Age range 14+
From the creator of Netflix original series Dead End: Paranormal Park comes the graphic novel series that started it all!
Norma Khan has been split in two...literally! Dead End, the haunted hotel attraction at Phoenix Parks, has been rebuilt following the epic destruction that occurred there when Norma and her friends Barney and Pugsley saved the world. Unfortunately, Norma can't keep herself together as a result. Not only is her friendship with Barney on the rocks, but she can't seem to keep her own ghost inside her body. When Norma feels like she's about to lose it all, her irksome friend and demon, Courtney, steps in to provide some unexpected support - though they are battling their own issues with identity and sense of belonging.
Meanwhile, Barney can't face going back to Phoenix Parks and is mourning the loss of his beloved friend Pugsley. When his boyfriend, Logan, urges him to get a job, an opportunity from the demon planes comes knocking, and soon Barney is climbing the ladder of success in the Demon Wrestling Federation. Barney's glory in the ring quickly comes crashing down when the friends discover they've stepped into an eons old battle between the demons and the angels. Can they keep their relationships and sense of self intact while doing battle with the forces of good AND evil?
Part workplace comedy, part supernatural horror adventure, with a splash of LGBTQ+ romance, The Broken Halo is perfect for fans of author Hamish Steele's TV series Dead End: Paranormal Park who are in search of more adventures, for graphic novel lovers who want more diversity in their reads, or for anyone who has finished The Watcher's Test and is ready for the next entry in the zany, creative, and laugh-out-loud funny world of DeadEndia.
'DeadEndiais immediately appealing with its colorful art, unique setting, and funny jokes, but I especially loved the complicated emotional arcs of the characters and the weird, spooky magic underlying everything!' - Molly Knox Ostertag, creator ofThe Witch Boy
'Heart-warming, heartbreaking, heart-pounding, and heartfelt!' - Marika McCoola, TheNew York Timesbestselling author ofBaba Yaga's Assistant
About the Author :
Hamish Steele (he/they) is a freelance animation director and illustrator who grew up surrounded by legends, myths, and folktales. Since graduating from Kingston University in 2013, Hamish has worked for the BBC, Cartoon Network, Disney, Nickelodeon, among others. He is the creator of and showrunner for the Netflix series Dead End: Paranormal Park, based on his graphic novel series, DeadEndia, and the Eisner Award-winning creator of the graphic novel, Pantheon. Hamish currently lives in London and can be found online at https://hamishsteele.co.uk/.
Review :
Texas Library Association 2020 Texas Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List pick "With a madcap pace, off-kilter jokes, and an LGBTQ cast, this is perfect for teens who love macabre humor and heartfelt friendship." --Booklist (starred review)
"The art is imaginative and engaging, with rich, evocative color schemes. [...] A wild ride." --Kirkus Reviews
"This quirky, heartwarming adventure by Steele (Pantheon) captures the awkwardness of early adulthood and the idiosyncrasies of power-hungry demons. [...] A Steven Universe-like aesthetic and a full palette of bold, contrasting colors grace a diverse cast of characters." --Publishers Weekly
"Complicated emotions, strong friendship, demons, and plenty of LGBTQIA+ representation. All that and bright, bold illustrations AND great writing? Total win. Sweet, funny, and enjoyably, delightfully weird." --School Library Journal's Teen Librarian Toolbox
"Joyful and weird, Hamish Steele's DeadEndia is a delight. The boundaries of Steele's colorfully crafted universe are as unlimited as his imagination." --Niki Marion, bookseller, Third Place Books, Seattle, WA
