Ham Helsing #2: Monster Hunter

Ham Helsing #2

by Rich Moyer

The uproarious next installment of the Ham Helsing graphic novel series sees Ham and his crew back to fight monsters at mysterious Camp Fish Head Lake!
 
Ham Helsing is a winner!”  --Lincoln Peirce, writer and artist of New York Times bestselling series Big Nate and Max & the Midknights

After an invitation to "peaceful" Camp Fish Head Lake, Ham and his buddies arrive expecting to be guests of honor. But there are no staff to be seen, and with kids (and their overprotective parents) arriving, they decide to just go with the flow. How hard can it be to keep a few kids out of trouble?
 
But the camp turns out to be not so monster-free--and definitely not the kind of lake you want to go fishing in! Ham and his friends have their hands full as campers start to go missing and will have to work together and trust each other to figure out what's going on--especially when old foes return.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Childrens, Humor, Fantasy, Animals, Adventure

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 14, 2022

Reviews

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two of the series and I love it. Ham and his gang are called to assist at a camp. When they arrive the counselors are MIA. They takeover until they arrive. I think my favorite character is Lobo or Malcom. I love the detail in every illustration!

Thank you to NetGalley and Rich Moyer for the opportunity to read and review this book! I can’t wait for the third book to come out!

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ham and his friends arrive at a summer camp to do a demonstration for the kids, they find that the staff is missing and someone needs to take over and keep an eye on the campers. Well, they are the only someones around. Can they keep the children safe and find the missing camp counselors?

This is a really cute series for middle-grade readers with humor that adults will enjoy as well. I love the cute characters and the play on the Dracula story. In addition to Ham Helsing, a pig who hunts monsters, there is also a vampire who uses his powers for good, and a cast of other quirky heros. The artwork is simple, yet cute and effective.

I did feel that, while the humor was enjoyable, there was not enough of it. A graphic novel where a pig and his cohorts team up to fight a swamp monster at a summer camp should be non-stop laughs, but it just wasn't. Perhaps a couple more rounds of editing could have polished this story to a shine.

The wacky characters and off-the-wall plot really stand out as the strong points in this story. More laughs would have really tied it all together.

I would still recommend this book, especially to middle-grade readers, and I hope future volumes are non-stop slapstick comedy.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really cute series with entertaining graphics and with good messages about friendship and about choosing to do the right thing even if it's not what other people say is "your destiny". Ultimately, each individual is in charge of figuring out what his or her own destiny is. In this one, Ham Helsing and his crew end up at a summer camp where the counselors have disappeared and a monster lurks in the waters. I am not normally a graphics novel reader, so there were moments when I just wasn't quite sure what was happening in the story and it felt kind of jumpy/frenetic to me because it seemed that a panel came out of nowhere. Those who regularly read graphic novels may not have that same experience. That said, I enjoyed the story and the graphics and I think Ham Helsing is the cutest. I'm so glad this story came across my radar, which motivated me to find and read the first book before reading this one. While one could technically read these out of order, it helps to know who the characters are, so I'd say read it in the right order to get the full effect.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stay Fetters · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Yeah, we’re not paying to have Samantha drained of blood… and have her lifeless husk used as some backwoods decoration."

Ham Helsing and his friends are back and they are going to camp!

A monster of the lake is terrorizing the camp community and Ham is here to (gulp) save the day. With the help of some friends and one evil chicken, the creature from the camp lagoon has no chance at terror but maybe with cuddles.

This was cute and really funny. Snort laugh so hard that your drink shoots out of your nose. It contained those same goofy jokes as the last one and it made this really enjoyable.

I was hoping for more vampires in this one. Alas, they made a very short appearance at the end. I hope those blood sucking fiends make more of an appearance in book three.

Ham Helsing: Monster Hunter was entertaining and lovable. Ham is the cutest character and I can’t wait to see what other hijinks he gets into next.

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ham Helsing has quickly become one of my favorite graphic novel series. Even as an adult I thoroughly enjoy the humor and storyline. Moyer has a wonderful way of taking creature feature tropes and turning them on their head with kid friendly dark humor and unpredictability. What is also so much fun about this series is the graphics! They are absolutely bright and stunning. They contribute greatly to the story and have much of the same humor. I couldn't get enough of how the camp kids and the results of their parents over protective nature is depicted in how they look. So much fun!! I honestly recommend this to anyone of any age. I think it's also a fun book that parents can read with their kids. I love anything that has humor that both kids and adults can enjoy and appreciate.

[Christine LaBatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute graphic novel that is the second in a series. Ham and his crew show up to do a demonstration at a summer camp. However, none of the staff are there to greet them. As they start to lead the camp themselves, kids start to disappear. Meanwhile, there are other forces conspiring against Ham.

This was a cute story with a cute message! I hadn’t read the first, but I don’t think I missed too much - aka it definitely is still readable if you haven’t read the first one!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jp · Rating 5 out of 5]

The same goofy fun as the first book in the series. I can’t wait to show it to the kids.

[HaileyAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love Ham Helsing and his crew.

[Heather Daughrity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun installation in the tale of Ham Helsing, Vampire...er, Monster Hunter. Our porcine hero is back, along with his ninja-pal Ronin and nice-vampire-buddy Malcolm. This time they find themselves babysitting a group of pitiful kids at Camp Fish Head, where something dark and enormous stalks the woods and waters. Mix in Ham's twice-dead brother, Franken-Chad and his partner Robo-Knight, and you've got a ton of action and humor and a few important life lessons thrown in along the way.

Ham Helsing and company make for a great story, perfect for middle-grade readers and even adults who like a good laugh.

[Lisa Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations were good on this book. The story was different. It did refer to the first book, which was sighted. But the story did not seem to flow. There was a bit of humor in the book, which made me laugh out loud. But all in all, I did not understand it. At one point I thought I did, but then I kept reading and didn’t understand, if it was about poisons in a lake. Kids in danger at a camp. Camp counselors who really weren’t camp counselors.
The ending showed the kids survived and over camp their issues, but poisons were still in a lake......

[Teresa Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ham and his friends are off to summer camp. They arrive to find strange things going on: no leaders and rumors of a monster in the midst. They must all work together to save the kids and the staff from the creature in the lagoon - they even get the unlikely aid from his enemy and his brother.
This is silly fun so it won't be everyone's taste, but it should appeal to young students who like Dog Man and Wimpy Kid.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and quick read! I really enjoy the author’s writing style and humour. The characters are so much fun, and the story is entertaining. It has a lot of heart as well, and it’s a sweet story along with the humour and the monsters.

[Jaymie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't love this as much as the first book, but I think kids will roll with this one just fine. The resolution was cute.

[Jordan Prairie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, the book started off kind of slow, but it was very funny, and somewhat relatable. 😄 I still like the art and ending was beautiful.

[Carolyn Bragg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ham Helsing and his brave cohorts are hired to solve a mystery and possibly get rid of a monster. As the famed (and formerly known as) Vampire Hunters, they are experts when it comes to monsters.

The destination is Camp Fish Head Lake; a summer camp for cute, innocent, defenseless children. All of whom have issues of some sort, such as crippling fears, or the tendency to change into... Well, you get the idea!

When our heroes arrive, nobody is there to greet them. The entire staff is gone--taken by the lake monster! So Ham decides they can handle the kids themselves while investigating. Things are going swimmingly...(ha, swimmingly), when someone notices there are fewer children!

This is a chapter book (with cliffhangers) and a lot of chapters (yay!) that will keep the reader--from child through adult--mesmerized and anxious to find out what happens next! Did I mention chapter cliffhangers?

Plus, the story is funny, punny, and the illustrations are superb! How many people can draw a pig falling (facing up), and make his face look realistic as he plummets...? It's amazing. And funny, honestly.

Except for the creepy evil chicken, I loved the entire book, and I'm going to buy Ham Helsing Vampire Hunter (book 1 in the series).

5/5 Stars
No swearing or bad stuff except an occasional mention of vampirism and monster violence.

Thanks so much, to Random House Children's Books, Crown Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for the free preview of this pdf; the review is voluntary.



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[Kal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I adored the first book in this series, Ham Helsing: Vampire Hunter. So was beyond excited to get the chance to read the next book in the series a little early. The entire characters are back for Volume Two, except this time they're all at summer camp.

Just like in the first book where Moyer played with the story of Dracula, in volume two the story sort of plays into the Creature of the Black Lagoon. Which I loved because I'm a sucker for classic creature features. But, Ham Helsing: Monster Hunter is its own story where the monster isn't so monstrous.

While the book is targeted for younger readers, it's also great for those young at heart. I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon and curled up reading this one. It's a fun story with great artwork, that is bright and adds wonderful details to the story. It's a goofy, fun-filled read with hijinks and the return of the evil brother Chad. Who might not be so evil anymore...

It was great to see all of the characters I loved from the first book come back. Even little Eugene and Lobo! It was even great that Malcolm got a bigger role in this book, and that book three will be more all about him! I really enjoy that bumbling vampire!

I enjoyed the main story as well. All Ham wanted to do was keep those kids safe and protect the camp from whatever was lurking in the lake. This is a great story about how you can't judge people by how they look. The creature may look like a monster, but it was just protecting the little fish in the lake.

This was absolutely adorable and I'm glad I got a chance to read it early! It was just as fun as the first, and I cannot wait for the third installment.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw the first Ham Helsing book at the bookstore a few weeks ago, the first thing I noticed in the book itself was the Shaz-Ham story. As a big fan of the original Captain Marvel -- you know, the guy who uses a magic word to become a hero? -- I knew I had to read that story. So I borrowed HAM HELSING: VAMPIRE HUNTER from the local library.

And loved it!!!

Ham returns as a Monster Hunter in this second volume, along with his friends (and twice-dead brother Chad), and works at Camp Fish Head Lake as counselor to the kids who arrive after the disappearance of the real counselors. When Ham gets involved, there's bound to be fun.

There are several laugh-out-loud moments throughout the story. My one concern is the ending of this story: It says "The End (for now)" Nooooooo! There must be another book!!! There must . . .

Readers of all ages will find something to enjoy in this book (and series) aimed for middle grade kids. The story by Rich Moyer is witty and keeps moving along. And his art is reminiscent of the 1950s Looney Tunes cartoons featuring Bugs Bunny (in "What's Opera, Doc?") or Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote. Pure enjoyment.

Highly recommended!

I received a DRC from Crown Books for Young Readers/Random House Children's Books/Penguin Random House LLC through NetGalley, for which I thank them. All opinions are mine.

[Kristen Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ham Helsing: Monster Hunter, by Rich Moyer, is a quirky, delightfully weird, slightly nail-biting graphic novel that will thrill kids to the end.

Welcome to Camp Fish Head. Ten years ago, some devious delivery men dumped toxic waste into a lake creating a monster that will haunt the camp for years to come. Through the years, children have disappeared from the camp, and now the camp counselors have gone missing. Thankfully, before they were abducted, the counselors contacted Ham Helsing, the Vampire Hunter and his crew.

When Ham arrives, he and his group try to keep the terrified group of new campers calm until the counselors return. But then, one by one, the campers go missing. Ham will have to figure out what's going on quick before they all disappear.

I enjoyed this book a lot. There were some odd parts, and there are a lot of characters to keep track of, but there were so many funny lines and situations that it kept me cracking up and turning pages. The illustrations are fun and funny and bring you along with the storyline. Overall, a great read for your graphic novel enthusiast.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ham has been left with he job he never wanted, hunting vampires and other monsters. The job should have been his fearless brothers but he died, twice now. He and his friends have been invited to camp Fish Head as guests of honor only to find campers showing up and no staff in sight. Each camper has their own fears, one is bugs, one is its own shadow, and so on. As Ham tries to make it camp like for the campers he soon finds it hard with their fears, not to mention the campers are disappearing. Ham and his friends must get the kids back before their parents come, but where are they?

This is a cute series and this book teaches in its way about growing up. I liked this story and series a lot and hope everyone else will too. This book is great for everyone and even reluctant readers will find Ham and his friends fun. I can't wait to find out where they go from here.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love this graphic novel series! This is book 2 in the Ham Helsing series and I think my favorite part of each book has been Chicken’s raps. Each of these books has a theme or life lesson. This book emphasized letting kids have the freedom to learn how to do things on their own. I like that we have some recurring characters like Eugene, Chad and Chicken who aren’t specifically part of the Ham Helsing crew. I hope we continue to see them in future books and I’d love to see Chad become part of the crew (Eugene kind of already is so I’m hoping he’ll keep showing up!). I am very intrigued by the teaser for the next installment and can’t wait to read the next book!

[Chad Alexander Guarino da Verona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ham and his friends return in the second installment of the Ham Helsing graphic novel series, Monster Hunter. Fans of Ham's adventures in the first book will recognize a lot of the characters here as they attempt to figure out the mystery of disappearing children from a campground. The stakes here are noticeably lower than the first one and there's a lot more humor, which makes it an easy standalone to get into if you haven't read the first. The illustrations remain lovely as previously too, which makes it easy to like.

**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Random House Children's and Netgalley**

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

Ham Helsing was such a fun and entertaining story! The humor is definitely something that parents can enjoy but that isn't over the heads of the target audience. I could easily see myself reading this with my son when he's old enough. The illustrations are great and there's never so much going on that it becomes visually overwhelming. My only regret is that I had not read the first book in the series because I would have loved to see how Ham got his start as a monster/vampire hunter. This is a must-have for classroom and school libraries!!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Ham Helsing middle grade graphic novel series. I don't think you really need to read the first book to understand this book and its plot but the first book is really good as well. In this book we find Ham and friends at a summer camp, with something mysterious in the lake stealing the children. Ham's brother Chad is more mellow in this book, not really into taking revenge and actually ends up helping Ham and the kids. The story is fun and interesting. the art is really good. It's funny, fast-paced, and an adventure. (Read a digital ARC via Netgalley.)

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ham and his friends is back in the second installment of the series with a summer camp mystery. Ham and his pals travel to a summer camp but are confused when no staff meet them. The crew is not sure what to do so they act as counselors until they staff returns or figure out what to do, but the real mystery begins when campers start going missing.

This book is absolutely hilarious and is a great follow up to the first book! I can’t wait for the third installment!

[The Library's Ghost · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

What a cute graphic novel!

I believe it didnt impact the story too much to only be reading volume 2, as I was able to get a good feel of the characters and general idea from the context and dialog. This is such a cute and funny story and the art is really fantastic! This perfectly fits the middle grade age group as it doesnt read or feel too young but its funny enough and quick witted to be perfect for older kids.

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our team gets to Camp Fish Head Lake and find that all of the counselors are nowhere to be seen. So the group decides to keep the campers safe and fight the monsters. The art is super cute. I love the silly surprises in the background. It makes this GenXer very happy to see the homage to some of my favorite horror movies. This will be a huge hit with my students. I love this series so much.

Creative Team:
Rich Moyer with colors by Josh Lewis

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A silly sequel to Ham Helsing #1: Vampire Hunter. The Ham Helsing series have proven to be a fun addition to the reading lists for my 8 year old. He has already read the book several times and still wants to pick it up and read it again, night after night. With extremely creative and imaginative writing and excellent illustrations, this is an easy one to add to the TBR list for any monster loving child.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ham Helsing the Vamipre Hunter and his crew are invited to a free workshop at Camp Fish Head, but upon their arrival they discover the entire staff is missing, and only the campers are there. Drawn into the mystery of the missing staff, and the legend of the lake monster, Ham and crew set out to find the staff, and keep the campers safe while solving the mystery. Filled with giggles, laughs and puns.

[Meagan O · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up Ham Helsing #2: Monster Hunter by Rich Moyer due to the title alone. It turns out this book is hilarious and completely fun to read, and I will have to check out the other graphic novels in this series. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys graphic novels featuring animals and monsters and any adults that want silliness from time to time.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. Not as cute as I remember the first one being, and it seemed like I needed to remember a ton from the first for a lot of it to make sense.

It's got a solid moral, there are some cute jokes, and the only really regrettable joke was one about "mansplaining," which was more for laughs than anything else, it just lands wrong in today's political world.

Okay, not great.