NOCTURNALS: THE SINISTER PATH #1 – New Comic Review

Nocturnals: The Sinister Path #1, by Dark Horse Comics on 10/1/25, tosses the Nocturnals into spectral trouble, files, and old ghosts (both real and metaphorical) in a haunted house with more secrets than floorboards.

Credits:

• Writer: Dan Brererton
• Artist: Dan Brererton
• Colorist: Dan Brererton
• Letterer: Lois Buhalis
• Cover Artist: Dan Brererton (cover A)
• Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
• Release Date: October 1, 2025
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 32
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of NOCTURNALS: THE SINISTER PATH #1:

First Impressions:

The art jumps at the reader before the story even catches up, splashing pulpy color and just enough grime to keep things tense. The cast oozes personality (sometimes literally) and the parade of monsters and oddballs feels like the party nobody invited, but everyone remembers. It’s slick, it’s weird, and you’ll want to know who survives the night, if only to see what else crawls out of Pacific City

Plot Analysis:

Things open with Starfish, queen of the sea-leaning toward hermit, getting coaxed out of her underwater retreat by Bandit. Tree-Frog jokes and sand between her toes can’t quite lure her back, despite rising tension on land. Meanwhile in Horror’s Tomb, Eve wakes each sunset, haunted by growing powers and “Jigglers” who worry even her ghostly toy army. Ploychrome tries to reassure her, but change and spectral visitors keep coming for her.

Elsewhere, thorny family trauma unfolds up in the trees as Thorne, a brooding gargoyle, and her sister relive the tale of a violent father, abandoned siblings, and their own transformations—haunted in every literal and figurative way. Thorne seeks justice for their mother, and her sibling is haunted by shades of Poe and persistent memory.

Doc Horror, out in old Pacific City, investigates a missing Bandit and chats underworld news with Rocco, learning of Judge Xindel Hemlock’s demise. Bandit has been dispatched to fetch files from Hemlock’s notorious haunted house, allegedly loaded with dirt on everyone worth worrying about. The Nocturnals gear up and set out for the decrepit, rumor-soaked estate.

Inside the “house on Tartarus,” they encounter boobytraps and creeps, both human and supernatural. Together, Doc, Eve, Gunwitch, and company root through evidence of old crimes, pal around with handmade toys and lost spirits, and trade witty banter while keeping their eyes peeled for Bandit. By the end, the files loom as large as the monsters in these halls: the old judge’s secrets, Bandit’s fate, and the group’s own haunted chemistry take center stage.

Story

The scripting is dense but never dull, packing lore, world-building, and verbal sparring on every page. Dialogue dances right at the edge of noir parody, with just enough heart to anchor the monsters among their mayhem. There’s a clear affection for pulp language and playful darkness, and the plot refuses to spoon-feed, expecting readers to keep up.

Art

Brereton’s painted style is the book’s soul: lush, luminous, and absolutely saturated with color. Every page drips atmosphere; shadows, lantern-light, and surreal character design make the estate as expressive as any cast member. The monster designs pack detail: Bandit’s raccoon ferocity, Starfish’s slick amphibian queen, and Eve’s Halloween punk meet creepy-cute toys, all rendered with punch and pop.

Characters

The Nocturnals are a misfit family, each dragging unique baggage and powers. Eve holds down the uncanny anchor, with Starfish and Bandit providing odd couple chemistry, while Gunwitch’s silent gunslinger shtick spends more time in the background this round. Character interactions spiral between tragedy, loyalty, and banter. Nobody leaves unscarred or unmocked.

Positives

The painted visuals land like pumpkin spice in October: rich, moody, and weirdly inviting. The ghost-haunted setting is tailor-made for Brereton’s use of shadow, detail, and kinetic color. The script never wastes words, balancing monster brawls with sharp, noir-edged banter and tangled relationships. Every character gets a chance to shine, even if it’s brief – a rare feat given the crowded cast

Negatives

Everyone gets a moment, but some moments feel clipped, especially for newcomers who might need a program to keep track of these monsters. Flashbacks and poetic monologues crowd certain pages, making the pacing lurch. Dialogue occasionally veers into purple prose territory, and side plots threaten to swamp the central haunted house thread. Busy panels sometimes hide key details behind brushwork fireworks

Art Samples:

Final Thoughts:

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NOCTURNALS: THE SINISTER PATH #1 takes “monster mash” and loads it with wit, shadows, and color-fueled chaos. There’s enough gothic snark to keep cynics hooked, and enough atmospheric storytelling for lovers of old-school pulp. Sure, it’s crowded, sometimes tangled, but that’s baked into its monstrous DNA. File this one under “haunted house, bold colors,” and don’t expect to leave with clean shoes

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