IDW kicks off Pride Month with the delightful Monster High Pride one-shot, written by Hannah Templer and Megan Brown, with art by Siobhan Keenan, Rebecca Nalty, Bowen McCurdy and Bex Glendining and lettering by Kielamel Sibal. The book transports us to Monster High, which merges Universal Horror mythos with a style and sensibility straight out of the film Clueless to create a book that’s a fun read for any age.
I wasn’t too familiar with Monster High before I started reading the issue, but you don’t have to be. The two stories included here are easy to follow and the characters’ traits and personalities are so clearly defined that by the end of the book, you have a total grasp of this world and the fun potential of it.
The thing that endeared me most to the book was how the characters are based on creatures from classic horror films and folk tales.
In the first story (“Summer Fangout”), the main characters Clawdeen (a female lycanthrope) and Toralei (who is a “cat person” who indeed could have walked out of the class film Cat People) decide to have a summer party in the forest. But there’s no way setting up for the party’s going to go smoothly, as a batch of gremlins wreak havoc on their plans.
I loved the dynamic between Clawdeen and Toralei, who seem to be in the awkward early phase of their relationship. They’re a great contrast with Jackie Lope and Bridget Rolle, a couple they meet during the story who have been together longer and have a wonderful relationship filled with mutual respect.
Though the gremlins offer a fun diversion, I loved the character interactions and the subtle message of what a healthy and happy relationship is and how love isn’t about owning or controlling someone, it’s about complementing and lifting each other up. There’s also a subplot with two other characters (Ghoulia and Cleo De Nile) that ends up tying into the main plot. I really loved the design of Ghoulia and Cleo De Nile, who are the most visually striking characters in the book.
The second story (“I Put a Spell on You”) is an equally fun read with vampire Kieran Valentine pining after fellow vampire Draculaura and reaches out to fellow student (and magician) Spelldon Cauldronello to make a potion for him that will numb his heart forever. But maybe Kieran was just pining after the wrong person? This is another lovely story that conveys how love can cause both pain and joy. I especially enjoyed the cute animation-style cutaways that flashed in-between panels when Kieran envisioned the expectations versus the reality of his decisions.
This book is a fantastic introduction to this universe. The artwork for both stories is crisp and detailed and never slips into being too cartoony. The writing is equally great, offering lots of funny moments with interesting characters while offering empowering messages on love and romance.
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