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Over the Garden Wall: Soulful Symphonies #1-5
Over the Garden Wall: Soulful Symphonies
When a charming young woman offers Greg and Wirt the roles of a lifetime in the play at her family theater, they decide to audition for the production and test out their acting chops - but who exactly are the three stage sisters running the show and where is everyone else in the town?
THE SHOW MUST GO ON!
Greg, Wirt, and Beatrice are ready for a break from the danger and excitement of their journeys through The Unknown. Luckily, they stumble upon a quaint little town full of theaters and stages but no players or musicians, leaving it mercifully quiet... but maybe a little too quiet. When a charming young woman offers Greg and Wirt the roles of a lifetime in the play at her family theater, as well as a place to stay, they decide to audition for the production and test out their acting chops. But who exactly are the three stage sisters running the show and where is everyone else in the town?
Writer Birdie Willis and artist Rowan MacColl present a new story set in the world inspired by the Emmy® Award-winning Cartoon Network animated series, Over The Garden Wall.
Collects Over The Garden Wall: Soulful Symphonies #1-5.
THE SHOW MUST GO ON!
Greg, Wirt, and Beatrice are ready for a break from the danger and excitement of their journeys through The Unknown. Luckily, they stumble upon a quaint little town full of theaters and stages but no players or musicians, leaving it mercifully quiet... but maybe a little too quiet. When a charming young woman offers Greg and Wirt the roles of a lifetime in the play at her family theater, as well as a place to stay, they decide to audition for the production and test out their acting chops. But who exactly are the three stage sisters running the show and where is everyone else in the town?
Writer Birdie Willis and artist Rowan MacColl present a new story set in the world inspired by the Emmy® Award-winning Cartoon Network animated series, Over The Garden Wall.
Collects Over The Garden Wall: Soulful Symphonies #1-5.
144 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 2020
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249 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
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February 26, 2022-I have not seen the show this is based on.
-I picked it up up because it listed Keezy Young as an artist, but Young only did the cover. The internal art is mediocre. Learn to draw noses, slacker!
-The characters seem dumb and annoying. The theater and proprietors are so obviously ominous that I can't care what happens to these kids.
-Villain dialogue. Is two people discussing out loud where the victims can overhear the Evil Secret that they both already know more or less implausible than a sole villain monologue?
-Twee. This is a matter or taste. I appreciate quirky but it can easily tip into too much eye-rolling for me. This felt like it was trying to ride the popularity of things like The Backstagers or "Gravity Falls" without being smart the way those were.
I gave this a second chance because it had high ratings, but am totally not getting the appeal. Maybe for kids who watch the show? Shrug.
-I picked it up up because it listed Keezy Young as an artist, but Young only did the cover. The internal art is mediocre. Learn to draw noses, slacker!
-The characters seem dumb and annoying. The theater and proprietors are so obviously ominous that I can't care what happens to these kids.
-Villain dialogue. Is two people discussing out loud where the victims can overhear the Evil Secret that they both already know more or less implausible than a sole villain monologue?
-Twee. This is a matter or taste. I appreciate quirky but it can easily tip into too much eye-rolling for me. This felt like it was trying to ride the popularity of things like The Backstagers or "Gravity Falls" without being smart the way those were.
I gave this a second chance because it had high ratings, but am totally not getting the appeal. Maybe for kids who watch the show? Shrug.
July 13, 2021
★ 3.5 Stars ★
Felt like an episode of the show for sure! It dragged a little in the middle, but other than that it was a good time for sure.
Felt like an episode of the show for sure! It dragged a little in the middle, but other than that it was a good time for sure.
February 22, 2022
Things get pretty creepy when Greg and Wirt find a ghost town where the only activity revolves around a theater run by three weird sisters. It ain't over til the kids wearing silly hats sing.
A fun, though not particularly memorable episode.
A fun, though not particularly memorable episode.
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May 17, 2023The comics are enjoyable but pointless. Because they function as filler episodes, the character development and lore stays at a certain point. Basically they all go like this:
Wirt: Let's ask these weird people for help.
Beatrice: There's something suspicious about them.
And, of course, Wirt learns he should be more like Greg, so they can escape from the people who wanted to steal their souls some way or another.
I think it's a good thing the cartoon is short, or it would probably get as repetitive as Phineas and Ferb. (I'm no advocate of fan service, but progress is good).
For instance, in one of the comics the characters visit the "real world" but it ends up being a dream; nothing new is revealed, no dynamics change, the world isn't expanded on, not even interesting trivia.
If there really is a spin off, I hope they don't continue to stunt themselves with this stylistic choice. (I suspect it's supposed to be dreamlike, but they have a chance to do something more meaningful with characters people are invested in).
Wirt: Let's ask these weird people for help.
Beatrice: There's something suspicious about them.
And, of course, Wirt learns he should be more like Greg, so they can escape from the people who wanted to steal their souls some way or another.
I think it's a good thing the cartoon is short, or it would probably get as repetitive as Phineas and Ferb. (I'm no advocate of fan service, but progress is good).
For instance, in one of the comics the characters visit the "real world" but it ends up being a dream; nothing new is revealed, no dynamics change, the world isn't expanded on, not even interesting trivia.
If there really is a spin off, I hope they don't continue to stunt themselves with this stylistic choice. (I suspect it's supposed to be dreamlike, but they have a chance to do something more meaningful with characters people are invested in).
May 10, 2021
It's hard to beat "haunted theatre" when it comes to creepy-quirky tropes, and naturally Over the Garden Wall goes there with aplomb. Though a little too much importance is placed on the plainspoken, intentionally-hokey poetry and lyrics that have always been an OTGW staple, it's hard to fault Pat McHale and company: this is just as homespun and surreal as the best episodes of the series.
November 23, 2020
This dragged on so badly and the art kept going from 'it's alright, I suppose' to 'why is the background just a flat square of gradient', which didn't help. Really not a great addition to the show's universe.
March 27, 2025
This was cute but not very exciting. The art style was fun and it was super nostalgic to be back in the OTGW universe! However, the story was flat, jokes felt repetitive from the show, and overall having a musical graphic novel (even though it's true to the spirit of the show) just didn't work for me. Maybe I'm just not imaginative enough to come up with tunes in my head :)
September 30, 2025
i give this a 2.5 but am rounding it to a 3. it was decent and provided nice entertainment for the evening but didn't add much to the overall storyline
September 14, 2021
While still not as good as Distillatoria, this story sits beside Hollow Town as a close second, a chilling tale that fits right into Wirt and Greg’s encounters with the Unknown. Unlike The Benevolent Sisters of Charity, this one is well-paced and takes full advantage of its length, and we get to see Wirt, Greg, and Beatrice with their proper dynamics while still seeing some character development.
If I had to criticize this story, it’s that, while the premise is interesting, the execution is… pretty predictable. The characters you meet are all exactly what you think they are. It might still be engaging for younger readers, but there are few surprises for those with more experience. Of course, what’s here is still good, and I’m glad I got to meet Sophie and watch her face her demons. Another great entry in OTGW’s comic canon.
If I had to criticize this story, it’s that, while the premise is interesting, the execution is… pretty predictable. The characters you meet are all exactly what you think they are. It might still be engaging for younger readers, but there are few surprises for those with more experience. Of course, what’s here is still good, and I’m glad I got to meet Sophie and watch her face her demons. Another great entry in OTGW’s comic canon.
February 26, 2021
I love diving back into the world of Over the Garden Wall. As one of my all time favourite cartoons it holds a special place in my heart and these comics fit the weird and fantastical vibes that made the mini series so great, with one more to read (other than finishing off the comic series) I only wish there was more to read!
April 18, 2025
“Over the Garden Wall: Soulful Symphonies” is an out-of-print graphic novel written by Birdie Willis and illustrated by Rowan MacColl. I heard about this book while my friends and I were browsing Half-Price Books, and we saw that they were selling a copy… for over $300. Fortunately, I was able to reserve a copy via inter-library loan, so I could read this rare book for free.
The story starts with a poem that introduces us the the story’s main theme, with stage theater as an analogy for life.
Set what looks like between episodes 5 and 6 (no talking horse is with them, and Verdi/Mozart/Figaro the Frog isn’t known by the others to sing yet), Wirt, Greg, and Beatrice find themselves in a relatively normal town. However, what makes it creepier than any other place they’ve encountered up to that point is that this town is empty. Upon hearing one of Greg’s improvised songs, a young woman named Sophie, one of the only three individuals they encounter, tells our heroes that she and her sisters are short of two actors for their show, and that the brothers would be ideal fill-ins.
Anyone who remembers that one Courage the Cowardly Dog episode, “The Great Fusilli” will have a nostalgic moment with this book. Dark themes paired with expressive illustrations, steady pacing, and a clever plot twist (), “Soulful Symphonies” captures the overall atmosphere of the show it is based on. I would put Mezz and Altamira right up there with The Beast as some of the most vile OtGW antagonists. I also liked how the three sisters’ names are a play on voice parts (Sophie the Soprano, Mezz the Mezzo-Soprano, Altamira the Alto).
The beginning of Sophie’s backstory might just close to home for anyone who has auditioned in the past, only to not always get a role (at least, it did for me hahaha). In a way, she reminded me a lot of Lorna—a girl close to Wirt’s age who . The difference is that here, there is more room for backstory and depth than one could fit in an eleven-minute episode, so Sophie was given a chance to be in the spotlight more (no pun intended).
If I had to give one critique, I would say the relationship between Beatrice and Wirt felt pretty similar to another OtGW graphic novel I read a few years back. In general, I would like to see a story where Beatrice doesn’t start off as a troll.
Overall, I had fun reading this book and would rate it around four-and-a-half stars. I would love to hear the song lyrics featured throughout made into real tracks. “Wirt’s Song” has potential to be a very beautiful one.
The story starts with a poem that introduces us the the story’s main theme, with stage theater as an analogy for life.
Set what looks like between episodes 5 and 6 (no talking horse is with them, and Verdi/Mozart/Figaro the Frog isn’t known by the others to sing yet), Wirt, Greg, and Beatrice find themselves in a relatively normal town. However, what makes it creepier than any other place they’ve encountered up to that point is that this town is empty. Upon hearing one of Greg’s improvised songs, a young woman named Sophie, one of the only three individuals they encounter, tells our heroes that she and her sisters are short of two actors for their show, and that the brothers would be ideal fill-ins.
Anyone who remembers that one Courage the Cowardly Dog episode, “The Great Fusilli” will have a nostalgic moment with this book. Dark themes paired with expressive illustrations, steady pacing, and a clever plot twist (), “Soulful Symphonies” captures the overall atmosphere of the show it is based on. I would put Mezz and Altamira right up there with The Beast as some of the most vile OtGW antagonists. I also liked how the three sisters’ names are a play on voice parts (Sophie the Soprano, Mezz the Mezzo-Soprano, Altamira the Alto).
The beginning of Sophie’s backstory might just close to home for anyone who has auditioned in the past, only to not always get a role (at least, it did for me hahaha). In a way, she reminded me a lot of Lorna—a girl close to Wirt’s age who . The difference is that here, there is more room for backstory and depth than one could fit in an eleven-minute episode, so Sophie was given a chance to be in the spotlight more (no pun intended).
If I had to give one critique, I would say the relationship between Beatrice and Wirt felt pretty similar to another OtGW graphic novel I read a few years back. In general, I would like to see a story where Beatrice doesn’t start off as a troll.
Overall, I had fun reading this book and would rate it around four-and-a-half stars. I would love to hear the song lyrics featured throughout made into real tracks. “Wirt’s Song” has potential to be a very beautiful one.
May 1, 2023
I like the art, which does some fun tricks and manages to be pretty creepy at times, and I like the basic story. The idea of is interesting, and I would have liked if that was explored more. In particular, you could argue that getting Wirt on stage to express himself would be a good thing for his self-confidence, so it would have been nice if he was more focal, and we examined how sharing your passion (a major part of his arc in the show) is different than the way that the antagonists were trying to exploit him. His song, incidentally, was one of the highlights of the story, with good insights into his character.
One of the main reasons that this is four stars instead of five is because, ultimately, the main character isn't any of our heroes, but new character Sophie, and her story seems...muddled, a bit? There are kind of two morals, "you don't need to be talented to matter" but also "you can become talented if you ask for help," which sort of contradict each other. Also, the ending is kind of about atoning for her actions but is also framed as being too happy, so that it seems like she's being rewarded for her bad actions instead of punished.
One of the main reasons that this is four stars instead of five is because, ultimately, the main character isn't any of our heroes, but new character Sophie, and her story seems...muddled, a bit? There are kind of two morals, "you don't need to be talented to matter" but also "you can become talented if you ask for help," which sort of contradict each other. Also, the ending is kind of about atoning for her actions but is also framed as being too happy, so that it seems like she's being rewarded for her bad actions instead of punished.
April 17, 2023
A slow moving but atmospheric entry in the Over the Garden Wall comics series, Soulful Symphonies takes Wirt, Gregg, and Beatrice to a seemingly normal but abandoned town somewhere in the Unknown, where they are quickly recruited by a good natured theater owner and her slightly less good natured sisters for the stage. While Beatrice is (rightly) suspicious from the start, both Wirt and Gregg quickly find themselves entranced by the theatrical life despite the seeming lack of an audience.
In preparation for their performances, characters sing various quirky songs but lack any accompanying notation, so the readers, even those musically inclined, can only imagine the melodies. This is unfortunate in such a musically inclined series as OtGW. All in all, Soulful Symphonies feels like a less essential addendum to the boy’s adventures in the Unknown for fans of the show. The pumpkin carving templates included in the bonus sections are definitely worth checking out, though!
In preparation for their performances, characters sing various quirky songs but lack any accompanying notation, so the readers, even those musically inclined, can only imagine the melodies. This is unfortunate in such a musically inclined series as OtGW. All in all, Soulful Symphonies feels like a less essential addendum to the boy’s adventures in the Unknown for fans of the show. The pumpkin carving templates included in the bonus sections are definitely worth checking out, though!
November 8, 2023
Artwork on par and would give it 5 stars. As a OTGW piece, it was dragging and the dialogue/tropes can be repetitive at times. It doesn't work as a standalone because you have to know the context of this story, but as a companion piece to the TV series, it doesn't hold up. We are given the same dynamics of the trio as they are in the school episode, so it doesn't really add much to the story and characters except this time, they're in a creepy theater house. One of the things that made the series so compelling was the music - it's not as tangible when you're only reading a graphic novel, and this comic has a lot of musical numbers. I am still very grateful I was able to read the companion comics and for that, i gjve it 3.5 stars
December 20, 2025
This story is also passed during the TV show.
Wirt's sutbborness and desire to prove Beatrice wrong lands him in trouble again.
This time they're almost killed by two evil singing Spirits.
Sophie, a young girl who lived in towwn, longed to be an artist too, so she summoned the spirits. Little did she know that they'd end up killing her whole town. I realize that she only learned the truth too late, but she still could've tried to stop it beofre everyone was dead. Her fear and cowardice got the best of her. Even if, at the end of the novel, she redeems herself, all those deaths are sort of her fault.
Wirt's sutbborness and desire to prove Beatrice wrong lands him in trouble again.
This time they're almost killed by two evil singing Spirits.
Sophie, a young girl who lived in towwn, longed to be an artist too, so she summoned the spirits. Little did she know that they'd end up killing her whole town. I realize that she only learned the truth too late, but she still could've tried to stop it beofre everyone was dead. Her fear and cowardice got the best of her. Even if, at the end of the novel, she redeems herself, all those deaths are sort of her fault.
November 13, 2022
Two boys wander into a seemingly deserted town and are invited to become stars. They can't resist the allure, but this show isn't as innocent as it seems, and Wirt and Greg must find a way to escape a show that's just to die for.
This comic definitely has some spooky vibes and an interesting story. I suspect it's meant for fans of the TV series, however, as almost no attention is given to character development, world building, or backstory, which made it hard for me to follow.
This comic definitely has some spooky vibes and an interesting story. I suspect it's meant for fans of the TV series, however, as almost no attention is given to character development, world building, or backstory, which made it hard for me to follow.
August 21, 2023
2.5
I like that it was stated they hadn't gotten to Adelaide's house yet, which explains why Beatrice was being bitchy. She's also really dumb and gets knocked out by flying into things a lot.
This seemed a lot longer than it had to be.
I really did not like the art style. And there was annoyingly one panel where a character said somebody used a red pen but the art clearly showed a pencil.
I like that it was stated they hadn't gotten to Adelaide's house yet, which explains why Beatrice was being bitchy. She's also really dumb and gets knocked out by flying into things a lot.
This seemed a lot longer than it had to be.
I really did not like the art style. And there was annoyingly one panel where a character said somebody used a red pen but the art clearly showed a pencil.
February 3, 2024
This was great! It truly felt like an episode of the show. Everything was paced well, nothing felt out of character for anyone, the creepiness factor was great, and it was really fun. I’ve read Circus Friends and Benevolent Sisters, and while those were okay, Soulful Symphonies is what I really wanted. (I have yet to read Distillatoria or Hollow Town though and I hear those are really good). I highly recommend this comic for any OTGW fan.
November 17, 2020
You could easily throw out issues 1-3 and get the same story out of this dragging tale.
The jokes and build-up in the first issues are both bad.
The story is telegraphed from a mile away and not that interesting.
This is more a story of the new character than a Greg and Wirt story.
I did not care for the art style.
The only redeeming quality are the alternate covers in the back 10 or so pages.
The jokes and build-up in the first issues are both bad.
The story is telegraphed from a mile away and not that interesting.
This is more a story of the new character than a Greg and Wirt story.
I did not care for the art style.
The only redeeming quality are the alternate covers in the back 10 or so pages.
November 25, 2020
This gets very dark real quick... I love it.
The poem at the beginning sounded so familiar, although I can't recall when I heard it for the first time, or if I actually ever did before. I think a lot of characters and stories are intended to give the reader a déjà vu, but this comic especially nails it. I'd love to see more otgw comics.
The poem at the beginning sounded so familiar, although I can't recall when I heard it for the first time, or if I actually ever did before. I think a lot of characters and stories are intended to give the reader a déjà vu, but this comic especially nails it. I'd love to see more otgw comics.
September 20, 2024
This was a fun spooky ready. It felt like a filler episode in the show when they are on there way to Adelaide and they stop in this small ghost like town and are stuck in writing a bunch of songs and putting on a performance, but not everything is like it seems. I definitely like distillatoria better, but this was good nonetheless.
March 11, 2021
Alright, this might be my new favorite OTGW graphic novel!! I loved the art style and the vibe of the novel. It was creepy (maybe the creepiest!), but also fun and interesting and adventurous. I loved the songs, and how emotion seemed to just flow off the page. It was just so good!!
March 20, 2022
Soulful Symphonies was much more akin to the tv series than volumes 2-5. I enjoyed the art, Beatrice was actually in this one, it read like an episode of the show, and it had a much darker story line. Overall, I enjoyed it and it felt like the show had been extended just a little longer :)
April 29, 2022
This was so much fun! It really felt like an episode of the show, and the characterizations of Wirt and Greg were perfect. My only qualm was the art style; I didn't like it nearly as much as the art in the show.
September 15, 2023
"Sometimes people come off harsh, and they don't always mean it. And sometimes people have a really nice way of being cruel. You'll never know if they would have helped or not, because it's in the past. It's done. So forget what could have been THEN! What are you going to do NOW?"
September 4, 2024
Cartoon Network needs to give Patrick Mchale a blank check and just allow him to make whatever he wants. The beauty and darkness of OTGW is captured really well in this story- Autumn is nearly here!
The Blasting Company would rock these show tunes
The Blasting Company would rock these show tunes
November 9, 2024
3.5! ✨ Another lovely Over the Garden Wall tale, which balances whimsical and magical atmospheres with spooky and eerie themes. A beautiful art style throughout as well - I especially loved the gallery of cover art in the back of the book!
November 16, 2020
Quite scary if it really happened
April 15, 2021
The art in this one is really beautiful, almost crossing into Emily Carroll territory, and the story is genuinely creepy. One of the more spooky serials!
November 7, 2021
I just ADORED the art style of this!! Beatrice had the best expressions on her face. Whoever thought a bird could give such a dirty look 😂
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