Nimona- Film Review

I'm a bit of a ND Stevenson fan, having become aware of his work through the magnificent Lumberjanes graphic novel series. I purchased the hardback Nimona graphic novel way back in 2015 and loved the premise of a shape-shifting teen and her friendship with a vengeful knight. I loved the quirky characters and how Nimona was goofy yet incredibly forthright and aggressive when she needed to be. When I heard that the movie was being made I was ecstatic as Stevenson's work on She-Ra was exceptional and his characters felt well realised and, well, human with all the flaws and foibles that entailed. Over the course of 5 seasons, she showed character growth of She-Ra, the Princesses of Power as well as Catra… that was on top of writing some pretty epic storylines about multi-verses and such. It was a heady brew and Nimona seemed promising as this was a graphic novel which had heart and growth at its core.

When Blue Sky animation, who had been working on the animation for a couple of years, was shuttered by new owners Disney I was gutted as Nimona had apparently been nearly completed. However, praise be our Netflix overlords who stepped in and saved the film from being scrapped. So, was it worth the salvage?

The story is a familiar one, an outsider, (a Knight named Ballister Boldheart voiced by Riz Ahmed) achieves success through his hard work and merit but is deemed unworthy by many to become a knight of the realm due to his lineage as a commoner. He is framed for a crime he didn't commit and has to clear his name whilst hiding from the authorities. He bonds with another outcast, Nimona (voiced by Chloe Grace Moretz in an excellently nuanced performance) who has been hunted by all for her difference; she is a shapeshifter.
The two develop a friendship as she becomes his squire as they strive to clear his name.

The film is like one of those odd pair buddy movie where the characters are seemingly very different but through their adventures they realise that, actually, they are quite alike. The relationship between Ballister and Nimona is beautifully told, as he tries to understand his squire’s shape-shifting tendencies. After asking some small-minded questions. Nimona's reply of, "Honestly I feel worse when I don't do it (shape shift)... I shape shift and I'm free… if I didn't shape shift I just sure wouldn't be living," really resonated.

It's these interactions that make this a great character study as these two very different people, in the LGBTQ+ community, bond over being ostracised and different.

The whole film is stunningly animated, from the retro futuristic world, combining gleaming high-rises with turreted tops and giants screens, to the stylistically and expressive characters. Cosplay season is going to be busy with this show, I can tell ya, as the details on the clothes and accoutrements are a fans dream. I can’t wait to go to the next expo and see people dressed in this getup.

I loved the film and the message of being your authentic self, even when it is a challenge to be so. It also asks people to not listen to the prejudices of the older generation but actually think about the lived experiences you have had with people from the community or to use empathy to understand their struggles. The film builds on the graphic novel series and is a rallying cry for acceptance and tolerance of the LGBTQ+ community and I, for one, am here for it!

American Born Chinese- Graphic Novel Review (and thoughts).

In a medium that had been pretty homogenic in portraying powerful white heroes, the past decade has seen a huge rise in representation in mainstream comics. I believe that art is of its time but it can have a long-lasting cultural and societal impact on the world. By encouraging a sense of community and a forum for discussion, change can occur and comics are an excellent medium for showing or even introducing that change.

Over the past few years, in wake of the Covid pandemic there has been a rise in anti-Asian sentiment. There was a huge spike in attacks against this community, especially in America, as Covid ripped through the country. Asian- Americans were scapegoated by some and it led to this community feeling under seige.

In this way, the story of Jin Wang, the main protagonist in American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang may offer some people from that community the same joy I felt at finally seeing a more rounded representation of my faith and culture in Ms. Marvel.

As a longtime comic book fan, I first started collecting when I was 7 in 1988 and Iron Man and Spiderman were my first loves, however I was beyond excited at the announcement of Ms. Marvel in 2013.

The fact that the main protagonist, Kamala, was the child of immigrant parents from Pakistan, Muslim and a millennial changed the hitherto well tilled soil of fertile comic tropes. I had loved comics for years and certain aspects I could identify with; Peter Parker being picked on by Flash Thompson in High School, the various aspects of loss in the Death of Superman and striving to achieve against all odds, which was a common comic book trope but with Ms. Marvel it was different. I could identify with her, even though I'm not a millennial teenage girl I am a Millenial Muslim comic book geek who enjoys pop culture. I remember what it was like as a young teen trying to find my way through school and life where balancing my home life and religious beliefs and practices with those of my mostly white Christian friends was difficult. I wanted to go to parties, go out clubbing and have relationships. Other comics have covered these aspects but the fact that the struggle Kamala has in balancing her home and life outside rings true for me.

In American Born Chinese, we have three tales all dealing with the themes of alienation, discrimination and being true to yourself. The first deals with Jin and his burgeoning friendship with recent immigrant Wei-Chen Sun. The second tale looks at the Monkey King (he of Journey to the West fame) who wants to become more human and attain godhood. The final tale deals with Asian-American Danny and his cousin Chin Kee, who represents all of the worst racial stereotypes about Chinese people that Danny is trying to distance himself from. The stories all weave and support each other and help to reach a highly satisfying and thought-provoking finale.

The artwork is effective, colourful and detailed when it needs to be. Like Raina Telgemeier's work, there is an illusion of simplicity in the images but the emotions conveyed are true but the story is king here.

Ojingogo- Graphic Novel Review

Utterly surreal and slightly abstract with elements of Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz, Gulliver's Travels and much from the world of manga, Ojingogo is a not your average graphic novel tale. The story is about a young girl, her pet chibi-octopus and her sentient camera, which is stolen by a malevolent octopus/humanoid creature. At least, that's what I think happened as the book had very little to no text and is presented with a surrealist bent. As a fan of David Lynch and Jodorowsky, I'm used to art that challenged and confounds but even this didn't help in understanding the story too well. I think, author and illustrator Matthew Forsythe, like Lynch, is all about creating a mood and evoking feelings of wonder and bewilderment so you strap in and enjoy the absurdist journey.

The illustrations are beautifully drawn with fine lines and lots of use of blank space to let the characters pop. The drawings seemed to be inspired by South Korean and manga art; cute big eyes and some interesting creature designs. There were a couple I thought that could be turned in plushie toys so you get an idea of the aesthetic.

Celeste- Graphic Novel Review

I remember buying this book upon its release in 2014 as I was a bit of a fan of I. N. J. Culbard due to his excellent work on bringing the tales of H. P. Lovecraft to life in graphic novel form. I do remember reading it at the time and feeling a bit blank, the graphic novel hadn't impressed me and I didn't know why. So, 8 years after the fact, I decided to revisit and re-evaluate it

Narratively, it's a difficult book to summarise as so much is to do with the mood and tone of the book, rather than the actual plot. However, I'll try my best; after a floating blossom from space enters the Earth, most of the people in the world vanish without reason. The few people who interacted with the blossom are left behind and try to figure out what is going on as well as establish a new purpose in life. The three characters, a girl with albinism in London, a businessman in California and a Tokyo cartoonist all lead their now consequence-free life, but is it really living?

Much like other great sci-fi stories, Celeste asks many questions without providing any answers. Rather, the author leaves it up to the reader to formulate their own meaning. Is this all actually happening or are the three characters sharing a collective dream brought about by their isolation in the real world or mental health? It reminds me of the work of David Lynch, John Boorman or David Lowery, dreamlike logic applies to real world scenarios where tone is king.

Visually, Culbard is a master craftsman, creating beautiful imagery that creates a vibe which is meditative and reflective. I read the book in about 25 minutes, so it's a quick read as it is a very visual story, but the questions it asks about the lives we lead and our sense of isolation definitely make it a worthwhile pick-up.

This One Summer- Graphic Novel Review

This graphic novel is like an ode to those everlong summers of the past, where the holidays seemed to stretch on forever and the possibilities and promises of the future seemed endless. The power of nostalgia is strong in this comic as writing and art team Jillian and Mariko Tamaki create a believable scenario where
Rose and her family head to the beach for the summer, as they always do, but things are tense in the family as Rose's mum is suffering from deep depression whilst her father is feeling the strain of keeping the household positive. Meanwhile, Rose and her regular holiday friend Windy, get involved with a teen pregnancy drama whilst watching horror films.

The book is beautifully presented with a blue brush-stroke style.

The demographic for the book is hard to pinpoint as it uses words like slut, rape, abortion, blow job, porn, boobs etc so it's quite fruity with its language but I know, from working at a couple of youth centre for over 10 years, that actually many tweens do talk like this so it is lifelike.

The book captures the fleeting moments we have all had on our lives so well. The gorgeous blue brush-like art flows and stunningly capturing the spirit of the summer; it make you *feel* the place you've never been to. The Germans calls this fernweh which means far-sickness and it’s the concept of feeling homesick for a place you’ve never been or could never go. This book made me feel that as it captures the mood so well; it is a definite recommend.

LINK- The Offworld Collection

LINK- Three Shadows- Graphic Novel Review

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- The Future Starts Here: An Optimistic Guide to What Comes Next- Book Review

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK: Let’s All Create a ‘New Normal’.

LINK- An English Geek in Saudi

LINK- The Mysterious Cities of Gold Retro Soundtrack Review

Sunny Side Up- Graphic Novel Review

Sunny Side Up is the story of Sunny Lewin, a young girl who is packed off to Florida to stay with her grandpa for the summer during the 70s. Sounds great right? Disneyland, Sea World, the Everglades, Miami! Unfortunately, her grandpa lives in a retirement village and everyone is old... Except one boy who she befriends.
As the two young whippersnappers hit it off over a love of comics, earning money by collecting stray cats and golf balls we get more of an insight into Sunny's life and the familial strife that led to her staying with her grandpa.

The graphic novel is charmingly drawn and there is a lot of observation comedy noted as Sunny adapts to life in 70s Florida. However the book does deal with quite heavy stuff, like what an impact her brothers substance abuse and addiction has on her mental health. For a young child's graphic novel this is quite dark but I'm sure that this is a reality for many of them and I'm glad that this graphic novel deals with it in a sensitive way. There isn't a nice neat ending but that's fine as sometimes there isn't a conclusion to addiction, it's always there and this graphic novel has the maturity to treat it as such.

It is a great read and my daughter and I read it together and loved it.

The Prince and the Dressmaker- Comic Review

The Prince and the Dressmaker is a fairy-tale like story about Prince Sabastian who likes to wear dresses on occasion and requires the quiet assistance of a talented seamstress to create wonderful haute couture for him. However, the Prince's parents are pressuring him to find a bride and settle down to carry the Royal lineage forward, unknowing of his secret. How long will his penchant for wearing dresses remain a secret and how long can his seamstress, the hardworking and career minded Frances, be able to support him in his secrecy?

I've been reading comics for a long time (about 33 years to be precise) but I've never really read a story like this. I am glad that the ever-dependable Jen Wang has created this comic as the central premise could have been problematic, what with portraying the Prince sympathetically without seeming false or trite, but the gender fluidity represented here is wonderfully represented and realised. I recently had a conversation with a transitioning friend of mine, who is transitions from a he to a she, and she said that sometimes she feels like a male and sometimes a female. It's difficult for her but it's not always binary for her and Wang gets to this in her story, gender is different from the sex you were born with and this nuance is carefully portrayed.

Aside from the carefully considered story and dialogue, the artwork is beautiful and the level of detail on the background scenes and dresses is astonishing. You can see that Wang clearly loved creating beautiful dresses for the Prince to wear and as Lady Crystalis, her true personality comes through.

Even though the topics covered are controversial and may be uncomfortable for some, I think the book is good to share with young people who are questioning their own gender or are just interested in it.

Onibi: Diary of a Yokai Ghost Hunter- Comic Review

Onibi is a beautiful graphic novel about Japanese culture and its connection with the spirit world. The setup is quite simple, a young couple find a magic camera, the camera obscura, which is said to show ghosts, yokai, which apparently roam the lands but are invisible to the naked eye. The couple travel through the Japanese countryside, visiting places that have a reputation of paranormal activity and take pictures, hoping to glimpse the yokai.

The graphic novel is beautiful and the watercolours are lush!

Over the course of 8 short stories we see the couple explore different regions of Japan, trying to lay their eyes on the yokai prize. As a result the story is quite choppy and disjointed, with some stories being better than others, but it is a novel that requires thought and maybe a re-read after reaching the end.

That's not a knock as you get another chance to enjoy the stunning pencil and water-colour art. The considered palette and use of shading adds to the atmosphere of the story and there are a few larger panels where the majesty and artistry is on full display.

As a graphic novel, the premise appealed to me as I had seen this trope before in a video game series I like, Project Zero/ Fatal Frame, so to see a graphic novel take on this premise intrigued me. However, I feel that it wasn't executed as well as I'd have liked. I think the fact that the story kept changing locations and times so suddenly didn't give us a chance to understand the two protagonists and it felt a little like a walking simulator videogame, where you expect something to happen or a jump-scare but... It doesn't materialise.

It's a good graphic novel with a great premise but for me, it feels like a promise unfulfilled. Well worth a read but I’m not sure I’d have it in my graphic novel collection for posterity.

LINK- Onibi: Diary of a Yokai Ghost Hunter Trailer

Zita the Spacegirl Trilogy- Comic Review

The Zita the Spacegirl trilogy is a young adult graphic novel series that starts with a simple premise but builds into something so much more over time.

The story begins when Zita and a friend find a mysterious box with a huge red button on it, which seems to have fallen from space. Being ever adventurous, young Zita presses the button, a portal opens up and tentacles grab her friend and drag him through it. As she is to blame for her friend’s kidnapping, Zita feels that she must rectify the situation and so she presses the red button once again and travels through the portal and this is where her wild adventure begins. She soon realizes getting back to earth is not going to be easy and spends three graphic novels travelling through space helping various aliens she meets along the way whilst still trying to find her lost friend, kinda like an intergalactic Littlest Hobo.

After saving a planet in her first adventure (in Zita the Spacegirl) she discovers that fame has its price in the second novel ( in Legends of Zita the Spacegirl) and must recover her spaceship after a doppelgänger robot assumes her identity and goes off on a mission to fight an evil alien horde. In the third and final novel, The Legend of Zita, she must stop a crazy dictator as he plans to invade Earth with his galactic army. Can she stop him? What do you reckon?

The character of Zita is wonderfully realised as she no real powers, just her intelligence, determination and her sense of loyalty. She makes friends with some pretty reprehensible and unlikeable people but through her sheer good will and kindness, she commands loyalty and respect and turns some people around... like a pre-teen Teen Angel (yes, my references are old)

Writer and illustrator Ben Hatke has a fun, almost naive art style but this betrays a world building masterclass; what he has created is similar in style to the imperious Saga or Star Wars... high praise indeed, but when you read the novels you know that there is a bigger world with a wide and varied bestiary with potentially an entire lore-filled universe.

The Zita trilogy is an excellent graphic novel series that I wish I'd had in my youth, alongside Asterix and Tintin. Its premise is fun and instantly engaging and, with an expanded universe potentially presented at the story's conclusion, ripe for an imagination to let loose on and let fly. Check it out or miss it at your peril graphic novel fans!

LINK- Comics in the Classroom (article)

LINK- What Comics Have Taught Me

LINK- Roller Girl Comic Review

End of an Era As Ms Marvel Co-Creators leave After 5 Successful Years

After 5 years, 50 comics and numerous comic and cartoon crossovers, two of the co-creators of Ms. Marvel, G. Willow Wilson and Sana Amanat are leaving. For those not in the know this is kind of a big deal.

Since her debut Ms. Marvel has become a pop culture icon and a voice for hope. She received a lot of hype in 2013, primarily due to her status as the first Muslim character to headline a Marvel series, but 6 years on and the comic series has become one of the industry’s best titles because it is simply, an excellent superhero comic book, which is written with wit, pathos and heart.

Ms. Marvel has had a 10 graphic novel run, an impressive feat for a series that was only supposed to be a 10 comic limited run series.

Ms. Marvel has had a 10 graphic novel run, an impressive feat for a series that was only supposed to be a 10 comic limited run series.

Superhero stories featuring teenage characters are notoriously difficult to write for but to create a monthly comic with a teenage girl of faith was something nearly unheard of in mainstream comics, let alone the religion in focus being Islam. Islam features quite prominently in the comic series as Ms Marvel, Kamala, is Muslim and as such it forms a major part of her narrative; it greatly influences her behavior and decision-making, adding tension to her life that doesn’t come from the more traditional sources like romantic interests or the masked super villain of the current story arc.

In a medium that has been pretty hegemonic in portraying powerful white heroes, the recent wave of real world representations in mainstream comics has been exciting. It is explained well in the very first Ms. Marvel comic when Kamala first meets Captain America, Iron Man and Captain Marvel. She is surprised to hear them speak Urdu, but Captain Marvel replies,

"We are faith. We speak all languages of beauty and hardship."

This is a real nice touch that speaks to the universal humanity in us all, with the underrepresented now being represented in a medium supported by the diverse community invested in these characters.

As a longtime comic book fan (I first started collecting when I was 7 in 1988 and Iron Man and Spiderman were my first loves) the fact that the main protagonist, Kamala, was the child of immigrant parents from Pakistan, Muslim and a millennial changed the hitherto well tilled soil of fertile comic tropes. I had loved comics for years and certain aspects I could identify with; Peter Parker being picked on by Flash Thompson in High School, the various aspects of loss in the Death of Superman and striving to achieve against all odds, which was a common comic book trope but with Ms. Marvel it was different. I could identify with her, even though I'm not a millennial teenage girl I am a Millenial Muslim comic book geek who enjoys pop culture. I remember what it was like as a young teen trying to find my way through school and life where balancing my home life and religious beliefs and practices with those of my mostly white Christian friends was difficult. I wanted to go to parties, go out clubbing and have relationships. Other comics have covered these aspects but the fact that the struggle Kamala has in balancing her home and life outside rings true for me.

In issue 6, Kamala seeks guidance from Sheikh Abdullah, an Imam. Fearing she will be told off for not following her parents will, she is surprised to be told,

"... do it with the qualities befitting an upright young woman: Courage, strength, honesty, compassion, and self-respect.”


This message is one of positivity, which against the current media obsession with violence done in Islam's name is interesting and challenging.

Another scene in the graphic novel 'Mecca' has Kamala's brother, Aamir, placed in detention after being accused of not conforming to 'societal norms'. It's a powerful scene as he explains how, just because he is brown and wears traditional dress, he isn't to blame for all the ills in the world but because he stands out, its easy to target people like him. This storyline was in direct response to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency's policy of separating children form their parents at the border, an extremely controversial policy.

It's for these reason that I wanted to give thanks to Wilson et al. for creating a comic character that speaks truth against power, something I'd normally have to go to indie comics to find. The fact that such subjects have been broached in the biggest comic company and in one of the most popular series in the world is heartening; there is a sea change in the representation of BAME people and that has been long overdue. I feel a connection to Ms. Marvel in the same way that Miles Morales speaks for another, often underrepresented or unfairly represented demographic. Ms. Marvel speak to me in a profoundly deep way.

Art is of its time but it can have a long-lasting cultural and societal impact on the world. By encouraging a sense of community and a forum for discussion change can occur, and comics are an excellent medium for showing or even introducing that change.

Even though I'm sad that after 6 years the original team is breaking up, I'm excited to see what the next team do with such a well loved and respected character. Now roll on the Ms. Marvel movie!

My daughter likes Ms. Marvel too.

My daughter likes Ms. Marvel too.

Sabrina: Graphic Novel Review

Sabrina by Nick Drnaso was longlisted for the Booker prize, the first for a graphic novel, and as such received much coverage and hype. I bought a copy a couple of days ago and read it over a couple of evenings and it was an unsettling experience.

Sabrina, the titular character of the novel, is an ordinary woman, who doesn't return home one night. Over the course of a couple of weeks videos are posted online and to various media outlets showing her gruesome murder. So far so trope-y, but what follows isn't a murder mystery but more of an examination of what happens in the aftermath of such a tragic event. It is a 'state of the nation' study on the current social and political climate where truth is flexible, fake news pervades and conspiracy theories about the Deep State are bandied around as facts.

In an age when the grieving parents of the various high school massacres are accused of being actors, #MeToo survivors of being mythomaniacs and news outlets of 'lugenpresse' (lying media) who do you trust?

In Sabrina, lives are put on hold as we follow the day to day events of friends and loved ones trying to deal with the loss. It is mundane, it is boring but life must go on for those people but what toll does it take to be constantly harangued, harried and pursued by the various factions each out for their pound of flesh?

The book is an excellent look into the age of the Internet and the hollowness that social media has brought on the masses. It speaks of the situation we currently find ourselves in and is chilling in its trajectory of world news items to hot takes to conspiracy theories to old news... The daily news cycle.

The art style was not to my liking but its simplicity and flatness did give it an eerie feel as the story is king here, it all works well. The flatness become more disconcerting the further you read into the novel and by the end you feel like you’ve run a marathon… it’s exhausting and traumatic, but in the best possible way.

It’s by no means the best graphic novel I’ve read, that’d be Maus or Blankets, but Sabrina is a book that definitely deserves the attention it is getting.