Written by Mike Gallagher
Art by Dave Manak; Jon D’Agostino; Vickie Williams; & Barry Grossman
Cover Art by Fernando Ruiz; Jon D’Agostino; & Rosario “Tito” Peña
SUMMARY:
Released by Archie Comics in 2011, this 128-page paperback reprints tales from 2000-2001 belonging to Sabrina Spellman’s young cartoon counterpart. The primary characters are a middle school-aged Sabrina; her Aunts Hilda and Zelda; Salem the Cat; Harvey Kinkle; and über-wealthy brat Gem Stone. There’s only a few sporadic hints re: issue numbers – specifically, some of the included material is from Issues # 3 and # 8.
First up is “Do-Do’s and Don’ts-Don’ts,” as a good-intentioned Sabrina resorts to magic trying to save fifty acres of Greendale forest from development. In the two-part “Bully for You,” Harvey is accidently empowered with martial arts expertise by a worried Sabrina’s dream before he takes down a school bully. Sabrina & Salem try baking cookies with magical help in “One Smart Cookie!” Salem is up for parole in “An Incomplete Sentence,” which means his skeptical parole officer must interview his host family: The Spellmans. “You Had to Be There!” has Salem & Sabrina haplessly field-tripping to research her school report on rain forests. Despite Gem Stone’s sabotage to try snaring Harvey, Sabrina appears in triplicate at the school dance in “I Go to Trio.” The single-page “Cheer Up!” has Salem ‘helping’ his best friend practice for cheerleader try-outs.
Sabrina’s aunts want her to get a summer job in “On the Job.” Getting a week’s respite as a human, Salem plays cowboy on a dude ranch in “Kitty Slicker.” In “Kind of a Dragon!,” has Sabrina’s new pet dragon creating trouble in the Spellman household. Sabrina and her Aunt Zelda hit the gym in “Weight for Me!” Gem Stone, courtesy of “Sand Dollar$,” schemes to best Sabrina in a local sandcastle-building contest. A slimy con artist swipes the Spellmans’ Spookie jar in “A Jarring Experience.” Betty & Veronica are Sabrina’s comic book idols, as they provide her some relationship advice re: winning Harvey’s heart in “It’s in the Cards.” Accompanying Sabrina on a door-to-door errand, Salem faces a banshee’s long-awaited payback in “It’s a Scream.”
On Halloween, the Spooky Jar gets tested re: how well he can scare somebody in “You Have Already Be an Halloweener!” The last story, “The Thing’s the Play!,” has thirteen visual anomalies for readers to find, as the Spellman girls (not to mention, Gem Stone) are trying out for a local theater production of Macbeth.
REVIEW:
For its intended young audience, this collection sparkles just barely enough to make for a cute read. The kiddie hijinks are probably one-and-done for most elementary school kids, but the artwork looks remarkably fresh. While skimping on the cover images is a minor complaint, this colorful package (including the extras) is still relatively good for its price.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Possibly one cover image is included. Uncle Quigley’s answer sheet explains the thirteen visual goofs in the ‘what’s wrong with this story?’ puzzle. A five-page black-and-white character/background reference guide reveals how the art team maintains Sabrina’s visual continuity.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 4½ Stars
