Nights #6
Review
Writer: Wyatt Kennedy
Artist: Luigi Formisano
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: March 27, 2024
Page Count: 32
Format: Single-issue
Night’s delivers its first story arc finale with a bang. With an issue rich with action, romance, and comedy, it also lays down the pieces for the story to get even bigger in the future.
Nights #6
ReviewWriter: Wyatt Kennedy
Artist: Luigi Formisano
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: March 27, 2024
Page Count: 32
Format: Single-issue
Night’s delivers its first story arc finale with a bang. With an issue rich with action, romance, and comedy, it also lays down the pieces for the story to get even bigger in the future.
The beauty of indie comics to me is that you never know what unique stories you’ll find. Sometimes, comics will be space epics about two star-crossed lovers like in Saga. Other times, you’ll find charming coming-of-age stories set in a world with ghosts, vampires, and oddities like in Nights. If you’ve been following my reviews of the series, you’ll see how I often say Nights was one of my surprise favorites from last year. That’s because I knew almost nothing going into it, but I am now obsessed with everything about it. Wyatt Kennedy and Luigi Formisano have created a series with so much charm that each issue feels like a treat to read. Now that the series has hit its first story arc finale, issue #6 delivers a culmination of everything fun about the series so far. Want to know more about it? Check out my full review of Nights #6 below!
Image: Image ComicsOverview
The darkness within Gray continues to escalate to uncontrollable levels. That results in Vince and the rest of the waterpark guests being removed from the premises. Tsukumary has plans to contain the monster by any means necessary. But little does she know that Gray and Vince don’t take things lying down. So, while Vince charges his way back into the park, Gray fights a bloody battle within the darkest reaches of her mind.
Review
A sentiment I’ve echoed throughout my reviews of Nights is that the series has so many different aspects mixed together that make it a joy to read. With issue #2, you’ve got Vince adventuring through a strange forest while he gets relationship advice from a talking mole. Then issue #3 rolls in, and it has Gray getting her limbs ripped off while she fights a monstrous oddity. The way the series balances its lightheartedness with violent elements stands out because neither side ever feels out of place. There will be moments of action, comedy, and romance all rolled into one tightly packed 32-page issue. The final two issues of the arc have been a testament to that as the story dives deeper into Gray’s bloody past and her connections to the horrors lurking in the shadows of Santo Pedro. As much as I adore the more lighthearted moments between Vince, Gray, and the rest of the eccentric cast of characters, it’s great to see the story exploring the darker sides of the plot that have been teased since the first issue.
Image: Image ComicsFor a story with so much going on, I’m always blown away by how fluid creators Wyatt Kennedy and Luigi Formisano are with their work. This latest issue tops #3 as the most action-packed in the series, with scenes of Gray battling a devilish being through the darkest reaches of her mind as the story’s focal point. The fight is bloody and bombastic and has a backdrop of a nightmarish hellscape to take it over the top. But together with all the blood and guts are some of the series’ most romantic and comedic moments. While the relationship between Vince and Gray reaches another level, Matt also steals the show many times in this issue with his ghost shenanigans. From the slick writing to the incredible art, everything that makes this series such a fun read feels like it got dialed up to 11, which is something you love to see in a story arc finale.
This issue also did a fantastic job of laying the groundwork for the story to get stranger from this point on. As visceral as the fight scene of Gray is from a visual perspective, the dialogue in the scene is also rich with hints about Gray’s mysterious origins. The banter between Gray and the monster introduces concepts that tie directly to the comic’s big cliffhanger at the end. It points to the story’s bigger picture and how the first arc only scratched the surface. Much like how the first issue did everything right to introduce you to the world and characters, this finale concludes the first arc while leaving just enough teases to keep you intrigued about what’s to come. And with Gray and Vince’s relationship on a new level, the story is only going to the juicer from here.
Image: Image Comics
Final Thoughts
This finale of Nights caps off a wild ride of a story arc. There are few comics out right now that capture this distinct level of charm and personality that you can’t help but be glued to what’s happening, whether it's a bloody fight to the death or a quiet moment between two lovers spending the night together. Even as the story gets more outlandish, the art and characterizations are still just as captivating. So, if you’re looking for a series that is just a ton of fun to read with a unique and strange world, check out Nights when its first trade paperback hits shelves in May. You’ll want to get up to speed by then since this story will only get crazier from here.
Why You Should Read Nights
- The world in the comic is endlessly charming, with many surprising dark elements.
- It’s easy to fall in love with the quirkiness of the characters.
- Luigi Formisano always impresses with his artistic range.