Clugston-Major really has something on her hands with these new holiday-themed BLue Monday one-shots. While the Valentine's Day special -- Lovecats -- delved into the more touching and romantic side of the characters, this Halloween story is all about the fun of the haunted holiday. Clugston -Major explores the characters' raunchy and creative sides, making for some hilarious parodies of some scary-story standbys.
Erin hosts her annual Halloween party, and it's a huge success... until a wicked bad storm hits town and shuts down the power. Everyone's parents come to pick them up, save for a select few. Bleu, Clover, Erin, Monkeyboy, Alan and Victor decide to pass the time by writing their own scary stories, and whoever tells the scariest wins. Meanwhile, the two Jesus Head spirits who pester Bleu on a consistent basis mistake Clover for a demon (thanks to ber costume) and set out to put an end to her evil.
I'll admit... I just can't get into the notion that there's these weird spirits who are always dogging Bleu. Jesus Heads, giant ferrets (or whatever it is, I forget)... I don't get it. Fortunately, they play only a minor role in this story and don't get in the way of the overall fun.
Clugston-Major's Amerimanga style certainly captures the energy and irreverent attitudes of the teenage cast of characters. One element that I thought was clever was the visuals for Bleu's story. They're crowded with a lot of text, but it makes sense in the context of her character and the genre she has chosen. And I have to relucanty admit that while I didn't care for the Jesus Heads, the gothic, Mignola-esque design was quite striking.
Clugston pokes fun at supernatural storytelling here, and it makes for a lot of laughs. I love her unflinching, far-from subtle take on cheesy zombie flicks, which are really little more than excuses to show off some teenage T&A. And injecting these characters into a Bram Stoker-like gothic horror novel made for a hilarious contrast.
Ultimately, though, what makes this book -- and all other Blue Monday comics -- worth reading are the characters. These aren't typical teens. Blue's a voracious reader, and it comes through in her dialogue. I love that she's fascinated with the past. Clover's appreciation of The Rocky Horror Picture Show was a welcome change from typical teen characterization, as was the boys' tribute to A Clockwork Orange. But at the same time, Clugston-Major is mindful to maintain a raunchier, almost hyperactive tone alongside the more intelligent one as well.
