🕯️ Deadman – Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #2 (2016) – Comic Review
🎭 Genre
Deadman – Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love is a unique fusion of gothic romance, supernatural mystery, and psychological horror. It echoes the tone of classic Victorian ghost stories while threading in modern character complexities and emotional depth. Perfect for fans of Crimson Peak and Penny Dreadful.
🧑🤝🧑 Main Characters
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Deadman (Boston Brand) – A ghostly former acrobat cursed to walk the earth until he finds peace by helping others. He’s a spectral observer and reluctant hero.
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Berenice – A sensitive and introspective woman with a psychic connection to the supernatural, struggling to trust her instincts in a world that demands rationality.
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Adelia – The lingering spirit of Glencourt Manor, her tragic past intertwines with the haunting mystery.
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Nathan – Berenice's boyfriend, distant and skeptical, representing the voice of reason—often to a fault.
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Sam – A nonbinary artist who becomes a genuine source of emotional support for Berenice and emerges as a standout, progressive character in the narrative.
✍️ Writer
Sarah Vaughn delivers an elegantly layered script that blends ghost story chills with rich emotional storytelling. Her writing evokes a slow-burn, character-driven tale that invites readers to sink into the eerie ambiance.
🎨 Artist
Lan Medina creates detailed and expressive illustrations that complement the gothic atmosphere. Each panel is thoughtfully constructed, lending visual weight to both the spectral horror and the romantic drama.
🎨 Colorist
José Villarrubia enhances the mood with a palette that shifts from somber earth tones to spectral hues, guiding the reader's emotions with subtle precision.
📝 Editor
Rebecca Taylor ensures the narrative maintains cohesion, emotional clarity, and respectful representation—especially with Sam’s character, handled with thoughtful care.
🏢 Publisher and Brand
Published by DC Comics under the DC imprint, Deadman – Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love carries a tone reminiscent of Vertigo Comics in its heyday. While not officially part of the DC Black Label, the storytelling style and maturity of content are very much in line with that audience.
📅 Release Year
2016
📖 Brief Plot Summary
The mystery deepens at Glencourt Manor. After the abrupt disappearance of Deadman and the ghost Adelia, Berenice begins exploring the estate’s haunted history. Tormented by eerie presences and unsure of whom to trust, she feels increasingly isolated. Her attempts to speak to Nathan are met with emotional distance, pushing her closer to Sam, whose empathy and understanding offer her a safe haven. As secrets of the manor begin to surface, the line between past and present blurs, revealing that the mansion itself may be feeding on trauma and loss.
🔍 Notable Arcs or Storylines
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The Haunting of Glencourt Manor – A chilling exploration of guilt, love, and betrayal through ghostly manifestations.
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Berenice’s Awakening – Her emotional and supernatural growth forms the emotional core of the series.
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Deadman’s Redemption – His quest to help the living brings him closer to resolving his own lingering sorrow.
💭 Fan Theories or Interpretations
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Some fans theorize that Glencourt Manor acts as a supernatural character itself—its architecture shifting in response to the emotional states of its residents.
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Adelia is often interpreted as a mirror to Berenice’s possible future—showing what happens when one allows love to become captivity.
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There are discussions in fan forums around whether Sam may possess latent spiritual sensitivity, hinting at a deeper connection to the spectral events than initially revealed.
🌟 Review Summary
Deadman – Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #2 is a beautifully written and illustrated chapter in a deeply atmospheric miniseries. Sarah Vaughn’s writing is poetic without becoming overwrought, and her characters—especially Berenice and Sam—feel genuine and layered. Lan Medina’s art is haunting and expressive, perfectly capturing the mansion’s decaying elegance and ghostly terror. The comic handles romance, identity, and the supernatural with grace and a fresh perspective rarely seen in the genre.
Verdict: A must-read for fans of gothic horror, emotional storytelling, and complex, inclusive characters.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)
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