October Faction #1

Steve Niles, for me, is the best horror comic writer and along with Ben Templesmith or Damien Worm you get the perfect marriage of writer/artist in the genre. Damien Worm and Steve Niles recently collaborated on the excellent Monster and Madman and they have continued the feel and atmosphere in October Faction. The pages are dirty and grimy, splashed with blood. Everything is showcased gothiciky, shadowy loveliness. It is a veritable banquet for the gothic horror lover. There is a touch of Templesmith here but Worm details so much more and the comic shines because of it. I loved it. Read Full Review

October Faction is as dark as it is fun. A perfect title to drop just before Halloween. Read Full Review

Comparisons will be made between this book and Wytches, that's unavoidable. What cannot be compared though is the attitude of this book. October Faction feels fresh yet comfortable, exciting but familiar. this series is going somewhere and if this issue is anything to go by it will do so with a bloody explosion and a grin on its face. Niles and Worm do not disappoint, definitely worth a purchase. Read Full Review

Dark souls Niles and Worm have graverobbered up an anti-hero, here. One: Frederick Allan; of body parts a la: Abe Lincoln, Clint Eastwood, and Colonel Sanders. Ill be shoveling worm dirt, digging for more down to the bloody quick of my fingernails. Rating: One, full-on, bloated and festering corpse, with all orifices fully distended.. Come get your necrophilia on, Texas Chainsaw-style!!! Read Full Review

If you want another near-perfect October title on your pull-list, this one is certainly worth the add. I really enjoyed what Niles and Worm are doing with this creative first issue, and cannot wait to see what is in store for this magical family. I know that some of these images will stick with me for some time, and I can only hope that the series continues for just as long. Read Full Review

Overall “The October Faction” #1 is a great read. It has a perfect horror tone and vibe while, in it's own way, being almost funny. This issue has a well developed human core despite how bleak the world it takes place in is. Damien Worm absolutely kills it on art. This is a great book to also ease new fans into the great work of Steve Niles. Read Full Review

The October Faction #1 – which is, kind of surprisingly, an ongoing at IDW – isn't breaking any conventions within the monster hunter idea, and it certainly isn't as fresh as the duo's previous pairing in Monster & Madman. But I'm still on-board, if for no other reason than to get more of Worm's darkly evocative art. Read Full Review

A confident debut from a terrific collaboration Read Full Review

The October Faction is a very good first issue. While there were some issues with the art, Steve Niles story is absolutely worth the cost of the book. Damien Worm has a unique style that may work for some and turn other off, but this book is worth a read based on story alone. Read Full Review

The October Faction offers a brief glimpse into the lives of a very strange group of people. They're like a grown up, more serious version of the Addams Family. There's not a lot to go on just yet, but I'm interested to see where the story is going to take these folks, especially when they start interacting a bit more. Can you imagine what a family dinner must be like in that house? Read Full Review

That does mean that this book isn't for everyone, which shouldn't be surprising as Worm's artwork should have already told you that. It's a very backhanded compliment to say that the people who would like this book likely wouldn't need this review to win them over. The style of the book or even just the creators' names would have already done that. Anyone else checking out "The October Faction" best know what they are getting into as it is so far a measured look at the dysfunctions of familial relationships told through the hauntingly beautiful lens of Damien Worm's gothic artwork. If that sounds like the kind of book you would devour in a heartbeat as I did, then there is no reason for it to disappoint you. On the other hand, if this isn't your bag, then I don't think it's the kind of book to win you over. "The October Faction" is a very niche book and proud of it, waving its flag of gothic melancholy and bucking the trends to deliver a measured and beautiful l Read Full Review

OverallThe October Faction is a fun, interesting read but doesn't have enough pull to make me rush out and get the second issue. Most likely, I'm going to wait for the collection to come out before I continue reading the series. Read Full Review

Niles has a great tagline for this book, saying that "Sometimes crazy is the glue that binds a family together." I'm not sure if "crazy" is the right word for The October Faction, as much as downright spooky or twisted. There's a lot of flavor to this comic, thanks to Niles' characters and Worm's evocative artwork - that said, this comic doesn't quite hit a home run, instead hoping you'll stick around next month to watch the story unfold. It's a gambit, one that I think will likely be rewarded. Like the old saying goes, you can't pick your family - but you can pick up this one. Read Full Review

It's a solid first issue, but it feels like there are just a couple too many character introductions crammed in to get a good feel for the cast. Read Full Review

October Faction is going to be one of those rare books that takes advantage of the autumn mood and gets me to keep reading it despite red and pinks hearts littering the stores by the time issue 5 comes out. Read Full Review

The October Faction is basically Steve Niles and Damien Worm's take on The Addams Family. Unfortunately, the series isn't quite as amazing as that pitch makes it sound. Read Full Review

Niles doesn't demonstrate the same kind of nail-biting tension that he has in past efforts, but his story still has a higher caliber, refined feel, thankfully lacking any kind of gratuitous shock and bloodshed. "The October Faction" #1 doesn't exactly wow or impress, but it doesn't disappoint, either, and it's just satisfying enough as an intro to give next issue a try. Read Full Review

This series has every potential to pick up and run with it, perhaps it will be a really outstanding trade, after all this isn't Niles' and Worm's first rodeo and the book is stunning to look at, it really is, but judging one issue at a time, I can't say I was blown away by this one. I dedicated to these creators and I trust them to deliver something new and exciting, but this was a pretty blah issue one. Read Full Review

xiombarg

Oct 12, 2014

Every now and then a set of reviews for a book make me question how reliable our professional critics are, and this is the perfect example. Sometimes it almost feels like comic book reviewers still use the average script from the 1970s as the basis for quality; as if the recipe for quality is 50% action and 50% over the top drama. Ok, so criticism of the critics aside. I agree that this is sort of a Steve Niles version of the Addam's Family, and it's not a big over-the-top intro, but it's got so much atmosphere and the voice of the writing is so solid (as is always the case with Steve) that there wasn't a single moment that left me in doubt or didn't entertain. I will say that it wouldn't hurt Damien Worm's art if he used a broader p alette. Even if he wants to always keep things monochromatic, which is fine, his art could have a lot more impact if he used a broader range of tones and shades. Worm's art has a relatively fitting and distinct style, but it lacks a sense of varying dynamics. This book is good stuff. Maybe not crazy, at least not yet, but seethes with potential and of things to come. more

GoblinSRT

Jun 13, 2015

I read this book long before I picked the series back up at #3. This first issue failed to grab me and keep me wanting to read the issue every month. Now, I have picked the series back up and read to #7, and boy was I missing out. While the issue itself wasnt the best, I can say it was essential for setting up the first arc. I am normally not a fan of washed out art; I prefer clear lines and crisp colors. However, the art style is essential to the story telling, and I don't think there is any other way to illustrate this story. Great job from Niles and Worm.