Graphic Novel Review - 'The Answer (Steven Universe)' by Rebecca Sugar (Writer), Elle Michalka (Artist), Tiffany Ford (Artist)

A lovely fairy tale version of the 'Steven Universe' episode, 'The Answer', told in comic and picture book form. You could say it is a nice fusion of the two.

'The Answer', as well as 'Steven Universe' as a whole at the time it was made, is vital for LBGTQ+ representation in children's entertainment. Its themes of breaking the system, breaking the "norm" and "order" and protocol, stopping to appreciate and respect nature, knowing who you really are, that it's okay to be different, messy, uncertain, and unpredictable, that change can be good, that anyone is capable of adapting to change, that no one is a "freak" and "disgusting" and "broken" and "wrong", that no one is alone, and why we need to rebel against fascism and militarism, are as important as ever.

That a story like this exists as both a cartoon and a storybook proves that love and hope are real, and are obtainable.

To live like the Gems Ruby and Sapphire, and together, become like Garnet, is a great goal in life.

It's so sweet too!

'The Answer' is the answer, or at least one of them, to standing against the evil, greed, hubris, violence and cruelty of certain people in a once beautiful world that is now dying, because those "powerful" people are, in truth, cowardly, fragile, obsolete, bigoted, monstrous 1%-ters who refuse to see things any other way, who lack imagination and love, and who refuse to accept how wonderfully, brilliantly diverse, flexible and changeable the human race is.

I recommend this answer to everyone, whether they are a fan of 'Steven Universe' or not.

One legit criticism, though: maybe Ruby and Sapphire's song, 'Something Entirely New' (is that what it's called?), could have been amalgamated with it somehow?


'Could this Gem's unthinkable courage override reality?'


'How could Ruby have ever hoped to combine with a Gem so valuable, so precious, so powerful, that she could see beyond space and time?'


'She was never meant to see Sapphire look at her like this--fascinated, bewildered, impressed--as if Ruby were the most important Gem in the universe!'


'But neither of them could deny that these things that were never supposed to happen were definitely happening!

And they started to wonder if what they were supposed to be and everything they were supposed to do

might just have been one of an infinite number of possibilities.'


'Ruby and Sapphire wondered if they'd get an even clearer view of this incredible planet...

...if they tried looking at it through the eyes of the Gem they'd made together!'


Now I really need to rewatch 'Steven Universe'.

Final Score: 4/5