BOOK REVIEW

By Jason Fuller
4/19/00

Spooktacular fun

Jill Thompson first brought her Scary Godmother to the world in the form of a fully painted hardcover graphic novel. The tale of Little Hannah and her trips to the Fright Side quickly won over fans of all ages with its oddball flavor and lovable cast of frighteners. Now after a couple of one-shots it returns in a three-issue miniseries.

"Wild About Harry" is the tale of a mooching werewolf who finally has pushed his mother Mrs. LeGavaundan to her limits. Booted out into the Fright Side night to make his own way, the rest of the issue focuses on how much trouble one werewolf can get into when he’s let off his chain. In this case, it’s in a castle full of vampires and Scary Godmother’s tea party, played to near-laugh-out-loud effect.

Thompson’s style is just as amazing in its line art form as in the fully painted style of her earlier work. The book’s supernatural wit and humor could easily stand up next to Beetlejuice or "The Addams Family," while it’s not at all derivative. Scary Godmother is meant for simple harmless fun and to that degree it succeeds with aces.

Jason Fuller writes about music and books for the Metro Times.