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Van Helsing’s Night OffWritten and Illustrated by Nicolas Mahler Published by Top Shelf Comix
Nicolas Mahler was born in Vienna, Austria in 1969 and still resides there today. For his “day job” he works for newspapers and magazines in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. But at night, he creates some of the most unusual comics I have ever encountered. His comic series Flashko has been adapted into several animated shorts that have played at several film festivals. His book Kratochivil was reborn as a puppet play in Switzerland. Van Helsing’s Night Off is an excellent way to get introduced to this unique talent in the world of graphic novels.
The Story
If you can imagine The Far Side blended with a Charlie Chaplin film or Mr. Bean, you begin to have an idea of the humor and style of Van Helsing’s Night Off. The collected short stories included are told without text of any kind however the humor of the situations the classic monsters find themselves in are completely understood.
The reader has the opportunity to see the adventures of Dracula, Van Helsing, The Wolfman(or in this case, the Wolf Woman), The Mummy, Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, and the Masked Avenger in situations we have never seen them encounter in their classic films. Quite often, the characters find themselves at a bar getting drunk and having to deal with situations while intoxicated, a situation that makes them more human than would be expected.
One of my favorites included is The Mummy meets the Wolf Man. The Mummy has a chance meeting with the Wolf Man at a restaurant. The Mummy has an accident with his cup of coffee and makes a mess of his bandages. It is quite an embarrassing situation for two monsters trying to blend in with other diners. The two decide to hit the town for some entertainment. Where do these two find themselves later that night? At a disco of course and attempt to return home drunk. This entire story is told with only visuals and is completely without text or dialogue.
Another story I found particularly amusing was The Wolf Ma’am II. A man finds that his wife is a werewolf, a situation to which he has become accustomed. As she is doing dishes, he runs to her and tells her that night is soon approaching. He rushes her to a closet, places her inside and locks the door. He then returns to the TV to watch an adult film. There are several stories involving Wolf Ma’am and her husband will cause you to giggle out loud while you are reading this book.
Mahler’s comedic style is decidedly traditional, relying on physical humor to make his point and tell his offbeat stories of classic monsters. Van Helsing’s Night Off is a wonderful achievement in the medium of graphic novels and comics. It can be enjoyed around the world without the restrictions of language.
9/10
The Artwork
The artwork Mahler has created to accompany his story is deceptively simple. The illustrations appear to be sparse black and white creations but in reality are surprisingly weighty and detailed upon close inspection. The illustrations are also able to communicate clearly the physical humor and emotions of the various characters.
8/10
-Suzie Lackey
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Van Helsing’s Night Off
Written and Illustrated by Nicolas Mahler Published by Top Shelf Comix
Review: The Story 9/10 The Artwork 8/10 Overall 9/10
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