Graphic Novel Review - 'Les Normaux: Volume One' by Janine Janssen, S. Al Sabado

'Les Normaux'

Hmmm.

Apparently this has been a popular webcomic - a 'global phenomenon and iconic, chart-topping Webtoon series', according to the blurb - for over ten years now. Yet why did I not hear of its existence until I saw the hardcover edition of the first volume in my local bookshop last week?

This is a phenomenon in of itself. It is the strangest thing for a fantasy and diversity/representation fan and pusher - in comics and everything else - like myself to have missed out on.

I guess I haven't been following webcomics and webtoons as much as I thought.

But whatever. Regardless, I'm glad I decided to impulsively buy 'Les Normaux' in all its hardback glory (along with 'The Ojja-Wojja') on the day I first saw it.

'Les Normaux' is something special, indeed.

It is an ongoing French fantasy romance webcomic, for older teens and up, about a cute, LBGTQ+ developing relationship between the two male leads, Sébastien and Elia, and it is set in an alternate, magical world where there's witchcraft and a witchcraft college, and fantasy creatures are everywhere. You name it - vampires, werewolves, mermaids, cyclopes, genies (or djinns), fairies, Frankenstein's monsters, and more are present and completely normal. The paranormal is the norm.

In this version of beautiful, gorgeous Paris, as well as real magic and fantastical, fairy tale creatures, there are tons of LBGTQ+ people, people of colour, and disabled people.

It is like a dream. A nighttime, clubbing, dancing, fashionable dream (seriously, the fashions in this comic are also of excellent quality, quantity, and taste).

Plus, there's a cute little pet rabbit who thinks he's a world-conquering doctor and general. Pierre the bunny doesn't get nearly enough page time in this volume. He hardly appears, and doesn't actually contribute to anything, yet I feel he deserves his own spinoff series.

He isn't as cute as Elia, however.

Elia, the blue, bisexual, biracial vampire love interest of the main protagonist, the gay, demisexual, Filipino and green-haired Sébastien. Elia may be my new husbando, or should I just say comic book boyfriend? He is absolutely adorable, hilarious, flustered, vulnerable, and a sweetie, no matter how cool and mature he acts around anyone other than Sébastien and his group of close girl-friends. That he's sexy as hell helps his iconic status.

'Les Normaux' really is like a fantasy version of 'Heartstopper'. Heck, Alice Oseman is even quoted on the hardback book's cover saying, 'One of my favourite webcomics of all time'! It is a contemporary, slice-of life romance, comedy and drama, set in the fantasy genre. The supernatural elements are merely the icing on the cake. It is also like a better version of 'Lore Olympus' and 'Eat Your Heart Out' by Terry Blas, in my opinion.

I must add that it has some of the best artwork I have ever seen in a webcomic.

What a great, versatile, sweet, heartfelt experience 'Les Normaux' by Janine Janssen is. A pleasant, hopeful surprise in 2025 for me.

From the hardback blurb: ''Monster' is just a word for someone different...'

How right that is.

"Monster" is subjective.

"Normal" is subjective. And a construct.

"Different" is never always bad.

Let romance and happiness bloom and shine! Like magic.

Final Score: 4/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Mixed-Up' by Kami Garcia (Writer), Brittney Williams (Artist), Tyler Smith (Letterer)

'Mixed-Up' is a cute and heartwarming middle grade graphic novel. Its main subject is dyslexia, and also friendship. It teaches the reader about both.

It is so positive and uplifting, and all the female schoolteachers and helpers are wonderful.

There's lots of geekiness and geek girl gaming included, which I love. The newly fifth-grade protagonist, Stella, and her best friends Emiko and Latasha, are into a witchy franchise called 'Witchlins', which is popular enough to get its own interactive online RPG, and its own section in bookshops! It is this aspect, among many others, like its coming-of-age theme, that 'Mixed-Up' reminds me of 'The New Girl' by Cassandra Calin.

Goddesses, how I wish there were clubs, and other open fans, of things like 'W.I.T.C.H.' and 'Sailor Moon' at school when I was a kid! I wish that geek culture was louder, prouder, and more popular and therefore more accessible (not to mention more inclusive), more than twenty years ago. It would have been easier for me to socialise and make friends.

What an abundance of proud geek love and happiness!

The artwork of 'Mixed-Up' by Brittney Williams is colourful, bold, adorable and brilliant. Nearly every character is a POC, to boot.

It's not perfect, mainly due to the rushed ending, and a friends-falling-out plot not really ending with an apology - it resolves itself with hugs, tears, and opening up and talking about problems, but no "I'm sorry" is in sight. The book is also rather too after-school-special-ish, and too positive and upbeat, with barely any conflict (there don't seem to be any bullies at Stella's school, at best we get a grumpy assistant librarian - where is this utopia she's at?).

But 'Mixed-Up' is a great graphic novel for children, and for school libraries. Realistic or not, it is a helpful, hopeful story that needs to be told. It is clearly a personal, passion project for parent Kami Garcia, as well. how many more P alliterations can I put in here?

It celebrates creativity, using your strengths to solve problems, and doing things your own way - creative writing and storytelling forever! - which further highlights it for me, making me sing its praises.

Oh, and asking for help and support, and being honest, are always important lessons to teach.

It is a lovely, contemporary comic, that isn't mundane at all. It is its own kind of magical.

Final Score: 4/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'The Ojja-Wojja' by Magdalene Visaggio (Writer), Jenn St-Onge (Artist)

'The Ojja-Wojja' - wow, what a children's graphic novel!

It has it all: superb, fantastic artwork, a coming-of-age school story, feminism, queer representation, autism representation, tackling bullying issues, mystery, horror, scary imagery, its own folklore, witchcraft, ghosts, a helluva dose of geeky love and references, UFO conspiracy theories, parody storytelling segments, libraries, great, supportive school teachers, and most importantly, friendship.

Friendships between kids - between weirdos, the social outcasts and pariahs - that can last a lifetime. Maybe even survive a toxic, demonic invasion, determined to destroy everything that is good and kind and progressive in the world, because of one person's loneliness, fears, insecurities, and sense of entitlement.

'The Ojja-Wojja' is like 'Scooby-Doo', 'Stranger Things', Stephen King's 'It', 'Riverdale', 'Gravity Falls', and 'Dead End: Paranormal Park', all mixed into a blender. But it is its own unique kind of comic book, and not just because it is relatively scary for a modern kids' graphic novel. There is horror, the paranormal, and demonic forces at work, but vitally, it has heart.

And great characters, mostly in the form of the two main leads: Val Malloy, who is autistic, fat, and white, and a super geek, willing to try anything; and Lanie Pham, who is Asian, transgender, probably gay, and bespectacled, and also a super geek, and into witchcraft. This outcast duo, who initially bonded (and argued) over geeky interests, is brilliant. Phenomenal. They work so well together, and are the best of friends. Anyone who is a geek, a nerd, or any kind of loner in the social hierarchy due to their differences (what makes them blooming great people!) can relate to this pair.

There is no romance in this story. Friendship is the main theme. I adore the ending, too, as rushed as it is (like the authors were hit with a sudden deadline they needed meet as quickly as possible). Without spoiling anything, I will unapologetically disclose and declare that it made me squeal with pure joy. A geek girl's joy, to be precise. My heart was set aflutter, butterfly.

Compassion, sympathy and empathy - and bonding over special interests - are the other key themes in 'The Ojja-Wojja'.

It is far from perfect, with slight pacing issues, and the other three kids in Val's and Lanie's "little weirdo club" who aren't nearly as developed and fleshed out as they should have been. It's easy to forget they exist when they are not on a page. There are side characters who do not receive proper resolutions, or any resolution at all. It's easy to forget about them, too, like the comic seems to, towards the end shut up with the tos and toos, Artemis, learn proper grammar.

Oh yeah, there's that rushed ending, those last few pages. I could tell that the authors did the best they could with the little time and space they had left, however. So it's something.

There you go: if you like a bit of comedy, horror, paranormal, teen drama, school angst, conspiracy, witchcraft, female empowerment, geekiness and geek culture served like candy snacks, and a whole range of race, LBGTQ+, and disability representation - diversity, it matters - then read 'The Ojja-Wojja'.

Even though it has a title where, were I to say it out loud to anyone, they would ask me if I was okay.

'The Ojja-Wojja' - it ain't no phantasm.

To every "outcast", "loser", geek, nerd, and "unpopular" person in any crowd - you win! You will win!

Final Score: 3.5/5

Non-Fiction Book Review - 'Witch in Darkness: Magick for Tough Times, Bad Days and Moments of Total Catastrophe' by Kelly-Ann Maddox

An appropriate time to read something like this, with that title, isn't it?

It could not have come out at a more appropriate time, either.

'Witch in Darkness: Magick for Tough Times, Bad Days and Moments of Total Catastrophe' is exactly what it says on the tin. It is a spiritual, therapeutic, sublime self-help witchy book by Kelly-Ann Maddox, and a follow up to her first book, 'Rebel Witch'. I devoured it in a week, when I could, absorbing as much as I could, and I think it helped me somewhat, in dealing with my own issues. I could relate to a lot of the subjects talked about, and it is always nice to feel I am not alone, in similar, toxic situations, troubles, and thought patterns. Dark, depressive, oppressive, anxious thought patterns.

Maddox consciously, carefully goes pretty deep, and gives sound life advice. The book is life-affirming, dark yet hopeful and comforting, friendly, and a very personal journey, without being too harrowing, scary and overwhelming. I felt for the author as well as myself whilst reading.

Us individual humans, each with unique, differing experiences, are not so different in certain human life experiences, after all.

'Witch in Darkness' should help someone through some deeply troubling, traumatic, shattering times and aspects of their lives, via psychological and spiritual takes, whether or not they are a witch, or whatever they like to call themselves in a likeminded mood and, well, spirit. On giving and receiving positive and caring vibes, in soul-searching and practicing witchcraft.

In slowly, surely beating depression, and healing from it.

The author of 'Witch in Darkness', as I said in my review of 'Rebel Witch', writes personally, comfortingly, and free-thinkingly, like a friend holding your hand along the way, and giving you the choice of what you want to do and how you want to go about it; what feels right to you. Like a true therapist. It's not coddling or cloying, it's helping you on your journey, your path to mental, emotional and spiritual recovery and wellbeing.

While, like with 'Rebel Witch', the advice can get repetitive and too simplified, it is overall never dull and it engaged me enough to keep reading and taking it to heart and psyche. 'Witch in Darkness' gives the readers space to think - think for themselves, as everyone needs to do - as every mind, every psychological issue is different.

It can be a lot to take in, but with all the issues it discusses, it is an easy, accessible guide, by a caring, thoughtful writer.

I love that Maddox is crystal-clearly an openminded and grounded individual, never coming across as judgemental, forceful, pressuring, or a know-it-all with the pretence of having all the answers. She doesn't. No one does.

We just have to keep trying. Keep going.

In my opinion, 'Witch in Darkness' is more strongly written than 'Rebel Witch', giving clear activities, ideas, spells, and notes, such as at the end of each chapter (note-taking and journaling are fundamentally essential on the road to being a witch and towards self-recovery. Also tarot card and oracle card reading).

Cool, dark illustrations are included. A further win for yours truly, witch-ily. Sorceress-ly.

Keep it simple. Do what feels right to you - a spell, a ritual, however you want to design your alter, etc. Take notes and journal your experiences, memories and observations. Recall you energy healthily. Practice selfcare as well as witchcraft. Whatever positive, loving energy and vibes you are sending into the world must come from within, and be truthful, authentic and effectual to yourself. To save the world, you have to save you first. Know yourself. Love yourself.

These are my personal takeaways from 'Witch in Darkness: Magick for Tough Times, Bad Days and Moments of Total Catastrophe'. Bless you, Kelly-Ann Maddox, you lovely, wonderful, patient teacher.

Now I don't mind calling magic "magick", when I was put off by that spelling (heh) before. It sounded more hokey than hocus-pocus to me, but I don't mind it as much anymore.

But, seriously, Ms Maddox, I will never use, nor mix, recreational drugs into anything I do, let alone in any kind of witchiness. Though in 'Witch in Darkness', it is written in more responsibly and in more detail than in 'Rebel Witch' (overcoming and conquering addiction is another chapter subject Maddox goes into).

Speaking of, here is my review of her debut, 'Rebel Witch', for more.

We can all find our way out of the darkness - in our minds, our hearts (from past heartbreaks and traumas), and the chaotic, divided world at large. We will get there. Together.

Love you all.

Final Score: 4/5