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Goosebumps: Download and Die!
The kid-friendly horror series that defined a decade returns to comics with all-new stories! The terrifying world of R.L. Stine is just a click away!
When Mitra and her two besties find a phone with the latest and greatest technology and apps, they think they are dreaming. But when push (notifications) come to shove, they might be living a nightmare! With the phone turning them against each other, can Mitra do a hard reset before it's too late?
Contains an all-new Introduction by creator R.L. Stine .
When Mitra and her two besties find a phone with the latest and greatest technology and apps, they think they are dreaming. But when push (notifications) come to shove, they might be living a nightmare! With the phone turning them against each other, can Mitra do a hard reset before it's too late?
Contains an all-new Introduction by creator R.L. Stine .
72 pages, Hardcover
First published September 5, 2018
17 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
April 4, 2020
Growing up on Goosebumps and loving it as much as I did (and still do, tbh), I was so excited to see that a graphic novel series had kicked off, and I wasn't disappointed at all! This was just like the books: cheesy, campy, comedic, and cute, with a fun little cliffhanger ending. Most of all, I am stunned that I got to grow up to see a legit Goosebumps title, with R.L. Stine's blessing and everything, featuring queer girls as main characters (and girls of color, at that!). I can't describe how big of a deal this feels like to me. When I can see diverse rep being normalized even in my own childhood faves or their spin-offs, that just means so much to me. Thank you to Jen Vaughn & Michelle Wong for revitalizing this lovable, classic kids' horror series and giving it such a beautiful breath of fresh air. ♥
June 24, 2023
Thought this was fun, ending was a little random though.
May 4, 2019
Read #1
Started on May 4, 2019
Finished on May 4, 2019
2.5 stars
Started on May 4, 2019
Finished on May 4, 2019
2.5 stars
November 15, 2018
Much like Monsters at Midnight, I was horribly underwhelmed with this comic. The premise was interesting, but most of the ideas were underdeveloped, and the ending was rushed like crazy. Would love to see what would happen if Stine himself scripted a comic.
December 30, 2018
Thank God, this book turned-out a little better than the previously-released IDW “Goosebumps” comic series, called “Monsters At Midnight”.
There’s still the SJW garbage thrown-in all over the place, once again, but at least the story feels much more like a “Goosebumps” story R.L. Stine would’ve put his pen on. We’re even talking fucking BANDAIDS with rainbows on them! For the love of God, can we stop with all of the gay propaganda in comic books!
The art is very much improved, here, and the book doesn’t feel as if it was written for the SUPER young fans, even though it still has a feeling of “fellow kids”, quite often—what, with the constant use of cell phones being involved.
There weren’t an over-abundance of monsters, either, which I was thankful for. These types of stores tend to have way too many of the classic monsters from the “Goosebumps” mythos, but this one was the perfect amount, frankly.
It was fun, but super gay, and that annoys me, because we don’t have regular relationships in any “Goosebumps” classics, so why jump directly for having GAY relationships involved? “Goosebumps” doesn’t need love stories. It’s bigger and better than that, and you can kiss my ass if you don’t know that much about this old series.
There’s still the SJW garbage thrown-in all over the place, once again, but at least the story feels much more like a “Goosebumps” story R.L. Stine would’ve put his pen on. We’re even talking fucking BANDAIDS with rainbows on them! For the love of God, can we stop with all of the gay propaganda in comic books!
The art is very much improved, here, and the book doesn’t feel as if it was written for the SUPER young fans, even though it still has a feeling of “fellow kids”, quite often—what, with the constant use of cell phones being involved.
There weren’t an over-abundance of monsters, either, which I was thankful for. These types of stores tend to have way too many of the classic monsters from the “Goosebumps” mythos, but this one was the perfect amount, frankly.
It was fun, but super gay, and that annoys me, because we don’t have regular relationships in any “Goosebumps” classics, so why jump directly for having GAY relationships involved? “Goosebumps” doesn’t need love stories. It’s bigger and better than that, and you can kiss my ass if you don’t know that much about this old series.
September 18, 2019
I was honestly not expecting a Goosebumps book to casually slip in a non-binary lead and not ever comment on it, but here we are. Lovely art, solid characters, some really nice queer and POC representation, and a true Goosebumps twist at the end--this was just about perfect. Stine's introduction was also really lovely.
I wish we could have had more time with the story to really draw out the horror and build the characters more, but for what it was, it was awesome.
I wish we could have had more time with the story to really draw out the horror and build the characters more, but for what it was, it was awesome.
February 27, 2023
Nice reference to the call of the creeps.
April 5, 2020
"Please, these rickety pieces of junk always have safety measures."
"Not if they were made in the 90's."
----
A really fun Goosebumps graphic novel with a really fun art style and really fun color choices, Download and Die - a highschool drama where a smartphone is possessed by dark energies and uses reality-warping magic to alter the world as its unsuspecting owner uses its apps - was really entertaining from start to finish and full of the cheesy, goofy fun that I come to expect from the Goosebumps franchise.
There were times when the pacing felt a little too fast, dialogue was moving too quickly, and the comic could've used maybe 20 more pages to flesh the story out just a little bit better, but I enjoyed the ride this story took me. Not the best but I enjoyed it.
I think the most notable thing about this book really is the use of color. All of the supernatural elements use a neon pink, and this is used very cleverly in the panels where hints of bright saturated pink would seep in in an otherwise dark, earthy colored scene as something just seems a little bit off.
I think my one complaint with the graphic novel is that the iconic Goosebumps villains you see on the cover don't really show up until the very end and some of them (mainly Curly the Skeleton) feel that they don't actually contribute anything to the plot and are just there to be like "hey, remember this Goosebumps character?". I did enjoy Slappy and seeing the Creeps again though.
Also, the reviews complaining that this book is "SJW-y" and "full of gay propaganda" need to realize that...gay people exist. The inclusion of the romance in this book definitely would not have been complained about as much if Weather was a man and it doesn't take up too much of the story's time. Sometimes highschool girls like other highschool girls. It's not gay propaganda; girls that like girls exist.
"Not if they were made in the 90's."
----
A really fun Goosebumps graphic novel with a really fun art style and really fun color choices, Download and Die - a highschool drama where a smartphone is possessed by dark energies and uses reality-warping magic to alter the world as its unsuspecting owner uses its apps - was really entertaining from start to finish and full of the cheesy, goofy fun that I come to expect from the Goosebumps franchise.
There were times when the pacing felt a little too fast, dialogue was moving too quickly, and the comic could've used maybe 20 more pages to flesh the story out just a little bit better, but I enjoyed the ride this story took me. Not the best but I enjoyed it.
I think the most notable thing about this book really is the use of color. All of the supernatural elements use a neon pink, and this is used very cleverly in the panels where hints of bright saturated pink would seep in in an otherwise dark, earthy colored scene as something just seems a little bit off.
I think my one complaint with the graphic novel is that the iconic Goosebumps villains you see on the cover don't really show up until the very end and some of them (mainly Curly the Skeleton) feel that they don't actually contribute anything to the plot and are just there to be like "hey, remember this Goosebumps character?". I did enjoy Slappy and seeing the Creeps again though.
Also, the reviews complaining that this book is "SJW-y" and "full of gay propaganda" need to realize that...gay people exist. The inclusion of the romance in this book definitely would not have been complained about as much if Weather was a man and it doesn't take up too much of the story's time. Sometimes highschool girls like other highschool girls. It's not gay propaganda; girls that like girls exist.
October 23, 2018
While this comic bears the name “Goosebumps” and touts Slappy around throughout, there’s very little else that feels Goosebumps about this story. This is a nonsensical mess with no real resolutions or satisfying conclusions. Some of the dialog between characters doesn’t make any sense, especially later in the story, as if this was the first draft that contains poor attempts at jokes and half-baked ideas that were meant to be elaborated. The only thing keeping this from 1 star is the art. It’s fun and inviting, with the interaction between the main characters shining throughout the first bit. I especially liked the use of neon light to occasionally convey weirdness, a nod to Jacobus that should be explored even further in future Goosebumps comic books.
January 6, 2019
Calling all Creeps. If you're a real Creep, call Tasha at 555-6709 after midnight.
Creeps is one of the strangest Goosebumps books and it’s just twisted enough to work. The fact that this is a pseudo-sequel (it’s not written by Stine so it’s not a true sequel) is something I didn’t expect but it makes sense.
Sadly, little else does here. I had to re-read the last page 3 times and I still don’t understand the twist or whatever the heck is happening.
It’s more like a 3.5 but a 4 felt too high.
Creeps is one of the strangest Goosebumps books and it’s just twisted enough to work. The fact that this is a pseudo-sequel (it’s not written by Stine so it’s not a true sequel) is something I didn’t expect but it makes sense.
Sadly, little else does here. I had to re-read the last page 3 times and I still don’t understand the twist or whatever the heck is happening.
It’s more like a 3.5 but a 4 felt too high.
November 30, 2018
Honestly, this was just a fun read.
It took a little work to get into and there were certainly issues with clarity, but all in, it was a fun ride. Despite the missteps, it bodes well for what the Goosebumps is looking to become in the future - something for *everyone* to see themselves in.
It took a little work to get into and there were certainly issues with clarity, but all in, it was a fun ride. Despite the missteps, it bodes well for what the Goosebumps is looking to become in the future - something for *everyone* to see themselves in.
January 6, 2019
Girl power! Tech girls! Friends! First girl crushes! Diverse characters! This was so cute yet totally RL Stine and I'm only sad that Mitra didn't get to date Weather.
January 5, 2021
It was an interesting read. I liked how the backgrounds changed color to reflect what filter was in use.
Main comments...I found it odd that Mitra used a cellphone that just so happened to show up on her front door step.
I know the whole thing going on with her old phone and all but...why use a random cellphone that just so happened to show up? I mean you have no idea where it came from, so why use it?
Kudos for POC casting that don't fit the stereotype mold of your regular horror tropes! ♥️
That being said, the hintings of a relationship between Weather and Mitra are kinda ambiguous.
Like until Mitra and Weather are talking at the end about a possible crush, and it all being from the phone Slappy the Dummy had planted. I got the feeling like it was more Mitra wanted Weather to hang out with her. Not nessacerally a crush but wanting her to join the friend group.
Like I said, it felt like it was written ambiguously so it can easily be seen as a un-voiced crush or just wanting to platonically hang out with.
Over all I did enjoy the book but I have one final question...Where does Slappy get the money for this plot? Does he have friends that have money? Does he do his own work programming the phones? Or does he have a pop up booth at Horror Land and horror conventions?
Though that is a funny thought, Slappy walking around a Convention Center advertising his booth to help him raise money to take over the world.
Main comments...I found it odd that Mitra used a cellphone that just so happened to show up on her front door step.
I know the whole thing going on with her old phone and all but...why use a random cellphone that just so happened to show up? I mean you have no idea where it came from, so why use it?
Kudos for POC casting that don't fit the stereotype mold of your regular horror tropes! ♥️
That being said, the hintings of a relationship between Weather and Mitra are kinda ambiguous.
Like until Mitra and Weather are talking at the end about a possible crush, and it all being from the phone Slappy the Dummy had planted. I got the feeling like it was more Mitra wanted Weather to hang out with her. Not nessacerally a crush but wanting her to join the friend group.
Like I said, it felt like it was written ambiguously so it can easily be seen as a un-voiced crush or just wanting to platonically hang out with.
Over all I did enjoy the book but I have one final question...Where does Slappy get the money for this plot? Does he have friends that have money? Does he do his own work programming the phones? Or does he have a pop up booth at Horror Land and horror conventions?
Though that is a funny thought, Slappy walking around a Convention Center advertising his booth to help him raise money to take over the world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2023
[1.5]
I can't say I was expecting a lot from a Goosebumps graphic novel, but ugh this was so disappointing. Middle grade comics can be, should be, and are better than this.
I just feel like this tried to fit too much in a very short page span. This is a series! There's no excuse! It came off an incoherent mess with tired tropes and references to other goosebumps works with zero explanation or reason. No aspect of the plot was explored in a satisfying way because there was simply to much going on; it was disjointed and underdeveloped.
It was nice to see an LGBT+ character in a mainstream middle grade book, but with so much else going on, the crush subplot was just another tacked on element.
Go read something infinitely better in the middle grade paranormal arena like Anya's Ghost and don't waste your time.
I can't say I was expecting a lot from a Goosebumps graphic novel, but ugh this was so disappointing. Middle grade comics can be, should be, and are better than this.
I just feel like this tried to fit too much in a very short page span. This is a series! There's no excuse! It came off an incoherent mess with tired tropes and references to other goosebumps works with zero explanation or reason. No aspect of the plot was explored in a satisfying way because there was simply to much going on; it was disjointed and underdeveloped.
It was nice to see an LGBT+ character in a mainstream middle grade book, but with so much else going on, the crush subplot was just another tacked on element.
Go read something infinitely better in the middle grade paranormal arena like Anya's Ghost and don't waste your time.
August 10, 2018
I picked this up as a joke, like, hey, Goosebumps! Nostalgia factor! And that title - I mean, you can't get any more dramatic than
DOWNLOAD
AND
DIE!
So I was like, ha, this will be a total goof I can read to waste the time. And then I got legitimately and unexpectedly into it, and now I'm mad because my library is missing the next one in the series, and also it's a kids disposable spoopy comic, so why am I even committed to reading the next one? But I am. I so am.
DOWNLOAD
AND
DIE!
So I was like, ha, this will be a total goof I can read to waste the time. And then I got legitimately and unexpectedly into it, and now I'm mad because my library is missing the next one in the series, and also it's a kids disposable spoopy comic, so why am I even committed to reading the next one? But I am. I so am.
January 6, 2021
2.5/5
Here are the reasons why I liked it:
1. POC main characters!
2. LGBTQIA+ representation
3. The art style and colors were awesome.
However, the novel was too short for me to gain much of an impression about the story and characters, therefore I thought the characters were too superficially described. I didn’t engage with the characters enough to care a lot about them. I would definitely recommend this for middle-grade and below though.
Here are the reasons why I liked it:
1. POC main characters!
2. LGBTQIA+ representation
3. The art style and colors were awesome.
However, the novel was too short for me to gain much of an impression about the story and characters, therefore I thought the characters were too superficially described. I didn’t engage with the characters enough to care a lot about them. I would definitely recommend this for middle-grade and below though.
January 11, 2019
A fast and fun read for middle-grade Goosebumps fans or just kids looking for some age-appropriate horror comics. Unfortunately, the actual writing and plot greatly pales in quality compared to Stine's Goosebumps book series. Despite the lackluster writing skills, this comics volume will still draw many readers in with it's great art and just spooky enough haunted phone story.
August 15, 2021
borrowed this from libby and finished it in one sitting, there’s three book in the series and there’s only one in my libby 😭 it didn’t really end in cliffhanger but i hate not being able to finish a series.
sub-par read. didn’t have any expectation for it though. just wanna do more graphic/light reading before starting god emperor of dune 🥲
sub-par read. didn’t have any expectation for it though. just wanna do more graphic/light reading before starting god emperor of dune 🥲
September 10, 2019
When too old of adults make a kids book
The tech was a little off, the dummy is a bit Chucky, I loved RL Stone and Christopher Pike as a kid, this just isn’t good enough I’d give it to a young person in my life.
The tech was a little off, the dummy is a bit Chucky, I loved RL Stone and Christopher Pike as a kid, this just isn’t good enough I’d give it to a young person in my life.
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September 22, 2019A new approach to classic Goosebumps. Download and Die! was the first Goosebumps graphic novel that I read with my family and I was pleasantly surprised. We love the Slappy character and it was very fun seeing him translated to a new medium and updated.
July 4, 2023
Books I've read and provided detailed reviews over the years but all data is lost after accidental deletion and GD's refusal to restore it back.
Adding books back to my library for my own reference and tracking purposes
Adding books back to my library for my own reference and tracking purposes
March 2, 2025
I lost my long, drawn out rating of this. But it was pretty good. I’m an elder millennial so of course I prefer the OG books, but this wasn’t bad. I’ll definitely keep reading. Nice break from reality, back into this creepy world.
December 27, 2025
I enjoyed the graphics of this comic but the story line was not the greatest in my opinion. There were areas where they jumped around to a new scene with no good transition or way to may it more cohesive and comprehensible. This wasnt as good as a genuine R.L Stine Goosebumps.
November 7, 2018
Fans of Goosebumps will love this haunting graphic novel!
December 23, 2018
I reaaaally wanted to like this but it was so disjointed. I kept feeling like I was missing panels or entire pages. Fun idea, neat characters, just really sloppy and disjointed writing.
August 14, 2019
Clever.
October 28, 2019
It wasn’t my favorite but it was still good it’s berry short not heard to read sometimes the writing is stiff but it’s fine if you like goosebumps you might like this book.
January 17, 2020
Goosebumps said gay rights.
FULL REVIEW: https://spongey444.wordpress.com/2020...
FULL REVIEW: https://spongey444.wordpress.com/2020...
April 7, 2020
Definitely a kids' book, but it's cute!
July 31, 2020
2.5!
This was a fun and quick read! I liked the idea of technology altering/destroying real life.
This was a fun and quick read! I liked the idea of technology altering/destroying real life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews