HELLAWEEN

A novice witch invites the supernatural to her sleepy suburban town.

Trapped among “normies” most of the year, teenage Gwen rejoices when Halloween nears. After 11 months, the pink-haired witch’s skater besties can finally cross back over from the Hallowlands. The pair—vampire Miles and werewolf Sloane—come bearing enchanted objects, including a grimoire that will take Gwen’s “patchwork DIY magic” to the next level. When the trio prank a group of scaredy jocks, a “Helsing Jr” named Hiro seeks to expose them for his blog. “Spooky season’s about to go off!” as both spells and shenanigans fly. The playful turns dangerous, though, when Gwen’s magic goes haywire. Lawton flexes their skills as a storyboard artist to create a spooky but sweet story about the importance of relying on your friends, especially when you feel alone; Gwen’s frustration at having to conceal her magic from “normies” is palpable, but Miles and Sloane are supportive and encouraging. Though the tale is set in California, certain details—especially in the mall scenes—will feel delightfully familiar to mall rats and skate punks in many places. Dialogue grounds the story in the present and adds a touch of humor. Gwen has tan skin, Sloane is light-skinned (when in human form), Hiro has brown skin, and Miles has blue-tinged skin. The ending introduces a new character, teasing a sequel.

Stylishly spooky and outrageously fun.