A fun little story about monsters, family, and minor league hockey. If you didn’t already know Thompson was a Supernatural writer, you would after picking this up (in a good way), and it’s a breezy, well-scripted, if not overly original piece. I like the episodic structure a lot and think issues 5 and 6, where things really get fleshed out, are where the story really finds its footing. Lovely, detailed art from Delpeche as well.

This book is a great new take on a monster hunting book. I was engaged the entire time and could not put it down until I finished it! While there are a couple spots that felt repetitive during the beginning of chapters as some of the story was recapped (similar to the beginning of a new TV episode) this book is filled with joy and adventure with some fun twists. I am certain that my students are going to love this book! Thank you to NetGalley and IDW for letting me read this eARC and review it for my library!

I enjoyed this fast-paced graphic novel, who knew a hockey monster hunting story was what I was missing in life. Huge props to Patricio Delpheche, who created the illustrations for this graphic novel, they were so engaging and exciting.

We follow teenage Cat who is the new kid at school, she misses her mother (who has gone missing) and lives with her hockey player father Duke. Her father just so happens to moonlight as a monster hunter and when Cat finds this out, she uncovers a supernatural world that changes family dynamics and her life moving forward. This story is action packed, with some horror elements, and hockey. Lots of hockey reference! The protagonist does read younger but I think this would be a fun graphic novel for a variety of ages.

Thank you to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this graphic novel.

Get your head in the game, even when the battle field changes.

Thank you to #NetGalley and IDW Publishing for providing me with a copy of #TheSinBin in exchange for my honest review.

If you've got a tween interested in sports and dark fantasy, maybe point them at this one. It wasn't to my tastes but I can see it being a good branch book to getting younger boys into reading.

The main character in this one is hard to place age wise - she's seemingly written as early high school maybe late middle school but the way she narrates... it's giving *child*. I think there's just some characterization there that needs refining. For a younger reader who may not have as critical of an eye as me this will probably be fine. Personally, it drew me out of the story at points.

Reading this digitally also took away from the experience at some level because full dual page spreads were divided in a way that I had to swap back and forth between two to read it correctly. This happened a few times which was frustrating. I'm sure this will be fixed in print and not something anyone should worry about. Though, I am curious to know if e-readers might face similar issues.

All in all it's a solidly quick read with a firm grip on its inspiration. The endless hockey references make it a bit more unique and weren't so detailed that it went over my head (as someone who knows nothing about the sport).

A teen horror for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, parent/child relationships, and hockey. Gets spooky without getting too violent.

My thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for an advance copy of this graphic novel for all ages about a young woman trying to make sense of her life, her father who is doing his best to keep the darkness at bay, monsters and magical boxes, with a little bit of hockey tossed in.

I have been reading comics almost all my life, starting with issues my Grandmother would buy me from the newsstand down the street from her apartment in the Bronx. The stories were simpler back than in many ways, aimed at all ages and served as a gateway into the bigger world of graphic stories. Now I don't know if I would be as big into comics. There is a lot more, but many outside of a few publisher print stories that are more suited to jaded 40+ men who complain that no one understands the complex 80 years of a characters life. These stories seem dark, dank and once finished quite forgettable. To get readers one has to offer stories that people are interested in. Publishers see this need. Working in a book store I sell far more Smile from Scholastic than I do Batman. Children are the future, and books need to be there for them to start reading. That's why I think I liked this story so much. It was fun, it had an ending, it can continue, but one gets a story that they can remember. And care about. The Sin Bin written by Robbie Thompson and illustrated by Patricio Delpeche is a story about family, monsters, hockey, fitting in, and understanding why parents do the things they do.

Cat and her father Dukes are always on the move. Not by choice, but because Dukes is a minor league hockey player who is moved from team to team to protect and mentor future stars being called to the majors, or the big show. Cat knows her father can be better than he is, but since their mother went missing, things have not been the same. After five schools in two years, Cat wants security, friends and a reason to go to school. Sneaking out one night Cat finds her father not on the ice, but driving to a deserted mansion. However the place turns out not to be that deserted as Cat is attacked by some sort of creatures. Using Dukes hockey stick, Cat finds the stick is actually a sword that glows, and cuts through almost anything, including monsters. Dukes is a hockey player by day, a monster hunter at night, with a box that can make the monsters disappear just by opening it. Cat and Dukes begin to work together, but Cat has a bigger plan. Maybe her Mother was taken by monsters, and maybe Cat can get her back.

A good story with really good art. The story is told well, the characters are believable and one cares for them. Dukes is a Goon on the ice, but a loving father and a man who misses his wife, and feels he is responsible for her disappearance. Cat is a young woman with a lot of strength, on both the ice playing hockey and fighting for what she feels is right. The story moves along well, has some scares, and even better a bit of humor, and emotion. The art is really good, capturing the feel of being on the ices, cutting a monster, and adding to the story with eerie backgrounds and a world that looks like the Dreamlands from Lovecraft. A lot of fun.

The comic reminds me much of the James Robinson series Leave it to Chance, and fans of that will enjoy this. This is a good read for middle aged and teens who like spooky not scary stories, and like to see their heroes play hockey. The story has a clear arc with a solid ending, with room to expand. Which I hope they do. I enjoyed this, and would like to read more.

I'll start by saying that the art is great and the story is interesting, however, a couple of white guys writing a Black female protagonist with seemingly no real input from a Black woman leaves aspects of this book feeling tone deaf. No way does a Black teenager grab the bike of a random white kid and expect that won't mean terrible consequences for them. It also has a lot of repetition and text-heavy pages which isn't something I generally look for in a graphic novel. Not bad, just not great either.

This graphic novel merges monsters and hockey. We have a minor league enforcer and his teenage daughter who just wants her dad to make it to the big time. Her dad making the big time means she can stop moving and get a chance at the WPHL herself. But she found out her dad‘s got a funny little hobby called monster hunting. And that it runs in the family and that she is more special than she could ever have imagined. This is both fun and light horror. It has cheesy comedy, but the cheesiness works well with the story. The artwork is typical comic style, but the coloring is fantastic and brings the creatures to life both the in this world and the parallel world. Overall, this was a great and I would read something from this author and illustrator again.

This book had a lot of interesting elements to it that I really enjoyed. I liked the hockey and the monster hunting elements, It was a good combination. The art style was really good, and I liked the design of the characters and the monsters, I would have liked a bit more to it but it was overall a fun read.

Cat Duquesne is trying to get her father "Duke" Duquesne out of the minor leagues in hockey and back into the majors. But her plans fall apart when she learns one of the secrets he is carrying. He hunts monsters by night. So Cat now has a new goal, help him out in the monster hunting gig. But she does not reckon with the consequences of her impulsive actions and get sucked deeper into the monster world. An the question has to be asked, who is really the monster and what is the "sin bin"? An readable horror graphic novel starring interesting characters trying to get a handle on the world they are in.

Thanks Netgalley and IDW Publishing for the chance to read this volume.

The Sin Bin follows high schooler Cat and her dad, a hockey minor-leaguer, as they hop from one motel to the next. Cat, who also plays hockey and is waiting for her dad to be called up, secretly follows him to an abandoned house where things go sideways and she learns about her dad's other job- monster hunting. This was a fun and engaging read, I've loved Robbie Thompson since his time writing for Supernatural, so I was excited to see some parallels in this story. Thanks to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A fun time! The Sin Bin follows Cat, a girl who is always moving around from school to school and motel to motel because her father is a hockey player who keeps getting traded around. Teams want him for his ability to fight, not score points. Cat discovers that her father is ALSO a monster hunter (with a magical box he uses to trap monsters that he calls the "sin bin"), and she gets into trouble as she goes off on her own to try to fight some shape shifters. She ends up uncovering some of her own family history in the process...

I thought the art was engaging and the action was always clear to follow on the page, whether they were playing hockey or fighting monsters. Cat and her dad use a hockey stick that is actually a glowing sword, which is super cool. I loved the mix of dark and flourescent colors - overall, the book leans more Stranger Things than Supernatural, both because of the color palette and the edginess of the monsters they fight. I wanted the story to have more room to breathe, because after Cat finds out her dad is a monster hunter, she focuses in on the shapeshifters really quickly and we don't see much more travelling around fighting other monsters. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the backstory reveal at the end, but otherwise I had a great time with this. The story wraps up pretty neatly, but I'd love it if this were a series; I want to see how things turn out for Cat if she gets a chance to stay in one place for longer. And I'd love to see what other monsters there are in this world!

Cute book about playing hockey and fighting monsters. It was a lot of fun to read. The art fit really well with the story and I absolutely loved the fantasy hockey stick sword. I want my own.

4 stars

I was interested in the cover and the idea.

It's quite an atmospheric story, the artwork is good, you can tell there was effort put into it.

The heroine lives a normal life but learns that her father is fighting monsters, and now she’s with him.

There were moments when I smiled, and I even got a bit teary with joy at the end.

I didn't really guess the plot, so some moments actually shocked me, which is a plus.

It's a decent comic for the evening.

I am a sucker for a father-daughter storyline.
Cat is young girl that must keep starting anew again and again. What new Cat will appear at this school? How long will she be there? Should she bother making friends or stick to herself? She loves her dad and his hockey career that has them moving constantly, but five schools in two years is a lot for anybody. Cat wants her dad to think with his head and succeed at his career.
One day, after being grounded AGAIN for bad behavior, Cat follows her dad and learns that he has a hobby. Her dad’s hobby is MONSTER HUNTING. There’s more to the story, but I’ll let you know that this was worth the read. Good standalone for tweens, teens, and in-betweens.

A father daughter duo about hockey AND monster hunting? Sign me up. This was so cute. This did have the old style text of comic books so the only reason I’m taking away a star was it was a bit hard to read at times, otherwise I LOVED the story, the art and the characters.

This graphic novel is so heartfelt, in a strange way. An interesting concept while also being down to earth. The author is clearly a big fan of hockey as well. Mixing supernatural with hockey oddly works well. Fans of either will be a fan of this I'm sure.

The publisher provided a copy in exchange for a review.

"The Sin Bin" is a romance fiction story with splashes of humor and hockey. How could anyone not read it?

"The Sin Bin" is a hockey-themed romance novel penned by Robbie Thompson that delves into the tumultuous relationship between two characters: Emilia Anderson, the social media manager for the Carolina Comets hockey team, and Smith, one of the team's players. Their story is fraught with the challenges of a forbidden romance due to workplace dynamics, an age gap, and various other entanglements that make their path to love both spicy and complicated. The narrative is rich with tropes such as the dominating hero, one-night stand scenarios, and the classic secret relationship, all set against the backdrop of professional hockey.

Ratings Breakdown:

Plot: 4.5/5 - The plot of "The Sin Bin" is engaging, with well-paced developments that keep readers hooked. The tension between the protagonists is palpable, fueled by their professional and personal conflicts, which are explored with depth and humor.
Characters: 4.5/5 - Both Emilia and Smith are well-developed characters with distinct personalities. Smith is described as a "hawt and dominating hero," while Emilia comes across as strong and relatable. The supporting cast, especially the glimpses into the lives of other team members, adds layers to the story, making it more than just a romance but a community narrative.
Writing Style: 4.0/5 - Thompson's writing is noted for being witty and engaging, with a good balance of steamy scenes and emotional depth. However, some readers might find the dialogue a bit cliché at times, especially concerning the romance tropes employed.
Emotional Impact: 4.5/5 - The book strikes a chord with its emotional content, blending humor with touching moments. The relationship dynamics and personal growth of the characters provide a satisfying emotional journey.
Hockey Element: 4.0/5 - For those who enjoy sports romance, the hockey element is well integrated into the story. It provides a realistic setting and adds to the authenticity of the interactions among the characters. However, the depth of sports detail might not satisfy hardcore hockey fans looking for more technical aspects of the game.
Romance and Heat: 4.5/5 - The romance is both steamy and heartfelt, with a significant amount of chemistry between Emilia and Smith. The book includes a variety of romance tropes that cater to fans of hockey romance, making it a hot read in multiple senses.

Overall Rating: 4.4/5 - "The Sin Bin" by Robbie Thompson is celebrated for its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and the steamy romance it encapsulates. It's a solid entry in the hockey romance genre, with enough twists and turns to keep readers engaged. However, the writing style might not appeal to everyone due to certain cliché elements in the dialogue or character interactions.

3.5

A very quick story, but manages to tell a full story in a fun way. The plot of this goes VERY quickly, and the ending wraps up a bit too fast for my taste. The story has the main characters being hockey players by "day" and monster hunters at night. The story doesn't go too deeply into the hockey aspect or the monster hunter aspect but still manages to balance both in a fun way. The story goes a little overboard with the hockey in the dialogue, but eh. I just wish that this volume wasn't only 174ish pages, but longer somewhere around 300+ to give the story some room to breathe. I really enjoyed the art! The art is my favorite thing about this story. Also, not going to lie the title being "The Sin Bin" threw me off at first. I had no idea that "Sin Bin" is just another term for "Penalty Box" prior to reading this. The way I had always seen the term "Sin Bin" used, though mostly online, was in reference to NSFW. Needless to say, I was extremely confused before reading this.

If Supernatural had a fun hockey collaboration!

If you have ever wondered what Supernatural would be like if the Winchesters played hockey, this is the graphic novel for you! This story is going to pull the reader in with flashy sports references at first. There are excellent illustrations and the exposition hints at tantalizing fights to come.

However, then everything takes a turn for the paranormal and just like the main character, you’ll be solving the mystery, panting to know what happens next. There is excellent storytelling within these pages and I was hooked to know more.

This story does give a clear ending, but I would love to have more set within this universe. All in all, dive into this story and prepare yourself for some fantastic illustrations and superbly written mystery!