Graphic Novel Review - 'DeadEndia: The Watcher's Test' by Hamish Steele

2026 REREAD: I'm glad to have read this dark, Halloween-y, funny, cartoony delight again.

'DeadEndia' is very different from the animated series, 'Dead End: Paranormal Park', but that is not a bad thing. Both versions of the story and characters are super entertaining, and full of passion, humour and heart.

However, the comic is a little scatterbrained and erratic, with a few forgotten characters along the fast-paced, freight train track that is the plot progression. But like with the cartoon, I can only look back on it with great fondness.

I think I will read the rest of the series - the rest of the graphic novel trilogy - to see more of these characters, and to see how 'DeadEndia' truly does end(ia) (I did that bad pun in my original review, deadn't I?). It will fill the gap left in my heart after the cartoon was cancelled, at any rate (#&*%! you to every level and plane of hell and heaven there is, Netflix - I'm glad to have cancelled you).

This is a wonderful, inclusive, LBGTQ+, broad, epic fantasy horror comedy comic and toon, and franchise.

Bless you, Hamish Steele.

Final Score: 3.5/5





Original Review:



I've wanted to read this ever since seeing and loving the TV series (though I've yet to see the second season, once I'm back on Netflix), and... wow.

'DeadEndia' has some similarities, with some of the same aesthetics, but it is mostly very different from the animated adaptation, 'Dead End: Paranormal Park'. One main thing to take away from the comic is that, unlike the TV show, it is definitely not for children. More "edginess" and darkness and horror aside, I certainly did not expect the iconic cartoon hero, the trans, gay Jewish boy Barney Guttman, to have family issues so bad that he was once... suicidal. I don't want to reveal anything potentially triggering, but holy shit his backstory is dark. The autistic icon Norma Khan being more cynical and having a tragic dead parent past, with an older sister, is also something I did not expect.

There were a hell of a lot of things that shocked me when coming into 'DeadEndia'. It is horror and comedy at its core. It embraces it; and all the while it flows, together with a creative, cartoony, colourful, eclectic, wild and wacky messiness - and I commend every daring thing it puts out there, and not just for its LBGTQ+, POC, neurodivergent and mental health rep.

So I do recommend 'DeadEndia: The Watcher's Test' if you're already a fan of 'Dead End: Paranormal Park'. Only make sure you're in a good, healthy headspace and safe space beforehand. You may be in for a shocking treat, deep and dark, but additionally funny in a gallows humour way, that is worth it in the end(ia). There is the undeniably strong - raw - human, relatable and emotional element to it, as well; it is intense all around. This undoubtably contributes to the lasting impact and development of Hamish Steele's genius creation.

Last, spoiler-free notes: Pauline Phoenix is a hilarious celebrity parody icon (I keep using that word in this review, don't I?), Pugsley the doggie is a cute and funny (and tragic) mascot, Badyah is such a sweet little psycho without a care in the world, and Courtney remains one of my favourite demons ever, alongside Calcifer from 'Howl's Moving Castle' and Hooty from 'The Owl House'. She/they is/are a precious, funny, adorable, spirited, creepy, complex and evil-ish concept. In fact, 'Dead Endia' does "evil", flawed, imperfect, messy, and/or morally grey characters right.

An awesome, scary, silly, humorous, magical, demonic, passionate, and truly revolutionary and inclusive comic and cartoon.

Final Score: 4/5