The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street

by Rod Serling and Mark Kneece

Book Overview

Maple Street--late on a Saturday afternoon a mysterious flash of light results in a power outage. But this is no ordinary power failure, and the neighbors on Maple Street will soon find themselves in the dark with an enemy of their own creation . . . in the Twilight Zone.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802797121
• ISBN13: 9780802797124
• Release Date: December 2008
• Publisher: Walker & Company
• Length: 72 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.9" x 10.0"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

A statement on how fragile civilization really is

I recently completed a month's long viewing of all episodes of "The Twilight Zone" and I was once again impressed by how Rod Serling was able to address many issues of the world of the late fifties and early sixties out of the reach of sensors. So much has been said of how "Star Trek" was such a trailblazing show in demonstrating diversity and challenging racial and social prejudices. For reasons that are unclear "The Twilight Zone" does not receive nearly as much credit for doing the same. "The Monsters Are Due On Main Street" is clearly in my top five all-time favorite episodes of the series. It deals with the thin veneer of civilization and how quickly thinly veiled prejudices, insecurities and fears can turn longtime friends and neighbors into seeing each other as enemies. It begins with an unexplained problem where the power goes out and is followed by idle talk that turns into something more substantial. Normal individual differences are used to "identify" the culprits and it quickly becomes a case of "let the battering begin." While human bodies are surprisingly resilient to physical punishment, their egos are not. Most people are bundles of insecurities wrapped in fears with a tendency to look at anyone that is different as a threat. It is an easy and destructive thing to do and Serling created a superlative apocalyptic tale about how a band of humans could easily be defeated. In this book that story is re-told in cartoon form, the artwork is suitably colorless to better reflect the dark nature of the story and almost everything is depicted as being in shadows. Horror has many forms, yet the best is what humans can create when there is the appearance of uncertainty when something major goes wrong.

Twilight Zone comic

Pretty cool comic that features incredible artwork and the storyline is word for word from the classic episode. Loved it.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Maple Street is quiet on a lazy, Saturday afternoon. Neighbors are chatting, mowing lawns, and watching their children play in the street. It is almost like the calm before the storm. A brilliant flash of light startles the unsuspecting group. Many believe it to be a meteor falling from the heavens. The residents stop what they are doing, and watch as it trails across the sky. Seconds later, every electronic device goes dark. The people find that their cars won't start and all phones have lost a dial tone. Worry and fear take hold of these people. Tommy, a neighborhood kid, explains that the monsters are coming for them. They cut the power to make sure that no one will leave. The residents of Maple Street begin to wonder who "they" really are. Accusations begin to fly, and, inevitably, mob mentality takes over. What is extremely eerie about the Maple Street script is that it is not as far-fetched as other Twilight Zone ideas. It is prejudice that invades this small community and ultimately destroys it. I think that this graphic novel may hit home with many teens because of the content. This scenario is very real, and that makes it even more frightening. Another great Twilight Zone adaptation by Mark Kneece! Reviewed by: LadyJay

Interesting yet creepy book about the true nature of people.

I loved this book because it was suspenseful and scary. It shows how people can act out in the worst ways under pressure and when they are frightened. I highly recommend this book.