Series: Goosebumps: Secrets of the Swamp
Issue: 1
Words: Marieke Nijkamp
Art: Yasmin Flores Montanez
Colors: Rebecca Nalty
Letters: Danny D Jel Josevic
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Published: September 16, 2020
Summary: Twelve-year-old Blake was worried that summer break with her weird aunt in Fever Swamp would be b-o-r-i-n-g, but it’s quickly become more intense than she ever could have imagined. Lost in the swamp with her gaming rival, Lily, and surrounded by werewolves, Blake could use a lot less danger and a little more boring right about now! The wild werewolf nightmare continues in this all-ages scarefest from New York Times bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp (This Is Where It Ends, Before I Let Go, The Oracle Code) and artist Yasmin Flores Montanez (Marvel Action: Captain Marvel, Tilly).
Review
With a name like “Fever Swamp” what could possibly go wrong? I mean it’s no Camp Crystal Lake, but the name conjures images of humidity-induced terror—I’m taking gator, giant bugs, and hot, dense air. Unfortunately for Blake there’s more hiding in the swamp than oversized mosquitoes. Goosebumps: Secrets of the Swap #1 promises all the thrills and chills!
I love a good monster story—Frankenstein, the Wolf Man, Creature from the Black Lagoon—there’s a classic scary feeling to the idea of something hiding in a remote part of the world. Marieke Nijkamp’s taps into those vibes in Goosebumps: Secrets of the Swap #1, framing her story around the mysterious town, Fever Swamp. Nijkamp kicks the story up a notch with a cast of female video gamers, taking the girls out of their virtual reality and into the real world. Is there really something living in the swamp? Can Blake and Lily battle their monsters in real life? We’ll find out!
Yasmin Flores Montanez and Rebecca Nalty complement Nijkamp’s story with detailed panels and rich colors. For a series based in a swamp, this is crucial. I want to feel the humidity and be immersed in the murky and damp setting. Montanez and Nalty do just that, giving readers the full experience.
The Bottom Line
Goosebumps: Secrets of the Swap #1 offers readers a taste of thrills to come, without giving too much away. Grab yourself a flashlight and a water bottle, the swamp is full of secrets!
