Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess: (A Graphic Novel) (Magic Girls) by Megan Brennan is a three rounded from a 2.5 rating. This is because on one level this graphic novel is a cute, manga inspired, girl power story. It is a typical “in middle school and it stinks (only I didn’t say stinks)” story. We have the outsider looking in, but wants to be on the inside. However, on the other hand these are not the nicest people in the universe. And I say universe because we are not on Earth, but on Neo-Earth where we can find werewolves, vampires, androids (and not the phone) and human looking peoples. Of course, maybe if one got to know the characters (such as Kira a loner who is visited by a Catacorn in the most unflattering manner, Tulip, the popular girl who Kira thinks of as her rival, and Catacorn (a possible space princess who looks like a human in a cat outfit, only with a unicorn horn) one could like them, but I am not sure.
The concept of a middle school WWF smackdown world is funny, the idea of “judging a book by its cover” and maybe you can make friends with your enemy is familiar. Though, Catacorn is really annoying and I am not sure if she really is a “good guy” or not. I want to know more about the Magic Girl fights (they seem to be a cross between wrestling and Gladiators from the 1990-something game show, with magic) as there is a character from the rival town and school who seems like she could be a lot of fun.
There are lots of extras and a sneak peak at book two (which is funny as book one is not due until March 2024 and they are already planning two!). The author/illustrator has illustrated some Amazing World of Gumball comics so that does give you an idea of what the style of Brennan looks like. The online reader copy might not have been completed, but what was there was light, busy (the details can be crowded, and a few panels were messy, but I am hoping that is just a reading online and not in my hand quirk) and colorful. Lots of pastels, but some darker colors too, but not “dark” just to set the mood and that “this character is the bad guy.” Maybe they are not as smooth as Gumball, but there are similarities.