Graphic Novel Review - 'Hellaween' by Moss Lawton

A funny, manic, hella witchy and Halloween-y comic. Anyone who is into spooky stuff, and funny-and-scary cartoons like 'Invader Zim', and really anything Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, should definitely check out 'Hellaween'. Its art is of the thinness, straight lines and sharp angles kind, but it is very colourful, matching the characters' zany yet soft and vulnerable personalities. It's cute as well as rebellious, action-packed and hysterical.

'Hellaween' is about a young pink-haired witch named Gwen, who is friends with a vampire, Miles, and a werewolf, Sloane, who are from the Hallowlands, a realm filled with chaos and terrifying monsters, and they can only visit the human realm around Halloween time. Gwen is an aspiring, practicing human witch - when witches were long thought to be extinct everywhere, apparently - and she is a lonely outsider all year round, until Halloween comes, and with it her monster friends. Then the trio can have fun together, and cause magic, haunts and mayhem wherever they go - their own trick 'n treating. Gwen makes her own wand, and receives her own broomstick and (hella mysterious) grimoire. Miles and Sloane love their skateboards.

That's the gist of it. There is more going on, and mysteries left unsolved. But what's written above is all I'll reveal for those who haven't read 'Hellaween' yet. It is very entertaining, and it deserves a shot, a chance. It's the newest addition to join other cute, cartoony, Halloween-themed graphic novels, such as 'Hilda', 'The Okay Witch', 'Kim Reaper' (easy comparison there), 'Séance Tea Party', 'Mooncakes' (hell this one also has a nonbinary werewolf character! And ghosts!), 'Beetle & the Hollowbones', 'Spell On Wheels', 'Unfamiliar', 'Pumpkinheads' (love pumpkins, and pumpkin patches and mazes!), 'Baba Yaga's Assistant', 'DeadEndia', 'Snapdragon', and 'Fangs'.

'Hellaween' isn't perfect, as a few aspects of it do feel incomplete, or even abandoned (an example of this: four other teen characters at the beginning, who seem like they will become important, just disappear suddenly and are never seen again). However, nothing feels underdeveloped, or really ill-thought out. Maybe there will be a sequel? One mystery the comic doesn't reveal are the details of how Gwen met Miles and Sloane, years ago. And where is Gwen's family? What is her home life like?

I wouldn't say 'Hellaween' is for children, either, due to the language used, but I'd recommend it for young teens and up. Only a tiny amount of blood is shown.

Honestly? I fell in love with the comic on page 19; as early as that. I'm a sucker for a crescent moon, and the comic clearly loves them, too. I'm also hopeless in the face of witches. And witches riding on brooms. And bats.

Gwen's quotes:


"Hell yes! Unshackled from the concrete sidewalks! I can go anywhere I want! Damn, this rules. So glad I'll never have to buy a car."


"Miles and Sloane are finally back, and I've got my new broom and grimoire. This Halloween, we'll be unstoppable."


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Final Score: 4/5