Review by Frank Plowright

Reality has hit the Allen family of monster hunters. Firstly, they need some form of paying work, and the shock announcement ending Deadly Season was family patriarch Fred Allen announcing his retirement. Until now he’s been very much against children Geoff and Vivian taking over the family business, but after his rescue last time he’s come round to the idea.

Utterly restricting the colours used has served Damien Worm extremely well to date and created a distinctive look for the series, so it’s a surprise that in places Supernatural Dreams has colour used far more conventionally. The effect is muted on the sample page, but features thereafter. It’s perhaps needed to show the town of Gristlewood during daylight, but subtracts from the carefully cultivated tone to date. When it comes to illustration, though, the art is as expected, feral and frightening, with a new threat shown on the sample art gleefully causing mayhem.

That new threat is welcome. Vampires and werewolves provided diminishing returns over the previous volumes and something stronger is required. Unfortunately instead of operating alone, Steve Niles has the goat man resurrect an entire army of cannon fodder, and while it’s funny to see Merle Cope again, there’s otherwise a feeling of going through the motions as the ideas are running out. The series introduces interesting characters, but has no place for them once their original problems are solved, yet they keep hanging around. Meanwhile the powers Geoff and Vivian are developing never have any foundation, just a convenient use when necessary. If the threat could be dealt with as per the final chapter, why not three chapters beforehand?

Supernatural Dreams is the weakest of a decent series, with Niles obviously struggling for ideas, and perhaps at that point distracted by working on the then forthcoming October Faction TV show.

All five volumes are to be combined in a smaller sized Classic Collection, appropriately enough in October 2026.