Courtney Crumrin is a young girl whose family moves in with her creepy uncle in an ultra-creepy mansion. Courtney's parents are dull-brained yuppie wanna-be's who can't wait to 'network' with the neighbors, and Courtney is left pretty much to herself. It turns out, however, that the creepy uncle in question is something of a wizard and leaves books full of magic spells lying around for Courtney to find and experiment with.

Now, if you're thinking Harry Potter, you couldn't be more wrong. There's nothing sweet or altruistic about Courtney Crumrin, and that's what makes this series so much fun. She's not the type to worry unduly if her one friend gets devoured by a demon. Courtney is primarily out for herself in a world full of idiots who always seem to be getting in her way. In other words, she's the kind of girl I'd like to marry someday.

Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things is one of those comics that, from the moment you begin reading, you're completely transported to another world. Ted Naifeh's writing and illustrations complement each other beautifully and his stories are a whole hell of a lot of fun.


spooky and magical   January 8, 2004
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

This series was the first series I ever bought in comic book form and it was a great way to start off too. Ted Naifeh, who has done illustrations for Gloomcookie and the Nocturnals, started his own series.
Courtney Crumrin moves to her great uncle's house with her parents. The house is located in a suburb, which gives Naifeh the opportunity to mock suburban life through clever writing and very well done illustrations.

There are four stories in this volume,
the first is our introduction to Courtney, her great-uncle, and parents and the neighborhood.
the second, Courtney secretly begins to practice magic
the third, Courtney has her first babysitting job and her first journey into Faerie
the fourth, maybe a story that would make more sense after reading the first three

Looking back on what I've written, I don't know if I've really conveyed what I liked about this miniseries. The writing is good, the illustrations are good. Courtney starts out not being the most sympathetic of characters, she's sharp tongued and generally pretty grumpy and doesn't much like people. However, as the plot progresses you grow to like her which sets this series apart. The stories are told with genuine heart, and there is emotion, danger and character development.

As in any good fairy tale, there's also the hint of violence beneath the surface. And there are a few people who do get eaten, Naifeh's world is dangerous as well as magical. On the whole it's one of my favorite series. Check out Courtney Crumrin and the Coven of Mystics, which is even better.


The Trials of Courtney Crumrin   September 26, 2003
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Courtney Crumrin is a young girl just on the verge of womanhood. Her family (two airhead parents who want to climb the social ladder but don't know what rungs are) has moved in to their great uncle's home to aid in his ailing health. It is a spooky old mansion and Courtney notices some of the Night Things lurking about.

Courtney does not make friends easily but also does not take things lying down. In this first collection we see Courtney face her first four challenges:
Extortion and goblins
A botched attempt at witchcraft
A Changeling
A doppelganger

But Courtney rises to all occasions although she sometimes gets a little help from the Great Uncle who has plenty of his own secrets.

The stories are drawn, well, dark. They have atmosphere and character when so many comics don't. But while they are drawn in a dark manner and the subject matter can be unusual, these are not dark tales. Courtney is too strong-headed for that to happen.

My one complaint is the lack of noses. This is not too bad except in profile (when Courtney looks like a turtle). Otherwise it is a very well written set of tales and I am anxious to read more.


Pretty good..   November 17, 2004
 4 out of 5 found this review helpful

This all-ages comic is relatively good. While it is not going to revolutionalise gothic-esque comic genre, it is better than Lenore and most others of its counterparts.

While the manga-style art is just lovely, particularly the frames when Courtney enters the non-human/faery world, the plot is a little meandering and quite weak and basic at times. While I have not read the follow-up works, which may include this element, I would have like to see Courtney explore her own magic a little more. Additionally, there was minimal interaction between Courtney and her grandfather, and yet we are meant to imagine that they had become close allies.

I did however feel that the character of Courtney was quite interesting and completely identifiable. Similarly, the parental characters were suitably ghastly and disinterested.

This is a short but cute enough read. If only there were more comics examining the same topic of magic and childhood isolation, just slightly more adult and fleshed out.


It said 7+ at Borders...   January 1, 2005
 4 out of 8 found this review helpful

It said ages 7+ at borders, and I have to agree, it seemed kind of childish, but if you're looking for something to pass away time, this would be it.
I prefer something more like Squee or Johnny the Homicidal maniac in comparison.