Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire is a short story written by Neil Gaiman. According to the introduction from his book Fragile Things, the first draft was completed when he was twenty-two years old and after a couple of negative opinions from editors was put away for twenty years before Gaiman came back to it.
This week, the story finds new life again as Dark Horse releases Forbidden Brides as a hardcover graphic novel. Gaiman is not only acknowledged for his masterful grasp of the dark, weird, and fantastic, but possesses a dry sense of humor that makes stories like Forbidden Brides enjoyable for more than a fantasy fix.
Artist Shane Oakley, who has worked with Gaiman previously on Sandman, takes the Gothic tropes Forbidden Brides shamelessly lampoons and creates gorgeous illustrations, subtly differentiating between the story of the author and the “serious work of literature” he is attempting to create. Everything from the character designs to the heavy shadows and macabre color palette feeds into the eerie atmosphere of the tale.
Considering Gaiman’s last graphic novel, How to Talk to Girls At Parties, ended up on the New York Times bestseller list, we might expect this new title to be equally popular and therefore more difficult to find in stock. So hurry up and make sure your collection of Gaiman-authored comics is complete and get Forbidden Brides before, on this night of all nights, you find yourself… otherwise engaged.
