It may not quite be spooky season yet for those of us who love all things ghostly and ghoulish, but Hotel Limbo by Ben Harel, published by Top Shelf Productions, certainly delivers the spooky vibes, even in the middle of summer. Teaming up with 28 (yes, 28!) artists from around the world, this fan-favourite webcomic amassed over 1.3 million views online before finally making its way into print for the very first time.
“Welcome to the afterlife… may we take your bags?” So reads the intriguing blurb of Hotel Limbo. The reader is greeted by glossy full-page panels, almost entirely black, save for trails of stardust, asking a simple question: “Is it time already?” Words whisper across the page of a boy trapped in limbo, of grief, confusion, and how every story in this book is connected by a single thread. With an apology for leaving us at “the hardest part”, we’re dropped straight into purgatory.
Awakening in an unfamiliar land, a young man is greeted by a giant black cat, who offers him a lift to… well, we don’t know. And he’s just as confused as we are. Especially when he realises he’s wearing a mask he can’t remove. Deposited at the imposing doors of Hotel Limbo, our protagonist meets “BOSS”, who offers him the job of a lifetime (or, in this case, a death-time?). Nicknamed BB (short for Bell Boy), he’s tasked with guiding souls to their next life during their stay at Hotel Limbo. “You’re the Bell Boy. You help guests with their baggage.” Taken literally, the job seems easy enough. But BB soon discovers he has a rather unusual gift: whenever he touches a guest, he can see their emotional baggage, and he can’t help trying to ease their burden before they move on.
As intriguing and fast-paced as the story is, what really makes Hotel Limbo stand out is its ambitious use of multiple artists, each bringing their own distinct style to the page. With a very Hazbin Hotel-esque style of gothic, elongated bodies and brash colours, we dance from crisp gothic linework and adorable chibi-inspired characters to traditional manga, vibrant neon palettes and even entirely wordless chapters – every section feels fresh while remaining unmistakably part of the same story. The artistic shifts don’t stop with the illustrations either. Panel layouts constantly evolve, from neat grids to loose, borderless compositions, while the lettering changes to match each artist’s style, ranging from polished comic fonts to childlike scrawls. Despite all these differences, the characters remain instantly recognisable, and every chapter flows seamlessly into the next.
While BB is undoubtedly our figurehead, the wonderfully eccentric supporting cast is just as lovable. From the hotel staff to the guests BB desperately tries to help, whose lives on Earth we glimpse through heartfelt flashbacks, every character feels memorable, no matter how briefly they appear.
Despite its heavy themes and supernatural setting, Hotel Limbo is surprisingly funny. I particularly loved the occasional meta humour, with characters literally crossing out the dialogue and scribbling in their own words instead. Equally entertaining is the cast’s awareness that the art style keeps changing from chapter to chapter, and their willingness to shrug off convenient plot developments with a simple explanation: “plot reasons.”
Ultimately, Hotel Limbo is much more than a supernatural adventure. Beneath the ghosts, monsters and quirky humour is a heartfelt story about grief, healing and learning when it’s finally time to let go. The ever-changing roster of artists could easily have felt like a gimmick, but instead it becomes one of the book’s greatest strengths, giving each chapter its own identity while never losing sight of the emotional core of the story. Whether you’re already counting down the days until Halloween or simply looking for a graphic novel that feels genuinely different, Hotel Limbo is well worth checking into.
Ben Harel (W), Knightly, Fennko, Pinlin, Orbits, Kok Olatto, Murttburt, Andy L, Kingsada, Do_U_Speak_Spaghetti, Gummy, Mrotisky, Kurattes, BappleBubble, The Salamander King, Nil Lopez, Zieru, Starapture, Strayuu, Gentlecat, Amet, Laturi, Kalanit Saidon, Alpaca Carlesi, Bridget Bilbo, themetalhiro, Puyogho, Hoho_Chip, Rihnlin (A) • Top Shelf Productions $19.99
Review by Lydia Turner
