When the Courtney Crumrin & the Night Things limited series came to an end, it was my wish that we'd see more of Courtney and the strange world that she had discovered. Obviously, I was pleased to learn of this followup series. However, I'm also pleased to discover that Ted Naifeh isn't content to simply offer up more of the same from The Night Things. Sure, the same attitude and supernatural fun is to be found here, but there's a greater intensity and darkness to the plot. And on top of that, Naifeh develops both the title character and her enigmatically charming uncle.
Something is creeping quietly through the woods, emerging in the dead of night and killing anything that moves in the home it targets. And the homes it invades are those of the witches and warlocks. Bad news for junior witch-in-training Courtney Crumrin. Actually, it's really bad news for her Uncle Aloysius, whom the other mystics tap to put an end to the threat. Meanwhile, Courtney gets a new teacher who's making her life a living hell.
Naifeh's penchant for combining simplicity with twisted detail, understatement with textured, organic designs, instantly draws the reader into the odd world he has created here. His design for Tommy Rawhead is particularly impressive. It backs up the extreme nature of the menace established in the script and drives the horror home for the reader. Its gangly, putrid look really makes it seem like a cancer on all that is natural and supernatural.
Naifeh wisely expands the select group of characters who are aware of Courtney's abilities and potential with this first issue. Her teacher, Miss Crisp, acts as something of a conscience to Courtney and helps to spotlight her flaws. Crisp comes off as a wiser, more experience Courtney. She's just as full of attitude and confidence as her young charge, but a hell of a lot of smarter too.
Naifeh also seems to expand Aloysius's role in the story as well. He takes on a much more active role here, and it ends up adding to the character's mystery. Furthermore, this is the first time when one gets a real sense of danger and dread from the plot and circumstances. The property has always been dark, but through Courtney's fear and concern for her uncle, Naifeh establishes a more tense mood while maintaining the edgy, fun tone of Courtney's world at the same time.
