Johnny Boo and the Midnight Monsters (A Family Comic Friday Extra!)

We’ve got one more special treat in store for you fans of all-ages Halloween fun! Join us for an early Family Comic Friday Extra as we explore the latest adventure in the Eisner Award winning series Johnny Boo!


Johnny Boo and the Midnight Monsters
Written and Illustrated by James Kochalka
Published by IDW Publishing
Pages: 42
Retail: $9.99

I was a little disappointed when the line-up for free comics for the 2019 Halloween ComicFest were announced. There was no Johnny Boo! The award-winning graphic novel series by James Kochalka had become a staple offering of the annual comic book store event. Where’s Boo?

But I quickly got my answer as to Johnny Boo, the rad ghost, and his friends absence from HCF 2019. It’s because fans of this series are getting a pre-Halloween treat with the release of the latest graphic novel; The Midnight Monsters!

Johnny Boo and his sprite companion Squiggle are out in the woods doing some awesome late night skateboarding tricks! But the fun turns a little chaotic when the Ice Cream Monster arrives demanding his fair share of frosty treats! Armed with only a skateboard and a helmet made of pumpkin, how will Johnny Boo and his best bud escape this midnight monster?

The Johnny Boo books are recommended for readers of pre-K to third grade. A book full of ghosts and monsters for preschoolers? Well, you know how on Sesame Street Grover and Oscar the Grouch are monsters; but they’re nice monsters? That’s the same way here. A couple of scenes might be a tiny bit spooky, since everything occurs at midnight. But the monsters and surprises in this book are quite harmless.

Series creator James Kolchalka loves to pepper the dialogue of his stories with funny words and silly sayings. This makes the Johnny Boo series a great read for very young readers. The art is childlike but whimsical. Plus, the story has some unexpected turns for a rapid fire approach aimed at youngsters with short attention spans. 

One thing that younger readers might not have a problem with but adults like me will is the back cover! Try to avoid looking at it at all costs! No, it’s not scary! But it does contain a major spoiler that ruins the surprise at the end of the book! I blame the editors and design team on this!

A fun-filled graphic novel for all ages! Grab it now just in time for Halloween!

Johnny Boo and the Midnight Monsters debuted in print and digital formats on Wednesday, October 30, 2019.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.