"Night Fever" is definitely a unusual book. Webb is pretty much having a midlife crisis. He is a successful businessman with a wife and children but is struggling because he never became a writer. Webb goes on a multi-day drug and alcohol ride where there's murder, aliens, and burglary. The book does feel pretty trippy but I love the old school comic feeling of the book.

This is a very fun fable about regretting the life you chose, and the art is spectacular. It’s truly cinematic and captivating.

A gripping noir thriller that takes readers into the shadowy depths of the human psyche and the dark corners of European cityscapes. The story follows Jonathan Webb, a book salesman on a business trip in Europe, who finds himself unable to sleep and instead embarks on a nocturnal odyssey through the city's underworld. Guided by his enigmatic and sometimes violent new friend, Rainer, Jonathan is exposed to a hidden world of danger and debauchery. The graphic novel delves deep into themes of identity and self-discovery, framed by a Jekyll-and-Hyde narrative that questions whether we are truly what we do or rather what we think in our innermost selves. Ed Brubaker's storytelling, combined with Sean Phillips's atmospheric artwork and Jacob Phillips's coloring, creates a tense, immersive environment that draws the reader into the night's temptations and terrors.

This was a darkly fun crime noir about a fairly regular guy on a business trip in Paris who gets overwhelmed by lack of sleep and becomes involved in a series of ever-escalating shenanigans. I won't describe the story further than that; I'd forgotten the premise by the time I read this, and I think I enjoyed the story more for that - it was delicious fun to watch the fever dream-like events play out without expecting or knowing what would happen next. This is a wild tale, and while personally, I think the MC behaved pretty stupidly by just going with the flow, I can't say I've never done anything dumb while under the influence of lack of sleep and the addition of intoxicants, and it did make for a very entertaining story. The story combines perfectly with the gorgeous art and bold coloring to give us a trippy, weird cinematic experience, and I very much enjoyed it!

#NightFevergraphicnovel #NetGalley

This one was pretty intense and trippy. I’m a little mad we never found out how that guy stole his dream but whatever. The nudity was really gross too. I wish I didn’t have to see a fat hairy naked man’s penis. But overall, a well written story. Honestly might have been better if it wasn’t a graphic novel, and I usually say the opposite about books. I think everything would be better as a graphic novel but not this one. Some things like this would be better as a regular short story or “novella”.

This was a story about a man going through a midlife crisis and hoping that the adventure he thought he was taking was actually real.

I'm a fan of Brubaker, but this one didn't work for me. This man has been in the same publishing job for 20 plus years, and hates that he never made anything of himself. Even though he's considered a top salesman and trusted industry person, because he never got famous for writing a book he thinks he's a failure. He owns his own home, has a wife who cares and loves him, and two children who think he's amazing. But a new up and coming writer has a story that involves a dream he used to have, and now he thinks this man has taken everything he deserved.

So he goes on a bender, does some drugs and alcohol, gets wrapped up with a strange man, and believes he has discovered aliens. Instead he's really just pretending to be someone else and it all backfires and leads to death. Instead of being grateful and happy about what he has, he plays the what if game and three people lose their lives. I'm not sure what commentary Brubaker was trying to come up with, but it was as fantastical as the reviews made it seem. The artwork was amazing though, can't fault that.

This is a dark, violent, yet philosophical story about truth, life, free will, and how we get lost inside of the monotony of daily life. The things we wished for become the walls of our prisons, and sometimes it takes escaping and seeing life outside to determine we are better off where we are. The artwork has fantastic, and the pacing of the story was exceptional.

I’m not really a big fan of graphic novels but this one peaked my interest. Thanks to #NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC that was completely out of my comfort zone.

“Because no matter who you are or what life you have… eventually it feels like a trap. All these things we do that are supposed to make us happy.. but everyone’s still empty inside”

Night Fever has strong components in its own right, but it isn't particularly for me. The art style is similar to older comic books, which I'm not preferential to. I enjoyed the coloring style quite a bit, and several stand-alone panels were visually striking - the owl on a wire being my favorite. It always irks me in graphic novels when the male characters are distinct while the female characters look the same. Some scenes in this book were definitely written with a base-level misogyny that impacts the reading experience.

Night Fever is a 70s noir graphic novel about a regular Joe who makes a decision to do something out of the ordinary and the consequences that decision brings. As usual with almost all graphic novels the artist is super talented. The story was ok. Quick read and I liked the twisty ending.

Thanks to the authors, publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc I received in exchange fir my honest review.

I've enjoyed everything these guys have made, although I'm still working my way through the back catalogue. This is a one-shot, so doesn't feel like it has the same depth as the series, but it still felt comforting (in the way senseless crime and violence does) and familiar. The art is a joy to behold. It's not what I normally enjoy at all, but it is so accomplished and atmospheric.

I expect the story will fade away into the Brubaker-Phillips universe, as none of the characters was particularly memorable, but I don't mind that. It would definitely be a good introduction to the genre before jumping into Fatale or Criminal.

Kinda dark and kinda trippy but a strong graphic novel discussing who we really are and what makes up that identityZ thanks for the arc

This is very noir- which I usually love- but I thought this was a little too slow. I think the art is great, very reminiscent of classic comics with a modern twist.

I am typically not a graphic novel reader. But this was was a fun little ride. Quick read and the pictures are great. Even with few words, it promotes deeper thought about our life choices and who we become.

I found the story in Night Fever extremely compelling, with enough shocking moments, Parisian streets, and fever-like dream states to last a lifetime.

Jonathan Webb is a middle-aged man working in the publishing world. He isn't disgruntled, because he would actually have to care to be considered disgruntled. Webb is on his way to Paris for a work event and decides to pick up a forthcoming book he is supposed to promote there. The book mentions a dream – a very specific and haunting dream. It’s a dream he knows well because he has had that dream before.

Once Webb reaches Paris, he can’t sleep. How could he? It's too bizarre a situation. So he walks the streets of Paris late at night. What he stumbles into is a bizarre world of parties, crime, and power. He meets a man who changes his life and seems to know him intrinsically.

Night Fever is a noir masterpiece. It is a deep dive into the spiraling mind of a man in the middle of the worst sort of mid-life crisis. I loved every second of it. It is weird, incredibly dark, and even has a couple of (maybe not real) aliens.

Art:

The art in Night Fever is remarkable and perfected by the coloring of Jacobs Philips. To say I enjoyed it would be an understatement. There is one particular scene where Webb is high out of his mind. The art in that scene could not have been better. Those few pages include some of the best graphic novel art I have ever seen.

Final Thoughts:

I know Night Fever is more of a middle-aged man’s comic. It practically has mid-life crisis written all over it. But I loved the heck out of this, and I even enjoyed it more than Where the Body Was, which I enjoyed a great deal. I can’t wait to read more Brubaker and Phillips.

5/5 Stars.

Thanks to Image Comics for providing a review copy. All the above thoughts are my own.

My review will go live on Back Shelf Books at the link below on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.

A dark graphic novel about a man who explores what may just be his true inner self.

This was a quick read with art that I really enjoyed. While this wasn't my favorite book, I could tell that the story was one of personal meaning to the author. I also think it shows (perhaps on the more dramatic side) something we as humans feel often: the feeling that what our life is now is not the best it could be, that we didn't make the right choices, and that maybe there is something else and more exciting out there.

Overall worth a read!

Thank you Image Comics for providing me with an ARC.

I'm a long time fan of the Brubaker - Phillipz duo and this book is no exception.
This story is a transe like experience, following a sleep deprived and often high protagonist through European city streets at night.

Brubacker has a way of keeping you guessing between lies, dreams and reality, and ask yourself, how much of an excuse do you need to go over the edge?
The art is just as beautiful and immersive as always. It shows you how low the characters can get without dwelling on it or becoming too much.

I really loved this book

This is my first graphic novel by Ed Brubaker, and I really enjoyed it. Jonathan Webb is a middle-aged salesman stuck in his routine. He realizes while on a trip that he could be a different person. From the very beginning it was giving Fight Club vibes from the insomnia to reckless stranger encouraging careless behavior. I enjoyed that I did not see the ending coming, although I bet someone else probably could.

I had a hard time getting into this book. I enjoyed the story line but the writing didn’t resonate with me. Definitely give it a try tho because the story is so good!

with the team of brubaker and phillips at the helm, i was very hopeful for this one, but for an illustrated text, there was WAY too much telling instead of showing. the narration the webb gives in asides may work for some people, but it didn't do it for me. i found the explanations happening alongside the action distracting and unappealing. as it seems many have noted, this feels a bit like an eyes wide shut rip-off, with a slightly more noir bend, which i usually enjoy but just couldn't get into this time around. i'm sure this narrative style is for someone, but it's definitely not for me. the art was good, but that's the saving grace.