Dynamite; $15.99  

It’s a marvelously monstrous day in Halloweentown! Jack and Sally have been married and are going on their honeymoon. The blissful trip is short, since it’s just two weeks before Halloween and Jack has plenty of work to do. As he prepares for his big day as the Pumpkin King, Sally finds herself thrust into the uncomfortable role of Pumpkin Queen. The sweet ragdoll had never been in the spotlight, and now she’s feeling self-conscious and trying to figure out what it means to be a queen.  

When the pressure becomes overwhelming, Sally takes a much needed break from the townspeople and finds a hidden door in the woods. She enters a magical world that seems like the perfect place for respite. What Sally doesn’t realize is that she has unleashed something dangerous that could destroy not only Halloweentown, but all of the holiday lands.  

The Nightmare Before Christmas: Long Live the Pumpkin Queen could have been a fitting sequel to the modern classic holiday movie. Based on the novel by Shea Ernshaw, the graphic novel was adapted by Liz Marsham, art by Ismael Canales and Alessio Petilo, and colors Werner Sanchez. Ernshaw’s story shares the same sense of whimsy found in the movie, and a hero who is introspective and contemplative. Just like Jack, Sally accidentally screws things up and most do everything in her power to fix the problem and save the holidays. It’s also a story about working toward inner peace and establishing boundaries with people who make demands on Sally’s time.  

The art team did a great job of capturing the look of the movie. The characters look exactly like they do on film, and the backgrounds have the muted color palette and curlicues and swirling lines. The other holiday lands are also given their own unique look that encapsulates that holiday’s spirit while also sticking to the Burtonesque style. 

–Amanda Sheriff