NIGHTMARES, MONSTERS, & MAYHEM: Take a Peek Inside Maxwell Dark: Nightmare Hunter

Maxwell Dark isn’t your ordinary twelve-year-old. He’s cursed with a gift he didn’t really ask for, the ability to sense and enter other kids’ nightmares, where he literally fights their demons and helps kids face their fears and destroy the terrifying things that haunt their dreams. But while he’s in the nightmare world, he also finds traces of Gwen, his older sister who disappeared, scattered throughout them. On a mission to find her and help as many kids as possible, Maxwell roams from town to town, in and out of nightmares, searching for his missing sister.

In Maxwell Dark: Nightmare Hunter, the first book in this new series by Brady Smith, Maxwell shows up at Gloomy Elms Elementary searching for the next kid in need of his services and that’s where he meets Sid. Sid is cool, popular, and not really interested in being friends with Max. But when her nightmares get worse, she agrees to let him help.

Sid’s nightmares are different, though. As Maxwell roams deeper into her mind, things start shifting from the usual scary stuff he’s seen in his other client’s nightmares to something much creepier and weirder – and he might not like the reason. You’ll have to read it to see how Sid and Maxwell’s friendship blossoms and why her nightmares shake up everything he thought he knew.

Book cover for Maxwell Dark: Nightmare Hunter by Brady Smith

Maxwell Dark is on a mission to help kids hunt down and defeat the nightmares haunting them in this chilling horror graphic novel filled with monsters and mayhem.

I’m Maxwell. Please don’t call me Max. I have a gift that I was born with, although most of the time it feels like a curse.

That gift—or curse—allows twelve-year-old Maxwell to sense, experience, and enter other kids’ nightmares. He drifts from town to town, drawn by the darkest dreams, till he can help people defeat whatever is truly haunting them. With seventy-three clients and counting, he’s seen every monster there is to face.

Or so he thinks, until he meets Sid. Sid’s dreams start off as typical nightmare fare, but soon they get weirder. Creepier. Impossible to ignore. As Maxwell goes deeper and deeper into Sid’s nightmares, he starts to realize he may be trapped in one of his very own…

Maxwell Dark: Nightmare Hunter
AUTHOR: Brady Smith
PUBLISHER: Penguin Workshop
DATE: April 1, 2025

Maxwell Dark: Nightmare Hunter is equal parts horror and humor, that will have you on the edge of your seat and ready to find out what happens next. Brady Smith’s unique vibrant and detailed artwork amplify the story and every page feels like walking through the inside of a cartoon.

Want to know more about Maxwell and the story lurking between the pages of the first in this new graphic novel series? Author and illustrator Brady Smith shared some fun facts and exclusive illustrations with our readers.

Author Brady Smith Shares 7 Fun Facts About Maxwell Dark Nightmare Hunter:

An illustration of Maxwell Dark — *(Illustration by Brady Smith for YAYOMG!)*

MEET MAXWELL!

Maxwell has helped 74 kids (he calls them “clients”) defeat their nightmares. He thinks he’s seen everything the Nightmare World has to offer. Unfortunately, he’s sadly mistaken.

Illustration of Sid. Her brown hair is in a messy bun on top of her head and she's wearing a fully pink outfit. There are creepy nightmare creatures surrounding her. — *(Illustration by Brady Smith for YAYOMG!)*

THIS IS SID!

Sid is very popular at school. When she meets Maxwell all her friends tease him. When Maxwell tries to talk to her, she ignores him. If Sid listened to his warnings she’d be much better off. Will she finally take Maxwell’s advice?

Illustration of a on orange monster with green horns and tentacle arms. It has three eyes and lots of sharp pointy teeth. There is a thought bubble above his head featuring a toilet, a sink, a mirror, and a microwave. — *(Illustration by Brady Smith for YAYOMG!)*

STAND BACK!

What do mirrors, sinks, microwaves and toilets have in common? Here’s a hint: Monsters love them and use them regularly… just not how you think they would.

An illustration of monsters called The Leftovers — *(Illustration by Brady Smith for YAYOMG!)*

BEWARE LEFTOVERS!

Do you enjoy eating leftovers? Cold pizza, pasta or Mac & cheese?

Trust me, you’ll want to stay far away from The Leftovers in this book!

Don’t believe me? You’ll see!

Illustration of Sid being chased by one of her nightmare monsters. It is featured from behind, face not visible, but appears human-like in appearance with dirty green hair and arms but has horns and is saying BLEGGGHH! — *(Illustration by Brady Smith for YAYOMG!)*

BOOGERS, ANYONE?

Are you a fan of boogers? The gooey, stretchy, slimy, sticky kind? Didn’t think so. Well, neither is Sid. Just wait till you see one of the monsters waiting for her!

Gross-a-Rama!!!!

Illustration of the bear from Louise and the Bear — *(Illustration by Brady Smith for YAYOMG!)*

A FRIENDLY FACE.

Take a good look around Sid’s room. Did you notice a certain friendly face in the form of a stuffed animal? Still not sure? Check out my other graphic novel series, Louie and Bear. It will make you want a stuffed animal version of him too.

Illustration of Sid's teacher. She is scary and zombie-like in appearance with an angry face, fangs, brown pigtails, and blue skin. — *(Illustration by Brady Smith for YAYOMG!)*

BETTER BEHAVE!

Looks like somebody has been misbehaving in class! If I were you, I’d keep an eye out for Sid’s teacher. She doesn’t like her students getting out of line and she has a very intense way of disciplining them when they do!

👻LOVE SPOOKY BOOKS?: Author Lorien Lawrence shared 5 spine-tingling facts about The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family HERE!