‘The October Girl: Book One’ GN (review)

Written and Illustrated by Matthew Dow Smith
Published by Maverick / Mad Cave Studios

Matthew Dow Smith has worked on many comics that I have enjoyed over the years.

He’s worked on Hellboy, The X-Files: Origins and even the classic Starman series with James Robinson. I have always liked his work and it is a treat when a book he is working on comes out.

This book is seemingly new territory for him. Yes, he has written comics before but this is the first that I have seen him do so in this genre. I really enjoyed this graphic novel and I hope the other chapters come out sooner rather than later.

The book focuses on Autumn Ackerman who is an eighteen year old girl with a lot on her mind.

The biggest thing that she is struggling with is that she is disillusioned by life.

Everything around her isn’t bringing her any happiness or even joy. She is just stuck in a cycle that she seemingly cannot get out of. Her father leaves her and that puts her in a bit of financial trouble. She has to pay those bills after all. So, she takes a dead end job in a coffee shop to try to alleviate some of the burden.

That is when reality starts to really come crashing down hard around her. It isn’t easy, but she had to come to terms with a lot in her life really quickly.

College isn’t an option anymore. Nothing really is.

As a result of all of this, Autumn starts to reflect on her earlier years in life. She used to have a whole imaginary fantasy world that she could disappear into and not have to worry about anything. She even had an imaginary fiend named Barnaby who used to get into all sorts of trouble and adventure with her. But that life is long lost to her, a simpler time that will never return.

But then, suddenly without warning, it does.

Barnaby reappears into her life and that turns her entire existence upside down!

Barnaby is wounded and asking for help. Why is he hurt? Who is it who did this to him? And is it possible that Autumn is making this whole thing up? Autumn looks at the severity of his wounds and wonders what might be coming down the road for her.

That is when she learns about the existence of the Night Folk and what their whole deal is. Basically their very existence has inspired all of the folklore in the modern world.

These Night People may also be a bigger threat than Autumn ever realized.

Autumn has to go on a journey as this book progresses.

We get to follow her on that journey. The world suddenly seems bigger again, much like it was when she was a child. She starts to open up and let some joy back in her life. She even starts to remember some of the little things that made her happy and how she may have lost that feeling along the way.

Smith is a talented writer, and a lot of the dialogue really makes this book flourish in a different way than most.

We also get to meet some really cool characters along the way.

We get to meet Fred who is a big old monster. Fred’s introduction scene is very fun and entertaining and his character really gives this book another added dimension to it.

We also get to meet the mysterious Evan Fade, who may have more devious ideas instead of good ones. His intentions become a bit more clear as the book goes on. He is one of the more complicated characters in this book. His introduction and story are also very intriguing and cross over into Autumn’s life in some really interesting and unexpected ways.

This first chapter of this series is very strong and I commend Matthew Dow Smith very much for it.

There is a lot going on but none of it is at all confusing and there is a strong narrative thread throughout. It is also highly emotional and even endearing. It is a nice breath of fresh air for sure.

The only thing that may stink will be the wait between volumes.

However, they will be worth the wait for sure, I feel.

RATING: A-