Dark Horse Comics
It was three years ago at around this Hallowe’en time that I reviewed Scary Godmother, ending it with:
“All of you have got someone special you can buy this for. It’s a great bedtime reader for little ones and perfect holiday reading. It’s one of those rarities in modern comics, a great book for young souls. My daughter Molly thinks it’s great – yours’ will as well.”
Except since then the 4 hardcover Sirius Entertainment volumes have been increasingly difficult to get hold of, depriving so many children of something absolutely magnificently scarily-sweet.
The good news this year is that all 4 volumes are available again, this time all under one cover: 207 pages of witchcraft and laughter in a beautifully put together hardback volume, and at a price only slightly more expensive than just one of the previous volumes – an absolute must buy bargain.
Here’s some more from that review:
“Witches, ghosties and spooks abound in Jill Thompson’s Scary Godmother series of beautiful illustrated books. These gothic children’s books are equally suited for young and old ghouls.
The Scary Godmother is a kind, witchy type in a black tutu with purple and green striped stockings and a mass of red hair (that makes her very similar to Jill Thompson). Scary Godmother lives on the Fright Side, just beyond our world and home to Halloween monsters and all manner of things that go bump in the night. There’s Scary Godmother’s ghostly cat Boozle, Mr Pettibone the skeleton and best of all Bug-A-Boo; three-time Champion Monster Under the Bed, whose job is to scare kids, not eat them, and he’s the best at what he does.”
(Scary Godmother page 1 – our introduction to little Hannah – about to discover the wonders of The Fright Side, where Scary Godmother lives and it’s Hallowe’en all year long. From Scary Godmother by Jill Thompson, published by Dark Horse Books)
In this collection you have all four of the Scary Godmother stories that have had Molly loving Hallowe’en since an early age: The Scary Godmother, The Revenge Of Jimmy, The Mystery Date and The Boo Flu. And from the very first moment you meet the cast of characters alongside little hannah, too young to really be part of Hallowe’en with her older friends, you’ll be spellbound by all the spooky fun that she shares in. Also included is the quick 10 pager Tea For Orson and an extensive art and sketchbook section.
(And here’s Scary Godmother herself, about to change the way little Hannah sees Hallowe’en for good. From Scary Godmother by Jill Thompson, published by Dark Horse Books)
Jill Thompson not only writes a brilliant all ages book, but has the artistic skill to transform some very terrifying monsters into wonderful, almost cuddly best friends for both little Hannah and whoever is reading the book. Her fully painted artwork throughout the book is simply sumptuous, colourful, fun stuff, full of the feel of the season – deep reds and browns of nature contrasting with the otherworldly purples and blacks of Scary Godmother’s world.
(Part of the sketchbook section – a very early colour Scary Godmother from ’96. From Scary Gomother by Jill Thompson, published by Dark Horse Books.)
The Scary Godmother series has gone on to become a couple of so-so animated movies, but nothing beats the sheer spooky thrills of opening the books up around this time of year. Whether I was reading them to Molly when she was younger or whether she chose them for herself they’ve always had a wonderful place in our reading lives. So much so that the individual hardcovers are looking a little worse for wear. But now, with this thick omnibus collection, we can enjoy all of Scary Godmother’s adventures once more.
Sun, Oct 31, 2010
Comics and cartoons, Propaganda, Reviews