Comics Bulletin logo
Search
  • Columns
    Random
    • On "Printing Errors"

      Francesca Lyn
      October 29, 2001
      It's BobRo the Answer Man!
    Recent
    • Revisiting the Witchblade/Fathom/Tomb Raider Crossover

      Daniel Gehen
      February 8, 2021
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 1

      Daniel Gehen
      October 30, 2020
    • What Looks Good
    • Comics Bulletin Soapbox
    • The Full Run
    • Leading Question
    • Top 10
    • The Long-Form
    • Jumping On
    • Comics in Color
    • Slouches Towards Comics
  • Big Two
    Random
    • Collecting Profile: Streaky the Supercat

      Francesca Lyn
      October 24, 2020
      Big Two, Collectibles, DC Comics
    Recent
    • 3.0

      Review: X-MEN LEGENDS #1 Delivers A Dose of Nostalgia

      Daniel Gehen
      February 22, 2021
    • 4.5

      DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      January 22, 2021
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • DC Comics
    • Big Two Reviews
    • Marvel Comics
  • Indie
    Random
    • Jumping On: A&A: The Adventures of Archer and Armstrong #1

      Francesca Lyn
      March 21, 2016
      IDW, Indie, Jumping On
    Recent
    • 4.5

      Review: THE LAST RONIN #2 Hurts So Good

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • TIME BEFORE TIME—A HIGH STAKES TIME TRAVEL SCIENCE FICTION SERIES SET TO LAUNCH THIS MAY

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • Image Comics and TMP Announces SPAWN’S UNIVERSE

      Daniel Gehen
      February 18, 2021
    • Reviews
    • Archie Comics
    • Boom! Studios
    • Dark Horse
    • IDW
    • Image
    • Oni Press
    • Valiant
  • Reviews
    Random
    • 3.5

      Daredevil #117

      Francesca Lyn
      March 24, 2009
      Reviews
    Recent
    • 3.0

      Review: X-MEN LEGENDS #1 Delivers A Dose of Nostalgia

      Daniel Gehen
      February 22, 2021
    • 4.5

      Review: THE LAST RONIN #2 Hurts So Good

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • 2.3

      Review: SAVAGE #1 Needs Taming

      Daniel Gehen
      February 16, 2021
    • Singles Going Steady
    • Slugfest
    • Manga
      • Reviews
    • Small Press
      • Reviews
      • ICYMI
      • Tiny Pages Made of Ashes
  • Interviews
    Random
    • Dan Murray of Skybound: Games Build Community

      Francesca Lyn
      March 23, 2017
      Interviews
    Recent
    • Interview: Jon Davis-Hunt Talks SHADOWMAN

      Daniel Gehen
      June 8, 2020
    • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

      Mike Nickells
      March 4, 2020
    • Simon Roy

      Interview: Simon Roy on His Inspirations and Collaborations on PROTECTOR

      Mike Nickells
      January 29, 2020
    • Audio Interview
    • Video Interview
  • Classic Comics
    Random
    • Classic Interview: Carl Potts - The Art of Learning and Practical Jokes

      Francesca Lyn
      December 11, 2015
      Classic Interviews
    Recent
    • Countdown to the King: Marvel’s Godzilla

      Daniel Gehen
      May 29, 2019
    • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
    • Reliving the Craziest Decade in Comics History: An interview with Jason Sacks

      Mark Stack
      January 2, 2019
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade
    • Classic Interviews
  • News
    Random
    • Image Goes Berserk in April With LUDOCRATS

      Francesca Lyn
      January 28, 2020
      Image, News, Press Release
    Recent
    • TIME BEFORE TIME—A HIGH STAKES TIME TRAVEL SCIENCE FICTION SERIES SET TO LAUNCH THIS MAY

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • Image Comics and TMP Announces SPAWN’S UNIVERSE

      Daniel Gehen
      February 18, 2021
    • SAVAGE DRAGON IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH THIS MAY

      Daniel Gehen
      February 17, 2021
    • Press Release
    • Kickstarter Spotlight
  • Books
    Random
    • Review: Barbara Yelin's 'Irmina' and the Beauty of Third Acts

      Francesca Lyn
      April 27, 2016
      Books
    Recent
    • Collecting Profile: Disney Frozen

      CB Staff
      November 22, 2019
    • Collecting Profile: NFL Superpro

      CB Staff
      August 31, 2019
    • “THE BEST OF WITZEND” is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2018
    • Review: ‘Machete Squad’ is a Disappointing Afghan Memoir

      Jason Sacks
      July 31, 2018
    • Review: ‘Out of Nothing’ is the Antidote to Our Sick Times

      Jason Sacks
      July 23, 2018
    • Review: ‘Bizarre Romance’ Shows Rough Edges in the Early Days of a New Marriage

      Jason Sacks
      July 10, 2018
What's New
  • Review: X-MEN LEGENDS #1 Delivers A Dose of Nostalgia
  • Collecting Profile: Kraven the Hunter
  • Review: THE LAST RONIN #2 Hurts So Good
  • TIME BEFORE TIME—A HIGH STAKES TIME TRAVEL SCIENCE FICTION SERIES SET TO LAUNCH THIS MAY
  • Image Comics and TMP Announces SPAWN'S UNIVERSE
  • SAVAGE DRAGON IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH THIS MAY
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Contact Us
  • Write for us!
  • Visit Video Game Break!
Home
Reviews
Digital Comics

Webcomic: The Graveyard Gang

Francesca Lyn
January 31, 2013
Digital Comics, Reviews

 

Aside from reading the regular Sunday funnies and the odd Betty & Veronica, I wasn't really into comics as a little kid. I didn't know what to expect from Rich Clabaugh's The Graveyard Gang, an online comic about five kids set in the fictional town of Ghostport, Massachusetts in the 1930s. In addition to dealing with bullies and regular kids stuff, the gang also have to contend with various spooky creatures lurking throughout Ghostport. Oh, and instead of a treehouse this gang uses a crypt as a meeting place. 

The comic's first issue, "The Mystery of the Crypt Creep," introduces the reader to the gang as they have to work together to defeat a mysterious monster running amok in Mourning Hill cemetery. Clabaugh's short introductions to each character are all really fun, as each has a cute backstory. The first kid we meet is little Sammy "Sneezer" Smith as some bullies pick on him. It's clear that Clabaugh has done his research; each page of the comic is filled with visual references appropriate to the time period. For example, I love that the bully's hat is a black bowler, like something straight out of a Nancy strip:

 

 

Also in part of the gang is Preston "Presto" Perkins, the brains of the bunch. I had a hard time picking a favorite character; right now it's tied between troublemaker Pasquale "Buster" Bonetti and tough girl Marcie McDougle — Buster has a little crush on Marcie but it's only hinted at in the story. Rounding out the gang is Lope Coronado, a wolf boy. That's right, one of the kids is a wolf boy. I really appreciate that this comic references that Lope is originally from Mexico and is still being the process of learning English. The incorporation of those types of details immediately involved me in the gang's world. Plus, Clabaugh's drawing style renders the five main characters as these dynamic little packages of energy, perfectly capturing the spirit of adventurous childhood. 

Clabaugh specifically mentions the original Our Gang short films as an inspiration. Also known as The Little Rascals, Our Gang is a series of short comedic films about a bunch of neighborhood kids having adventures. Our Gang featured some of the earliest examples of child actors being depicted in a more spirited, naturalistic way, and The Graveyard Gang attempts to capture that same kind of engaging spirit while also experimenting with panel design to help advance the story in engaging ways: 

 

 

I was pleasantly surprised by the caliber of this comic geared towards audiences of all ages. Ridiculously charming without being overly saccharine, The Graveyard Gang is an entertaining comic filled with a careful attention to detail that I really appreciated. My only criticism of The Graveyard Gang was that while the comic itself was easy to click through, the rest of the site is a little harder to navigate. But, the whole website is relatively new so I'm guessing that minor details like that are in the process of being ironed out. 

The Graveyard Gang will be making its first appearance at Boston Comic Con (April 20-21, 2013). The Graveyard Gang is currently updating online with a new page every Tuesday and Thursday. All of the earlier issues are available on the site right now so you can join in on the fun from the very beginning, and a Kindle edition of issue #1 is also currently available. I'm really excited to see what Clabaugh thinks of next, I'm crossing my fingers for some cool witches. How far do you think Ghostport is from Salem?

 

Check out The Graveyard Gang at thegraveyardgang.com.

 


 

 

Francesca Lyn is a professional student who is sick of being shown where the manga section is without being asked and prefers to watch movies where Liam Neeson saves somebody. Despite wearing black-framed glasses and being the recipient of a liberal arts degree, she does not care for the work of Chris Ware and thought Blankets was "just okay."  She often tweets incomprehensible things at @francescalyn and annoys the four people that follow her on tumblr at meme-patrol.tumblr.com. She and her friend Jillian started a feminist science fiction reading group that can be found at integratedcircuit.tumblr.com.

Francesca LynGraveyard Gang

Share On:
Tweet
Review: Sgt. Mike Battle: The Greatest American Hero #18
Parker (2013)

About The Author

Francesca Lyn
Francesca Lyn

Francesca Lyn is a writer for Comics Bulletin

Related Posts

  • 4.0

    The Complete Peanuts: 1950 – 1952 “In the beginning was Peanuts.”

    Francesca Lyn
    July 7, 2014
  • 3.5

    Tiny Pages Made of Ashes 2/21/2014: Respect the student, respect the white ape

    Ra’Chaun Rogers
    February 21, 2014

Support Us!

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

Friends of the Site

  • SOLRAD
  • Your Chicken Enemy
  • Psycho Drive-In
  • Women Write About Comics
  • The Beat
  • Loser City
RSSTwitterFacebookgoogleplusinstagramtumblr

Comics Bulletin is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, Comics Bulletin earns from qualifying purchases.

All content on this site (c) 2018 The Respective Copyright Holders