The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo nails it to the floor

A reluctant reader is a kid that is able to read, they simply want to read things that they like. Graphic novels, comic books and manga are a great avenue to get those types of readers into the habit of reading. These resources are also a great way to have fun. The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo by Drew Weing is an original graphic novel about a young ghost hunter, the new kid on the block and a monster baby that’s gone missing. The content is great, but its presentation-and the fact that it’s done in a landscape format makes the book feel even more special.

Did you grow up reading the Sunday comics? We did and loved the full color, panoramic way that they were read. That is the way that the pages are done in Margo Maloo, the only difference is that this is a confined story with three chapters.

Charles Thompson and his family have just moved to the city where his father is renovating a large apartment building. He’s a typical 12 year old kid who likes comics, collects things and has a healthy fear of monsters. Unfortunately for Charles his family has moved to Echo City, a place with a huge monster population, some that live in plain sight while others live behind those dark, mysterious doors that kids always want to open.

The first night in his new room a very large monster comes from his closet, wakes him up and the sheepishly goes back in.  It’s the next morning when he meets Kevin, the neighborhood go-to guy. He gives him a business card for Margo Maloo, just in case Charles sees anything funny, because “monsters and stuff”.

Shortly after calling Margo she climbs in through his bedroom window and gets to grips with his monster issue.  She finds a secret panel that leads to an abandoned kitchen where they find the troll that woke up Charles. It turns out that Margo knows him, they exchange pleasantries and it turns out that Marcus (Margo and the troll are on a first name basis) was angry about his stuff being disturbed by Charles’ father.  Charles and Marcus work out a trade for some collectible Battlebeanz dolls and it’s all good.

Unfortunately for Charles his monster problems are just beginning. A monster’s baby goes missing and he’s the prime suspect, which forces him and Margo to work together. If they can’t find the baby monster by the end of the day the monsters will find Charles and eat him. So there’s no pressure.

The art in The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo is detailed, sharp and feels like a labor of love. From the interior map of Echo City to the way the kids interact it’s clear that Drew Weing gets what scares and interests young readers. This is not a scary book, but there are scary moments where the ghosts of monsters are legitimately upset and threatening. All of the scares are handled in a fun and loose way with Margo disarming various tense monster conflicts. Ages 9 and up will be OK with the themes in this book, but ages 10 and up will really be able to dive into the book and thoroughly enjoy it.

Weing’s colors in the graphic novel enhance the reading experience too. There are subtle shadow here, orange eyes in the pitch black, piles of toys and rooms of spooky monsters that make this a graphic novel kids will love. This is a new graphic novel, but it’s got an old soul that will certainly draw in older readers. At the same time, it’s 100% modern with Charles using a tablet and people in the city have today’s modern creature comforts.

Bottom line: all age graphic novels don’t get much better than this. It captures monsters, goofy friends, fun, danger and the elements of being a child just the way you remember or that your child is experiencing them. It’s also one of the reasons we’re establishing a visual rating system. This all age graphic novel is so much better than most that you find out there we needed a go-to visual reference to illustrate that point. If we had it now it would be a 4.5 on a 5 scale.