Halloween is a popular holiday with kids, and publishers are playing into that by releasing middle grade graphic novels that mix as much humor as horror, and more intense young adult titles that don’t go quite as far as their adult counterparts. Here’s a look at some upcoming middle grade and young adult graphic novels, as well as two kid-friendly Halloween-themed comics, all set to release before Halloween 2024.
Graphic novels for middle school
Two middle school students search for buried treasure and discover that it is guarded by ghosts. Heebie Jeebies, by Matthew Erman and Shelby Criswell, published by Papercutz. More funny than scary, Heebie Jeebies is rated for ages 7-12 and is scheduled to be released in paperback on September 17 with a suggested retail price of $14.99.
RL Stine returns to comics with a new series of Goosebumps graphic novels from Graphix. The first, The enchanted mask, was adapted by Maddie Gonzalez from Stine’s original chapter book and is about a girl whose scary Halloween mask won’t come off and threatens to turn her into a literal monster. Graphix published four Goose flesh Graphic novels, and IDW Publishing also published Goosebumps comics and graphic novels (see “Comic series will give readers goosebumps”). The enchanted mask, Recommended for ages 8-12, will be released September 3rd in paperback with an MSRP of $12.99 and in hardcover with an MSRP of $24.99.
Taxi Spirit, by Sophie Escabesse (creator of the Witches of Brooklyn series) is about a girl who gets two things at once: her first period and the ability to see ghosts. It turns out she comes from a long line of mediums, but neither her sister nor her mother have this ability, and her grandmother, who does, wants nothing to do with the ghosts. However, they are friendly ghosts and they are also allies in the fight her grandmother started to stop developers from ruining her neighborhood. Set in snowy Montreal, this story is full of ghosts and human characters who are funny and charming. It is suitable for ages 8-12 and will be published by Random House Graphic on September 3 in two formats, paperback with a suggested retail price of $13.99 and hardcover with a suggested retail price of $21.99.
Shock City Creator Aaron Alexovich includes a letter at the end of the book explaining how the story about a shy boy and his exuberant monster friend grew out of his own childhood fears and how horror helped him overcome his fear. Alexovich, an artist for the Invader Zim And Avatar: The Last Airbender Comics, has a cartoon style with Nickelodeon flair. Published by Viking, Shock City is rated for ages 8-12 and will be available in paperback on September 10 at a suggested retail price of $13.99.
Hellaween: Magical, by Moss Lawton, is the second book in a series about an apprentice witch who breaks into a magical realm to be with her two best friends, a vampire and a werewolf, and befriends another witch who helps her find her way in this new world. Drawn in a spiky, cartoonish style The Hellaween Published by Razorbill and aimed at ages 10-14, the graphic novels are more exciting (and funny) than scary. Hellaween: Magical was just released on August 20th in two formats, paperback with an MSRP of $13.99 and hardcover with an MSRP of $23.99.
Image Comics collects Jill Thompson’s stylish and quirky Scary Godmother comics along with some new ones in the 552-page paperback edition Compendium of the spooky godmother (see “‘Scary Godmother’ Returns”), which is set to be released on October 15. It’s the perfect time for these comics, which are about a little girl, Hannah Marie, and her scary godmother who lives on the Fright Side with her monster friends. The book has no specific age rating, as it is truly an all-ages title and will be enjoyed by young children and adults alike. The MSRP is $39.99.
Graphic novels for young adults
A haunted girl, written by Ethan Sacks and his daughter Naomi Sacks with art by Marco Lorenzana, is the story of a teenager battling two kinds of demons: her own depression and the ghosts that keep appearing and haunting her, while a boy with glowing red eyes goads her into a confrontation with the goddess of death herself. Just released from a mental hospital, Cleo is gently negotiating with her adoptive father about her return to school and her life, but the ghosts just won’t leave her alone until she finds the inner strength to fight back, with the help of those who care for her. The graphic novel, rated for ages 12 and up, was published by Image in June and has an MSRP of $14.99.
Five Nights at Freddy’s Graphic novels based on the game by Scott Cawthon and published by Graphix are phenomenal sellers and appear in the Kids’ Top 20 month after month. The latest volume, Five Nights at Freddy’s: Fazbear Fights – Graphic Novel Collection Volume 5 brings together three novella-length comics set in the scariest pizza restaurant ever. Like the others, this volume is recommended for ages 12 and up and will be available in paperback with a suggested retail price of $14.99 and hardback with a suggested retail price of $24.99 on September 3.
The terrible stories of Vivian Vance, by Josh Ulrich is a teen detective story with a supernatural twist. Teen detective Vivian Vance grew up hearing stories about monsters kidnapping children who don’t go to bed at the right time. She dismissed the story as a myth cooked up by jaded parents, but then a case brings her face to face with the monsters and their victims. This graphic novel, which will be published by GP Putnam’s Sons on October 8 in two formats, paperback with a suggested retail price of $17.99 and hardcover with a suggested retail price of $24.99, has touches of Lovecraft and Veronica Mars. The book is rated 12+.
One-shot comics
Once upon a time there was a Grubb, by Neo Edmund and Walter Carzon, is a one-shot comic that costs $6.00 and was published by Sandy King Carpenter’s Storm Kids imprint. The story of Grubb, a big-hearted troll who longs to be a human child, is a standalone story and a prequel to Grimm’s Town Horror Tale Graphic novel series in which he is a main character. Release date is October 2nd.
Another one-shot is Dynamite Entertainments Powerpuff Girls Halloween Special, by Amanda Diebert and Cat Staggs, in which the trio battles a series of villains and Buttercup hides out in a haunted hotel to write a horror comic. Release date is October 23rd, suggested retail price is $5.99.
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