Bloodborne: The Death of Sleep – Volume 1 Graphic Novel Collection Review

Titan Comics has published a graphic novel collection titled Bloodborne: The Death of Sleep – Volume 1 available from numerous online retailers and high street book stores. Can the first set of four comic book issues collected together in Bloodborne: The Death of Sleep – Volume 1 deliver what it sets out to by producing a graphic novel sequel to the smash hit Bloodborne videogame?

Bloodborne is a third-person action horror RPG developed by FromSoftware and Hidetaka Miyazaki; released in March 2015 followed by an expansion titled The Old Hunters that are both available exclusively on PS4. Bloodborne received worldwide acclaim from gamers and critics alike, living up to the anticipation in the process; especially given the director Hidetaka Miyazaki had previously directed such appreciated games as Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls. Bloodborne earned many awards including Game Design, Original Action Game and Original Dramatic Score in a New IP from the 12th British Academy Games Awards; Game of the Year, PlayStation Game of the Year, Best Visual Design and Studio of the Year at the Edge Awards 2015; and Best Original Game and PlayStation Game of the Year from Golden Joystick Awards 2015. Bloodborne proved extremely successful for FromSoftware, Hidetaka Miyazaki and publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment as it sold one million worldwide within a month and had sold two million worldwide in half a year.

Bloodborne: The Death of Sleep – Volume 1 graphic novel collection is in extremely experienced hands as it is written by Ales Kot; a writer, director and producer of films, television, videogames and comics such as Change, Material, The Surface, Wild Children, Wolf and Zero. Ales Kot’s writing is complimented by artwork from Piotr Kowalski; a dedicated comic book artist with a dark, foreboding style including graphic novels such as Dark Souls, Marvel Knights: Hulk, Robocop, Wolfenstein and more besides. Meanwhile, colour art is by Brad Simpson that provides colour art for Marvel Comics such as Deadpool, The Amazing Spider-Man and Vengeance in addition to 30 Days of Night and The Witcher, alongside Kevin Enhart who also provides colour art, while lettering is by Aditya Bidikar having been a letterer for such graphic novels as Empire of Blood, Every City is a Story, Grant Morrison’s 18 Days and Yellow Submarine.

Bloodborne’s graphic novel sequel tells the story of a nameless Hunter that finds himself waking up in a nightmarish city that has fallen victim to a endemic as horrific creatures walk during eternal darkness of the night. Hunter must fulfil a dangerous quest to search for Paleblood in his only hope of escaping the seemingly everlasting Night of the Hunt.

The quality of writing is excellent as it depicts the immediate urgency of the situation from not only the Hunter’s perspective, but also in the sense of how the characters feel that he meets on his journey who does not want the Hunter to hunt near where they live during his battle against evil and to find a Paleblood in which the Hunter’s relationship gradually progresses due to the Paleblood’s significant importance.

Bloodborne: The Death of Sleep – Volume 1’s amazing presentation begins from the haunting front cover artwork as the Hunter stands tall with a giant moon looming in the distance with the nearby buildings in the city as people and creatures are sitting or laying on the ground. Back cover artwork features the Hunter guiding a Paleblood past monstrous creatures that are attempting to reach for the Hunter from beneath the ground, alongside a very interesting synopsis of the story. Meanwhile, Piotr Kowalski’s art, colour art by Brad Simpson and Kevin Enhart, alongside lettering by Aditya Bidikar collectively perfectly compliments Ales Kot’s writing. The artwork showcases the nightmarish city and horrific events occurring such as the Hunter battling creatures that want nothing else but to defeat the Hunter endlessly.

Bloodborne: The Death of Sleep – Volume 1’s value originates from Bloodborne fans wanting to see a continuation to the story of the videogame, alongside cover art representing each of the four individual issues, a cover art gallery mostly focusing on alternative cover art of each issue and a look at the art process via some of the pre-artwork direction for environments and monsters from pages 12 to 14 within the 112 pages.

Fans of Bloodborne should also look at other Bloodborne graphic novels from Titan Comics including Bloodborne: The Healing Thirst – Volume 2 at https://titan-comics.com/c/1378-bloodborne-the-healing-thirst/ , Bloodborne: A Song of Crows – Volume 3 at https://titan-comics.com/c/1415-bloodborne-a-song-of-crows/ and Bloodborne: The Veil Torn Asunder – Volume 4 at https://titan-comics.com/c/1508-bloodborne-the-veil-torn-asunder/

Analysis
• Title: Bloodborne: The Death of Sleep – Volume 1 Graphic Novel Collection
• Writer: Ales Kot
• Art: Piotr Kowalski (Art), Brad Simpson and Kevin Enhart (Colour Art) and Aditya Bidikar (Lettering)
• Publisher: Titan Comics
• Length: 112 pages
• Cover: Paperback

Bloodborne: The Death of Sleep – Volume 1 graphic novel collection can be purchased in the UK from Amazon at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bloodborne-Collection-Ales-Kot/dp/1785863444/ and Forbidden Planet at https://forbiddenplanet.com/250842-bloodborne-collection/ or a signed mini print edition at Forebidden Planet at https://forbiddenplanet.com/261624-bloodborne-volume-1-the-death-of-sleep-forbidden-planet-signed-mini-print-edition/ and digitally at ComiXology at https://www.comixology.co.uk/Bloodborne-Vol-1-The-Death-of-Sleep/digital-comic/662135

Bloodborne: The Death of Sleep – Volume 1 graphic novel collection can be purchased in America and Canada from Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Bloodborne-Death-Sleep-Ales-Kot/dp/1785863444/ and digitally at ComiXology at https://www.comixology.com/Bloodborne-Vol-1-The-Death-of-Sleep/digital-comic/662135

You can also find Titan Comics’ official website including a back catalogue of captivating comics and graphic novels at https://titan-comics.com/ and product details regarding Bloodborne: The Death of Sleep – Volume 1 graphic novel collection at https://titan-comics.com/c/1241-bloodborne-the-death-of-sleep/