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Monster High: New Scaremester, Vol. 1
Ghouls and boos are heading back to Monster High for a new scaremester in the first volume of this new comic series! While they’ll certainly be serving lurks in the hallway and haunting study howl, rumor has it that trouble is brewing. Draculaura, Clawdeen Wolf, Cleo de Nile, and Frankie Stein have never met a bad scare day or monstrous problem they couldn’t fix together…but Drac’s in over her fangs with new responsibilities, Clawdeen and Cleo aren’t speaking, and Frankie’s life may be in danger. The beasties need a fresh start, and what better time than the new scaremester? Surely a reconciliation is lurking just around the dark and foreboding coroner. Volume 1 collects the 2024 Free Comic Book Day issue, Monster High Pride, and issues #1–4 of Monster New Scaremester writers Jacque Aye, Hannah Templer, and Megan Brown and artists Caroline Shuda, Siobhan Keenan, and Bowen McCurdy.
144 pages, Paperback
Published May 6, 2025
About the author
Jacque Aye
33 books440 followersAs a woman who suffers from depression and social anxiety, I’ve made it my mission to candidly share my experiences with the hopes of helping others dealing with the same. This extends into my fiction work, where I pen tales about woeful women trying their best, with a surrealist, magical touch. Inspired by surrealist authors like Haruki Murakami, Sayaka Murata, and Lemony Snicket, my stories are dark and humorous with a hint…well, a bunch…of absurdity.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
October 12, 2025
I will eat anything and everything Monster High up, I'm telling you. Back in elementary school I read the books and watched the TV show, and now as an adult I get to enjoy even more books and comics, life is grand.
The art style is obviously gorgeous, the ghouls are as fun to follow as ever, the storyline seems interesting, and I can't wait for the next collected volume to be out. Meanwhile I'll read the specials, and the new books, one of them seems to tie into this comic, I'm so curious.
The art style is obviously gorgeous, the ghouls are as fun to follow as ever, the storyline seems interesting, and I can't wait for the next collected volume to be out. Meanwhile I'll read the specials, and the new books, one of them seems to tie into this comic, I'm so curious.
May 3, 2025
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 4 stars ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
i had such a fun time reading this graphic novel! i'm going to be honest, i don't know or remember much of the monster high lore because i only watched a few episodes when i was younger, but it was still nostalgic to see these characters again! having said that, if you are new to monster high, this graphic novel can be a great place to start. also, the art style is so gorgeous, i loved it!
˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, IDW Publishing, and authors Jacque Aye, Hannah Templer, and Megan Brown for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗
i had such a fun time reading this graphic novel! i'm going to be honest, i don't know or remember much of the monster high lore because i only watched a few episodes when i was younger, but it was still nostalgic to see these characters again! having said that, if you are new to monster high, this graphic novel can be a great place to start. also, the art style is so gorgeous, i loved it!
˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, IDW Publishing, and authors Jacque Aye, Hannah Templer, and Megan Brown for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗
March 6, 2025
First we had Barbie’s, Lisa Frank, then the Bratz, and now Monster High. My teen self was screaming while reading this adorable graphic novel.
From summary:
Ghouls and boos are heading back to Monster High for a new scaremester!
While they’ll certainly be serving lurks in the hallway and haunting study howl, rumor has it that trouble is brewing. Draculaura, Clawdeen Wolf, Cleo de Nile, and Frankie Stein have never met a bad scare day or monstrous problem they couldn’t fix together… but Drac’s in over her fangs with new responsibilities, Clawdeen and Cleo aren’t speaking, and Frankie’s life may be in danger. The beasties need a fresh start, and what better time than the new scaremester? Surely a reconciliation is lurking just around the dark and foreboding coroner.
My thoughts:
For disclosure, I never finished watching the TV series. But this was utterly adorable and nostalgic. The artwork was breathtakingly beautiful that it reminded me of Lisa Frank. The dialogue and storyline were greatly executed due to each story being tied to one another. However, with this being the first volume, I still felt a disconnection and confusion while reading. For example: what was the catalyst for the ghoul drama as a whole, what happened between Deuce and Clawdeen, and the eerie blackmailing with Frankie’s dad.
I love a good pun, and this was a pun galore. So fun.
I loved the LGBTQ+ representation in this.
Overall, I was captivated enough to where I will be continuing with the collection upon release.
Thank you NetGalley and IDW Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in return for an honest review.
From summary:
Ghouls and boos are heading back to Monster High for a new scaremester!
While they’ll certainly be serving lurks in the hallway and haunting study howl, rumor has it that trouble is brewing. Draculaura, Clawdeen Wolf, Cleo de Nile, and Frankie Stein have never met a bad scare day or monstrous problem they couldn’t fix together… but Drac’s in over her fangs with new responsibilities, Clawdeen and Cleo aren’t speaking, and Frankie’s life may be in danger. The beasties need a fresh start, and what better time than the new scaremester? Surely a reconciliation is lurking just around the dark and foreboding coroner.
My thoughts:
For disclosure, I never finished watching the TV series. But this was utterly adorable and nostalgic. The artwork was breathtakingly beautiful that it reminded me of Lisa Frank. The dialogue and storyline were greatly executed due to each story being tied to one another. However, with this being the first volume, I still felt a disconnection and confusion while reading. For example: what was the catalyst for the ghoul drama as a whole, what happened between Deuce and Clawdeen, and the eerie blackmailing with Frankie’s dad.
I love a good pun, and this was a pun galore. So fun.
I loved the LGBTQ+ representation in this.
Overall, I was captivated enough to where I will be continuing with the collection upon release.
Thank you NetGalley and IDW Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in return for an honest review.
May 20, 2025
I don't know why new Monster High books are coming out all of a sudden, but I'm not complaining. This one returns to the OG ghouls, which means that Lagoona is untampered with. (She's really my only issue with the reboot.) The story ties in loosely with the new YA novels as well, but as long as you know the basics of the franchise, I wouldn't say there's any required reading before jumping into this. While I don't love the art all the time, it works and the story just gets better as the volume goes on.
I can see why the reboot went so all-in on increasing inclusivity, though - making Clawdeen and Toralei lesbians stands out as the only overt representation, although I've always thought Ghoulia could be read as neurodivergent. Still, if you want your original Monster High, this is a good place to get it, warts and all.
I can see why the reboot went so all-in on increasing inclusivity, though - making Clawdeen and Toralei lesbians stands out as the only overt representation, although I've always thought Ghoulia could be read as neurodivergent. Still, if you want your original Monster High, this is a good place to get it, warts and all.
May 17, 2025
YESSS, my favorite ghouls are backkkk! This was super nostalgic to read!! My childhood is back. I loved the art style, it was just beautiful and captured the true feeling of Monster High.
The monster wordplay was fun, but at times it felt a bit overdone and didn’t quite land the way I think it was supposed to. That was probably intentional, though, since the target audience is younger. In that sense, it was cute and kind of funny.
There were some aspects I didn’t really like, as they seemed to divert from the original plot. However, I’m open to exploring new storylines. I love the way the story touches on deeper topics the girls face, how they resolve them without too much drama, and how those issues can affect their relationships.
I love seeing my ghouls back in their G1 phase. Would love to see more!
⋆˚࿔ Thank you to NetGalley, IDW Publishing, Jacque Aye, Hannah Templer, and Megan Brown for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The monster wordplay was fun, but at times it felt a bit overdone and didn’t quite land the way I think it was supposed to. That was probably intentional, though, since the target audience is younger. In that sense, it was cute and kind of funny.
There were some aspects I didn’t really like, as they seemed to divert from the original plot. However, I’m open to exploring new storylines. I love the way the story touches on deeper topics the girls face, how they resolve them without too much drama, and how those issues can affect their relationships.
I love seeing my ghouls back in their G1 phase. Would love to see more!
⋆˚࿔ Thank you to NetGalley, IDW Publishing, Jacque Aye, Hannah Templer, and Megan Brown for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2026
Було прикольно повернутися до старих улюблених Монстер Хай, ще й новими (дуже неочікуваними для мене) квірними парами
March 24, 2025
New Scaremester!!! *screams* If there is one thing you need to know about me is that I love Monster High. It was my absolutely favourite thing growing up and I was endlessly jealous of my friend who had basically all the dolls while I had none because my parents said they were too expensive.... I wish they knew the resale value of those dolls today.... Anyways! At least I got ARC of the comics which my friend did not get! (okay yeah, she didn't even request one)
I do have to admit though that I have not kept up with the lore in recent years and so much has happened since then! So, points for the book for making sense despite that. Huge fan when you can still get into things even if the franchise has been around for a long time without having to go through everything! Though if there is someone out there getting into Monster High... may I tempt you to go through everything? That's what I am currently doing with everything I have missed.
Okay, yes back to the book! I love the art, it's both incredibly cute and creepy at the same time and how can you not love something cute and creepy? It's also super fun and relatable storywise. Personally, I feel like they could calm down a bit with the wordplays as they made it a bit difficult to read but I think it could be me thing; a) I have dyslexia b) English is not my first language c) all other Monster High content previously has been consumed in my first language, so I wasn't familiar with the terms.
I do think that the stories did fall a bit flat though and needed a few more pages in them. Regardless, I had so much fun reading this and getting back into the Monster High universe.
A huge thank you to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!
I do have to admit though that I have not kept up with the lore in recent years and so much has happened since then! So, points for the book for making sense despite that. Huge fan when you can still get into things even if the franchise has been around for a long time without having to go through everything! Though if there is someone out there getting into Monster High... may I tempt you to go through everything? That's what I am currently doing with everything I have missed.
Okay, yes back to the book! I love the art, it's both incredibly cute and creepy at the same time and how can you not love something cute and creepy? It's also super fun and relatable storywise. Personally, I feel like they could calm down a bit with the wordplays as they made it a bit difficult to read but I think it could be me thing; a) I have dyslexia b) English is not my first language c) all other Monster High content previously has been consumed in my first language, so I wasn't familiar with the terms.
I do think that the stories did fall a bit flat though and needed a few more pages in them. Regardless, I had so much fun reading this and getting back into the Monster High universe.
A huge thank you to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!
March 2, 2025
So much fun and perfect for any fan of the original ghouls. Each sub story tied into the next beautifully and was a lot of fun to read and see all the monster high art.
The subtle tie in with the book Once Bitten, Twice Dead was fantastic.
The subtle tie in with the book Once Bitten, Twice Dead was fantastic.
July 19, 2025
i honestly just had so much fun reading this
February 28, 2025
So nostalgic to read about my favourite ghouls again !!
...
I got this as an Arc.
Very nostalgic but with a very modern twist. Scarily enjoyable!
The ghouls are back after what feels like years, but this time in a more mature way. There is an overarching plot here that slowly is revealing itself in every little episode. It reminds me of the old webisodes we used to get during the golden days of Monster High.
The style of the ghouls is still fabulous as the originals and their relationship has even more depth than before.
So happy they are making a comic of these girls because I missed them a lot.
...
I got this as an Arc.
Very nostalgic but with a very modern twist. Scarily enjoyable!
The ghouls are back after what feels like years, but this time in a more mature way. There is an overarching plot here that slowly is revealing itself in every little episode. It reminds me of the old webisodes we used to get during the golden days of Monster High.
The style of the ghouls is still fabulous as the originals and their relationship has even more depth than before.
So happy they are making a comic of these girls because I missed them a lot.
December 20, 2024
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC for early review.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
It's awesome to see the ghouls back in such a gorgeous new art style. I think the highlight of this new series is definitely going to be the looks. With plenty of cameos from the students that you know and love, this feels like a love letter to fans who grew up with the movies and dolls.
Gotta say, though. The over reliance on puns and wordplay (icktok, really?) had me eventually rolling my eyes. Pretty much every speech bubble had one and while they work fine in spoken dialogue for the movies, they get really hard to digest when you're constantly reading one every sentence.
I think this is a great look at how friend groups fall apart and things change throughout high school, with an added mystery or two for good measure. Can't wait for the next volume.
It's awesome to see the ghouls back in such a gorgeous new art style. I think the highlight of this new series is definitely going to be the looks. With plenty of cameos from the students that you know and love, this feels like a love letter to fans who grew up with the movies and dolls.
Gotta say, though. The over reliance on puns and wordplay (icktok, really?) had me eventually rolling my eyes. Pretty much every speech bubble had one and while they work fine in spoken dialogue for the movies, they get really hard to digest when you're constantly reading one every sentence.
I think this is a great look at how friend groups fall apart and things change throughout high school, with an added mystery or two for good measure. Can't wait for the next volume.
January 10, 2025
First of all, I wanna start with these illustrations are AMAZING!! My jaw was on the floor when I saw this on NetGalley and I ran to request it. Sadly, I feel like fell short for me. This didn’t really follow the lore that is Monster High and because of that I was put off. I feel like if this wasn’t revolved around the story of Monster High it would make a great story and I would have enjoyed it more, but because I grew up watching all of the movies and all of the episodes, I had a hard time liking this. I did not like that Cleo is not fearleading captain, I feel like that’s a major component in this series. Also, I feel like Clawdeen and Torelli didn’t make much sense to me,if anyone were to be paired with Torre I feel like it would be Cleo since they have the most chemistry. I have always felt that Clawdeen was never meant to have a partner and would just be on her own. Maybe she would be attracted to both male and females, but for the most part she would remain on her own. I never knew that a lot of people shipped her as liking girls. I know that there is more to the story of Clawdeen and Deuce, but I felt like it doesn’t make sense that it caused a breakup. Everyone knows that him and Cleo are endgame, especially her best friends, so how would there be a confusion that there’s something there. If anyone Cleo would confront them about what they are hiding. I found it completely random that Draculaura’s dad is somehow dead too? Where is the relationship between her and Clawd??
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this e-ARC.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this e-ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2025
Happy publishing day to this cutie! New semesters are always a bit of a thing, but even more so if you are a group of beasties with a tad too much drama and a bit of mystery going on at school.
Thanks to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.
I'll say that, as someone who only vaguely saw content when I was younger—but not young enough—that this didn't carry a huge amount of nostalgia for me, nor did I really remember much of the plot. But this was definitely fun!
I adored the casual queerness of it all, while this book definitely also carried the drama and struggles this age category experiences at school. It also addresses preferences, identities, and personality in quite an easy way, which means it does educate while still being fun and easily accessible for the reader.
I didn't rate it higher than 3 stars, though, because the plot only seems to pick up in the future volumes, and this only set the slight mysterious tone. Chapters also didn't feel really connected, and if you're like me and not that connected with the franchise, it might get a bit confusing.
------------------------------------------------
Full review to come - arc provided by the publisher and netgalley. Still in doubt whether it's 3 or 4 stars.
✨️loved the casual queerness
✨️it did adres identities, preferences but also personalities in an easy way
✨️the puns were really on theme and stuck to it every time they could
✨️it's not just cuteness and nostalgia but also seem to offer a plot
✋🏻plot seems to only pick up in next volumes this one only gives the intrigue
✋🏻the first 70% didnt really feel connected, more like seperate episodes
✋🏻if youre like me and havent read any of the other franchise certain stuff could get confusing.
Thanks to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.
I'll say that, as someone who only vaguely saw content when I was younger—but not young enough—that this didn't carry a huge amount of nostalgia for me, nor did I really remember much of the plot. But this was definitely fun!
I adored the casual queerness of it all, while this book definitely also carried the drama and struggles this age category experiences at school. It also addresses preferences, identities, and personality in quite an easy way, which means it does educate while still being fun and easily accessible for the reader.
I didn't rate it higher than 3 stars, though, because the plot only seems to pick up in the future volumes, and this only set the slight mysterious tone. Chapters also didn't feel really connected, and if you're like me and not that connected with the franchise, it might get a bit confusing.
------------------------------------------------
Full review to come - arc provided by the publisher and netgalley. Still in doubt whether it's 3 or 4 stars.
✨️loved the casual queerness
✨️it did adres identities, preferences but also personalities in an easy way
✨️the puns were really on theme and stuck to it every time they could
✨️it's not just cuteness and nostalgia but also seem to offer a plot
✋🏻plot seems to only pick up in next volumes this one only gives the intrigue
✋🏻the first 70% didnt really feel connected, more like seperate episodes
✋🏻if youre like me and havent read any of the other franchise certain stuff could get confusing.
June 1, 2026
Bro I’ve been foaming at the mouth to read these ever since they announced new comics. I took forever to read it cause I’m lazy but that’s besides the point.
I’m always iffy when reading other stories about the characters, cause I catch myself constantly thinking “they wouldn’t do that.” So there were some parts I thought were odd, but I liked most of it. I was never a Clawdeen x Toralei fan (if anything I’d be a Clawdeen x Draculaura bro) but I didn’t mind their relationship, even if it made me cringe with how Clawdeen would react lol. Idk I just never see her as being so mushy, at least not with Toralei. But I do like her nickname for her being Tori, thats sweet.
The pride rep was nice though. The rest of the story was very interesting. But dude tell me why POE from Once Bitten Twice Dead is HERE (flashback). I didn’t realize this comic followed the events after that book. I came here to get AWAY FROM POE. GODDAMNIT. What are the odds I just finished that book that was written years ago and it follows me to this 2024 comic.
Anyways I loved the art. I wish we could get another comic with the og art style like in “I only have eye for you” BUT I am loving the collaboration of artists who came together to make these ones. I’m so happy. I can’t wait to read Vol. 2 when I finally buy it.
I’m always iffy when reading other stories about the characters, cause I catch myself constantly thinking “they wouldn’t do that.” So there were some parts I thought were odd, but I liked most of it. I was never a Clawdeen x Toralei fan (if anything I’d be a Clawdeen x Draculaura bro) but I didn’t mind their relationship, even if it made me cringe with how Clawdeen would react lol. Idk I just never see her as being so mushy, at least not with Toralei. But I do like her nickname for her being Tori, thats sweet.
The pride rep was nice though. The rest of the story was very interesting. But dude tell me why POE from Once Bitten Twice Dead is HERE (flashback). I didn’t realize this comic followed the events after that book. I came here to get AWAY FROM POE. GODDAMNIT. What are the odds I just finished that book that was written years ago and it follows me to this 2024 comic.
Anyways I loved the art. I wish we could get another comic with the og art style like in “I only have eye for you” BUT I am loving the collaboration of artists who came together to make these ones. I’m so happy. I can’t wait to read Vol. 2 when I finally buy it.
April 2, 2025
Ugh, the way I screamed when I saw this!!! Our favorite Ghoulfriends are back in action in this new graphic novel. It collects issues 1-4 of New Scaremester, and a couple other goodies!
We see the ghouls in the aftermath of multiple fallouts between another, but spooky things are going on around the school. We see Draculaura dealing with massive grief and pressure, Clawdeen and Clawd having familial issues, and Cleo is well, very Cleo!
I love that we see Clawdeen and Toralei, and Valentine and Spelldon as couples because AHHH!
This is the perfect read for any Monster High Fan, new or longtime. It’s got spooky, cute, and the each of the ghouls are more similar to their G1 versions of themselves. (Ghoulia is back to her groans and I’m so here for it)
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own!
We see the ghouls in the aftermath of multiple fallouts between another, but spooky things are going on around the school. We see Draculaura dealing with massive grief and pressure, Clawdeen and Clawd having familial issues, and Cleo is well, very Cleo!
I love that we see Clawdeen and Toralei, and Valentine and Spelldon as couples because AHHH!
This is the perfect read for any Monster High Fan, new or longtime. It’s got spooky, cute, and the each of the ghouls are more similar to their G1 versions of themselves. (Ghoulia is back to her groans and I’m so here for it)
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own!
July 8, 2026
i loved this!! this volume included the two 2024 pride comics and the new scaremester prologue and 1-4 issues.
the pride comics were an amazing read!! personally i'm not a huge fan of g1 toradeen (i prefer g3 toradeen) but the comic itself was cute.
looking at new scaremester itself, it's quite an interesting read. i feel like i've read or watched the "headmistress bloodgood disappears" storyline too often though. the relationships between the characters are SO fun to read though. i love how complex deuce and cleo's relationship is, and how skewed cleo's idea of romance is. so much is going on in these four issues but i'm loving it. it feels chaotic, as monster high normally is. and, like the pride comic, the art is GORGEOUS. i'm so in love with the separate art works they included too!! i can't wait to read volume two when i get my hands on it :)
the pride comics were an amazing read!! personally i'm not a huge fan of g1 toradeen (i prefer g3 toradeen) but the comic itself was cute.
looking at new scaremester itself, it's quite an interesting read. i feel like i've read or watched the "headmistress bloodgood disappears" storyline too often though. the relationships between the characters are SO fun to read though. i love how complex deuce and cleo's relationship is, and how skewed cleo's idea of romance is. so much is going on in these four issues but i'm loving it. it feels chaotic, as monster high normally is. and, like the pride comic, the art is GORGEOUS. i'm so in love with the separate art works they included too!! i can't wait to read volume two when i get my hands on it :)
July 15, 2025
I wanted to love it but I thought the story was confusing to follow since it (apparently?) ties into the draculaura novel which i didnt read. I was confused at multiple points because the comic is volume 1 but then seemed to be a mesh of multiple canons in the MH universe which was super confusing even for a huge fan like me.. would be 5 stars if they just cleared this up in the beginning of the volume so i could actually follow. Too many things were mentioned that happened off screen as if I was supposed to already know about them?
Also, I love lesbian Clawdeen but I hate that they put her with Toralei of all people - it just makes Toralei’s character pointless and basically a carbon copy of Cleo.
Also, I love lesbian Clawdeen but I hate that they put her with Toralei of all people - it just makes Toralei’s character pointless and basically a carbon copy of Cleo.
December 12, 2024
At first, I thought, OMG, enough with the puns and monster wordplay! It was clearly aiming for clever but felt more distracting—“scaremester,” really? But then I realized that for its target audience, the wordplay is actually cute and clever, and over time, I got used to it. If this turns into a series, it’s a fun way to brand it—boolieve me. It did take me a while (at least halfway through) to differentiate the characters and remember their names, but as a series, this would likely get easier with time. Overall, the art has a classic Marvelesque feel, and the world-building seems solid so far. I’d definitely read more!
August 18, 2025
3.7/
Absolutely adorable! The language in 75% of it absolutely was cringe— all “monster themed” but near the end it started to actually make sense haha. Will give volume 2 another go. Cleo is my fav and ofc she is a Virgo like me :)
Absolutely adorable! The language in 75% of it absolutely was cringe— all “monster themed” but near the end it started to actually make sense haha. Will give volume 2 another go. Cleo is my fav and ofc she is a Virgo like me :)
July 20, 2026
Tatlıydı okuması eğlenceli küçüklüğümden beri monster highlara bayılıyorum ve yeniden bebeklerini toplamaya başladım yavaş yavaş herkesi alıyorum.Clawdeen ve Torelai çok yakışmışlar bayıldım onları daha çok görmek istiyorum.
May 30, 2025
Such a huge comfort read. Nothing hits as well as original Monster High characters with such pretty art! Love love love!!!!!!!!
January 26, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Such a cute little comic!
Such a cute little comic!
August 9, 2026
are we friends in every universe
March 26, 2026
love, love, LOVE monster high. 4/5 because the monster wordplay was a little excessive and unnecessary at times. otherwise, interesting storyline and i love what the characters have become!
February 3, 2025
Short stories set in the Monster High Universe. The monsters were updated and it doesn't seem to follow the books or the web series. It still has the same feel. It was a nice dose of nostalgia.
4 stars
4 stars
April 23, 2025
Cue the Monster High theme song and prepare to be taken back to 2010 with this nostalgic new comic run featuring your favorite ghouls! Taking place after the events of Tiffany Schmidt's recent novel, "Once Bitten, Twice Dead," join Frankie, Clawdeen, Cleo, and Draculaura as they juggle new responsibilities, relationships, mysterious disappearances, and their friendships with each other. This new scaremester promises to be the most frightful one yet.
As one of the original 2010 Monster High alumni, I can't overstate how excited I am that Mattel has been reviving the fandom with new MH content. You can tell how much thought went into these comics and that Mattel is trying to reach and do right by the original Monster High fanbase. There were references not only to "Once Bitten, Twice Dead" but also to the movies from the 2010s which was a fun surprise that I wasn't expecting. I'm a sucker for connecting characters and events to each other across many movies and books--it scratches my brain just right to know that everything is linked together in some way. In addition, I love how hard Monster High has been leaning into LGBTQ+ representation. It makes me so happy and a little weepy as an adult to know that the fandom I chose when I was ten that told us to, "Be yourself. Be unique. Be a monster." hasn't broken away from telling little kids, through its characters, that everyone deserves to belong no matter their freaky flaws. Finally, the artwork in this volume was absolutely stunning (I couldn't stop thinking about how amazing all the ghoul's hair looked), and I appreciated how the publisher featured artwork from different artists in between comics. I can't wait to get my hands on volume two and I hope we can look forward to many, many more volumes to come.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ecopy of this graphic novel in exchange for my honest review.
As one of the original 2010 Monster High alumni, I can't overstate how excited I am that Mattel has been reviving the fandom with new MH content. You can tell how much thought went into these comics and that Mattel is trying to reach and do right by the original Monster High fanbase. There were references not only to "Once Bitten, Twice Dead" but also to the movies from the 2010s which was a fun surprise that I wasn't expecting. I'm a sucker for connecting characters and events to each other across many movies and books--it scratches my brain just right to know that everything is linked together in some way. In addition, I love how hard Monster High has been leaning into LGBTQ+ representation. It makes me so happy and a little weepy as an adult to know that the fandom I chose when I was ten that told us to, "Be yourself. Be unique. Be a monster." hasn't broken away from telling little kids, through its characters, that everyone deserves to belong no matter their freaky flaws. Finally, the artwork in this volume was absolutely stunning (I couldn't stop thinking about how amazing all the ghoul's hair looked), and I appreciated how the publisher featured artwork from different artists in between comics. I can't wait to get my hands on volume two and I hope we can look forward to many, many more volumes to come.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ecopy of this graphic novel in exchange for my honest review.
February 4, 2025
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my opinions.
As a long-time fan of ‘Monster High’, I was excited to dive into ‘New Scaremester, Vol 1’, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to expectations. While the concept of a fresh take on the series is intriguing, this volume struggles to capture the magic, heart, and charm that made Monster High so beloved.
Plot: ★★☆☆☆
One of the biggest issues with this volume is its lack of clear placement within the Monster High lore. It doesn’t seem to align with any of the existing storylines, whether from the movies, books, or even the reboots. This lack of continuity makes it difficult to fully engage with the story, as it feels disconnected from the world fans know and love.
Character: ★★☆☆☆
The characters feel like watered-down versions of their former selves. Their personalities lack the quirks and depth that made them so iconic in previous iterations of Monster High. Instead of feeling like fresh takes, they come across as generic, missing the unique charm that made fans fall in love with them in the first place.
Setting: ★★☆☆☆
The setting of Monster High is usually a vibrant, spooky, and exciting place full of creativity. However, in this volume, it feels flat and lacks the signature eerie but fun atmosphere that defined previous adaptations. There’s little world-building, making the school feel like just another generic backdrop rather than a lively, monstrous high school filled with supernatural charm.
Illustration: ★★☆☆☆
The art style in ‘New Scaremester’ is another disappointment. While artistic interpretations vary, this version doesn’t capture the stylish, bold, and fashionable aesthetic that Monster High is known for. The character designs feel simplified and lack the gothic-glam essence that made them stand out in previous adaptations.
Engagement: ★★☆☆☆
Without a strong plot or well-developed characters, it’s hard to stay engaged. The story doesn’t have the same level of excitement or drama that made previous Monster High stories so much fun to follow. It feels like a pale imitation rather than a fresh, engaging take.
Readability: ★★☆☆☆
While the writing itself is easy enough to follow, the overall flow of the story feels lacking. The dialogue and narration don’t capture the witty, pun-filled, and personality-driven writing that previous Monster High stories were known for.
Enjoyment: ★★☆☆☆
Overall, ‘New Scaremester, Vol 1’ is a letdown. While I appreciate efforts to bring Monster High to a new audience, this volume lacks the heart, style, and energy that made the franchise so special. Fans looking for nostalgia or a continuation of the world they love might find themselves disappointed.
‘Monster High: New Scaremester, Vol 1’ struggles to find its place within the franchise, failing to capture the charm of its predecessors. With a lacklustre plot, uninspired characters, and an art style that doesn’t do justice to the series’ legacy, this volume feels like a missed opportunity. Fans of Monster High may want to revisit older books or shows instead.
As a long-time fan of ‘Monster High’, I was excited to dive into ‘New Scaremester, Vol 1’, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to expectations. While the concept of a fresh take on the series is intriguing, this volume struggles to capture the magic, heart, and charm that made Monster High so beloved.
Plot: ★★☆☆☆
One of the biggest issues with this volume is its lack of clear placement within the Monster High lore. It doesn’t seem to align with any of the existing storylines, whether from the movies, books, or even the reboots. This lack of continuity makes it difficult to fully engage with the story, as it feels disconnected from the world fans know and love.
Character: ★★☆☆☆
The characters feel like watered-down versions of their former selves. Their personalities lack the quirks and depth that made them so iconic in previous iterations of Monster High. Instead of feeling like fresh takes, they come across as generic, missing the unique charm that made fans fall in love with them in the first place.
Setting: ★★☆☆☆
The setting of Monster High is usually a vibrant, spooky, and exciting place full of creativity. However, in this volume, it feels flat and lacks the signature eerie but fun atmosphere that defined previous adaptations. There’s little world-building, making the school feel like just another generic backdrop rather than a lively, monstrous high school filled with supernatural charm.
Illustration: ★★☆☆☆
The art style in ‘New Scaremester’ is another disappointment. While artistic interpretations vary, this version doesn’t capture the stylish, bold, and fashionable aesthetic that Monster High is known for. The character designs feel simplified and lack the gothic-glam essence that made them stand out in previous adaptations.
Engagement: ★★☆☆☆
Without a strong plot or well-developed characters, it’s hard to stay engaged. The story doesn’t have the same level of excitement or drama that made previous Monster High stories so much fun to follow. It feels like a pale imitation rather than a fresh, engaging take.
Readability: ★★☆☆☆
While the writing itself is easy enough to follow, the overall flow of the story feels lacking. The dialogue and narration don’t capture the witty, pun-filled, and personality-driven writing that previous Monster High stories were known for.
Enjoyment: ★★☆☆☆
Overall, ‘New Scaremester, Vol 1’ is a letdown. While I appreciate efforts to bring Monster High to a new audience, this volume lacks the heart, style, and energy that made the franchise so special. Fans looking for nostalgia or a continuation of the world they love might find themselves disappointed.
‘Monster High: New Scaremester, Vol 1’ struggles to find its place within the franchise, failing to capture the charm of its predecessors. With a lacklustre plot, uninspired characters, and an art style that doesn’t do justice to the series’ legacy, this volume feels like a missed opportunity. Fans of Monster High may want to revisit older books or shows instead.
January 3, 2025
As a long-time fan of Monster High, I’m happy to say this didn’t disappoint.
The style of the illustrations they've chosen has been a good choice! The art style feels super "Monster High-ish" and definitely has the right vibe.
The book starts with a shorter adventure, which is a fun (and complete!) read. After that, the longer storyline kicks off, and you are thrown into an adventure. There is lots of mystery and I was hooked. The idea of the story is so cool, and now I can’t stop thinking about where it will go next. I’m honestly sad that I have to wait to find out!
If you’re an old fan of Monster High or just love a good mix of creepy-cute storytelling and want to become a new fan, this one’s a must-try. Art style and plot combined, it captures the fun and spooky vibe I’ve personally always loved -and still love- about the franchise.
I got the honor to read this as an arc, and my thoughts are completely honest and voluntary!
If you like to read about more books I liked, check out my Goodreads profile. I also sometimes post reviews on Instagram and talk about bookish stuff on Threads.
The style of the illustrations they've chosen has been a good choice! The art style feels super "Monster High-ish" and definitely has the right vibe.
The book starts with a shorter adventure, which is a fun (and complete!) read. After that, the longer storyline kicks off, and you are thrown into an adventure. There is lots of mystery and I was hooked. The idea of the story is so cool, and now I can’t stop thinking about where it will go next. I’m honestly sad that I have to wait to find out!
If you’re an old fan of Monster High or just love a good mix of creepy-cute storytelling and want to become a new fan, this one’s a must-try. Art style and plot combined, it captures the fun and spooky vibe I’ve personally always loved -and still love- about the franchise.
I got the honor to read this as an arc, and my thoughts are completely honest and voluntary!
If you like to read about more books I liked, check out my Goodreads profile. I also sometimes post reviews on Instagram and talk about bookish stuff on Threads.
August 24, 2026
I didn't like this very much. the kieran and spelldon pride comic was very good and I adore the illustration style but I didn't really care for anything else. I was so excited to see monster high was getting all these new comics, but they're completely inconsistent with any and all prior canon which like. it's fine I guess. I am familiar with the discrepancies between the MLP comics and the g4 show, but it's done in such a way that feels so. riverdale. it's so intensely dramatic without holding any weight or doing anything for any of the characters.
like, it's incredibly cool that monster high released the pride comics and is featuring queer couples, but clawdeen and toralei have never made sense to me, and the choice to set their pride comic well into their relationship (instead of showing how they got together) does not help. its fanservice in a way that isn't even fun :(( maybe this is too woke friend but I feel like taking the two ghouls who don't have consistent boyfriends throughout the series and just calling them a lesbian couple is lazy!!! there is already queer coding in monster high!!! toralei and cleo in freaky fusion?? venus mcflytrap?? kiyomi haunterly?? toralei and lagoona in that one book??? i feel if you're going to write a new pairing you have to do more than just. cat and dog. that is not enough!! especially not for a comic so centred on pride and representation. what do they like about each other? how did they get together? what do they do together?
it also just messes with the entire dynamic of the main cast,, where toralei is now completely docile, unlike we've ever seen her, and Cleo is forced to revert to extremely early canon cleo to take on the role of antagonist in toralei's wake. it feels messy and imbalanced, especially with draculaura's angst being almost completely unexplored in this as well.
also it pissed me off that Cleo's mother was at nefera's fearleading tryout. she would've still been missing at that point. do not test me.
like, it's incredibly cool that monster high released the pride comics and is featuring queer couples, but clawdeen and toralei have never made sense to me, and the choice to set their pride comic well into their relationship (instead of showing how they got together) does not help. its fanservice in a way that isn't even fun :(( maybe this is too woke friend but I feel like taking the two ghouls who don't have consistent boyfriends throughout the series and just calling them a lesbian couple is lazy!!! there is already queer coding in monster high!!! toralei and cleo in freaky fusion?? venus mcflytrap?? kiyomi haunterly?? toralei and lagoona in that one book??? i feel if you're going to write a new pairing you have to do more than just. cat and dog. that is not enough!! especially not for a comic so centred on pride and representation. what do they like about each other? how did they get together? what do they do together?
it also just messes with the entire dynamic of the main cast,, where toralei is now completely docile, unlike we've ever seen her, and Cleo is forced to revert to extremely early canon cleo to take on the role of antagonist in toralei's wake. it feels messy and imbalanced, especially with draculaura's angst being almost completely unexplored in this as well.
also it pissed me off that Cleo's mother was at nefera's fearleading tryout. she would've still been missing at that point. do not test me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2025
2.5 Stars
I think this was cute… but that’s kind of all. I loved the artwork, there were some really subtle things I noticed in it that I really like, Cleos nose having a curve to it for example. It was also really nice seeing characters who were only ever seen in like one movie in the backgrounds as well. My biggest problem with this graphic novel is also Monster Highs biggest problem. Timelines make no sense, I love that we are getting books and graphic novels that are G1 but I work in a library and have seen books that are G3 as well. I’m not sure who these G1 books are being marketed towards. In addition to this, I have no idea where this book takes place in the timeline in G1.It’s stated that it’s a year after Draculaurs sweet sixteen hundred but that's kind of all. As a long term Monster High lover, who has seen all the movies (even the live action and G2 ones), I shouldn't be this confused. I don’t know if the problem is that I know “to much” but the books biggest flaw is the same identity crisis the company currently has. As for the writing itself… it’s okay. The stories are okay but that's all there is to say really. At times it kind of dragged, especially the end, but at least the art is pretty so I powered through. I think the biggest thing this graphic novel has going for it, other than it being Monster High, is the inclusivity. It was really great seeing queer romance so normalized. Mini side note still kind of confused by the relationship dynamics because some are ones I've never even heard of before… but that's besides the point I suppose. However, those relationships are a big part of why I’d recommend this book, and put it on displays. There are some flaws and some of the “spooky puns” are dead-fully awful, but it’s cute.
I think this was cute… but that’s kind of all. I loved the artwork, there were some really subtle things I noticed in it that I really like, Cleos nose having a curve to it for example. It was also really nice seeing characters who were only ever seen in like one movie in the backgrounds as well. My biggest problem with this graphic novel is also Monster Highs biggest problem. Timelines make no sense, I love that we are getting books and graphic novels that are G1 but I work in a library and have seen books that are G3 as well. I’m not sure who these G1 books are being marketed towards. In addition to this, I have no idea where this book takes place in the timeline in G1.It’s stated that it’s a year after Draculaurs sweet sixteen hundred but that's kind of all. As a long term Monster High lover, who has seen all the movies (even the live action and G2 ones), I shouldn't be this confused. I don’t know if the problem is that I know “to much” but the books biggest flaw is the same identity crisis the company currently has. As for the writing itself… it’s okay. The stories are okay but that's all there is to say really. At times it kind of dragged, especially the end, but at least the art is pretty so I powered through. I think the biggest thing this graphic novel has going for it, other than it being Monster High, is the inclusivity. It was really great seeing queer romance so normalized. Mini side note still kind of confused by the relationship dynamics because some are ones I've never even heard of before… but that's besides the point I suppose. However, those relationships are a big part of why I’d recommend this book, and put it on displays. There are some flaws and some of the “spooky puns” are dead-fully awful, but it’s cute.
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