Boom! Studios 2018
Created by James Tynion IV & Rian Sygh
Written by James Tynion IV
Illustrated by Rian Sygh
Coloured by Walter Baiamonte
Lettered by Jim Campbell
Greased Lightning
Written by Sam Johns
Illustrated by Savanah Ganucheau
Lettered by Jim Campbell
Fright Lights
Written by Sam Johns
Illustrated by Shan Murphy
Lettered by Jim Campbell
Fright of the Living Tool Rats
Written by Sam Johns
Illustrated & Lettered by Abby Howard
Coloured by Walter Baiamonte
With the days getting shorter and the nights getting SPOOKIER, the Backstagers are back for the Halloween season with all-new tales of terrors and creepy creatures. When Sasha accidentally falls asleep backstage, he ends up locked in the theater overnight! What lurks in the shadows, what terrors will he discover, and what the heck are the stage managers chanting?
This has to be one of absolute best all-ages title that I have ever been privileged to read. James and Rian created one of the most open, honest and interesting look at kids in high school. This really has such a wide diversity to the characters and that they are all over the spectrum. Also it has that way of showing friendship, loyalty and a fierce sense of protectiveness that they all have for one another and it should be read by every single living person on the planet. We need to be reminded that it doesn’t matter who you are, what you are in regards to religion or sexuality or even the colour of your skin. Being a good kind person even in the face of things that terrify you and trusting in those around you isn’t something that should be forgotten.
While the first story here takes up a good majority of the book I am not going to complain. James and Rian do some amazing work together and I am always thrilled to see them here. It is even better that their story goes back and forth from Tim and Jamie’s freshmen year and the present. There is a great charm to their relationship and how it’s presented and in all honesty I think I much prefer this being kind of coy at first and now as solid as a rock. Also Sasha yeah I have no idea what his deal is and where he falls in the scheme of life but to see this little guy, is he a little kid in high school hmm I forget, anyway to see his innocence and his point of view to really change how Tim and Jamie see what is happening was brilliant.
I love the distinctive style that Rian has and the work he does on the interiors. Yes I want backgrounds in every panel because that’s just me and it does flesh out the story more, the moment and often the size and scope of the story. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off a great eye for storytelling. The colours here brilliant as well they are bright and inviting and it just exudes warmth and comfort as you read the story.
I am not going to go into the other stories because I want you to see, experience and enjoy those blindly. All I will say is that fit seamlessly into the Backstagers world and it’s nice to see that other creators wanting to play in this sandbox. That Sam likes to write these stories and a few artists wanted to draw them is a testament to the franchise that James and Rian have built. This is one of the best of best and that is for all comics series not just the all-ages ones. So go out grab yours today and just enjoy the Goosebumps style of storytelling!