I came across Adam Ellis randomly on Instagram some years ago and loved his comic strips. The way he fearlessly spoke his mind and proudly talked about his sexuality was great, and to see some of his story told through hilarious comic strips was truly awesome. Then, I saw something different from the brilliant comedy we had come to expect. It was a horror story and it was phenomenal.
The story was about him pulling a hangnail that eventually caused his skin to fall. It was odd but intriguing and I wanted more. Thankfully, Adam Ellis provided the world with a book of his art and stories called Bad Dreams in the Night. It’s an anthology of terror and deserves all the praise in the world.
Writer's note: Adam notes that that story about the hangnail is based on a comic by Natalya Lobanova that people should check out.
Each of the tales is based on something from Adam Eillis’ life. For example, the first story (titled Me and Evangeline at the Farm) comes from his time at his grandparents’ farm and his grandmother showing him B movies that he says he doesn’t remember. And while this particular story wasn’t full of dread, the conclusion has a disheartening yet happy ending; thus showing the complexity of the book, Bad Dreams in the Night.
Another example (and possibly my favorite) is “Bus Stop”. A story that I won’t spoil because you should buy the book. Adam’s explanation for this is how pre-internet urban legends could “take hold of people’s imagination.” Now everyone with a phone can fact-check anything and we have to believe them. However, this writer believes in the supernatural and that sometimes things are unexplainable.
Adam Ellis does a phenomenal job with the illustration. The way he pays attention to detail is something that shouldn’t be overlooked. Whether it’s a complex part like the human anatomy or the shimmer of a diamond ring on a manicured hand (you’ll understand when you read Murder Party), you get the sense that this wasn’t done quickly or without care. It makes it not just appealing to the eye, but it helps make the stories even better.
Lastly, although we don't know if Adam Ellis would want Bad Dreams in the Night to be adapted by a streaming platform, but if that were to happen, a lot of people would likely gravitate towards it. A series would, in a way, be like Black Mirror; the difference is that the stories here would hit differently since the creator is 100% responsible for the episodes we'd see. That personal touch can make all the difference.
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