A Walk in the Old City is an adaptation of a dream the author had. The protagonist is a wanderer in the old city who has become lost. A fellow traveller finds him and leads him to safety, but this haven is just as dangerous as the dangers outside. The final story is again an adaptation this one Jean Ferry's The Tiger in Vogue, about a man in Berlin between the wars just wanting a night of entertainment away from the troubles going on, and instead being stuck in a show with a tiger dressed as a man, doing tricks and dealing with babies, that one day the narrator is sure will not end well.
David Small is avery gifted man, with a skill in both adapting others and his own works in a unique style that is his own, and yet no losing the message, or meaning. I feel I enjoyed the second piece as it was based on his dream, and was the most personal. A story that seems both spooky and melancholic. Werewolf at Dusk though hit me just right as I have just spent time with my nephews, and found myself exhausted trying to keep up with them, and envious of their energy and resilience. Small in the first tale showed me that yes this happens, it is natural, and while one can rage, in the end it doesn't change who you are, only maybe what one can do. The last tale with the Tiger and Hitler, fit well for our current state of affairs. While it might be cute watching a tiger act human, when it rips your face off, it is not the tiger's fault, it is yours for allowing the tiger to get that close. A story that has many truths built into it.
Recommended for adults who enjoy graphic novels, or adults who miss picture books. In many ways this is the perfect picture book for adults, with wonderful clear art on each page, and telling a story that is honest, true, and spooky. A great read, and one that many will come back to.
As one gets older we look back at certain events with a sense of wonder. At one point one could do things that today leave one winded. Or sad, or filled with the knowledge that things are changing and not for the best. One even thinks of being forgotten, not for what we were, but for what we became. Not many people like to think in these terms, so this is not something that is talked about much, or shared. David Small is a creator who is not afraid of detailing both human frailties, not human follies. Creator of the revelatory Stitches, Werewolf at Dusk: And Other Stories is a collection of three stories, dealing with aging and fading, the human mind and its challengers, and the human capacity to not see calamity as it comes close enough to bite.
Two of the stories are adaptations. The first is Werewolf at Dusk, by Lincoln Michel, a story about an aging werewolf looking back at his life. From his first being bit, to his hunting prey for years, the werewolf now finds himself not able to hunt mice. Needing a cane, and a trip to the pharmacy to recover from nights out, usually spent wandering without purpose or drive. A Walk in the Old City is an adaptation of a dream the author had. The protagonist is a wanderer in the old city who has become lost. A fellow traveller finds him and leads him to safety, but this haven is just as dangerous as the dangers outside. The final story is again an adaptation this one Jean Ferry's The Tiger in Vogue, about a man in Berlin between the wars just wanting a night of entertainment away from the troubles going on, and instead being stuck in a show with a tiger dressed as a man, doing tricks and dealing with babies, that one day the narrator is sure will not end well.
David Small is avery gifted man, with a skill in both adapting others and his own works in a unique style that is his own, and yet no losing the message, or meaning. I feel I enjoyed the second piece as it was based on his dream, and was the most personal. A story that seems both spooky and melancholic. Werewolf at Dusk though hit me just right as I have just spent time with my nephews, and found myself exhausted trying to keep up with them, and envious of their energy and resilience. Small in the first tale showed me that yes this happens, it is natural, and while one can rage, in the end it doesn't change who you are, only maybe what one can do. The last tale with the Tiger and Hitler, fit well for our current state of affairs. While it might be cute watching a tiger act human, when it rips your face off, it is not the tiger's fault, it is yours for allowing the tiger to get that close. A story that has many truths built into it.
Recommended for adults who enjoy graphic novels, or adults who miss picture books. In many ways this is the perfect picture book for adults, with wonderful clear art on each page, and telling a story that is honest, true, and spooky. A great read, and one that many will come back to.
April 7, 2024
Three quickly-absorbed short stories in graphic novel form. The first is a howl of complaint, and no mistake – it features an old man who, even when transformed into a werewolf as he has done since a child, is destined to failure now. "A small child, barely a snack…" helps the human form across the road, while his alternative self looks all the weaker for "mangey gray fur on wrinkled skin that clings to my skeleton like a dirty towel". Written with expert concision, its art here is not at all inferior, with its blue-, grey- and terracotta-only palette proving quite distinctive.
With even fewer colours we next see a therapist, an aged man who likes getting lost in a strange city – but nowhere near as lost as he ends up here. Again it's almost boldly short, being something one can scan in well under ten minutes, but not at all weak for all that – the nature of it leaves it very much open to interpretation, and indeed some of its running time is given over to demanding we realise that.
The third piece is the longest, packing some remarkable beats into its duration. This is an adaptation of a piece written immediately post-WW2, by someone called Jean Ferry, or so the introduction tells us. A man likes all the diversions the 1920s music hall can provide – but for one, where a woman brings a tiger dressed as a dandy on stage with her, and proceeds to ape the paying clientele. They are happy to literally give their firstborn away – but when we see the nature of the real puppeteer behind the act, we see the tide turn, and it's our man who is to blame – he is the only one in the theatre to see how pernicious this charade is, but does nothing. He knows it's evil with the glamour of spotlights, threat that can be drowned out by the orchestra, something lethal that can be swapped out by some unicyclists if the need arises – but if he knows this and stays silent, isn't he complicit?
This is an outstanding collection. The three tales are, yes, linked by a certain male senescence, but are utterly different. The art is free and easy, but very crafty with its stinting on colour. And as I say less is certainly more with the amount of text here – a lot of the first story, and much of the others, is our creator just illustrating the briefest of sentences, and nothing like turning it into a full graphic novel. In mood and poise – and in dramatic full-spread image – I saw some of the late Will Eisner on these pages, but it's not needed to compare this to anyone else. Compare it to perfection and you're damned near there.
With even fewer colours we next see a therapist, an aged man who likes getting lost in a strange city – but nowhere near as lost as he ends up here. Again it's almost boldly short, being something one can scan in well under ten minutes, but not at all weak for all that – the nature of it leaves it very much open to interpretation, and indeed some of its running time is given over to demanding we realise that.
The third piece is the longest, packing some remarkable beats into its duration. This is an adaptation of a piece written immediately post-WW2, by someone called Jean Ferry, or so the introduction tells us. A man likes all the diversions the 1920s music hall can provide – but for one, where a woman brings a tiger dressed as a dandy on stage with her, and proceeds to ape the paying clientele. They are happy to literally give their firstborn away – but when we see the nature of the real puppeteer behind the act, we see the tide turn, and it's our man who is to blame – he is the only one in the theatre to see how pernicious this charade is, but does nothing. He knows it's evil with the glamour of spotlights, threat that can be drowned out by the orchestra, something lethal that can be swapped out by some unicyclists if the need arises – but if he knows this and stays silent, isn't he complicit?
This is an outstanding collection. The three tales are, yes, linked by a certain male senescence, but are utterly different. The art is free and easy, but very crafty with its stinting on colour. And as I say less is certainly more with the amount of text here – a lot of the first story, and much of the others, is our creator just illustrating the briefest of sentences, and nothing like turning it into a full graphic novel. In mood and poise – and in dramatic full-spread image – I saw some of the late Will Eisner on these pages, but it's not needed to compare this to anyone else. Compare it to perfection and you're damned near there.
April 18, 2024
While author and illustrator David Small made his name working in children’s literature, his latest effort is a graphic novel squarely aimed at adults. In it, he envisions three thematically connected short stories that deal with aging and inner turmoil via fantastic events. Employing simplistic but evocative artwork, Small creates an effectively haunting atmosphere throughout, filling several panels with dread about what lies on the pages ahead.
First up is the title tale, an adaptation of Lincoln Michel’s short story of the same name which follows an elderly man who just so happens to be a werewolf. Exploring the toll that time exacts on us through such an unusual allegory proves surprisingly effective and moving. Next up is “A Walk in the Old City”, an original work for this book, which follows a therapist who is questioning his own life as he roams the streets at night, leading to an unusual encounter with a mysterious man who keeps giant spiders as pets (or does he?).
Finally, he adapts the 1947 short “Le Tigre Mondain” by Jean Ferry. While it maintains the surreal uneasiness of the first two stories, this one has less of a focus on internal dramas and instead points a finger at society’s willingness to abide the horrific. The narrator makes his way to a cabaret performance and is disappointed to learn that it will feature his least favorite act, in which a woman accompanies a tiger dressed in human clothes through a simulated night on the town, all while it is being just-barely controlled by its true trainer off-stage, a man who is drawn as Adolf Hitler. It can come off as a little too on-the-nose, but it’s a message that certainly bears repeating.
This is a short book and easy to get through in a single sitting, but also one that readers may want to revisit if even just to spend time appreciating Small’s drawings. Horror themes feature heavily throughout, but the intention isn’t to induce nightmares, rather it is to ponder some of the less desirable aspects of our very humanity; the cost of time on our already fragile bodies, our limited capacity to understand ourselves, and the ease in which a society can turn a blind eye to impending tragedy. Despite the heavy themes and somber atmosphere Werewolf at Dusk is still an enjoyable read, though one that leaves a lot to ponder.
First up is the title tale, an adaptation of Lincoln Michel’s short story of the same name which follows an elderly man who just so happens to be a werewolf. Exploring the toll that time exacts on us through such an unusual allegory proves surprisingly effective and moving. Next up is “A Walk in the Old City”, an original work for this book, which follows a therapist who is questioning his own life as he roams the streets at night, leading to an unusual encounter with a mysterious man who keeps giant spiders as pets (or does he?).
Finally, he adapts the 1947 short “Le Tigre Mondain” by Jean Ferry. While it maintains the surreal uneasiness of the first two stories, this one has less of a focus on internal dramas and instead points a finger at society’s willingness to abide the horrific. The narrator makes his way to a cabaret performance and is disappointed to learn that it will feature his least favorite act, in which a woman accompanies a tiger dressed in human clothes through a simulated night on the town, all while it is being just-barely controlled by its true trainer off-stage, a man who is drawn as Adolf Hitler. It can come off as a little too on-the-nose, but it’s a message that certainly bears repeating.
This is a short book and easy to get through in a single sitting, but also one that readers may want to revisit if even just to spend time appreciating Small’s drawings. Horror themes feature heavily throughout, but the intention isn’t to induce nightmares, rather it is to ponder some of the less desirable aspects of our very humanity; the cost of time on our already fragile bodies, our limited capacity to understand ourselves, and the ease in which a society can turn a blind eye to impending tragedy. Despite the heavy themes and somber atmosphere Werewolf at Dusk is still an enjoyable read, though one that leaves a lot to ponder.
December 27, 2023
David Small is best known perhaps for Stitches; in this book, The Werewolf at Dusk, he shares three short comics stories about aging, two of which are adapted from other authors, linked as Small says, by “the dread of things internal.” The title story, by Lincoln Michel, is about a werewolf that has grown old. In other words, the old man has something bestial in his nature, though now somewhat in decline. “Once I was a monster. Now I’m more like a waif in a wolf.” This one I like least, maybe, because its the slightest, but it’s still provocative (think about connection to Hesse's Steppenwolf.).
The second story, “A Walk in the City,” was written by Small and he says it is semi-autobiographical. It may be my favorite. Based in part on a dream/nightmare he had decades ago about aging, the now fictional story explores aging from the perspective of an aging Small, now in his late seventies. The old man is a psychotherapist, sort of lost in a city, encountering giant spiders--the threat of death, decline? He’s on the precipice of a narrow walkway above a river far below; he gets vertigo, fear of falling. He knows he’s dreaming, a dream within a dream, or is the blind man he encounters--the only person he meets--dreaming him? I suppose to call a dream surreal is sort of redundant, but that’s the effect. Eerie.
Reminder to self: View again Bergman’s Wild Strawberries, that opens with an old man’s dream/nightmare, and think, too, about Daphne du Maurier’s short story, “Don’t Look Back,” which also features a man in a similar environment--Venice?--lost, afraid, facing oblivion.
The last story, “The Tiger in Vogue,” by Jean Ferry, is a surrealist tale about a(n old) man who goes to a musical performance in 1930’s Germany. One part of the performance features a tiger in a suit that is an allegory to the dangers of the rise of Hitler and Nazi Germany. The old man fearfully--and he feels like he is alone in feeling this--sees the decline of his country, and the world, sliding into fascism. Simple, but also provocative. I liked this quite a bit, maybe in part because I am now an older man, but I like Small's minimalist style throughout.
Thanks to W. W. Norton & Co., Net Galley and the author for an early look at this book (due out March 2024).
The second story, “A Walk in the City,” was written by Small and he says it is semi-autobiographical. It may be my favorite. Based in part on a dream/nightmare he had decades ago about aging, the now fictional story explores aging from the perspective of an aging Small, now in his late seventies. The old man is a psychotherapist, sort of lost in a city, encountering giant spiders--the threat of death, decline? He’s on the precipice of a narrow walkway above a river far below; he gets vertigo, fear of falling. He knows he’s dreaming, a dream within a dream, or is the blind man he encounters--the only person he meets--dreaming him? I suppose to call a dream surreal is sort of redundant, but that’s the effect. Eerie.
Reminder to self: View again Bergman’s Wild Strawberries, that opens with an old man’s dream/nightmare, and think, too, about Daphne du Maurier’s short story, “Don’t Look Back,” which also features a man in a similar environment--Venice?--lost, afraid, facing oblivion.
The last story, “The Tiger in Vogue,” by Jean Ferry, is a surrealist tale about a(n old) man who goes to a musical performance in 1930’s Germany. One part of the performance features a tiger in a suit that is an allegory to the dangers of the rise of Hitler and Nazi Germany. The old man fearfully--and he feels like he is alone in feeling this--sees the decline of his country, and the world, sliding into fascism. Simple, but also provocative. I liked this quite a bit, maybe in part because I am now an older man, but I like Small's minimalist style throughout.
Thanks to W. W. Norton & Co., Net Galley and the author for an early look at this book (due out March 2024).
October 31, 2023
David Small is back with a new comic, this time a collection of three short stories: an adaptation of two stories by other writers, The Werewolf at Dusk by Lincoln Michel, and The Tiger in Vogue by Jean Ferry, and an original, A Walk in the Old City. I wish Small had produced a comic only of his own material because his story is easily the best and the others are disappointingly poor.
The Werewolf at Dusk is about an elderly werewolf who tells us how he isn’t as vital now as he once was. He’s not just an old man but he transforms into an old werewolf too and both versions feel the ravages of age. That’s it. Ho hum. Very repetitive and one-note.
A Walk in the Old City is about a disaffected older psychiatrist who goes wandering through a labyrinthine city and gets lost - until he is saved by a quiet old man. The story goes from dream-like to nightmarish on a dime and I loved it. Haunting, imaginative - it’s easily the best story of the three.
The book closes out with The Tiger in Vogue. Set in Germany in the 1920s, a man goes to a music hall where he sees a performance featuring a tiger in a suit. It’s a rather strained and obvious metaphor for what Hitler would go on to do to Germany and its people. Like Werewolf at Dusk, the point here is laboured and banal.
I quite liked Small’s loose art throughout. It’s not as strong as in previous books but I think it’s more a sign of a confident illustrator than simply age (he’s now in his late ‘70s). The imagery in Old City is especially inspired - another reason why I would’ve preferred more of Small’s own stories than anyone else’s.
There’s one good story here out of the three at least so the collection’s not a total bust though it does also unfortunately make Werewolf at Dusk David Small’s weakest book in some time.
The Werewolf at Dusk is about an elderly werewolf who tells us how he isn’t as vital now as he once was. He’s not just an old man but he transforms into an old werewolf too and both versions feel the ravages of age. That’s it. Ho hum. Very repetitive and one-note.
A Walk in the Old City is about a disaffected older psychiatrist who goes wandering through a labyrinthine city and gets lost - until he is saved by a quiet old man. The story goes from dream-like to nightmarish on a dime and I loved it. Haunting, imaginative - it’s easily the best story of the three.
The book closes out with The Tiger in Vogue. Set in Germany in the 1920s, a man goes to a music hall where he sees a performance featuring a tiger in a suit. It’s a rather strained and obvious metaphor for what Hitler would go on to do to Germany and its people. Like Werewolf at Dusk, the point here is laboured and banal.
I quite liked Small’s loose art throughout. It’s not as strong as in previous books but I think it’s more a sign of a confident illustrator than simply age (he’s now in his late ‘70s). The imagery in Old City is especially inspired - another reason why I would’ve preferred more of Small’s own stories than anyone else’s.
There’s one good story here out of the three at least so the collection’s not a total bust though it does also unfortunately make Werewolf at Dusk David Small’s weakest book in some time.
April 8, 2024
Three unsettling stories of age and the uncanny.
Our title story, “Werewolf at Dusk,” is at times sad, and also a bit disgusting. The reminiscences of an elderly werewolf have all the same feel as those of a debilitated sexual predator. There is no joy in inherent wildness, but instead just in causing pain.
“A Walk in the Old City” has a definite feel of eldritch tales. A victim who slowly comes aware of danger, a madman with mysterious power, and a setting that rests deep in the uncanny.
It’s actually been a little bit since I read this collection, and I had forgotten what the final story, “The Tiger in Vogue,” was about. Until I borrowed the book from Libby, scrolled through, and was IMMEDIATELY hit with the memory. Oof. OOF. Set in 1920s Germany, this allegory for the rise of Naziism is unsettling on multiple fronts.
This is my first David Small book, so I’m not sure who it stacks against his other offerings. However, for a quick evening spook, this is a good pick. Definitely worth perusing from your local library, though I’m afraid it won’t end up on my physical shelves.
Our title story, “Werewolf at Dusk,” is at times sad, and also a bit disgusting. The reminiscences of an elderly werewolf have all the same feel as those of a debilitated sexual predator. There is no joy in inherent wildness, but instead just in causing pain.
“A Walk in the Old City” has a definite feel of eldritch tales. A victim who slowly comes aware of danger, a madman with mysterious power, and a setting that rests deep in the uncanny.
It’s actually been a little bit since I read this collection, and I had forgotten what the final story, “The Tiger in Vogue,” was about. Until I borrowed the book from Libby, scrolled through, and was IMMEDIATELY hit with the memory. Oof. OOF. Set in 1920s Germany, this allegory for the rise of Naziism is unsettling on multiple fronts.
This is my first David Small book, so I’m not sure who it stacks against his other offerings. However, for a quick evening spook, this is a good pick. Definitely worth perusing from your local library, though I’m afraid it won’t end up on my physical shelves.
January 9, 2024
Thank you netgalley for this arc.
I thought this book as a whole was very mediocre. The first story I found to be a bit repetitive at the beginning just stating different places he wakes up but then started to pick up a bit then ends abruptly. I would’ve liked to see where the story would’ve gone if not for the abrupt ending. The second story I did not like at all unfortunately. I acknowledge that some if not most of it is meant in a metaphorical sense but I just didn’t really connect with the concept and therefore didn’t mind when it ended. Finally, the third and final story of this collection I thought was absolutely amazing. I didn’t know if the ‘reveal’ if you would even call it that was meant to be a surprise but I didn’t think it would go there. If this book was a full length version of this story I would’ve given it five stars but the pacing, concept, and execution of the other two stories really brought down my image of it.
I thought this book as a whole was very mediocre. The first story I found to be a bit repetitive at the beginning just stating different places he wakes up but then started to pick up a bit then ends abruptly. I would’ve liked to see where the story would’ve gone if not for the abrupt ending. The second story I did not like at all unfortunately. I acknowledge that some if not most of it is meant in a metaphorical sense but I just didn’t really connect with the concept and therefore didn’t mind when it ended. Finally, the third and final story of this collection I thought was absolutely amazing. I didn’t know if the ‘reveal’ if you would even call it that was meant to be a surprise but I didn’t think it would go there. If this book was a full length version of this story I would’ve given it five stars but the pacing, concept, and execution of the other two stories really brought down my image of it.
March 25, 2024
Small illustrates three tales of dissatisfaction, and the travails of growing old.
An aging werewolf contemplates his sorrowful current existence in comparison with his younger, more "bitey" days, an older man's daily constitutional turns into a horror story, and another elderly gent's evening at the theatre is ruined by a performance that is too reflective of current events.
Small's artwork is flawless, and the disturbing source material provides food for thought, and fuel for nightmares.
Many thanks to NetGalley and W.W. Norton & Company for the read.
An aging werewolf contemplates his sorrowful current existence in comparison with his younger, more "bitey" days, an older man's daily constitutional turns into a horror story, and another elderly gent's evening at the theatre is ruined by a performance that is too reflective of current events.
Small's artwork is flawless, and the disturbing source material provides food for thought, and fuel for nightmares.
Many thanks to NetGalley and W.W. Norton & Company for the read.
April 13, 2024
Not trying to be a book snob but the Times New Roman (or whatever) font takes a lot of the wind out of the watercolors for me. It's not just content, the actual design means a lot to me when spending time a book. I guess it feels like a very digital pairing to these dreamy paintings and illustrations. It does make it feel like a children's book for adults in that way but I'm not sure if that whole experiment works because the takeaways all feel a bit helpless. We do all feel like that sometimes, I suppose. Also David Small is the only author on the cover but two stories out of the three are adaptations. This is my first read of his after Stitches and nowhere on that level of storytelling in many aspects.
April 21, 2024
This is the third book I've read by the author. The other two were conventional graphic novels. This one turned out to be a collection of three illustrated short stories, with only the middle one being written by the author, despite him having an exclusive billing on the cover.
I rather liked the stories. Each one was like a moody, unsettling nightmare brought to life by plain yet evocative writing and black-and-white art. Small's style of drawing - cartoonlike but more emotionally complex and very adept at playing with the shadows - suits the nature of these stories perfectly.
All in all, an enjoyable and interesting quick read. Recommended.
I rather liked the stories. Each one was like a moody, unsettling nightmare brought to life by plain yet evocative writing and black-and-white art. Small's style of drawing - cartoonlike but more emotionally complex and very adept at playing with the shadows - suits the nature of these stories perfectly.
All in all, an enjoyable and interesting quick read. Recommended.
October 17, 2023
First off I have to say the artwork of this graphic novel was so beautifully illustrated. It helps carry the emotions through the book.
Out of the 3 the first was definitely my favorite, with some of my favorite quotes coming out of it. But the two that followed carried their own through the rest of the novel both having very striking metaphors. They were lacking the “mmph” that was in the first story, just something missing.
I would definitely pick up more novels by David Small.
Thank you NetGallery for an advanced copy.
Out of the 3 the first was definitely my favorite, with some of my favorite quotes coming out of it. But the two that followed carried their own through the rest of the novel both having very striking metaphors. They were lacking the “mmph” that was in the first story, just something missing.
I would definitely pick up more novels by David Small.
Thank you NetGallery for an advanced copy.
January 2, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
The graphic novel features three stories - all beautifully drawn and captivating.
I will comment on the first, and titular, story. Werewolf at Dusk deals with ageing. It is a short commentary of feeling feeble, weak and like your prime has passed - and dealing with those feelings. The main character, a werewolf, who in his youth revelled in his supernatural prowess, agility strength, his power, is now reduced to an ageing beast, unable to hunt for himself.
Similar in theme to the Old Man and the Sea.
The graphic novel features three stories - all beautifully drawn and captivating.
I will comment on the first, and titular, story. Werewolf at Dusk deals with ageing. It is a short commentary of feeling feeble, weak and like your prime has passed - and dealing with those feelings. The main character, a werewolf, who in his youth revelled in his supernatural prowess, agility strength, his power, is now reduced to an ageing beast, unable to hunt for himself.
Similar in theme to the Old Man and the Sea.
November 9, 2023
David Small (even late-stage, very sketchy David Small) illustrations will always be some of my favorites. And I definitely applaud the continued exploration of material outside the realm of picture books. That said, the stories were only sort of compelling and the entire thing can be consumed in a very short sitting. This was an ARC, so I'll be sure to check out the finished product when it releases in March.
March 26, 2024
Absolutely love Small’s line art/watercolor art style and selective choice of color. Like other commenters have mentioned, this reads like a “picture book for adults”—like poetry rather than a comic. Not my favorite graphic novel lately, but I did enjoy it. 8/10.
___
2024 RATING SCALE:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 9.25-10
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 8.25-9.25
⭐️⭐️⭐️6.25-8.25
⭐️⭐️4.25-6.25
⭐️ 0-4.25
*Overlap is to allow for subjective
differences in borderline ratings.
___
2024 RATING SCALE:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 9.25-10
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 8.25-9.25
⭐️⭐️⭐️6.25-8.25
⭐️⭐️4.25-6.25
⭐️ 0-4.25
*Overlap is to allow for subjective
differences in borderline ratings.
October 25, 2023
I love the art, the backgrounds are usually simple with a focus on the characters, but even the "simple" settings managed to be immersive. I like "A Walk In the Old City" the most, for the story as well as the setting. I could easily imagine myself on the bridge, or the cliff. It's interesting how color was added, so I suggest reading it on a device with color.
March 19, 2024
What happens when werewolves grow old? In a lucid dream, a man navigates an old city that becomes increasingly surreal and threatening. In 1920s Germany, a bizarre stage show serves as as allegory of the terror and ugliness that the country will soon plunge into.
These three stories are presented in graphic novel format.
These three stories are presented in graphic novel format.
March 26, 2024
"Werewolf at Dusk" is a collection of three graphic stories. The author tackles aging, consciousness, and fear with a striking voice and fantastic imagery. I especially liked the werewolf story because it was a take on the classic monster I've never seen. I enjoyed this collection immensely and highly recommend it.
October 5, 2023
Amazing art, interesting stories with only one that I found a little weaker than the others. Perfect for all age groups nothing gets too brutal but still is deep enough to be enjoyable to older readers as well.
December 12, 2023
What did I just read? I don’t even know. All I know is that they were 3 very strange and inconclusive stories. None of them had a proper ending. The second one was the best one, but still, what did I just read?
January 16, 2024
Coming out in March, this slim volume is the epitome of why David Small is such an award winning story teller. The art he adds to these three stories take them to a whole other level, thus proving the complex interdependence of the visual and textual elements of illustrated stories.
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