Review: Beetle & the Hollowbones
Creators of middle grade fantasy fiction have a fine line to tread. If the work isn’t scary enough, there are no stakes; if the work is too scary, an author risks traumatizing generations or being accused of such by overprotective parents who have forgotten the value of a good scare. Aliza Layne has an ace up her sleeve in the main antagonist of her debut graphic novel, Beetle & the Hollowbones. A terrifying mixture of a medieval doctor and the Grim Reaper himself, Mistress Hollowbones is an imposing figure with a bird skull for a head atop an ophidian neck. She’s the perfect contrast to the main, adorable trio of two girls and a non-binary ghost, and it feels timely and fitting that she’s a landlord.
The two twelve-year-old girls are Beetle and Kat, best friends reunited after Kat’s return from an elite magic school. Beetle is a goblin being taught magic at home by her grandmother and lacks the confidence, self-assurance, and social media following of Kat. Kat misses her best friend, and is not as confident as she appears. Beetle’s best friend in Kat’s absence, and the final member of their trio, is Blob Ghost, a cute agender spectre haunting the local mall.
The supernatural trappings in a mundane setting call to mind Beetlejuice, but the plot structure is reminiscent of plenty of other films from the same decade in which resourceful children need to save a beloved but underfunded structure from being bulldozed (or the magical equivalent). These elements blend together perfectly in a fun story with detailed artwork that creates an immersive world.
Such comparisons undermine Ms. Layne’s work, though. Her characters make this story far greater than the sum of its parts. Beetle is a sweet, loyal friend who neglects her studies but works extra hard to learn magic when those she cares about are on the line. Kat is a conflicted tween torn between her loyalties to family, friends, and what she thinks she wants. Both try to understand each other, and their feelings for each other, as they try to reestablish their friendship and develop something deeper. Blob Ghost is simply adorable.
With Natalie Riess and Kristen Acampora assisting as flat colorists, Ms. Layne uses warm, autumnal colors for when Beetle and Gran are together, but also for the mall where Beetle feels comfortable with a close friend. Cold blues and shadows surround Mistress Hollowbones. The book opens with a broomstick ride through the night sky, but it’s much more layered than inky blackness.
Beetle & the Hollowbones got its start as a four-page minicomic titled Goblin Witch and Blood Ghost Hang at the Mall. Much like the short stories Beetle and Kat tell about space pirates and aliens, it demanded expansion.
As Gran says, “You can’t just assume you know everything about how people get into places.” This ends up applying to several characters beyond the context in which it is spoken. Beetle & the Hollowbones is a wonderful book full of depth and enjoyment, and I highly recommend it. For more by Aliza Layne, check out her webcomic Demon Street, which is wrapping up now. Beetle & the Hollowbones will be available everywhere August 4th!
