(4.5)
My all things creepy and Halloween loving heart absolutely adored this! For a graphic novel, the characters we all very well fleshed out. All of them were unique and had their own personalities. That’s not easy to do in a book but much less, a graphic novel! I feel in love with all of the characters. I especially had an appreciation for Robert the doll. You can tell from the get go that the inspiration for his character is from the real “Robert The Doll.” I really enjoyed seeing him incorporated into the story.
The author also did a fantastic job at intertwining horror and humor. The graphic novel had the perfect amount of both and kept me engaged because of it. The art style also really helped with my engagement in the story! The illustrations were so creepy and interesting to look at. There was always something new to see on every page.
I really don’t understand why more people aren’t reading and talking about this! Especially those that have a love for horror, humor, Halloween and graphic novels. If you haven’t picked this up yet, I highly recommend doing so. Halloween is right around the corner and this would be the perfect quick read for Halloween night!
Thank you Netgalley and Abby Howard Comics for the Arc!

Absolutely loved this graphic novel! The art was quirky, the characters were so memorable and there was so much humour! Loved the sarcastic, dry jokes mixed, plus the deeper themes and experiences intertwined in the story. Mona was so cute and funny, my favourite was definitely Fugue though. The world was set up so well, I did not see the plot twists coming and this was a perfect halloween graphic novel for an October read. This was overall such a fun and engaging adventure that I'd highly recommend - I cannot wait for the sequel and would love to get my own copy one day.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a digital copy for review on NetGalley.

Thanks to NetGalley and Iron Circus Comics for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This YA graphic novel filled with monsters and humans and a very memorable Halloween really won me over. I cannot wait to read more from Abby Howard! The graphic novel includes a character list, early sketches and the evolution of the story from its early days to this publication.

I love a reluctant protagonist who would rather just sit at home and watch others fight like warriors, but eventually realizes THEY are the hero. Mona, you're a darling and I cannot wait for your next adventure. Along the way we are introduced to a cast of intriguing characters who do offer a variety of adventure and comic relief( Robert, Ringley, and Doctor Fugue- I adore you all). I also enjoyed the budding attraction between Mona's nonbinary parent and Ringley's vampire father. That's one pairing I hope there will be more of in the 2nd volume.


#TheLastHalloweenIronCircusComics #NetGalley


Goodreads review 17/10/20
Publication Date 27/10/20

A thoroughly enjoyable horror/adventure tale of a tween on a quest to save the world. Has a cast of diverse characters and monsters, a wonderfully gothic art style, and plenty of humor filled encounters to round it all out.

Though I found this story fun, along with the artwork, it wasn't quite my type of humor. Though I can see where many teens would thoroughly enjoy it.

This was an insanely fun, captivating read! Very funny; an amalgamation of witty, dark and at times, juvenile humor. An imaginative story whose creativity is only surpassed by the beautiful, creepy illustrations. I plowed through this. I can't wait for the follow-up!

This is a funny book about the end of the world. I know that doesn't sound right, because there are monsters and death, and the undead.

Mona's parent is missing their wife, who committed suicide, and is trying to find her via a spiritual adviser on halloween, leaving her alone by herself, which is when the monsters arrive, and her world changes. The monsters have come to kill their humans, and Mona is the reluctant heroine. He meets Ringly, a young vampire, Shirley, a ghoul and eventually her monster, Susannah, a giant furry thing, with a skull for a head.

Weird things happen, and people die, and still Mona continues on.

Mona and her friends are trying to find the Phagocyte, which could stop all these monsters, the only problem is, they don't know where he is.

Weird as it is, it is still fun.

Thanks to Netgalley and Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.

Monsters are suddenly able to come out of the darkness in The Last Halloween. Will one spunky ten-year-old girl named Mona be able to save herself along with all of humanity?

Mona’s father has gone to a party in a dress and a mustache leaving her alone in their house. When a monster breaks in and she calls 911, the police think she is making a prank call. While trying to find the police station, Mona stumbles upon two grave-robbing teenagers and someone who claims to be “a living doll, cursed into life by Haitian voodoo”. With no better option, Mona teams up with them. But they lead her away from the police and to the house of the mysterious Doctor Fugue. Will Mona live through the night, or even the hour? Can she be humanity’s sole hope to drive the monsters back into the shadows where they belong?

Using pen and ink in an almost woodcut effect, the artwork fits the creepy mood of the book. And the plot is excellent and actually funny in places. The Last Halloween is recommended to light horror comic readers. 5 stars and a favorite!

Thanks to Iron Circus Comics and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

A great read! The artwork is fantastic, and I felt so attached to each and every character -- even the ones I'm not supposed to like. Everyone is so fleshed out and given such life, with unique characteristics and motivations.

I greatly appreciated the gender neutrality in the story, too. Not only is there a non-binary character (a parent, no less!), but gender seems to be fluid and unimportant in the story's universe, which is a really nice change of pace. I hope to see more of that attitude in future works, as well as just in books in general.

Seriously can't even describe how good this is on how many levels. It's so messed up and so cute, and so funny and so sad, I can't wait for book 2 because I could just keep reading this story forever!

Mona never would have expected that her Halloween night would include being attacked by real monsters, befriending a crew of quirky undead, and being sent on a mission to save humanity as she knew it! Abby Howard’s The Last Halloween Book 1 was a beyond delightful reading experience. It is a perfect blend of disturbing, terrifying, hilarious, and heartwarming. And it includes just the right amount of Kurt Russell references. The illustrations are simple but effective, and the writing is smart, funny, and inclusive. I would put this book in the hands of any teen or adult who loves Halloween.

A cool graphic novel with a lot of fantastic art. The story is a little slim and oversimplified, but love the art work.

I've been a fan of Abby Howard's Junior Scientist comic strips for a long time now. The Last Halloween does not disappoint. The pacing is wonderful and handles the multiple story lines well. You care for the characters and they all have their unique story and personalities. Howard's line work and composition sucks you in and catches you by surprise - there will be thicker lines and a more cartoony style then BAM so many tiny lines creating gruesome horrors. The back matter also contains sketches and the process by which panels are sketched and inked.

Cannot wait for the next installment.

Funny, scary, poignant, and riveting graphic adventure. Little Mona is left at home alone while her father goes on a date, on Halloween, ruining her night. That is, until monsters begin oozing into the world, seeking out the people they are destined to haunt. Because if they kill those people, they become immortal. Soon, Mona's night becomes immeasurably worse, and she must team up with a vampire, an animated doll, and a...well, not really sure what that is to save the world. Oh, and did I mention that her father's date is with the vampire's dad?

Don't be fooled - it's a fun romp, and Howard's humor is perfectly gauged to the story, but this is not for little kids. The monsters are truly scary, you can't be sure that any of them will survive, and Mona's destiny is only one small part of a much larger whole.