Publisher: SideShowMonkey Comics, 2026
Writer and Illustrator: David Hartman
David Hartman’s Monster Drive-In: The Hunchback of Naughty Dames is a stylish and atmospheric horror graphic novel. It wears its influences proudly, simultaneously doffing out a quirky personality. Written and illustrated by David Hartman and published by SideShowMonkey Comics, the book blends hard-boiled noir, occult horror, and old-school creature-feature energy. (Mr Hartman himself is impressively credentialed and a fan of his twinned genres: the Kickstarter page for this title notes, “David Hartman is a multi Emmy‑nominated director, producer, storyboard artist, and illustrator…. A lifelong horror fan, David brings his love of B-movies, retro comics, and creature features to life in Monster Drive-In — a love letter to the weird, wild horror movies he grew up watching.”)
The story follows Modo, a hunchbacked private investigator navigating the seedy underside of Hollywood. A young actress vanishes following an audition for a mysterious film production. What begins as a missing-person case quickly spirals into something far darker, involving monsters, secret societies, cursed cinema, and the women left permanently marked by their involvement. Mr Hartman’s setup has a foot in each camp of classic noir and horror traditions. The execution keeps it engaging from start to finish.
One of the book’s most interesting creative choices is its narrative framing. It recalls anthology horror in the vein of Tales from the Crypt, with a creepy host-like narrator guiding the reader into the story. But The Hunchback of Naughty Dames adds another layer by presenting the central narrative as a film within the larger story. (We have reviewed a title recently which uses the same technique – Owen Hammer’s Von Bach – see https://worldcomicbookreview.com/2026/01/20/von-bach-review/ .)The narrator isn’t simply recounting events, but introducing the production and history surrounding a motion picture, while the reader “watches” that film unfold on the page. This can feel slightly disorienting in the opening pages. Once the structure clicks, however, it adds a surprising amount of depth and texture. The result feels like watching a forbidden late-night horror feature while simultaneously hearing whispered stories about what happened behind the scenes.
Mr Hartman’s writing is consistently strong throughout. He finds a smart balance between giving the reader enough information to stay grounded without crowding the page with excessive exposition. The dialogue captures the rhythm and mood of noir pulp fiction without falling into parody, or becoming overly stylized to the point of distraction. It feels sharp and deliberate, with several lines landing as genuinely memorable.
A modern indicia of the writing is the restraint Mr Hartman shows with his characters. A story centered around a private investigator, old Hollywood, and a cast of glamorous women could easily slip into cliché or exploitation. Instead, The Hunchback of Naughty Dames avoids romantic subplots entirely and steers clear of sleaze, which gives the characters more room to breathe as people rather than noir stereotypes. Does the absence of a breathless femme fatale make this title something less than noir? We do not think so. That restraint makes the “Naughty Dames” themselves feel tougher, stranger, and more compelling.
If you’ve spent a lot of time immersed horror-noir stories (the playground of American comic book writer Ed Brubaker), the broad beats may feel familiar. But familiar does not mean ineffective. Mr Hartman understands the genre well enough to go forward with confidence. The road may be well worn, but it remains worth travelilng, especially when told with this much style and conviction. Even when the destination feels recognizable, the journey remains entertaining because the pacing is strong and the dialogue keeps the momentum moving.
Visually, the book is exceptional. Mr Hartman’s artwork is highly stylized yet impressively consistent, packed with detail and atmosphere without ever becoming cluttered. Every panel feels carefully composed. The quieter scenes built around conversation and mood are just as visually engaging as the more explosive horror and action sequences. Whether he’s rendering grimy Hollywood streets, unsettling creatures, or expressive character close-ups, Mr Hartman delivers page after page of memorable imagery. It’s the kind of book where individual panels could easily be framed as standalone illustrations, yet they still flow naturally as sequential storytelling.
Overall, Monster Drive-In: The Hunchback of Naughty Dames is a confident, visually striking blend of noir and horror that succeeds because it respects both genres without being trapped by either. Its layered storytelling approach may take a moment to settle into, but it rewards the effort with a richer reading experience. Backed by formidable artwork, it’s a strong recommendation for readers who enjoy pulp detective fiction with monsters lurking in the shadows of old Hollywood.
You can check out Monster Drive-In: The Hunchback of Naughty Dames and support the project on its Kickstarter page.