Review by Ian Keogh

Unlike the recent New Scaremester graphic novels, World’s Scare presents the creative team of Jackie Aye and Caroline Shuda allocated a book length story. The death of Frankie’s father in New Scaremester Volume 2 is only mentioned in passing, and she’s concerned about having a project ready for the world’s most prestigious science fair. However, as the sample art shows, not everyone at Monster High thinks it should be supported. That’s supplemented by a quest to locate dream crystals, said to reveal one’s innermost desires.

Presumably on the basis that the characters are what people are wanting to see, Shuda keeps them the focus, with Katherine Shuda’s colours adding a vivid brightness to them belying their dark origins. The cast are many and varied, so can provide their own rainbow of visual stimulation without the need for much else on the pages. As they’re based on toys designed at Mattel, Shuda’s own design skills lie largely dormant, but World’s Scare includes robots, two very different types, and Shuda’s designs for both are functional and appealing.

Aye’s interpretation of the cast is presumably based on the animated Monster High, so most personalities are interchangeable, with the exceptions being Frankie’s uncertainty and Cleo’s entitlement, both well used. Dream crystals aren’t easily acquired, yet when that’s achieved Aye seems to forget about them, but that’s not the case. It’s just a while until they’re mentioned again. Aye also ties up most plots from the previous books, including a big revelation. A lot bubbles beneath the surface, and not everything will hit home with the same impact unless New Scaremester has been read. Anyone who has read it, though, should enjoy the resolution of everyone’s problems.