TEDDY VS. THE SLIMY EVIL

It turns out that the series opener’s brain-eating hamsters aren’t the only terrifying surprises the Canadian town of Ravensbarrow has in store for a newly arrived lad with anxiety issues.

Strict warnings not to leave the marked paths around town quickly prove futile as, thanks to recklessly impulsive 5-year-old cousin Milton, Teddy finds himself stumbling into a spooky train yard guarded by an irascible dog the size of a house. He’s soon plunging to the rescue through an eldritch forest when Milton is abducted by a monstrous, shape-shifting worm that’s prone to covering its victims in goo that smells like stinky cheese before dissecting them. Along with the customary gaggle of quirky but steadfast new sidekicks—and those talking hamsters, who make a comeback—Hallett kits his quivering protagonist out with a conscience that’s present as a character in both the dialogue and the manic art. Teddy’s urgent desire to flee town wrestles with unfamiliar feelings of at last belonging to a tight circle of friends. Many readers will be drawn to the monsters, frantic chase scenes, and slime- and muck-spattered cast, but Teddy’s inner conflict and some related family issues add a substantial thematic base. Plus, following the rush of narrow squeaks, he at last shows salutary signs of getting a handle on his tendency to freak out. The cast surrounding the white-presenting lead includes some racial diversity; Milton is adjusting to wearing hearing aids. Final art not seen.

Frenetic fromage-y fun, with monsters.