Regular followers of the Goosebumps book and comic series will be familiar with the setting of Secrets Of The Swamp, from IDW.
Well, obviously, the title tells it all, and quite frankly, things in issue 1 are fairly perfunctory. It’s about a swamp, one with secrets!
Writer Marieke Nijkamp introduces us (and young readers) to the young girl, Blake, who is a gamer. A solid gamer, with her hands on the controller, and her mind in the game. Her aunt introduces Blake to another gamer in the neighbourhood, who wants to explore the swamp. There are supposed to be monsters in the swamp!
The writing is good, the footsteps a little slow. The Goosebumps a little small. We could have been in the swamp several pages ago, we think, but we must be polite and let the story unfold the way it wants to. The young characters, the setting, the talking, the pastimes, the teenage reluctance to divulge much to adults. Artist Yasmin Florez Montanez portrays believable teens and tweens and shows us enough of the surroundings to orient us.
Colourist Rebecca Nalty paints full-spectrum, giving life to the attics, kitchens, and the great outdoors.
The start of a swamp mystery, no doubt, with some chills and spills yet to come!
IDW, Goosebumps Secrets Of The Swamp #1, $3.99 for 23 pages of content. Okay for young readers
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