Posted in: Comics, Halloween, Recent Updates | Tagged: cosplay, Costume Quest: Invasion of the Candy Snatchers, Double Fine, entertainment, graphic novels, halloween, KC Green, oni press, Zac Gorman

Candy Shortage Leads To Candy Snatching In Costume Quest Graphic Novel

By Cameron Hatheway

Halloween: the one time of year when the rest of the world cosplays along with us. The only real difference is the obscene amount of candy. Just in time for all things tricky and treaty comes Costume Quest: Invasion of the Candy Snatchers, a graphic novel spin-off of the popular video game Costume Quest, from Oni Press and Double Fine Productions. Released earlier this month, it coincides with the release of the Costume Quest sequel and is written and illustrated by Zac Gorman (Magical Game Time).

First and foremost, you do not have to be familiar with the Costume Quest video game in order to enjoy the comic. I personally had never heard of the game prior to reading the comic, and still enjoyed it immensely. In fact, I actually became incredibly enticed to seek out and play the game—it's available on every platform—after finishing the story and becoming smitten with the characters. It's definitely an all-ages comic, and the oversize format (13" x 9") allows for Gorman's art to really shine.

The story follows three Grubbins (monsters who live in another dimension) who travel to the human world for candy on Halloween night. There's a candy shortage in their land of Repugia, and one adventurous little Grubbin by the name of Klem is determined to get candy to woo a popular girl named Verena Snout and get invited to her party. Verena's boyfriend Ophirion on the other hand sees it as a win-win: if Klem is able to find candy, he'll simply steal it from him, and if Klem doesn't, he'll forever be labeled as a massive dork.

Klem's friends Sellie and Brolo accompany him to the human world—Sellie quite unenthusiastically—and soon the group realize they're in for more than they bargained for when Brolo stumbles through the portal first, separating from Klem and Sellie. Half rescue mission, half candy hunt, Klem and Sellie do their best to navigate through the human neighborhoods on Halloween night with Ophirion and his goons close behind. In both Repugia and the human world, there are candy snatchers aplenty, threatening to take their bountiful loot.

The story was extremely fun, and I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. Gorman brings lots of humor to the story both visually and with the dialogue. Keep your eyes peeled when scanning the trick-or-treaters, for you'll recognize so many great costumes scattered throughout. Fans of KC Green will enjoy the similar art style and visuals. Included at the very end of the novel is the 4-panel comic that Gorman drew back in the day that caught game creator Tasha Sounart's eye, which later lead to him writing and drawing the graphic novel.

The trick of the novel is the $24.99 price tag, while the treat is the 54 pages of pure joy and awesomeness that lurks inside. While it's obviously best read during the month of October, it'll still make quite the addition to your collection or a young reader's library (or even your local library!).

Costume Quest: Invasion of the Candy Snatchers (Oni Press/Double Fine)
by Zac Gorman
54 Pages, FC
$24.99

Cameron Hatheway is a reviewer and the host of Cammy's Comic Corner, an audio podcast. You can share with him your Slime Beetles™ on Twitter @CamComicCorner.

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