Comics - R.L. Stine’s Just Beyond – The horror at Happy Landings – Our review

By Mulder, 08 may 2020

“ I'm not an outdoors person. When I'm in the woods or out in the country, I think of all the creatures who live there, and I instantly begin to think of horrifying encounters… This story goes JUST BEYOND my normal imagining: What if you were camping out--and you were invaded by creatures from another planet? ” - R.L. Stine.

The comic book R.L. Stine's Just Beyond - The horror at Happy Landings will be available on May 12th but we had the chance to discover it in advance. It is a graphic novel of the Just Beyond series, which also includes the titles The Scare School and Welcome to Beast Island (October 2020). The Just Beyond series was created by Robert Lawrence Stine (R.L. Stine), an American novelist, short story writer, television producer and screenwriter. He is considered by many to be the Stephen King of children's literature and is the author of numerous horror novels, including the Fear Street series, Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly and The Nightmare Room. When we learned yesterday that Disney + has commissioned an eight-episode series, Just Beyond, from 20th Century Fox Television, we decided to learn more about Just Beyond and read with great pleasure the graphic novel Just Beyond - The horror at Happy Landings.

The story told here takes readers to the supposedly serene campgrounds of Happy Landings Forest Reserve where things take a decidedly terrifying turn when the Walden family meets a couple of body-snatching aliens. In some ways, the story is reminiscent of science fiction classics such as Steven Spielberg's E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and Don Siegel's Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). Thus the two children of the family Walden, Annie and Parker will be possessed by two Martians (Juniper and Zammy) and their cousin Clark will realize that something is wrong with their behavior. While we could expect a too childish approach to the story, we must admit that the scenario developed by R.L. Stine holds all our attention. He pays special attention not only to give depth to the characters but also to show that the two aliens are unable to understand their new environment. Like E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, they have only one desire: to be able to return home and survive in a hostile environment that is new to them.

Just Beyond - The horror at Happy Landings does not neglect horrible scenes in which, for example, a Martian hunting bird chases Clark and Annie and Parker's mother or those scenes showing Juniper and Zammy causing fear in a restaurant. Nevertheless, the humour is very present and one can understand what has more in this Disney story, the family side of the story and excellent ideas perfectly used. Reading this story is like discovering a storyboard in which the drawings are perfectly selected, but also the careful dialogue that is conducive to retaining our full attention. In the same way, the many twists and turns of this story keep us on the edge of our seats and we will appreciate the end of the story, which is perfectly in line with the story.

Certainly, some who appreciated the horrific side of the Goosebumps series may reproach this graphic novel for wanting to show too much and thus letting a part of our galloping imagination linked to reading a book disappear. However, the form of a graphic novel is very close to the structure of a synopsis which must show the public important elements of the story if only to create a bewitching atmosphere.

The drawings by Kelly and Nichole Matthews are also very much appreciated, as they are a perfect match for the story written by R.L. Stine. The characters are alive and have realistic features. The action scenes are perfectly drawn and we devour this story with real pleasure. Everything here sounds right by his successful drawings and that really make us want to follow this story. In the same way that many French and American comic artists take care of their drawings and writing, Just Beyond - The horror at Happy Landings is an undeniable success. A must have for all fans of R.L. Stine and quality graphic novels.

Finally, the 100-page main story is followed by the first two chapters of the next graphic novel, Your Scary, to be published soon.

Synopsis :
Family camping trips are supposed to be fun, but for the Walden family, they’re an absolute nightmare! After a creepy, unidentified bird attacks their mom in the forest, Parker and Annie find themselves face to face with two strange creatures that suddenly enter the kids’ brains and take control of their bodies. Can Parker and Annie break loose of this horrific control and convince their family of what’s happening, or will the creatures take over their lives for good?

R.L. Stine’s Just Beyond – The horror at Happy Landings
Written by Robert Lawrence Stine (R.L. Stine)
From Just Beyond created by Robert Lawrence Stine (R.L. Stine)
Illustrated by Kelly & Nichole Matthews
Lettered by Mike Fiorentino
Cover by Julian Totino Tedesco
Designer Scott Newman
Assistant director : Michael Moccio
Associate editor : Sophie Philips-Roberts
Editor : Bryce Carlson
Publisher : Kaboom! Studios a division of Boom Entertainment, Inc
Pages : 148 pages