The Damned graphic novel series is actually the first graphic novel series that I have ever requested from Netgalley. I thought that it would be weird reading a graphic novel on my phone/laptop as illustrations are a massive part in the storytelling process. However, it turned out to be not that bad!

In a prohibition-era world where demonic entities pull the strings that make the crime families dance, Eddie is a mortal with two things working for him. First of all, he can’t die. Well, he can and does, quite often, but he doesn’t stay that way long. Second, Eddie runs the Gehenna Room, a nightclub with a strict “no demons allowed” policy.

But blessings and curses don’t look all that different these days. When one of Eddie’s old pals shows up seeking sanctuary, Eddie knows he’s in for a double-cross. That means walking the line between salvation and damnation once more.

Collects the 5-issue “Ill-Gotten” storyline from The Damned.

Volume two is definitely better than volume 1. We learn more about the characters and Bunn delves deeper into the storyline which is very very interesting. I am loving the whole demon gangsters/mobsters plot with the fantasy twist of Eddie keep coming back to life. Whilst volume one was definitely a backstory and Bunn building the foundations, this volume dug its teeth into the underbelly of the city and the demons running it. The art and writing style were more gritty, dark and gruesome, with the world becoming more clear and developed, and we also learn more about the curses.

The one thing that really annoyed me about this graphic novel was that there was only one woman. And that woman was used for a love interest. She was just a prop, used as a background ‘thing’ for the men to talk about. And that REALLY annoyed me.

Moving away from the negatives though, one thing that I could praise Cullen Bunn on FOR DAYS is how he recapped volume one at the beginning of volume two. I was lucky, because I read two straight after one, but for those of you who had to wait aaaggggeeesss for this volume to come out, then at least you got a handle little guide at the beginning giving you a recap. I will never understand why all publishers don’t do this if they are publishing a sequel. It’s such a good idea.

Anyway, I am very much looking forward to volume three as I do want to find out what happens next and I want to learn more about the underworld, the demons and the curses. Yet again, the artwork was AMAZING, so props to Brian Hurtt and Bill Crabtree.