Action Lab Entertainment 2018
Written & Lettered by Steve Bryant
Illustrated by Mark Stegbauer
Coloured by Jason Millett
Colour Assists by Drew Browne
While the scouts scramble to determine the identity of the werewolf, the sightings (and attacks!) continue!
Oh my stars and garters the way that this starts off is perfectly done! I love those old campfire horror story’s that weren’t much more than urban legends told and retold with minor changes here and there. It really is such a camp thing to do and experience and as someone who went to summer camp growing up, 7 years worth, I can attest to it’s authenticity. I think that the fact that Mark and Jason brought it to life in this entirely 50’s-60’s feel to it made it that much more. Kind of like going to the drive-in where they showed all those wonderfully bad “B” features. Sigh you had at Doris.
Since this is an E for Everyone, i.e. all-ages, the pacing tends to be a skosh faster than usual, something about attention spans being shorter after letting kids run rampant with technology. So that each segment that we’re seeing is done to order as it were, yeah still at the drive-in, where it’s short, sweet and succinct means that the writing that Steve is doing here is even more impressive. The way the book is structured is extremely good to see and the transitioning between the segments is also done in a way that feels natural.
I kind of adore the way that the kids go about this. Making a list of suspects and what could possibly determine if someone is a werewolf. It is all very logical and yet downright silly at the same time but all in all seen from a young persons perspective and then from an older fans perspective it has that duality to it that is needed for an all-ages book. The characterisation is flawless and the way we see the kids try and think through the situations is wonderfully done, as is the obsession to make one or the other of their camp nemesis’ a werewolf. That just makes me laugh that wishing so hard that it’s true.
Mark and Jason do some great work on the interiors here. The utilisation of page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels showcases a splendid eye for storytelling. I already talked about the opening but throughout the entire issue we get the same kind of mood, tone and feel while the kids are at camp. I am also kind of impressed with the amount of backgrounds that we see here considering it is all-ages and that’s an excuse for so many to do fewer. The references throughout including the choice of posters on walls made me smile so thanks for that. Oh and the camp library surprisingly it has one and double that into the amount of shelving we see woohoo would have been a come true for me.
Ms. Chung shows up this issue which is another delight. Also that her time spent with the kids doing what they do is seemingly bringing memories bubbling to the surface even if she won’t admit it is something I can’t wait to see explored more. In the meantime I like they are bits and pieces as if when we’ve seen enough we’ll get the story of when she was a girl and doing what the Ghoul Scouts are. Also if Steve is so inclined to bring us a story about her in her youth and not be story told to the kids I’d be down for that as well.
This is a prime example why we need more all-ages storytelling on stands and have shouted to the rooftops. It is smart, witty, entertaining and just reignites something within all of that reminds us of our youthful hopes and dreams.