Review by Ian Keogh

As this funny animal fable opens, Scully is about to start working at the local castle, where as the newcomer he’s to join the crew taking on the unpleasant task of clearing up the garden. Readers discover some of its many threats along with Scully, including the whipping tortoise with a tail powerful enough to knock him into a tree. The castle owner is a bad tempered woman, some of Scully’s fellow workers seem to be plotting against her, and the castle seems to be haunted as well.

The early pages certainly stack up the dangers for the likeable Scully, and there are more to follow as Norman Shurtliff has readers tracking him over his first day at work and then back home again. He’s having to work and take care of his younger siblings as his father is injured and recovering.

Despite the fantasy background, at first it seems Shurtliff has thoroughly immersed himself in old Donald Duck comics for Skull Cat, as he’s the same type of well-meaning innocent, but comics themselves gradually become more and more important to the story.

Shurtliff’s art is extremely busy, sometimes at the start too busy, not giving the cast room to breathe in the packed panels, but that’s a problem that diminishes as the story continues. Despite everyone being different, their mismatched nature is never problematical, and the designs might be simple, but result in memorable characters, colour definitely playing a part. A turquoise cat ghost and a green goblin in particular stand out. Young readers will also be captivated by the locations, a very distinctive waterfall being a highlight, and in the back of the book Shurtliff supplies a map of the entire area.

The broad path of a youngster having to gather their courage to do the right thing and become a hero is a story archetype, but Skull Cat and the Curious Castle is a spirited exploitation of the idea. It introduces intriguing characters and not everyone can be taken at their word. The dangers and a stabbing might frighten very young children, but all other readers will be counting down the days until they can get their hands on Skull Cat and the Vampire’s Amulet.

But wait! There’s more! As noted, comics feature in the story, and once Shurtliff is done with Scully for the time being he supplies two brief stories of Cathero and his massive sword.