Monster High: New Scaremester, Vol. 2

by Jacque Aye, Keryl Brown Ahmed, Ben Kahn

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Young Adult, Monsters

160 pages, Paperback

Published September 23, 2025

About the author

As 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.

Reviews

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot is heating up!! I'm really looking forward to seeing how it's going to develop from this point on. This volume felt too short, but in a good way, I was having so much fun and then it was over. I hope we won't have to wait long for new issues.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't love all the story choices, but I absolutely love getting to see original Frankie and Ghoulia again.

[Myrissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay I liked this one better than volume 1.

And I read this in one sitting for once. I never do that lol.

I actually was getting way more interested in the story. And the relationship problems did really bother me cause I was getting frustrated instead of worried lol. Deuce just TALK TO CLEO you KNOW she was gonna get jealous. But obviously it worked out. Also Clawdeen x Toralei grew on me more.

I was on the edge of my seat a bit lol. Ghoulia getting kidnapped had me stressed, and I think it was cool how it all came together in the end to explain why only zombies and then Frankie were being kidnapped. I find it kinda funny how they waited up until Ghoulia got taken to finally really step in and do something lmao. Fair though.
I loved the Frankie and Ghoulia rep in these. But almost zero Lagoona which sucks.

The art was so amazing.

Okay but about the Holiday specials…
Dude.
I hate to say it but I feel like writers just do not know what they’re doing with Frankie and if they even like her or not lol. Yes she was interested in a lot of boys in G1, but these TWO COMIC SPECIALS, she was with TWO OTHER DIFFERENT GUYS? Please my dude. I love Frankie to bits. We don’t hold it against her for being a romantic, but maaaaan why Manny and Johnny when they were both with someone already? And lazily making Johnny not be with Operetta anymore? And why MANNY? He bullies Jackson, dude. They’re flirting for zero reason. Literally nothing.

It honestly just feels like they’re doing it for the bit, cause it’s a running joke she gets with everyone. That feels shitty.

Bring Jackson and Holt back guys. Case closed.

[Lauren Herron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I had some gripes with this one, the art is great (I love the costume designs for both Halloween stories) and it’s a nice conclusion to the story.

I like that things got resolved between Cleo and Deuce and Clawdeen and Toralei, but…Cleo is Deuce’s significant other and he should’ve communicated what was going on from the beginning instead of acting suspicious with Clawdeen. Again, Cleo would’ve been understanding because they’re a couple.

I’m really glad we got to see more of Ghoulia here as she’s underrated. I loved her friendship with Cleo and got invested in the story when she got kidnapped.

Lagoona’s absence made no sense to me. I’m assuming they didn’t know what to do with her, but they could’ve at least tried to come up with an excuse to write her out. She’s literally one of the core five (the others being Cleo, Frankie, Clawdeen, and Draculaura) and it would make no sense for her not to be present during the entire book.

What really bugged me was the choices with Frankie that were made in the Halloween specials. Did everyone forget Jackson/Holt existed? Why do they keep giving Frankie new love interests? Both her pairings with Manny and Johnny made no sense, especially since they’re already taken by Iris and Operetta.

[Rebecca Rakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute wrap-up, and they included some of the one-off comics as well.

[teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute storyline. Wrapped up well. Can’t wait to read what releases next!

[Frank Chillura (OhYouRead) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been desperate for more Monster High since the movies stopped releasing years ago. It felt like every few months there was a movie and doll releases lined up. And while my wallet may have hated it, my collection and little gay heart were in love with every single second of it. The live action movies felt like we may finally get back on track, but the changing of mythos and back stories threw a lot of people off. Even with those changes, it still felt incredible to see my faves up on the screen again. Needless to say, this feels like a return to my happier days.

The one major change that makes me so incredibly happy for is that there are more queer characters now. Everyone gets the representation they deserve and with Clawdeen and Torelai, well as Valentine and Sheldon, leading the march, it makes me so excited and bursting with queer joy.

I hope this isn’t the end of these books, because I never get tired of reading about these characters. I hope this means we’ll get even more books, dolls, and movies in the future, because I desperately need them!!

[Eva B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun!!! Still hard to get used to Frankie being a girl lol, I mainly am interested in G3 despite growing up on G1, but this was super cute. I love that Frankie's design for the dance was the same as her Stitched in Style doll, and she and Johnny were super cute together! Wish we saw more of Lagoona though, she feels like she's being excluded from the story despite being one of the main ghouls since the beginning of the line. Give my girl some time in the spotlight!

[Marissa Barba · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to read the book/comics that were published before volume 1, as they seem to provide a lot of context for these comics that I’m missing. But overall, the story continues to be very interesting and engaging! I wish the ending was concluded so quickly, as a lot of this volume appeared to be filler. Also, I prefer the art style in the beginning compared to that of the last comic. Still, I love my Monster High ghouls.

[Eyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The drama is a little over the top but I do enjoy the conspiracy plots, and I love that apparently the other series will continue those plots?? Big focus on Cleo's relationship with Ghoulia is always appreciated too because their friendship is soooo sweet. The art is also beautiful, can't wait to dive into the other series!

[Lizzie A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really fun and entertaining story with some Extremely pretty illustrations. It felt a little confused as a running-narrative volume continuity-wise, but that's my only complaint! Some extremely funny and genuinely tense moments and definitely worth an hour or two.

[Geo Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This arc was interesting, and the last issues have by far been the best. Good for teen audiences

[Anouk⭐ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these comics so much! The art is gorgeous and the nostalgia on-point. I hope they will make collected volumes for all the Monster High comic series because I want them all!!!!

[Aleksandra Mikołajczyk · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Ylenia Damiani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romance and missing fiends (monster friends), I wish monster high was around when I was a kid!

[caro · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are actually so good - the art is amazing, they’re cleverly written, and just a good time in general :)

[Luc Dantes · Rating 5 out of 5]

review at:
https://horrortree.com/epeolatry-book...