A review by readingrobin
The Last Halloween, Book 1: Children by Abby Howard

dark funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A hilarious, gorey, and slightly bleak read perfect for Halloween reading. The style reminds me of late 90s/early 2000s alternative comics, like Lenore The Cute Little Dead GirlSquee, and Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. With those titles in mind, you can definitely pick up on the kind of story you're going to get: darkly hilarious, partly traumatizing, but still captivating. 

There's this emotional weight to it that I didn't expect, as we see 10 year old Mona reluctantly thrust into a monster apocalypse that she knows she has a slim chance of surviving. At first it's amusing as she's tossed around from place to place along with a group of kooky undead beings looking to get to the bottom of what exactly is going on. However, by the end, as the situation gets worse and worse and companions are lost, you can really see the weight on Mona's shoulders as she's forced into a savior position she never wanted. It really makes me want to continue with the comic and see what's next for this character.