Dynamite Entertainment has been on a tear for at least a year publishing Disney comics, and this week, they set their sights on The Nightmare Before Christmas. It’s not the first spin-off for the series, but getting a single-issue release is certainly new. The new story acts as a kind of sequel to the film, with a logical relationship-building choice between Halloween Town and Christmas Town: bring trick-or-treating to the snowy village! The story follows Sally, features a new creature, and plenty of hijinks.
Two things stick out once you finish reading The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Shiver of Christmas Town #1. Firstly, Torunn Grønbekk nails the characters’ voices. You can practically hear the actors who played them talking thanks to the cadence, vocabulary, and subject matter. The second is the art by Edu Menna, which perfectly captures the film’s look and feel. With these two elements working, it’s safe to say kids will enjoy the series, but the nostalgia is alive and well here for longtime fans.
The story moves quickly right out of the gate, with the mayor visiting Sally and Dr. Finkelstein on the day his new creation is born. Turns out it’s not scary at all, but a cute polar bear. Aside from some stitching around the head and body indicating he was created, he’s a white tiny bear. The creature is deemed a failure, though he does have some ice-breathing powers of some sort.
What will it be?!
Credit: Dynamite
Before we can find out if the bear will be tossed, the story shifts to Lock, Shock, and Barrel, who are up to no good and soon kicked out of a cemetery. They’re looking for herbs to make their tricks for their big trick-or-treating over in Christmas Town. One would assume they’ll get plenty of treats, but you can’t be too careful. Soon, they’re off to Dr. Finkelstein’s and come upon the new creature as the main plot kicks into gear.
Littered throughout the issue are new characters, one of which is a friend of Oogie Boogie with a freaky spine visible. Another is a witch and presumably her daughter, adding a subtle world-building to what we’ve already seen from the film. They’re more window dressing than anything, but it’s nice to see Disney letting the comic add new elements to the familiar setting.
The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Shiver of Christmas Town #1 is a charming, faithful continuation that understands exactly why fans love this world. With spot-on character voices, film-accurate art, and a premise that feels both fresh and inevitable, it works equally well as a kid-friendly romp and a nostalgia hit for longtime fans.
You must be logged in to post a comment.