Review: Nicnevin and the Bloody Queen (Humanoids)
This new book from Humanoids’ H1 Imprint has a classic ‘why the hell would even do that’ horror premise, as a young family from London move out to rural Northumberland into a cobweb covered cottage for the summer only to get caught up in a world of pagan sacrifice and witchcraft in Nicnevin and the Bloody Queen.
Publisher: Humanoids
Writer: Helen Mullane
Artist: Dom Reardon, Matthew Dow Smith, Lee Loughridge, Rob Jones
Price: £9.99 from ComiXology
Leaving their Dad behind in London (he gets the best of this deal!), Nicnevin, her brother Gowan and their Mum all start settling into life in the small village of Yeavering Bell, and it seems to stir something in the local landscape. For, inevitably, there are supernatural events going on in the village (including a missing old woman and pagan sacrifice which we see on the opening page). All this is elevated by the presence of Nic and her mum, who may have an ancient lineage of witchcraft running through their veins.
With Nicnevin and The Bloody Queen, writer Helen Mullane brings together a number of familiar themes from classic horror and British mythology to create a really enjoyable and creepy slice of contemporary horror. The premise is a familiar one, as you have the outsiders coming into the new small town – yet they are not complete unknown as they have the family connection, whether they want it or not. You also have the daughter who is going through some kind of awakening and channelling her new found ‘powers’ which seem to be brought about through returning to this significant place. On one level it’s your age old puberty metaphor, but there is also an element of a sulky urban teen discovering the joys of nature and the world around them. Nic seems to have some kind of connection to the land and can influence, rather control, the spirits and nature around her (including one unforgettable scene where her nocturnal activities inspire the local wildlife!).
There is also the ‘kindly stranger’ who appears in the shape of local historian and general smoothy Reggie, who seems too good to be true and takes advantage of the young teenager’s affection for him. Writer Mullane manages to avoid the potentially seedy nature of the story, by relying on the age old smitten teenager recipre and while Reggie is an appealing character he is never the letch he could be. However, you do have to question a lack of shock from a parent at the sight of her daughter coming home in a strangers Lambourghini!! In fact, the characters as a whole are all very well written and feel really well rounded, and very believable, which helps move the story along and not get bogged down when things get wierd!
The tone of the book is very British, with a lineage that include everything from Wicker Man to classic Hammer Horror, to Wiccan folklore and classic British tales of witchcraft. Yet she manages to also give the whole thing a very contemporary tone which helps make it feel like more than just a knock off those elements. By making the lead family mixed race, it stops the book from feeling too old fashioned and adds another subtle way for the locals to mistrust the outsiders. While the way she incorporates Nic’s texting and social media help reinforce the idea of her being a stroppy millennial, rather than an idealised child from a more classic literature.
Visually the book looks great, with 2000 AD artist Dom Reardon and Matthew Dow Smith (Dr Who, Sandman Mystery Theatre) giving the book a slightly angular almost Mike Mignola/John Arcudi feel to the whole book, but with a lot more detail. It reminded us a lot of Griff Gristle artist Rory Donald’s work, as well as Merrick’s Luke Parker, as they manages to mix realism and the supernatural expertly. We were also reminded of Matthew fantastic supernatural thriller The October Girl which was out a few years ago and style definitely follows in the line of that one. With a cover from superstar artist Jock getting the book a lot of attention and linking it back to his own book Trees, this is a very well put together package.
The unsung heroes of the book though have to be colourist Lee Loughridge and letterer Rob Jones (who alas, goes uncredited on the cover of this one!) Loughridge gives the book a muted and murky colour scheme that goes well with the rural theme, balancing nicely between the contemporary and the supernatural flashbacks. While Jones gives the whole thing a wonderful texture to it by mixing antique serifs for scenes involving mystic flashbacks and handwritten diary notes that contrast wonderfully with musical interludes and text message conversations which Nic has with her best friend back in London and also her Mum. It’s a great contrast of the modern and the old and is the kind of little details which help make the whole of this book hang together so well.
Like a great witch’s potion, Humanoids have stirred together a cauldron of quality creators who bring their own unique skills together to create something magical and mysterious. Scary without being gratuitous, familiar without being cliched, and packed with plenty of depth and detail but without being over wrought with complexity and convolution. Nicnevin and The Bloody Queen is a really enjoyable slice of very British occult horror with the potential for greatness if the story continues.
October 11, 2025 @ 4:38 am
http://medivermonline.com/# low-cost ivermectin for Americans
Mediverm Online
October 12, 2025 @ 3:57 am
amoxicillin uk UK online antibiotic service cheap amoxicillin
October 12, 2025 @ 6:32 am
private online pharmacy UK: Brit Meds Direct – BritMeds Direct
October 12, 2025 @ 1:06 pm
pharmacy online UK private online pharmacy UK order medication online legally in the UK
October 12, 2025 @ 3:43 pm
https://britpharmonline.com/# Viagra online UK
October 12, 2025 @ 4:02 pm
amoxicillin uk: generic amoxicillin – generic Amoxicillin pharmacy UK
October 12, 2025 @ 10:10 pm
buy penicillin alternative online generic Amoxicillin pharmacy UK cheap amoxicillin
October 13, 2025 @ 1:29 am
online pharmacy: online pharmacy – private online pharmacy UK
October 13, 2025 @ 10:14 am
Brit Meds Direct: online pharmacy – BritMeds Direct
October 13, 2025 @ 5:49 pm
cheap amoxicillin: cheap amoxicillin – cheap amoxicillin
October 14, 2025 @ 9:13 am
private online pharmacy UK: BritMeds Direct – order medication online legally in the UK
October 14, 2025 @ 2:31 pm
https://britpharmonline.com/# viagra uk
October 14, 2025 @ 7:32 pm
buy viagra online: buy viagra – Viagra online UK
October 14, 2025 @ 8:18 pm
http://amoxicareonline.com/# amoxicillin uk
October 15, 2025 @ 9:42 am
Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and help others like you helped me.
October 15, 2025 @ 1:34 pm
https://medicosur.shop/# mexican pharmacy
October 15, 2025 @ 2:02 pm
MedicoSur mexican pharmacy mexican pharmacy
October 15, 2025 @ 3:46 pm
MedicoSur: MedicoSur – mexican pharmacy
October 15, 2025 @ 4:07 pm
http://medicosur.com/# mexican online pharmacy wegovy
October 15, 2025 @ 7:33 pm
mexico pharmacy: mexico pharmacy – mexican pharmacy
October 15, 2025 @ 9:17 pm
safe online medication store ZenCare Meds order medicine discreetly USA
October 15, 2025 @ 10:20 pm
mexico pharmacy: mexican pharmacy – mexico city pharmacy
October 16, 2025 @ 4:34 am
buy amoxil trusted online pharmacy USA buy amoxil
October 16, 2025 @ 5:07 am
discreet ED pills delivery in the US: TadaLife Pharmacy – generic Cialis online pharmacy
October 16, 2025 @ 2:02 pm
ZenCare Meds com: buy clomid – order medicine discreetly USA
October 16, 2025 @ 2:33 pm
mexico pharmacy mexico medication mexico pharmacy
October 16, 2025 @ 9:01 pm
discreet ED pills delivery in the US: trusted online pharmacy for ED meds – buy cialis online
October 16, 2025 @ 11:07 pm
cialis: discreet ED pills delivery in the US – buy cialis online
October 17, 2025 @ 12:34 am
https://zencaremeds.com/# buy Doxycycline
October 17, 2025 @ 8:23 am
cialis: safe online pharmacy for Cialis – generic Cialis online pharmacy
October 17, 2025 @ 11:25 am
discreet ED pills delivery in the US TadaLife Pharmacy tadalafil tablets without prescription
October 17, 2025 @ 4:58 pm
mexico pharmacy: MedicoSur – MedicoSur
October 17, 2025 @ 5:43 pm
mexican pharmacy: best mexican pharmacy – mexico pharmacy
October 17, 2025 @ 9:48 pm
buy cialis online buy cialis online cialis
October 18, 2025 @ 2:42 am
safe online medication store: safe online medication store – trusted online pharmacy USA
October 18, 2025 @ 3:00 am
MedicoSur: mexico pharmacy – mexican pharmacy
October 18, 2025 @ 9:43 am
cialis prix: cialis 20 mg achat en ligne – cialis generique
October 18, 2025 @ 12:39 pm
pharmacie qui vend du cialis sans ordonnance cialis generique tadalafil sans ordonnance
October 18, 2025 @ 4:03 pm
comprar Cialis online España: cialis precio – п»їfarmacia online espaГ±a
October 18, 2025 @ 7:31 pm
tadalafil sans ordonnance cialis 20 mg achat en ligne Intimi Santé
October 18, 2025 @ 11:23 pm
cialis kaufen: PotenzVital – potenzmittel cialis
October 19, 2025 @ 1:16 am
cialis precio: cialis precio – Cialis genérico económico
October 19, 2025 @ 2:03 am
Tadalafilo Express Cialis genérico económico comprar Cialis online España
October 19, 2025 @ 6:24 am
Cialis genérico económico: cialis generico – comprar Cialis online España
October 19, 2025 @ 8:16 am
cialis generique: livraison rapide et confidentielle – cialis prix
October 19, 2025 @ 8:41 am
cialis sans ordonnance cialis generique cialis sans ordonnance
October 19, 2025 @ 1:36 pm
gГјnstigste online apotheke: cialis generika – cialis generika
October 19, 2025 @ 3:32 pm
tadalafilo 5 mg precio: cialis generico – comprar cialis
October 19, 2025 @ 3:33 pm
Cialis générique pas cher acheter Cialis en ligne France achat discret de Cialis 20mg
October 19, 2025 @ 8:48 pm
cialis generico: tadalafil italiano approvato AIFA – п»їFarmacia online migliore
October 19, 2025 @ 10:22 pm
cialis prezzo dove comprare Cialis in Italia cialis prezzo
October 20, 2025 @ 1:58 am
http://potenzvital.com/# potenzmittel cialis
October 20, 2025 @ 3:44 am
comprar Cialis online España: comprar cialis – farmacia online barcelona
October 20, 2025 @ 4:59 am
cialis generico farmacia online 24 horas comprar cialis
October 20, 2025 @ 5:54 am
acquistare Cialis online Italia: cialis generico – miglior prezzo Cialis originale
October 20, 2025 @ 12:03 pm
potenzmittel cialis: potenzmittel cialis – cialis generika
October 20, 2025 @ 2:01 pm
cialis kaufen ohne rezept online apotheke preisvergleich Tadalafil 20mg Bestellung online
October 20, 2025 @ 3:49 pm
tadalafilo 5 mg precio: comprar Cialis online España – comprar cialis
October 20, 2025 @ 10:03 pm
dove comprare Cialis in Italia: cialis generico – cialis generico
October 20, 2025 @ 11:23 pm
cialis precio cialis generico comprar Cialis online España
October 21, 2025 @ 1:52 am
Cialis generika günstig kaufen: cialis kaufen ohne rezept – cialis kaufen ohne rezept
October 21, 2025 @ 7:13 am
acquistare Cialis online Italia: miglior prezzo Cialis originale – cialis prezzo
October 21, 2025 @ 8:31 am
cialis sans ordonnance cialis generique tadalafil sans ordonnance
October 21, 2025 @ 4:23 pm
Sildenafil online reviews: difference between Viagra and generic Sildenafil – BluePeakMeds
October 21, 2025 @ 4:52 pm
difference between Viagra and generic Sildenafil Sildenafil side effects and safe dosage sildenafil 50 mg price
October 21, 2025 @ 11:02 pm
affordable potency tablets: Viagra online UK – ED medication online UK
October 22, 2025 @ 12:03 am
Sildenafil side effects and safe dosage Sildenafil online reviews Viagra without a doctor prescription Canada
October 22, 2025 @ 2:06 am
Potenzmittel günstig online: Sildenafil 100 mg bestellen – MediVertraut
October 22, 2025 @ 6:10 am
Brit Meds Uk: BritMedsUk – ED medication online UK
October 22, 2025 @ 8:09 am
Sildenafil side effects and safe dosage how generic Viagra works in the body Sildenafil online reviews
October 22, 2025 @ 10:58 am
Blue Peak Meds: Blue Peak Meds – difference between Viagra and generic Sildenafil
October 22, 2025 @ 2:55 pm
pharmacie française agréée en ligne: pharmacie en ligne fiable France – pharmacie française agréée en ligne
October 22, 2025 @ 8:13 pm
NHS Viagra cost alternatives: Brit Meds Uk – Viagra online UK
October 22, 2025 @ 11:47 pm
Sildenafil online reviews: Sildenafil side effects and safe dosage – Sildenafil side effects and safe dosage
October 23, 2025 @ 2:45 am
MediVertraut Potenzmittel rezeptfrei kaufen Potenzmittel rezeptfrei kaufen
October 23, 2025 @ 5:40 am
Sildenafil Wirkung und Dosierung: Medi Vertraut – MediVertraut
October 23, 2025 @ 8:08 am
https://medivertraut.shop/# Sildenafil Wirkung und Dosierung
October 23, 2025 @ 8:51 am
BritMedsUk: NHS Viagra cost alternatives – NHS Viagra cost alternatives
October 23, 2025 @ 2:59 pm
Heren Gezondheid: Sildenafil zonder recept bestellen – goedkope Viagra tabletten online