One of my goals this year was to read more graphic novels, so today, I bring one graphic novel for each age group!
Because everyone should be able to enjoy graphic novels. There’s so much to be said about reading graphic novels, and I can’t begin to recommend them enough. I’ve really upped my advocating for graphic novels, and I even got my library to purchase Witch Hat Atelier, and I’m so freaking excited to be able to share it now.
So long story short, I’ve been jumping on more graphic novel ARCs, and I haven’t been disappointed, for the most part. So let’s get to the reviews!
The Missing Dragon (Student Ambassador #1)
by Ryan Estrada, Axur EneasPublished by: Iron Circus Comics on September 15, 2020
Genres: Middle Grade, Graphic Novel, Humor
Pages: 150
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
“I want to tell you a story about being a student ambassador, but that will be boring. So instead, I’ll tell you about the time I almost got eaten by a crocodile.”
When eight-year-old student ambassador Joseph Bazan wins a photo op with the President of the United States, he doesn’t quite know what to expect, but it certainly isn’t hanging out with the leader of the free world in a secret compartment inside the resolute desk! Joseph’s pluck and kid logic not only charm the president, but they soon help resolve a thorny trade dispute. This gives POTUS an idea. Across the ocean, eight-year-old boy king Nang Nukatau III has taken his father's crown and clumsily stumbled into an international incident, and now Joseph’s got a pressing mission: talk the tiny dictator back from the brink of war!
The diplomatic slumber party soon goes from awkward to scary as the castle is stormed and the boys are lost across South Korea and Japan where they have to outrun bad guys, learn to read Hangul, unravel the riddle of Gyeongbok Palace, break out of an abandoned bathhouse, befriend an army of snow monkeys, and crack the Case of the Missing Dragon, all while showing Nang how to live in a world where everyone doesn’t always bow to you. Can a kid with a C+ in social studies solve the mystery and teach a king to be a kid?
Student Ambassador is a globe-trotting action-adventure set in the real world where dangers mount, the stakes are high, and smarts save the day!
Content Tags:
Perfect for readers who want:
- A graphic novel with super cute drawings.
- Fast-paced book with lots of action.
- Humor! Things that will definitely make you laugh.
- Some really good life lessons slipped quietly into the mix.
- Easy-to-remember, brief introduction to Hangul (the Korean alphabet).
Many thanks to NetGalley and Iron Circus Comics for a review copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Images are taken from an unfinished version and may differ from the final product.
I actually read a review of this book at Rae’s Reads and Reviews and I knew immediately that I had to read this book! It sounded exactly like something I would enjoy, and I’m happy to say that was definitely the case!
Student Ambassador: The Missing Dragon is a humor graphic novel filled with adventure and a mini mystery. Best of all, in-between all the action and laughs, the reader will even learn some Korean!
There were a lot of random conveniences, and the book really stretches believability, but if you just set that aside, this book is just simply fun.
This book is absolutely filled with adorable kid logic.
It’s just so freaking cuuuuute. This occasionally led to scenes where I felt a bit like it was too easy how he solved the problems, and it was hard to believe that no one had thought to do something similar before. Still, true to kid logic, there are definitely moments where I was like, yeah, I can see no one trying the very simple, obvious thing in front of them.
For kids, I think this will strike a chord with them about looking at life a little differently and finding the simple solutions. They’re still entrenched in their own kid logic, obviously. For older readers, this is a reminder to always think outside the box and have a curiosity about the world.
There’s a lot of subtle or tongue-in-cheek humor in this book, and I absolutely loved it!
There were definitely times where I had to laugh out loud, but I just couldn’t help it. Some of the comedic timing in the panels was just so perfect and so honest. The book is a nice blend of adventure, humor, and learning, where none of them felt too overdone, but they nicely complemented each other.
Nang is a super fun character, because he’s the epitome of spoiled privilege, but also sort of a victim in his own right.
After all, he’s just a kid, and he’s expected to rule a country after his parents’ untimely demise. It’s a lot of pressure to put on someone. Due to his status, he’s been doted on his entire life and always taught that he was the most important thing. He’s used to taking what he wants, as kids do, because there’s never any real consequences for him.
This really comes back to the great life lessons the book sneakily packs in, because Nang has to learn to think of someone other than himself and how to not be … well … spoiled? It’s a work in progress, that’s for sure, but there’s lessons to be learned along the way, which led to some surprisingly touching scenes!
Fangirl, Vol. 1: The Manga
by Rainbow Rowell, Sam Maggs, Gabi NamPublished by: VIZ Media LLC on October 13, 2020
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Graphic Novel
Pages: 216
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, everybody is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life. Cath's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath just can't let go. Now that they’re in college, Cath must decide if she’s ready to start living her own life. But does she even want to if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?
Cath doesn’t need friends IRL. She has her twin sister, Wren, and she’s a popular fanfic writer in the Simon Snow community with thousands of fans online. But now that she’s in college, Cath is completely outside of her comfort zone. There are suddenly all these new people in her life. She's got a surly roommate with a charming boyfriend, a writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome new writing partner ... And she's barely heard from Wren all semester!
Content Tags:
Perfect for readers who want:
- Adorable geeky characters learning to come into their own.
- Books about fanfiction and fanfiction writers!
- College struggles and coming of age.
- Sweet romance and love triangles.
Many thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media for a review copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Images are taken from an unfinished version and may differ from the final product.
I have a confession: I’ve never read a Rainbow Rowell book. This is my first. I did buy Carry On based off of several friends’ recommendations, but I haven’t read it yet. So when I saw a graphic novel version of Fangirl, which I never intended to read anyway, I figured I’d give it a shot, since I heard the book sort of introduced the series.
Fangirl Vol. 1 is almost a love letter to geeky fangirls/fanboys as Cath navigates her love for Baz and Simon with college, growing up, and overcoming her anxiety.
While I did enjoy this, I’m not sure the graphic novel chunking up stories works as well in this instance. By the time the book ended, it felt like something was just starting to happen, which was super frustrating. It’s definitely a cliffhanger, but when that’s basically the only thing that feels like it’s happened in the book so far, it becomes a bit annoying.
Cath is a super relatable protagonist for anyone who grew up super sheltered and introverted.
I could recognize myself in her (though, I like to think I was never that sad and pathetic … hopefully). Cath is a little too much of a fan if you ask some people. If you ask others, she’s maybe just enough of a fan, because she’s writing one of the biggest fanfictions of the fandom! Fanfiction writers will find something relatable here, between the pressure to deliver to your fans, wanting to be seen and recognized as a real writer, and striving to find your place in the writing scene.
In other instances, though, Cath really comes off as a bit … annoying? She’s super clingy to her twin sister and doesn’t know how to exist without her, while her sister’s really seeking some freedom and individuality. Cath literally just lives off protein bars because she’s afraid to go to the cafeteria herself, and she makes her first friend just because the other girl feels bad for how pathetic she is.
While I definitely see how there will be people who relate to Cath, and though I related to parts of her character, I was overall a bit frustrated with her. I’m not sure if this is just because it’s been adapted for a graphic novel or if this was a problem with the original novel, but it feels like nothing actually happens until the very end of this book, because Cath just doesn’t do … anything, really. I imagine there will be character development at some point, but in something so serial like a graphic novel, I’m not sure there was enough in this volume to make me want to read the others (though, I think I might check out the actual novel just to compare the two).
The secondary characters in this are absolutely fabulous, and I quickly fell in love with them.
There’s Levi, who is so stinking honest and earnest and adorable that it’s hard not to fall for him. I’m not quite sure what his relationship with Reagan is yet, but I suspect it’s not what Cath thinks. He’s so outgoing that it’s almost a contradiction with Cath’s character, yet he can also be quiet and thoughtful. Overall, he provided a lot of humor and tension breaker that the story needed.
Then there’s Reagan herself, who was just an absolute pleasure. She’s all sarcastic and tough and mouthy and self-assured, and I just loved every single scene she’s in.
There seems to be a bit of a love triangle in this … I think? I’m sort of unclear on where Cath stands with each guy, which is probably why I’m not a huge fan of this.
I actually don’t love the love triangle trope in and of itself, but if it’s done well, I can get behind it. Here, though, there appears to be two men vying for Cath’s attention, and she’s noticed she enjoys spending time with the one, but hasn’t realized the other. I’m not even sure where she could stand with the other.
Ultimately, I felt like this was just kind of … pointless? This may not be an issue in the novel, where you can delve into feelings and thoughts a bit more, but in the graphic novel version, Cath basically has no romantic thoughts about either of these guys, even though they both seem to be vying for her attention (honestly, I’m not even sure why at this point). She seems rather oblivious, even though it’s painfully obvious with at least one of them.
The Last Halloween: Children
by Abby HowardPublished by: Iron Circus Comics on September 1, 2020
Genres: Graphic Novel, Horror, Humor, Fantasy
Pages: 442
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
The monster apocalypse is nigh, but never fear! Humanity is under the protection of . . . this crew?
It’s a lonely Halloween night for ten-year-old Mona. While everyone else is out having a ghoulishly good time, she’s stuck inside without so much as a scary movie to watch. Just when she figures this evening can’t get much worse, a giant monster appears in her living room, proving her very, very wrong. Running for her life, Mona quickly sees that she’s not alone; trick-or-treating’s been canceled due to monster invasion! A barrier keeping billions of monsters at bay has broken and the horrific hordes have descended upon humanity, wreaking bloody havoc everywhere they stomp, slither, or squish. She may not be equipped for it, but it’s up to Mona to save the world with a team of fellow weirdos by her side. Perhaps they will succeed. Or perhaps this will be . . . The Last Halloween.
Content Tags:
Perfect for readers who want:
- Dark humor, regular humor, and glorious sarcasm.
- A perfectly dark graphic novel perfect for Halloween.
- Monsters that feel like monsters … but also some that don’t.
- Lots of action and super high stakes.
- A meet cute between a gender non-conforming parent and … a paranormal being? It’s complicated, but also super cute.
- An interesting mystery that carries into the next book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Iron Circus Comics for a review copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Images are taken from an unfinished version and may differ from the final product.
Soooo … when I saw this, the art style reminded me a bit of Tim Burton’s art style, and I was totally down for that. This is … not that. I mean, yes, the art style is very similar, and I loved it, but this is so much darker than I was expecting and filled with graphic gore and yuck.
The Last Halloween: Children is the perfect Halloween read, where monsters invade and start killing humans, and it’s up to 10-year-old Mona to help get to the bottom of things. Even though she’s clearly in over her head.
This is the perfect Halloween read in so many ways, and even though it wasn’t what I expected going in, I absolutely loved it and can’t wait for the next book!
This book absolutely excels at subverting expectations. It’s never quite what you think.
I learned that very early on in this panel, where I was at first going to be … yikes. But then you turn the page and I legit had to laugh because … oh! Mona’s parent is, first of all, super adorable and probably one of my favorite characters in this. They’re trying their absolute best to raise Mona, and sure, maybe they have some things they can improve, but being a single parent is hard.
It isn’t just here, though. There are so many scenes that I thought would go one way, and it ends up being something different. The plot really keeps you guessing, and I loved that I never knew quite what to expect. Trust no one! Especially yourself!
Make no mistake: this book is dark. Despite that, though, it manages to be extremely funny, and I laughed way more than I should have, given that it’s got graphic depictions of humans being torn apart.
I mean, okay, you’d think disembowelments and brutal murder … not really funny, right? And yeeeet … here we are. I actually laughed through most of this book, if I’m honest. Not gonna lie, there were definitely scenes that turned my stomach a little (I am such a baby when it comes to gore). Despite that, I’ll definitely be rereading this when book two comes out, and I enjoyed it so much.
Granted, most of the humor in this book is dark humor and sarcasm, which fits the general aesthetic if you think about it. It also happens to be my favorite kind of humor. Poor Mona is obviously in over her head. As she keeps reminding the reader, she’s only ten. I particularly enjoyed how the author brings this up on occasion, almost poking fun at the Chosen One trope, where a child does amazing things to save the day.
In case you didn’t notice already, the stakes in this are extremely high. Yet, the adventure is really fun, and the little squad Mona ends up with is *chef’s kiss*, and I loved journeying with them.
You know what? I’m not even going to tell you about Mona’s squad, because you really just need to meet them yourself for the full experience. What I will say is that they’ve all got their own personalities and little struggles, and I just loved each one of them! This book is pretty lengthy, which means that we actually have a chance to learn some of the backstory about the side characters joining Mona on this quest, and those were some of my favorite parts of the story! They’re complex, fleshed-out characters and impossible not to root for.
Just in case the action and adventure wasn’t enough for you (demanding much, are you?!), there’s also a sweet romance between some adults and a mystery that carries into the next book.
Honestly? I think the romance is probably my favorite part of this book, because it was so unexpected but so absolutely perfect. Which is why I’m trying so very hard not to say anything much about it, except that I loved it. And I don’t even like romance that much! *flails* What’s happening to me?
There’s also a fun mystery about who’s supposed to be in charge of these monsters that are rampaging and loose, because … well, someone is supposed to be. He’s just kind of … MIA. So … now what? This really allowed the author to expand the world-building in such a delightful way! There’s real depth to this world, and I walked away with a really good grasp of what’s going on. (Also, in case you were wondering: nope, not a world I’d willing live in, thanks. Pretty sure that says it all.)
I’m so happy you enjoyed The Missing Dragon! I ended up enjoying it so much that I did go ahead and buy my cousins a copy 😀
I love the way you structured these reviews! It’s nice seeing the snippets of the novel along with your own thoughts 🙂 I read Fangirl a couple years ago but I don’t think it was really for me personally. The story felt like it dragged a lot in the actual book so to hear that it drags in the graphic novel doesn’t surprise me but I wish they’d just cut things out at that point
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The Missing Dragon sounds like a lot of fun!
Westveil Publishing recently posted…Dawn of the Overlords – 4 Star Book Review
Fangirl is a slice of life novel, really. It was also very slow to start in the prose form, so I’m not surprised to hear that it’s the same in graphic novel form. Honestly? I really think the graphic novel was made for fans of the novel, and not to draw in new fans. (Maybe I’m just being snarky, but it does seem like there are more spin-offs of this single novel than of anything else I’ve seen lately.) And Cath was annoying in the novel at first, too. It’s weird. I really liked the novel when I read it, but now? Looking back? It’s hard for me to remember why.
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Great reviews! I am really curious about the Fangirl graphic novel. I liked the novel but I don’t think I’d actually enjoy the graphic novel version. I too, wasn’t a big fan of the love triangle. Love triangles are the worst. The child in me also really wants to read the last Halloween <3
Great reviews! I am really curious about the Fangirl graphic novel. I liked the novel but I don’t think I’d actually enjoy the graphic novel version. I too, wasn’t a big fan of the love triangle. Love triangles are the worst. The child in me also really wants to read the last Halloween <3 <3
I loved Fangirl, not as much as Elearnor and Park, but it was really good. But the problem with the GN is that it’s done in parts I think. So it makes it harder to read the story.
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[…] Missing Dragon by Ryan Estrada★★★★☆ || GoodreadsThis was just stinking cute. It’s a mix of adventure and comedy, with some […]
I loved this post so much Sammie! I have been wanting to delve into the world of graphic novels more lately, and apart from Fangirl (which I’ve read the novel of, and I loved it but I don’t really feel like reading the graphic novel), I am definitely going to be picking up the others, they seem amazing!
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