Never By Night: Disturbing Passages Into The Unknown #2 - SnowyWorks [Part Two]

NEVER BY NIGHT: DISTURBING PASSAGES INTO THE UNKNOWN No. 2, October 2025

There’s an almost palpable sense of familiarity to the opening of “Video Van Man”, which may well bring back many a nostalgic memory to those readers old enough to remember regularly renting home movies for their videocassette recorder from their local supplier. In fact, for the first few pages of Jonathan Chance’s narrative the central character appears to be a pretty laid back individual who appears to be happy simply bringing joy to children with the latest adult-rated horror flick; “There’s always that eight-year-old kid who gets the 18 Certificate because his dad’s pretty cool.”

However, events soon take on a much darker turn once the seemingly unflappable rental man’s ire is raised, even when it’s something as innocuous as one of his tapes accidentally breaking and having to be cello-taped back together. This transition is remarkably well-penned, as Bob slowly shows his true, malicious nature whenever he is crossed by either a customer ill-advisedly visiting his home, or a nosey neighbour who calls the authorities to report his unlicenced business.

Ultimately though, this eleven-page yarn doesn’t really step into the realm of a truly horrific tale until its finale, when the ‘narrator’ decides to tell the audience what really ticks him off the most. Having somewhat lulled any bibliophiles into a false sense of security with his low-level beatings, thrown citrus fruits and marriage break-ups, the maniac suddenly ramps up the violence ten-fold by merrily hacking to pieces any patrons foolish enough to stop hiring videos from his vehicle. So savage an escalation really will catch many an onlooker by complete surprise, especially when the build-up to the actual act is penned so nonchalantly by Chance.

Proficiently pencilling this descent into cold-blooded murder and chopped up body parts is Mike Bogdanovic. The artist appears particularly adept at making the inside of the van appear both extremely exciting with all the different film titles lined up along its interior walls, and inviting – at least during the yarn’s beginning. In addition, the perpetual sereness on Bob's face should send chills down some spines, particularly when he’s casually cutting his way through a helpless human being with a carving knife just because they've most unwisely chosen not to use his cut-price services any more.

Written by: Jonathan Chance, Illustrated by: Mike Bogdanovic, and Colored by: Theresa Chiechi