Nimona, a graphic novel that was a finalist for the National Book Award, features knights and dragons and beings with amazing powers. It is not, however, your typical good versus evil story. Nimona is full of wonderful shades of gray in the form of its three main characters: Nimona, Ballister Blackheart, and Ambrosius Goldenloin. Young Nimona, a teen, shows up at the lair of the well known supervillain Ballistair Blackheart to become his uninvited sidekick. She is more than ready to get involved in evil […]
Less in your face hilarity, more story cohesion.
I don’t quite know how to rate this one, because it’s so different from the first two volumes. I’m pretty sure this book marks the occasion of Lumberjanes being made from a limited run series to an ongoing, so changes have been made accordingly, and I’m not quite sure how I feel about all of them yet. The most notable thing of course is that the series has a new artist. Actually, two of them (plus several guest artists in the first issue collected here, […]
Now with dinosaurs.
If you loved Lumberjanes, Vol. 1, you will also love Lumberjanes, Vol. 2: Friendship to the Max, because it’s the same thing, except MORE. More friendship, more monsters, more weird mysteries surrounding their camp, more little girls riding velociraptors. This volume centers around three main events: a friendship bracelet making session none of the campers are that interested in, but their beleaguered counselor Jen (who is so earnest it’s painful) wants them to learn instead of going to the Raccoon Rodeo (whatever that is), and […]
Friendship to the Max.
I read this yesterday when I was in a truly abysmal mood (all of my stress is currently camping out on my right shoulder, like, roasting marshmallows and felling trees and shit) and it made me laugh so hard. I was immediately charmed by the girls, the style of the art, and the can-do weirdness it has on display. With as much as I enjoyed it as an adult, I’m sure this thing will kill with its target audience. (I’m going to start saying “What […]
For All the Monster Girls Out There
Nimona is a lively and fast read. it will make you laugh and break your heart. Nimona appears to be a teen girl. Nimona arrives one day at the castle of professional villain, Lord Ballister Blackheart and insists on becoming his sidekick. Havoc follows Nimona wherever she goes. It quickly becomes clear that Blackheart doesn’t really have his heart in being a villain, and the purported good guys, may not be so good. Nimona challenges the way Blackheart looks at himself and his relationship with […]
Leslie Knope’s Pawnee Goddesses are Alive and Well
Adventure Time really quiet my cup of tea, but I can understand the appeal. So I’m not really the target audience for Lumberjanes, but I still found it a delightful read. (If a bit too short.) The Lumberjanes are more than our average Girl Scout-esque summer camp. They are kindred spirits with Leslie Knope’s Goddesses with a dash of Wednesday Addam’s Thanksgiving pageant. They are also way cooler than I ever was or will be. Our five main characters are from cabin Roanoke. There is […]