Ngozi Ukazu draws Frederick!

We’ve seen the vampire Frederick hanging out in a haunted house, playing pickleball and listening to Las Culturistas, and discovering an efficient way of getting to the store during a snowstorm. But we’ve never seen Frederick like THIS!

By “THIS,” I mean drawn by another person. For today’s mat leave guest post, I am utterly chuffed to share a rendition of Frederick done by my friend Ngozi Ukazu, the cartoonist and graphic novelist behind several DC comics (Barda, Orion), a high school body-swap tale that made me laugh and cry (Flip), and a queer hockey romance that well predated Heated Rivalry (Check, Please!).

Here’s Ngozi’s wonderful spin on Frederick’s Halloween activities from last year. As you may recall, the neighborhood trick-or-treaters were pretty freaked out when they rang the doorbell and a real-life vampire materialized before them. Fortunately, he was just there to hand out homemade cookies.

I love it (a) because Ngozi is a way more accomplished artist than I am (with a superior handle on perspective) and (b) because it really gets at the tension in the kids being so scared of the vampire and really wanting that cookie. (The look in the little ghost’s eyes is so good.) Again, Frederick would never hurt them. But they don’t know that yet.

I hope you enjoyed your tasty treat,
Eliza

P.S. — For more on Ngozi’s career, enduring love of fan art, and writing process, check out our Q&A from last year!