The Cryptics Super Spooktacular Special

Genre fantasy Author Steve Niles Publisher Image Comics External Links Official Image Comics Website

Absolutely delightful! Lighthearted, colorful and funny. The Cryptics Super Spooktacular Special will make you laugh and giggle. Seemingly inspired by Death Jr. (another Image comic) and his companions, and what attracted me to pick up this issue, The Cryptics goes in a completely different direction. Steve Noles and Benjamin Roman bring us eight charming vignettes of varying lengths in the carefree lives of these little suburban monsters.

Based on horror movie monsters from our past, Jackie Jekyll, Drac, Wolfy and Sea-Boy, collectively known as The Cryptics, take us on the happy-go-lucky exploits of kids growing up today. Mr. Noles has captured the perfect spirit as each tale is a little joke or a clever take on some previously heard stories. Only the appearance and ancestry of our tykes is a little off-kilter. But that is what makes this so much fun.

Mr. Roman has created a bright and colorful look for The Cryptics belying the nature we normally associate with monsters. It's clean lines and crisp looks are superb. The creative visualization of all the characters makes for a joyous romp through these childhood adventures.

My lone complaints include the size of the "fin" notice at the end of each story. The "fin" needed to be a little bigger or more noticeable. It took me a minute to figure out that I was reading short stories and not one long issue. And I did think the cost was a little too high since this is the perfect comic to get kids hooked on reading or on comics in general. Aside from that, The Cryptics is a treat for kids of all ages. This is only a one shot issue, but I hope we get to see more of these ghouls soon. Halloween perhaps?