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Freaks of the Heartland
Trevor's monstrous little brother lives in the barn behind the house. The boy's only six years old, but he towers over his older brother, and possesses incredible strength.
For years, Trevor has looked after his baby brother, keeping him from the light, but now that's all about to change. His family's secret is about to be revealed, uncovering the horrible truth of the small Midwestern town the boys have grown up in.
Collects Freaks of the Heartland #1-6.
For years, Trevor has looked after his baby brother, keeping him from the light, but now that's all about to change. His family's secret is about to be revealed, uncovering the horrible truth of the small Midwestern town the boys have grown up in.
Collects Freaks of the Heartland #1-6.
160 pages, Paperback
First published July 20, 1995
10 people are currently reading
482 people want to read
About the author
Steve Niles
889 books450 followersSTEVE NILES is one of the writers responsible for bringing horror comics back to prominence, and was recently named by Fangoria magazine as one of it's "13 rising talents who promise to keep us terrified for the next 25 years."
Niles is currently working for the four top American comic publishers - Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse. He got his start in the industry when he formed his own publishing company called Arcane Comix, where he published, edited and adapted several comics and anthologies for Eclipse Comics. His adaptations include works by Clive Barker, Richard Matheson and Harlan Ellison.
Steve resides in Los Angeles in his bachelor pad with one cat. While there's no crawlspace, there is a questionable closet in one corner and no one is quite sure what is hidden in there...but we have an idea.
--from the author's website
Niles is currently working for the four top American comic publishers - Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse. He got his start in the industry when he formed his own publishing company called Arcane Comix, where he published, edited and adapted several comics and anthologies for Eclipse Comics. His adaptations include works by Clive Barker, Richard Matheson and Harlan Ellison.
Steve resides in Los Angeles in his bachelor pad with one cat. While there's no crawlspace, there is a questionable closet in one corner and no one is quite sure what is hidden in there...but we have an idea.
--from the author's website
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
September 21, 2018
Good art, crap writing/story, there’s a reason why you’ve not heard of this one - I feel like this is essentially what 90% of my comics reviews boil down to. And it also applies to Freaks of the Heartland!
Set in rural ‘murica, stereotypical hillbillies (“You sassin’ me, boy?” *drinks ‘shine*, hits wife, repeat) keep their mutated offspring in barns until they decide to rid the world of Satan’s spawn one arbitrary day. Except one boy decides to set loose his freak brother and the pair go about the county freeing a disproportionate number of mutated kiddles - on count of the nookulurr testing or some such, see? Honestly, if I was from the South I’d be insulted with Steve Niles’ lazy characterisation.
Greg Ruth’s painted art is genuinely beautiful and is the only thing that attracted me to this book - it certainly wasn’t seeing Steve Niles’ name on the cover! The Southern Gothic style is there visually at least but Niles’ script is as hackneyed and dull as ever. The guy’s spent his entire career writing horror but it’s all surface level crap - he’s never written anything original, memorable or even truly scary, he just rehashes tired tropes over and over.
So yeah, Freaks of the Heartland: good art, crap writing/story, there’s a reason why you’ve not heard of this one!
Set in rural ‘murica, stereotypical hillbillies (“You sassin’ me, boy?” *drinks ‘shine*, hits wife, repeat) keep their mutated offspring in barns until they decide to rid the world of Satan’s spawn one arbitrary day. Except one boy decides to set loose his freak brother and the pair go about the county freeing a disproportionate number of mutated kiddles - on count of the nookulurr testing or some such, see? Honestly, if I was from the South I’d be insulted with Steve Niles’ lazy characterisation.
Greg Ruth’s painted art is genuinely beautiful and is the only thing that attracted me to this book - it certainly wasn’t seeing Steve Niles’ name on the cover! The Southern Gothic style is there visually at least but Niles’ script is as hackneyed and dull as ever. The guy’s spent his entire career writing horror but it’s all surface level crap - he’s never written anything original, memorable or even truly scary, he just rehashes tired tropes over and over.
So yeah, Freaks of the Heartland: good art, crap writing/story, there’s a reason why you’ve not heard of this one!
December 23, 2020
3.5*
<-Cuando nacieron había nubes iguales a estas.
Yo era pequeño. solo un cachorro.pero lo recuerdo todo.
Todas las madres del pueblo tuvieron un niño.Fue muy raro.Todas embarazadas al mismo tiempo y dieron a luz la misma semana...
pero cuando los vieron a todos ustedes simplemente enloquecieron.
Recuerdo a todo el mundo acusando a todo el mundo por ello. Decían que fueron las bombas, el agua...algunos pensaron que el mismo diablo lo había hecho.
Ellos acusaron a esto y aquello, pero en lo único que se pusieron de acuerdo fue en...
-Odiarnos>
Una de esas historias en las que los verdaderos monstruos no son los de fea apariencia. Aunque hay una contraparte que le da el punto de decencia, complicidad y "justicia poética"
Un aceptable guion . Unos dibujos que están bastante bien,con una paleta de colores muy adecuada... Aunque guiándose por la portada de cada grapa prometía un poco mas el apartado grafico. Un epilogo que le da un buen cierre y deja bien parada a la historia .
<-Cuando nacieron había nubes iguales a estas.
Yo era pequeño. solo un cachorro.pero lo recuerdo todo.
Todas las madres del pueblo tuvieron un niño.Fue muy raro.Todas embarazadas al mismo tiempo y dieron a luz la misma semana...
pero cuando los vieron a todos ustedes simplemente enloquecieron.
Recuerdo a todo el mundo acusando a todo el mundo por ello. Decían que fueron las bombas, el agua...algunos pensaron que el mismo diablo lo había hecho.
Ellos acusaron a esto y aquello, pero en lo único que se pusieron de acuerdo fue en...
-Odiarnos>
Una de esas historias en las que los verdaderos monstruos no son los de fea apariencia. Aunque hay una contraparte que le da el punto de decencia, complicidad y "justicia poética"
Un aceptable guion . Unos dibujos que están bastante bien,con una paleta de colores muy adecuada... Aunque guiándose por la portada de cada grapa prometía un poco mas el apartado grafico. Un epilogo que le da un buen cierre y deja bien parada a la historia .
August 25, 2017
Freaks in the Heartland is a creepy story about a boy and his little brother. Gristlewood is a very rural, small community of farmers deep in the heartland of the US. Something terrible happened to this place a few decades back and they are paying the price for it now.
I wish I could say more but it would ruin the story. Greg Ruth's illustrations are wonderful in showing a deeply disturbing town. There is no question the author and the artist want the reader to think who the real freaks are? Not only the offspring, who end up being the most decent of them all, but also the nature of the townsfolk as a community and as parents.
I really enjoy a nice short horror story. Especially one that is well told and well illustrated. It reminded me of the Stephen King Dark Tower comics and I enjoyed those immensely. I also liked this graphic novel. Well done-I wish I could say more but I won't. It's a good horror story.
However to be fair- there is a story about the bonds that exist between siblings. The love between Trevor and Will is real and deep. So there are some good moments to this story- just look to the young ones to find the future. The adults in many ways are the true freaks. So true in the real world as well.
I wish I could say more but it would ruin the story. Greg Ruth's illustrations are wonderful in showing a deeply disturbing town. There is no question the author and the artist want the reader to think who the real freaks are? Not only the offspring, who end up being the most decent of them all, but also the nature of the townsfolk as a community and as parents.
I really enjoy a nice short horror story. Especially one that is well told and well illustrated. It reminded me of the Stephen King Dark Tower comics and I enjoyed those immensely. I also liked this graphic novel. Well done-I wish I could say more but I won't. It's a good horror story.
However to be fair- there is a story about the bonds that exist between siblings. The love between Trevor and Will is real and deep. So there are some good moments to this story- just look to the young ones to find the future. The adults in many ways are the true freaks. So true in the real world as well.
April 18, 2021
Trevor looks after his little brother Will who is treated like a dog by his father. Will is some kind of hulking mutant. When his father decides to take care of Will once and for all, the boys go on the run where they discover a dark secret about the valley they've grown up in. I love the relationship between these two brothers.
The story is quick with only a couple panels per page. Greg Ruth's art was frustrating. Some pages set the mood of the story perfectly. Others, I couldn't tell what has happening at all. It was just swirls on the page. Still, I liked this variation of the hounded monster trope due to the bond between the two brothers.
The story is quick with only a couple panels per page. Greg Ruth's art was frustrating. Some pages set the mood of the story perfectly. Others, I couldn't tell what has happening at all. It was just swirls on the page. Still, I liked this variation of the hounded monster trope due to the bond between the two brothers.
July 30, 2022
The art was just fantastic!! Unfortunately, the story didn't reach the same level. it was okay but felt a bit empty and at the end, it just seem like a long detour to nowhere. But the art is truly superb!
July 11, 2017
Overall I really liked Freaks of the Heartland, the harrowing artwork compelled with some very scary/disturbing/sad themes made for some pretty intense reading. On the flipside however I found the plot a little undernourished. After a strong build-up to the introduction of the existence of 'freaks' a little too much was left to the imagination
SPOILERS going forwards
While I like a little ambiguity it was hard to get behind the conclusion, what exactly happened to the 'Freaks' did everyone just go back to the village/heartland and live out their lives with the freaks living wild? Why did the Sheriff seem to be the reason that some of the freaks were allowed to live yet also seem to be the main instigator of hunting them down? Was the setting a Villagesque recluse town (hence none of the children has any knowledge of beyond the hills) or did the existence of the freaks drive them that way?
I guess my point is there were some very powerful ideas and moments in the narrative, like when Will and Trevor realized that escaping over the hills wouldn't be enough to save the freaks from persecution, but ultimately I felt like nothing really resolved.
SPOILERS going forwards
While I like a little ambiguity it was hard to get behind the conclusion, what exactly happened to the 'Freaks' did everyone just go back to the village/heartland and live out their lives with the freaks living wild? Why did the Sheriff seem to be the reason that some of the freaks were allowed to live yet also seem to be the main instigator of hunting them down? Was the setting a Villagesque recluse town (hence none of the children has any knowledge of beyond the hills) or did the existence of the freaks drive them that way?
I guess my point is there were some very powerful ideas and moments in the narrative, like when Will and Trevor realized that escaping over the hills wouldn't be enough to save the freaks from persecution, but ultimately I felt like nothing really resolved.
April 19, 2021
The idea was enjoyable enough, Greg Ruth's art is stunning and reminds me of Tyler Crook's watercolour work on Harrow County.
But the violent sequences had me absolutely lost in splashes of incoherent colours.
Also, the story just stops without any real resolution.
Overall pretty to look at had some interesting elements but ultimately it failed to pull the trigger.
But the violent sequences had me absolutely lost in splashes of incoherent colours.
Also, the story just stops without any real resolution.
Overall pretty to look at had some interesting elements but ultimately it failed to pull the trigger.
April 24, 2012
Freaks of the heartland is a graphic novel about family secrets, monsters, and brotherly love somewhere in the rural midwest. Young Trevor's life is a hard one - his father is a cruel bully and his mother has been beaten down until she is hardly more than a shadow. His six-year-old brother, Will, is a freak, monstrously huge and monstrously deformed. He is kept chained in the barn to keep him from prying eyes and to hide the family's 'shame'. But Trevor loves his brother and does his best to protect him from their father. So when he hears his father planning to kill Will, he tries to stop it. Unfortunately, things go wrong and Trevor decides that he and Will have to run away before the neighbours catch them.
My one problem with Freaks is the ending - it's too abrupt and, in a story which has the emotional impact of this one, you can't help but want more and to feel a little cheated when you don't get it.
That aside, however, Freaks of the Heartland is a pretty damn good graphic novel. The story grabs you; there is a strong message but it doesn't clobber the reader over the head; and the graphics are, to say the least, stunning.
As a tale of horror, Freaks of the Heartland is more Mary Shelley than HP Lovecraft. Its message is one of tolerance and acceptance and that sometimes it is hard to know who the real monsters are. if you're looking for a gorefest with lots of action and blood, you might want to give this one a pass. But if you like graphic novels with gorgeous graphics and an intelligent (albeit abrupt) storyline, Freaks is definitely worth the time.
My one problem with Freaks is the ending - it's too abrupt and, in a story which has the emotional impact of this one, you can't help but want more and to feel a little cheated when you don't get it.
That aside, however, Freaks of the Heartland is a pretty damn good graphic novel. The story grabs you; there is a strong message but it doesn't clobber the reader over the head; and the graphics are, to say the least, stunning.
As a tale of horror, Freaks of the Heartland is more Mary Shelley than HP Lovecraft. Its message is one of tolerance and acceptance and that sometimes it is hard to know who the real monsters are. if you're looking for a gorefest with lots of action and blood, you might want to give this one a pass. But if you like graphic novels with gorgeous graphics and an intelligent (albeit abrupt) storyline, Freaks is definitely worth the time.
August 25, 2017
This is a gorgeous package. Good job, Dark Horse, on the fabulous cover*, end papers, extra matter, full color illustrations... yes, please, this is lovely.
I also warmed up to Ruth's illustration style (cf. my thoughts on The Lost Boy) when in color. Even though the colors here are muted, adding that element makes his work feel more edgy to me. More like the impressionistic elements are intentional, and not an indication of a lack of skill.
I'm sure this story was a much different experience when read issue to issue. I read this all in one sitting, and as such, felt there were chances missed. I wanted to know MORE about this world. About these characters. It's never totally clear what is freakish about (really ANY of) the characters, and the mythology around the town could be explored much further. Maybe the story will continue, but it doesn't feel like it's intended that way.
Beautiful work - I kinda really want to see the movie. In this case, I feel like it would be MORE detailed than the book. Or a TV series!!!
*although its similarity to the cover for Lost Boy kinda cracks me up.
I also warmed up to Ruth's illustration style (cf. my thoughts on The Lost Boy) when in color. Even though the colors here are muted, adding that element makes his work feel more edgy to me. More like the impressionistic elements are intentional, and not an indication of a lack of skill.
I'm sure this story was a much different experience when read issue to issue. I read this all in one sitting, and as such, felt there were chances missed. I wanted to know MORE about this world. About these characters. It's never totally clear what is freakish about (really ANY of) the characters, and the mythology around the town could be explored much further. Maybe the story will continue, but it doesn't feel like it's intended that way.
Beautiful work - I kinda really want to see the movie. In this case, I feel like it would be MORE detailed than the book. Or a TV series!!!
*although its similarity to the cover for Lost Boy kinda cracks me up.
August 25, 2017
Trevor has never left the rural farm that he shares with his timid mother, domineering father, and freakish-giant younger brother Will. When a neighbor's pig is killed and Will's father subsequently decides to end his son's life, Trevor and Will escape and try to leave the valley. Before they get far, they uncover the grisly secret that the valley's families have hidden for years.
Freaks of the Heartland is a short book, a surprisingly quick read, with great big panels. The art is heavy on gray and taupe, evoking a kind of Great Depression era aesthetic, I think. It's beautiful at times--when setting the scene or showing panoramic views--but action shots and close-ups of people tend to look like big confusing smears.
The story, both heart warming and heart breaking, is where Freaks shines. It's minimalist, stripped down to the bare essentials; there's a lot more that could be told, but does it need to be? The ending is perfect and went a long way toward redeeming the confuzzling illustrations in my mind.
Freaks of the Heartland is a short book, a surprisingly quick read, with great big panels. The art is heavy on gray and taupe, evoking a kind of Great Depression era aesthetic, I think. It's beautiful at times--when setting the scene or showing panoramic views--but action shots and close-ups of people tend to look like big confusing smears.
The story, both heart warming and heart breaking, is where Freaks shines. It's minimalist, stripped down to the bare essentials; there's a lot more that could be told, but does it need to be? The ending is perfect and went a long way toward redeeming the confuzzling illustrations in my mind.
June 30, 2014
Terrific artwork, finely crafted story, gloomy setting, great atmosphere and sympathetic characters, what more can I ask for?
April 29, 2012
This was my first graphic novel, aside from comic books and Heavy Metal as a kid. But the cover caught my eye.
I loved the graphics in this novel! The colors reminded me of the movie Sin City. Beiges and tans, gold, black, with striking orange and red splattered throughout. The colors of fall.
The faces were very expressive, and one of my favorites was one that did not make it into the finished product (as it was deemed too "scary" for the character to gain the sympathy of the reader), but it can be found in the "Sketchbook and Notes" at the end of the novel.
The novel had a good storyline, and attracted me because of the "creep factor". The idea of a giant deformed kid being kept in the barn, hidden from society, was just too creepy to resist!
So, for someone like me that has never read a graphic novel, this was a great way to be introduced to the genre. The author was also behind the graphic novel 30 Days of Night, which was adapted to movie a few years ago, and I absolutely love that movie. It has the ultimate "creep factor"!
If you like graphic novels, or if you like horror, check out Freaks of the Heartland. You won't be sorry!
I loved the graphics in this novel! The colors reminded me of the movie Sin City. Beiges and tans, gold, black, with striking orange and red splattered throughout. The colors of fall.
The faces were very expressive, and one of my favorites was one that did not make it into the finished product (as it was deemed too "scary" for the character to gain the sympathy of the reader), but it can be found in the "Sketchbook and Notes" at the end of the novel.
The novel had a good storyline, and attracted me because of the "creep factor". The idea of a giant deformed kid being kept in the barn, hidden from society, was just too creepy to resist!
So, for someone like me that has never read a graphic novel, this was a great way to be introduced to the genre. The author was also behind the graphic novel 30 Days of Night, which was adapted to movie a few years ago, and I absolutely love that movie. It has the ultimate "creep factor"!
If you like graphic novels, or if you like horror, check out Freaks of the Heartland. You won't be sorry!
April 25, 2012
Generally I avoid graphic novels, believing “they’re not my thing.” But I chose to read this one because of the title and description; and I am so thankful I did. Talk about reader’s hook! The first page or so grabbed me; and the art is delicious-very evocative-where in a novel I would normally look to the description to understand setting, here it’s right in front of me, and so well drawn! Between the art and the text, I literally experienced cold shivers throughout the book. If THIS is what graphic novels can do for horror, I’ve been sadly misguided. I’d like to call this book extraordinary: it has deep characterizations, likely dialogue, horror, family tension (serious dysfunction), and that wonderful, exquisite art! “Freaks of the Heartland” has made a Dark Horse Books fan out of me!
March 8, 2017
Another goodie from Steve Niles. I will give most horror comics a go, but with Steve Niles you can trust you will be getting an interesting and original story. The story is wistful, disturbing and strange but really quite affecting. While Steve Niles is the reason I gravitated towards this one, the artist is a revelation for me---Greg Ruth's artwork is gorgeous. Painterly and emotional, I looked forward to each and every panel. I will definitely be on the look out for more of his work. Highly recommend.
March 4, 2018
Not really horror....more like side show freaks hidden in barns and shit. Nothing was explained....sigh.
October 28, 2024
This was a good comic that explores the age old theme of when faced with what we would consider real monsters how do our actions reflect on ourselves. When we choose to be nasty to those who have no control over their circumstances then who is the real monster?
I liked the art style but didn't love it. There were times when the artist was too abstract and I couldn't tell what was actually happening in the drawing anymore. Thankfully most of the panels were clear enough but there were more than one that was just too messy for me to comprehend well. I really liked the monochromatic theme throughout the whole book though. The mainly varying tones of gray that we stuck with just lent to the bleak feeling that the narrative offered as well and they went hand-in-hand beautifully.
The story itself was good too. I feel like I end up saying this all the time when it comes to these short comic runs resulting in a single volume but I wish it was just a tad bit longer. This didn't have to be a 20+-something issue run to get the point across but I wish we could have got just a bit more falling action than we did as after the climax sequence it was like 1 page then the story was done and it felt a bit lackluster for it.
I would recommend this to anyone who is curious about it for sure as there was still a good deal to like about the story even though I wish we could have gotten more.
I liked the art style but didn't love it. There were times when the artist was too abstract and I couldn't tell what was actually happening in the drawing anymore. Thankfully most of the panels were clear enough but there were more than one that was just too messy for me to comprehend well. I really liked the monochromatic theme throughout the whole book though. The mainly varying tones of gray that we stuck with just lent to the bleak feeling that the narrative offered as well and they went hand-in-hand beautifully.
The story itself was good too. I feel like I end up saying this all the time when it comes to these short comic runs resulting in a single volume but I wish it was just a tad bit longer. This didn't have to be a 20+-something issue run to get the point across but I wish we could have got just a bit more falling action than we did as after the climax sequence it was like 1 page then the story was done and it felt a bit lackluster for it.
I would recommend this to anyone who is curious about it for sure as there was still a good deal to like about the story even though I wish we could have gotten more.
May 20, 2021
Great art mixed with confusing and honestly boring storytelling. I dunno if Niles is just not the writer for me.
March 20, 2021
A compelling read! Interesting and unique art and engaging story. I was hoping for more background and character development but I still enjoyed it!
March 22, 2021
Freaks of the Heartland collects issues 1-6 of the series written by Steve Niles with art by Greg Ruth
Will is a 6-year old who lives in the barn behind the house, hidden away from society. Will towers above his younger brother, has freakish strength, and many other unnatural abilities. When Will's dad has decided that Will should no longer be in this world, Will's brother decides to free him and run away.
This book is haunting but tells a warm story of brotherly love. The art perfectly captures the feel of the book and rural atmosphere. With the book being only 6-issues, the story relies on archetypes to keep the book moving. Overall I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to horror fans.
Will is a 6-year old who lives in the barn behind the house, hidden away from society. Will towers above his younger brother, has freakish strength, and many other unnatural abilities. When Will's dad has decided that Will should no longer be in this world, Will's brother decides to free him and run away.
This book is haunting but tells a warm story of brotherly love. The art perfectly captures the feel of the book and rural atmosphere. With the book being only 6-issues, the story relies on archetypes to keep the book moving. Overall I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to horror fans.
May 26, 2019
The art is really the only thing going on here. The story don’t make one dang lick o’ sense an’ it ain’t got no ending’. The characters, see, is alla buncha them clee-shays ‘bout rednecks an’ whatnot. Maybe if there were a hint of a theme besides “don’t treat people who look different from you badly” I’d be inclined to overlook the non-ending. It just feels like Niles saw he only had two pages left and went, “Welp, best rap this up.” Seemed mostly okay until then.
This is exactly the kind of story that the various X-Men books have done for decades, and done better. You really need to bring more to the table at this late date.
This is exactly the kind of story that the various X-Men books have done for decades, and done better. You really need to bring more to the table at this late date.
March 3, 2020
Steve Niles and Greg Ruth tell a moving story about mutation and mercy in the hinterlands of the American Midwest. Somewhere in an unnamed town, a monstrous six-year-old boy named Will lived hidden away in a barn, while his older brother Trevor waits for the day when his abusive and violent father finally puts a bullet in Will. When Trevor and Will flee for their lives, they uncover a great secret at the heart of their small, isolated community that at first brings horror. But very soon we see that monsters aren't always defined by their physical form. And love and mercy are always more powerful than hate and fear. Tightly told, wonderfully illustrated, and compelling stuff.
November 12, 2015
A really powerful story about secrets kept and buried, and love of one brother to another, done in sepia tones to help with the claustrophobic feeling of being trapped in the small town paranoia.
October 5, 2017
Creo que no entendí el final -.-
Me gustó la paleta de colores que oscilaba entre la escala de grises y algunos toques de amarillos y naranjas, es un comic bastante sombrío situado en un pueblo campestre lleno de gente fea que esconden hijos "deformes", los odian y quieren acabar con ellos.
Los protas son Trevor y su hermano Will, al que tienen escondido, y Trevor es el encargado de alimentarlo. Pero mientras el padre se vuelve cada vez más odioso con respecto a Will, Trevor decide que tiene que hacer algo, impedir que le hagan daño a su hermano.
La idea de los niños deformes y el odio que generan en la gente del pueblo me gustó, nunca pasa de moda ni deja de haber gente que repudia lo diferente. Es remarcable que sean los otros niños los que sean amables y comprensivos con los "freaks" y solo un puñado de adultos se apiadan de ellos.
Pero no explica el origen de ellos, en un momento Trevor recuerda algo pero no se explica el por qué, de dónde salieron, cuál fue la causa. Aún así son criaturas extremadamente curiosas, hiperdesarrolladas físicamente pero algo lentos de mente. Son inofensivos si no se los provoca, pero pobres de los que quieran hacerles daño.
La historia me pareció realmente interesante, pero así como se tomó su tiempo en introducirnos en el lugar y los personajes, el último volumen deja muchos interrogantes dando vueltas. No lo terminé de entender :/
Me gustó la paleta de colores que oscilaba entre la escala de grises y algunos toques de amarillos y naranjas, es un comic bastante sombrío situado en un pueblo campestre lleno de gente fea que esconden hijos "deformes", los odian y quieren acabar con ellos.
Los protas son Trevor y su hermano Will, al que tienen escondido, y Trevor es el encargado de alimentarlo. Pero mientras el padre se vuelve cada vez más odioso con respecto a Will, Trevor decide que tiene que hacer algo, impedir que le hagan daño a su hermano.
La idea de los niños deformes y el odio que generan en la gente del pueblo me gustó, nunca pasa de moda ni deja de haber gente que repudia lo diferente. Es remarcable que sean los otros niños los que sean amables y comprensivos con los "freaks" y solo un puñado de adultos se apiadan de ellos.
Pero no explica el origen de ellos, en un momento Trevor recuerda algo pero no se explica el por qué, de dónde salieron, cuál fue la causa. Aún así son criaturas extremadamente curiosas, hiperdesarrolladas físicamente pero algo lentos de mente. Son inofensivos si no se los provoca, pero pobres de los que quieran hacerles daño.
La historia me pareció realmente interesante, pero así como se tomó su tiempo en introducirnos en el lugar y los personajes, el último volumen deja muchos interrogantes dando vueltas. No lo terminé de entender :/
February 20, 2025
...well, Greg Ruth has just become a reason for me to pick up a book.
The art is incredible, managing to be moody and impressionistic in moments of trauma without ever getting unreadable. Given the comics that have occasionally evoked "what am I looking at" rather than "ah, the summit of horror", I treasure this.
A solid story from Steve Niles, evocative of John Wyndham. His pacing is excellent, giving the events and characters room to breathe and letting the impact of the story take root.
Truly fantastic.
The art is incredible, managing to be moody and impressionistic in moments of trauma without ever getting unreadable. Given the comics that have occasionally evoked "what am I looking at" rather than "ah, the summit of horror", I treasure this.
A solid story from Steve Niles, evocative of John Wyndham. His pacing is excellent, giving the events and characters room to breathe and letting the impact of the story take root.
Truly fantastic.
May 1, 2020
Dark story about mutant children in rural America. Artwork is great, makes you feel desperation and loneliness of that place. Great comic book overall.
June 11, 2022
Classic variation on 'Who's greater monster?' which stands mostly on amazing art. Long of the book is just right, it manages to deliver atmosphere and uneasy/almost horror feeling.
March 15, 2024
Did not know what I was going into! Loved every bit of it
April 7, 2021
This is about a boy looking out for his monstrously deformed little brother in a small farming community, that's basically it.
There's some great ideas around who the actual freaks are and the relationship between the two brothers is solid. But there are so many unanswered questions about the origin of the monster boy, what exactly his "powers" are, how it relates to the other people in the town and the way characters just come and go. And it all just kind of ends but then skips forward to an epilogue so it's all kind of unclear how it was resolved.
I do like that it's a self contained story, but I think it could have used an extra couple of chapters to flesh out what happens next.
I really liked the artwork, it was very moody and had a kind of dreamlike quality to it, while remaining very brown and yellow, evoking the feelings of being in the middle of a farming community.
There's some great ideas around who the actual freaks are and the relationship between the two brothers is solid. But there are so many unanswered questions about the origin of the monster boy, what exactly his "powers" are, how it relates to the other people in the town and the way characters just come and go. And it all just kind of ends but then skips forward to an epilogue so it's all kind of unclear how it was resolved.
I do like that it's a self contained story, but I think it could have used an extra couple of chapters to flesh out what happens next.
I really liked the artwork, it was very moody and had a kind of dreamlike quality to it, while remaining very brown and yellow, evoking the feelings of being in the middle of a farming community.
May 4, 2012
For 2012 references, the book was the love-child of Frankenstein's monster meet Winter's Bone.
That what I've been thinking the whole time I was reading this book. Its the story of a young boy named Trevor with a deformed six years old younger brother, Will. Their father, a misogynistic bastard and abuser who like to degrade everyone, wanted to kill the younger brother for being different. A couple of pages later it was revealed that Will have telepathy in which he sensed the death of someone who was like him. Their father newly resolved with the abomination in the family, decided to end his son's life until Trevor try to prevent his father with a bullet which missed. Before his father would hit his older brother, Will unveiled a superhuman ability of flamethrowing from his throat. Leaving his father fried crispy in the barn and their mother letting them go. They went to find more caged creatures like Will and behind them was a group of rednecks with guns and a thirst to kill all of the deformed children.
The graphic is gloomy and the watercolour and the details and shades were magnificent. I find myself hard to appreciate most western graphic novels because of the overused filling computer colouring but each of the pages from this book were bringing live to the screen. The intensity of the shades heightened the overwhelming depression, mania and hope that are prevalent in some graphic novels like The Walking Dead but in this stand alone book, I kept coming up various of scenes and themes that was bleeding through the graphics silently. The fear of the unknown, the sense of freedom, the inquisitiveness and redemption of several of the characters. The tears.
The artistic work on this book is plain overwhelming. The content carry a lot of depth in it and make me wish for more.
That what I've been thinking the whole time I was reading this book. Its the story of a young boy named Trevor with a deformed six years old younger brother, Will. Their father, a misogynistic bastard and abuser who like to degrade everyone, wanted to kill the younger brother for being different. A couple of pages later it was revealed that Will have telepathy in which he sensed the death of someone who was like him. Their father newly resolved with the abomination in the family, decided to end his son's life until Trevor try to prevent his father with a bullet which missed. Before his father would hit his older brother, Will unveiled a superhuman ability of flamethrowing from his throat. Leaving his father fried crispy in the barn and their mother letting them go. They went to find more caged creatures like Will and behind them was a group of rednecks with guns and a thirst to kill all of the deformed children.
The graphic is gloomy and the watercolour and the details and shades were magnificent. I find myself hard to appreciate most western graphic novels because of the overused filling computer colouring but each of the pages from this book were bringing live to the screen. The intensity of the shades heightened the overwhelming depression, mania and hope that are prevalent in some graphic novels like The Walking Dead but in this stand alone book, I kept coming up various of scenes and themes that was bleeding through the graphics silently. The fear of the unknown, the sense of freedom, the inquisitiveness and redemption of several of the characters. The tears.
The artistic work on this book is plain overwhelming. The content carry a lot of depth in it and make me wish for more.
June 8, 2012
It's a small town. And small towns have secrets.
Yet, that's the thing about secrets - they never go unnoticed.
For Trevor, there is a secret hiding in his backyard, inside of the barn. It's his brother - Will. Will, only six years old, stands several feet above his brother. And it wasn't until Trevor decides to take a stand against the hiding of his brother, that he realizes how much this small town would be willing to fight for the silence of the children.
After reading Freaks of the Heartland by Steve Niles and art by Greg Ruth
After reading this book, the air and feeling of the read reminded me of Sling Blade meets Stand By Me - a creepy small town keeping a very big secret quiet. The two brothers in the book portray a heartwarming relationship, although often chilling at times. I was captivated, of course. Trevor's main purpose is to protect his brother Will. And Will? Will just wants to find peace.
The pace of the book struck me and I just had to know what these beings were, how they came about, and what would become of them. What would happen to the children? Would the adults take them down? Would they break free? But overall, the tempo also felt bleak. Isolating. Trapping. And I'm sure this is how the character's felt. And not only did the dialogue portray that, but so did the art work.
The artwork alone would be worth buying the book for - incredibly detailed and elaborate art that could be calm and peaceful looking one moment and very violent and disturbing the next.
I won't give away what happens to them, but I felt I still needed more from the story. I'm not sure if this book is planning on becoming a series, but if it does, I would be interested in the next read. I would say it would be worth it.
Yet, that's the thing about secrets - they never go unnoticed.
For Trevor, there is a secret hiding in his backyard, inside of the barn. It's his brother - Will. Will, only six years old, stands several feet above his brother. And it wasn't until Trevor decides to take a stand against the hiding of his brother, that he realizes how much this small town would be willing to fight for the silence of the children.
After reading Freaks of the Heartland by Steve Niles and art by Greg Ruth
After reading this book, the air and feeling of the read reminded me of Sling Blade meets Stand By Me - a creepy small town keeping a very big secret quiet. The two brothers in the book portray a heartwarming relationship, although often chilling at times. I was captivated, of course. Trevor's main purpose is to protect his brother Will. And Will? Will just wants to find peace.
The pace of the book struck me and I just had to know what these beings were, how they came about, and what would become of them. What would happen to the children? Would the adults take them down? Would they break free? But overall, the tempo also felt bleak. Isolating. Trapping. And I'm sure this is how the character's felt. And not only did the dialogue portray that, but so did the art work.
The artwork alone would be worth buying the book for - incredibly detailed and elaborate art that could be calm and peaceful looking one moment and very violent and disturbing the next.
I won't give away what happens to them, but I felt I still needed more from the story. I'm not sure if this book is planning on becoming a series, but if it does, I would be interested in the next read. I would say it would be worth it.
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