April 15, 2022
Ham and the gang return to fight a fishy foe at a spooky summer camp. In this graphic sequel, renowned vampire hunter Ham Helsing, gentle vampire boar Malcolm, and porcine ninja Ronin arrive at Camp Fish Head Lake to encounter an outrageously scaredy-cat group of campers with excessively attentive parents. There's Timmy, who is protectively sandwiched between two pillows; Leo, who is terrified of bugs and has a cone circling his head; and Samantha, who is afraid of the dark--shadows included. Counselors are conspicuously missing. Unbeknownst to Ham, a decade ago, toxic sludge was dumped into the lake, transforming a once-gentle fish into an angry ambulatory beast. When campers start disappearing, Ham and his friends must team up with past foes Hen and Franken-Chad to stop the massive piscine perpetrator. Moyer's sophomore offering is a rollicking, side-splitting good time with its silly adventures, appealing characters, and abundant action. Full-color illustrations keep readers' attention, with simple backgrounds and a variety of interesting angles spotlighting the cast. There are references to the previous volume, but those new to the series could certainly enjoy this self-contained tale; however, more exploits are teased and another episode of "Shaz-Ham" is included as a bonus at the end. Animal characters cohabitate with a small cast of racially diverse humans. Fast-paced and lots of fun. (Graphic fantasy. 7-11)
COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
May 1, 2022
Gr 3-7-Ham and his vampire hunting friends take a break to relax at a summer campsite, only to discover a monstrous threat to the children dropped off there. The kids lead sheltered lives, both in terms of mindset and being cushioned with actual pillows. Moyer's anthropomorphic animals are expressive no matter the mood, and a flashback involving hundreds of vampires falling through the sky is particularly dynamic in execution. All of which makes this story feel like a missed opportunity for being so oddly mean. Punchlines are too often built from cynicism, and characters go past dry humor into a kind of contempt for each other that prevents joy from seeping through. Themes of self-reliance and establishing trust come full circle, but are interrupted by clashing, inconsistent styles of humor. VERDICT Fiction for young people has no shortage of self-professed "losers" who find their confidence and talent, but this story is more interested in reducing, not building up.-Thomas Maluck
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.