Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Battlefield 6 Classes - Support trailer image

    Battlefield 6 Really Wants You To Play Support (But Knows You Won’t)

    07/31/2025
    Battlefield 6 Multiplayer Reveal promotional image

    Battlefield 6 Classes, Maps, And More: Everything You Need To Know

    07/31/2025
    A glimpse at all the upcoming Star Wars stories coming to the galaxy

    Star Wars Stories: What We Learned At SDCC 2025

    07/25/2025
    Blindspot episode still

    It’s been 5 years since ‘Blindspot’ ended. Why haven’t you watched it yet?

    07/24/2025
    Strange Scaffold

    Strange Scaffold Summer Showcase Delivers Bizarre And Brilliant Games

    07/22/2025
  • Fantasia Festival
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
But Why Tho?
Home » Vault Comics » REVIEW: ‘Queen Of Bad Dreams’

REVIEW: ‘Queen Of Bad Dreams’

Mateo GuerreroBy Mateo Guerrero12/16/20194 Mins ReadUpdated:05/11/2021
The Queen of Bad Dreams
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

The Queen of Bad Dreams

Published by Vault Comics, Queen of Bad Dreams is written by Danny Lore and illustrated by Jordi Perez, with colors by Dearblha Kelly and lettering by Kim McLean. Set in the future. Queen of Bad Dreams presents a future fundamentally altered by Psychic Powers. In this world, the people and creatures who populate our dreams can emerge into the real world, given enough ambient psychic energy. When a dream figment does drop into reality, it’s up to the Inspector Judges of the Morpheum Annex to find the figment and evaluate their case. Gifted with psychic powers of their own, Inspector Judges are a part private eye, part caseworker and part executioner. Once judged, rogue figments may return to the mind of the dreamer or relocate to the real world. In the most dangerous cases,  rogue figments face termination.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Of all the Inspector Judges of the Morpheum Annex, none hold a candle to I.J. Daher Wei. Known at the annex as the ‘Golden Girl’ who always makes her case, Judge Wei tackles her duties with creativity and care. According to Wei, “When you’re dealing with dreams, you’re really dealing with people.” This attention to detail makes her the ideal investigator for sensitive cases. Now Wei must find and judge an escaped dream figment named Ava. At first glance, Wei sees a typical case of figment flight. The beautiful dream woman of a powerful councilwoman’s son, Ava escaped into the real world to live her own life. But as Wei investigates, she finds a web of conspiracy that reaches all the way to the top.

A sci-fi tale with a human heart, Queen of Bad Dreams is the queer intersectional feminist neo-noir you never knew you needed. It shakes up the noir formula in incredibly imaginative ways. Yet it also keeps enough gumshoe DNA in the mix to create a compelling web of intrigue. I try to limit how often I compare comics to other mediums. Comics have their own sort of magic that even movies can’t match. But I can’t deny that Queen of Bad Dreams moves with the exciting rush of a high octane blockbuster. This book’s momentum is spectacular, thanks in part to the ongoing narration. Provided by Wei’s ex-wife Viv, the narration allows the book to play out separate scenes concurrently. By doing this, each storyline’s momentum builds in tandem, amplifying every twist and turn for maximum effect.

Twists and turns may entertain, but the heart of every good noir lies in its detective. Inspector Judge Daher Wei makes for an ideal protagonist f this dreamy noir. With her array of psychic weaponry, Wei has the hand-to-hand combat skills to make every fight scene a joy. But unlike other Noir heroes, Wei isn’t world-weary. As an I.J., Wei behaves more like a social worker than a cop. She takes the time to talk to fugitive figments, treating nearly everyone she encounters with comfortable respect I found shocking. Wei honestly cares about people and fostering social connections, which sets this sci-fi noir in a league of its own.

I’m astounded by how vividly Queen of Bad Dreams paints its world. While its core noir narrative may ring familiar, its imaginative world of living dreams and deranged dreamers makes its own distinct impression.  This book offers a lot of world history to parse through. But writer Danny Lore gets us caught up with shocking ease. While important topics get their focus, Queen of Bad Dreams weaves its exposition throughout the book. Often the book utilizes Viv’s narration to tie together loose worldbuilding threads.

Queen of Bad Dreams is a damn good comic book. It has cannonball momentum and a compassionate beating heart. Blending Sci-Fi procedural with metaphysical existentialism, Queen of Bad Dreams is a new angle on the classic noir experience. Sure, Inspector Judge Daher Wei kicks ass with grace and style. But this book focuses less on smoky shootouts and more on discussions of personal agency and the bonds that bind families together. If you love noir or just love a great comic, Queen of Bad Dreams has what you need.

 

Queen of Bad Dreams
5

TL;DR

Queen of Bad Dreams is a damn good comic book. It has cannonball momentum and a compassionate beating heart.

  • Buy Via ComiXology Affiliate Link

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Return to Jurassic Park’ DLC Offers More than Just Nostalgia (PC)
Next Article PAX South Highlights Latinx in Gaming
Mateo Guerrero
  • X (Twitter)

It's your weirdo internet bud Mateo. Latino Horror Blogger - Pixel Artist. Ask me about Blade II. Go ahead. Ask me.

Related Posts

Lunar Room #4 - But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘Lunar Room’, Issue #4

09/19/2022
End After End #1

REVIEW: ‘End After End,’ Issue #1

08/24/2022
Barbaric: Axe to Grind #1

ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘Barbaric: Axe to Grind,’ Issue #1

08/16/2022
Lunar Room #3

REVIEW: ‘Lunar Room,’ Issue #3

03/23/2022
We Ride Titans #2 - But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘We Ride Titans,’ Issue #2

02/23/2022
Lunar Room #2

REVIEW: ‘Lunar Room,’ Issue #2

01/21/2022

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Wildgate promotional key art
9.0
PC

REVIEW: ‘Wildgate’ Is Co-Op Space Mayhem Done Right

By Adrian Ruiz07/25/2025Updated:07/30/2025

Built for friends and tuned for competition, Wildgate is messy in the best way: smart, surprising, and bursting with room to grow.

Glass Heart
7.0
TV

REVIEW: ‘Glass Heart’ Offers Messy, Musical Catharsis

By Allyson Johnson07/22/2025

The musical drama series ‘Glass Heart’ soars when it focuses on the epic performances of it’s fictional band, TENBLANK.

Simon in An Honest Life But Why Tho
3.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘An Honest Life’ Is Terribly Dishonest About Its Own Politics

By Jason Flatt08/02/2025

An Honest Life is an overly severe misfire about a law student who falls in with anarchist burglars that can’t decide who it resents more.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here