Graphic Novel Review - 'Renegade Girls' by Nora Neus (Writer), Julie Robine (Artist)

Oh, wow. I mean, wow.

Sweet Gaia. I did not expect 'Renegade Girls' to be this good.

Now this is feminist historical fiction. This is a historical women's journalism story done amazingly and spectacularly. It is also a great sapphic love story.

It also deals with the roots and evils of capitalism, and corrupt governments and bureaucracies, and subsequently worker abuse, and abuse of all "minorities" in society, by a white male supremacist caste system.

Unionise! Socialise!

To think that I could never be as brave, bold and daring as the stunt girls, women journalists, reporters, and justice seekers in 'Renegade Girls', and the real historical women they are based on.

Hard-hitting, relevant, boundary-pushing, exciting, hopeful, life-affirming, humanity-affirming, and full of female support and teamwork and love, and surprisingly funny, playful, joyful, jovial and entertaining, 'Renegade Girls' is one of the best graphic novels of 2025.

Yes, crossdressing is included - women dressed as men, both for fun and for an investigation. It is glorious.

On that note on fashion, I love the colours of each of the woman characters' dresses and other clothing, that add contrast and are symbolic of their individual character and mood.

Even more inspirational, 'Renegade Girls' is authored by Nora Neus, a real life journalist and reporter who has been oh, let's see: in Ukraine during the Russian invasion, behind bars at a maximum security prison, 14,000 feet above sea level on the San Juan Mountains, and in rural Puerto Rico during earthquakes. She's a real wartime and natural disaster journalist. She's been through it all, direct, front and center, with true ethics and an uncorrupted, unbeaten sense of justice. And she's taken the time to write this important, sapphic, historical fiction comic. I may have found a new hero. She is a hero.

'Renegade Girls' is doubly reminiscent of modern 'Little Women' adaptations - comics and screen, plus 'I Shall Never Fall in Love', 'Girl Taking Over: A Lois Lane Story', and 'The Little Match Girl Strikes Back'. In my opinion, it is a better version of 'Ink Girls' by Marieke Nijkamp and Sylvia Bi.

If I have to mention flaws, it's that 'Renegade Girls' could have done a bit better in its racial and ethnical diversity (most of the important plot stuff, and the central w/w romance, revolve around white people in their actions and causes and effects (the former), and their relationships (the latter)). Not to mention its body type diversity is lacking; therein are lots of thin women. A few minor characters, and bit players, could have received more development and page time to make their stories and inclusions more satisfying and worthwhile.

And it is a feminist news story that is set in 1888, in New York City, but there is no mention of women's suffrage. WTF?

But all the same, I love and live for 'Renegade Girls'. It is bloody fantastic. It is books like this that are one of the reasons why I'm a feminist, and why I'm openminded, worldly, sensitive, considerate (or I try to be), conscious, and awake, or "woke".

Progressive, lifesaving social change is always possible. I have to believe that.

I highly, highly recommend this historical not-so fiction, and not-so fabricated piece of writing and journalism.

Adventurous writer and creator heroines away!

Final Score: 4.5/5