Such an interesting concept for a story. I loved all the characters.

The artwork was beautiful, I could spend forever just looking at the pictures,

I could not put this down!

Infantoms was a really interesting read. Part coming-of-age graphic novel, part horror and part mystery I have to say I enjoyed every second of this. I did feel like both an homage to horror manga and something new at the same time. I loved the mixture of horror and potentially supernatural with the real life setting that made you really stop and think for a while. I will say the ghosties were adorable and a nice little change from some of the more graphic horror within. I enjoyed the story immensely and loved the different take aways readers can have. I particularly liked the the idea of the ‘death’ of childhood or young adulthood. All in all I really enjoyed this one. While the stories interconnect each one offers something new to consider and with a unique art style this is a must for horror fans.

At first, this comic feels like a pretty typical high school outsider story. A boy with acne gets called “pizza face,” feels like he doesn’t belong, and struggles with the usual teenage insecurity. Then he meets a girl who’s also trying to get her life together academically, and their bond feels sweet and relatable, two misfits finding comfort in each other.

But halfway through, the story takes a wild turn. What seemed like a grounded coming-of-age drama suddenly shifts into something much darker and unsettling. The transformation some characters go through is disturbing and surreal, with horror vibes clearly inspired by Junji Ito, eerie atmosphere, creeping dread, and a touch of body horror.

It’s bold, unexpected, and way more intense than it first appears. What starts as a familiar school story turns into something weird and memorable.

Infantoms does so many things right -- the feeling of being alone and lonely as a kid. Wanting to excel but feeling burnt out. The panic of possible academic failure. The pressure of growing up, feeling worthless. Having a true friend to lean on when you feel like nothing else in the world is going right. Finding your inner child and truly nurturing them. Revenge for those who have always been picked on.

Primarily following Pizza Face and Mims, who are two of the three worst students at their school and are blackmailed by their guidance counselor that their parents will be allowed to kill them if they fail this year.

I came for the art and stayed for the freaky eyes and the cute ghosties. I don't know what I thought I was walking into with this. Assassination classroom, but with a pimply faced hero? A story about being put down by everyone around you, and feeling like you're worthless, and how that can affect a developing child, soon to be an adult. Will be recommending to anyone who even mentions in passing that they feel like an outcast or a loser because an adult or a shitty kid told them that when they were younger, and the voice has never quite gotten out of their head. I thought this would make me laugh, and instead I'm cuddled up with the teen version of myself and force feeding her hot cocoa.

***ARC from NetGalley***

This graphic novel is composed of three chapters, all connected, but you don't realize this until the third and final section. It takes the angst of middle school and early adulthood and puts a horrifying spin on the harm well meaning adults can have on the young people they are "trying" to help.

The main characters are Pizza Face and Mims, who are in the 6th grade and the worst students in the school. Their guidance counselor decides to use a "tough love" approach to get them to improve. The parents are involved; the students are not. What follows in the first chapter is Pizza Face and Mim's journey through the rest of the school year and the traumatizing effects of this new program.

The second chapter shows two little ghosts/souls searching for their physical bodies. At first the reader would think this is a completely different story, but it is not.

The third and final chapter brings us back to Pizza Face and Mims as young adults. Pizza Face has not improved and is struggling with life in general. He runs into Mims and suddenly, everything feels better now that they are reunited. This ties directly to the second chapter.

What follows is the horrifying consequences of the middle school experiment by the guidance counselor and the complicit parents.

The story will stay with you for days after as you come to realize what truly happened and the horror and sadness of it all. Beautifully drawn and deftly told.

Highly recommend - especially if your had your own run ins with cruel school administrators.