Studio Ghibli meets Wednesday Addams in a brand new, action-packed middle-grade graphic novel from John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs, better known in the comics world as Metaphrog. This award-winning duo have published lots of fun graphic novels over the years, but Wilomina: The Land of Dreams and Nightmares is something completely new, full of wild imagination, enchanting characters and hair-raising adventure. With comparisons to the Amulet series, Labyrinth and Alice in Wonderland, it certainly sounds right up this reviewer’s street!
Wilomina drops the reader into some beautifully vivid landscapes. Pinks and purples crowd the page as Wilomina herself runs through an eerie forest, where tree trunks become glowing-eyed snake heads, nipping at her heels as she approaches the edge of a cliff. Just when it seems our protagonist is doomed, she’s woken up abruptly. Phew, it was all a dream. Right?
Wilomina, her father and baby brother are on their way to visit Mum in hospital, already running late when Wilomina wakes up (the colours adapting to a less dream-like palette). Swerving to avoid a shadowy creature, they become stranded in the middle of nowhere when their car breaks down. Determined to see Mum before visiting hours are over, Wilomina and co. find themselves at a very strange train station. No one is there, there’s no timetable, and the old-fashioned grandfather clock is chiming midnight at 8:13PM! Despite Dad’s protestations, the family boards a mysterious appearing train. On board, Wilomina meets The Great Mephisto, a striped green talking cat – and this is only the beginning of the absurdities she’ll face throughout, as the train houses unimaginable creatures and seems to shape shift at will.
Separated from her family, Wilomina tumbles into Nocturna, a parallel land where dreams and nightmares originate (including her own from the opening!). However, amid continual attacks from the spectre conductor, giant flies and other creatures, it soon becomes clear that the nightmares are taking over this land, and they’re doing it quickly, too. With wise (and sassy!) Mephisto’s help, Wilomina must fight to find her family and seek the portal that will lead them home, and to Mum’s hospital room.
This is a delightful romp into the intriguing world of Nocturna, full of warmth and humour, but also mystery, intrigue and just the right amount of spookiness. The artwork is wonderfully expressive, with an almost cartoon-like style (which reminded me a little of Sarah Graley) that brings the eccentric cast of characters to life. The colour palette is particularly lovely, with rich pinks, purples and blues creating a dreamy, almost fairytale-like atmosphere, while the strange creatures and twisting, otherworldly landscapes give everything a slightly darker edge.
There’s so much imagination packed into the illustrations, from the wonderfully quirky character designs to the bizarre details lurking in the backgrounds. Wilomina and Mephisto are a great duo, who continually bounce off each other, and with the introduction of new creatures along the way the story remains fresh and interesting (special shout-out to Tara and Tula, the spider witches!).
Alongside the central mission to find a way out of Nocturna, there’s another rather urgent matter to contend with. Bitten by a black fog early on in the story, Wilomina is slowly transforming into a ‘werepire’. As well as battling the increasingly nightmarish world around her, she must also fight the monster within. It’s a brilliant extra layer to the adventure, adding a sense of urgency and danger to an already action-packed story.
There’s plenty of heart beneath all the fantastical chaos, too. The story is also about family, the fear of losing someone you love, and finding your way home, even when everything around you feels unfamiliar. With its imaginative world-building, gorgeous artwork and wonderfully eccentric cast of characters, Wilomina: The Land of Dreams and Nightmares is a real treat for young graphic novel fans, particularly those who like their adventures with a little bit of darkness.
This year’s Thought Bubble convention marks Metaphrog’s first visit since before the pandemic, so make sure to give them a very warm welcome back!
John Chalmers (W), Sandra Marrs (A) • Scholastic, £9.99
Buy online from Gosh! Comics here
Review by Lydia Turner
Metaphrog are at table B51 in the Bubbleboy Hall at Thought Bubble.
Thought Bubble 2026 runs from November 9th-15th with the convention weekend taking place on the 14th-15th. More details on the Thought Bubble site here.
Read all our Thought Bubble 2026 coverage so far in one place here.
Poster art by Núria Tamarit
