Graphic Novel Review - 'Barb the Brave' by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson

Never in a million years would I think I would ever rate a comic like 'Barb the Brave' five glorious, triumphant stars.

It's silly, it's cartoony, and there is grossout humour here and there. But it doesn't go overboard or obnoxious in its parody elements and self-aware humour.

But the biggest selling point of 'Barb the Brave' (or 'Barb the Last Berzerker') is it's a ton of fun and hilariousness from start to finish. It is pure entertainment.

But but but, most significantly, it contains heart and pathos throughout. 'Barb' is surprisingly touching and heartbreaking sometimes.

Basically, the plot is that Barb, a young and small Berzerker - who are like barbarian superheroes - must save her fellow captured Berzerkers from an ancient evil demon called the Witch Head, and on her epic quest she makes friends and companions with a sausage-loving yeti, a tiny farmer girl with a slingshot, a slimy green ogress with a snot launcher, a green giant, and other monsters she's been trained to beat up and eliminate, but is finding they are not all bad. She encounters all sorts of creatures and completes all sorts of tasks. Her new weapon is a She-Ra/He-Man sword that grants her incredible power. However, using too much of that power can corrupt and possibly kill her.

Barb also has a past - it involves her mother, once the greatest Berzerker ever, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. She may be a brave warrior who never gives up and never gives in to bullies, but she is a girl who misses her mum, too.

Indeed, Barb is a great all-ages heroine. Righteous, altruistic, dynamic, determined, unstoppable, almost fearless, clever, funny, friendly, and she always stands up for others, and is always willing to help others out. There is compassion to this fiery little barbarian warrior girl. She doesn't actually want to kill anyone or anything. She is strong in every sense of the word. However, it is her vulnerability when it comes to her missing mother that makes her come full circle as a three-dimensional character. She didn't need to be given that kind of depth in a kids' comic like this one, but there you go; her creators put that much effort into making sure she was a fully rounded protagonist worth caring about.

Barb's relationship with her mum (whose name is Raven, because badass) is so loving, sweet, warm, and tearful and tragic. Whaddaya know: badass warrior women can be good mums. As if there was ever any doubt.

On that note, can I just mention how refreshing and heart-soaring it is to see positive mother-and-daughter relationships portrayed in fiction? Positive as in they're simply nice, and good, and kind, and full of unconditional love, support and understanding. Nothing toxic, abusive, tense, and/or complicated about them. As these types of mother-and-daughter bonds seem to only come once in a blue moon, I'm going to point them out every time I see them.

To conclude: 'Barb the Brave' - what colourful and cartoony fun, and filled with such care and heart. The tolerance message is a welcome touch.

One of the best and most entertaining children's graphic novels I've ever read, and have had the luck to come across in my local bookshop. I will definitely read the sequel.

As Barb would say, it is no total drag - it is so rad, dude!

Final Score: 4.5/5