"Last Dance" Comic Review

Just when Miriam is about to take the stage as the prima ballerina in a new production, she's hit with an injury that could end her dancing career forever. This can't happen. She's worked her entire life to get to this point. She tries to push through the pain, but to no avail. That's when she finds a strange door and a pair of slippers that shine like nothing else. A voice beckons her to try them on and she's able to dance again...but at what cost?

What I first noticed about Last Dance is creator Hanna Schroy's stunning artwork. The dancers, particularly Miriam, really stand out. When they're performing, it's like they become completely different entities, tapping into some kind of mystical energy. This is who they really are. You can understand how devastated Miriam is when she's faced with the idea that she can never do that again.

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Schroy's use of color, particularly yellow helps in this too. When Miriam is dancing with the new slippers, she's like a golden goddess. She practically sparkles with light all around her. This slowly morphs as the slippers take their toll, The yellow becomes darker, taking on a jaundiced appearance, driving home the horror element.

The spirit offering the slippers is a little convenient, but it works with the story. It's no different than the maguffin in every other Goosebumps book. You just kind of go with it. Schroy provides some background for its existence with a bit of subterfuge. It turns out its story is pretty close to Miriam's.

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Last Dance is a perfect example of the “be careful what you wish for” trope, done through the lens of middle-grade horror. There's a lesson in here too and it comes through naturally. This book won't give you nightmares, but it's just spooky enough to have you thinking twice before venturing through strange doors.