Graphic Novel Review - 'A Song for You & I' by K. O'Neill

I am a little sad that I didn't love 'A Song for You & I' as much as I wanted to.

I mean, it's K. O'Neill! They are a wonderful, creative, LBGTQ+, BIPOC fantasy artistic genius. But I found their latest graphic novel to be rather underwhelming. Only its two main leads, Rowan and Leone, matter. They are given significant character development and arcs - everybody else is forgettable and disposable, and it seems like they are forgotten about by the end--no, actually by the middle of the graphic novel. Little details, such as those concerning the one-shot side characters and their dropped arcs, that seem important at the time, are forgotten about, as well.

Still, 'A Song for You & I' is another quiet, gentle, relaxing, moving, sweet cosy fantasy world story by K. O'Neill, with almost no conflict, except for what is internal. There is a theme of overcoming the self-imposed need to prove yourself to others... and to yourself. Live life, and exist as who you want to be; as your true self. You have value for who you are, not for what you do for others. Relax, and remember that you are already great, talented, and worthy of love.

The gift of expressing yourself, of giving because you want to and it makes you happy, and of being there for loved ones and strangers alike, it is enough.

'A Song for You & I' is especially breezy in its hillside, mountainside, and countryside setting, and how it has flying horses with wings in it. It is a therapeutic coming-of-age tale.

Connecting to the abovementioned life-affirming, coming-of-age stuff, it is a very good* addition to the recent, and much needed, long line of graphic novels dealing with LBGTQ+ and gender dysphoria and identity themes. It is also like a masc version of O'Neill's first comic, 'Princess Princess Ever After', only with no villain, nor royalty**.

And like with all of O'Neill's comics, it would fit perfectly as a Studio Ghibli film.

'A Song for You & I' is a bit underdeveloped and disappointing, but it is a lovely, wholesome, soft, sweet, simple work of art, for all ages. It is not so mild, and definitely not mid.

I will be keeping this treasure as part of my K. O'Neill collection.

One more thing to add: the blurb is somewhat inaccurate. It goes on and on about the protagonist wanting to be a hero, and failing as a hero in a typical story. 'A Song for You & I' isn't exactly about aspiring heroics; it is more about someone wanting to prove that they can do something, and are worth something, when in fact just being who they are and living life is enough. There are many ways of being strong, and a protector. I'll give the blurb credit for not deadnaming the protag, and referring to them by they/them pronouns, when their pronouns are not made clear in the book itself.

Thus concludes Artemis Crescent's review of a new K. O'Neill graphic novel.

For further reading, here are my reviews of:


'Princess Princess Ever After'

'The Tea Dragon Society'

'The Tea Dragon Festival'

'The Tea Dragon Tapestry'

'Aquicorn Cove'

'The Moth Keeper'


Final Score: 3/5

*I am in no position to judge if this representation is in fact excellently portrayed, but I'm sure it is for other people, and it is #ownvoices, so. There you go.

**Additional graphic novel comparison: 'The Baker and the Bard'.

Graphic Novel Review - 'Strange Bedfellows' by Ariel Slament Ries

From the author of the 'Witchy' books comes one of the best futuristic sci-fi LBGTQ+ comics and concepts ever.

'Strange Bedfellows' contains gorgeous and expressive artwork, masterful storytelling and character crafting, effortless trans, nonbinary, and other queer rep (I don't think anyone is straight), an all-POC cast, and creativity that practically (star)bursts on every page like a supernova or nebula. It is hard to top something like it.

'Strange Bedfellows' - further proof that graphic novels are an art, and a miracle.

And because it is so good, I'm not going to reveal a thing about its plot or characters. Go in blind, like I was; all the better for a surprising, enriching experience.

This is what it must be like to be in space, and looking into the cosmos - throughout all the overwhelming emotion, it teaches you once and for all that there is no limit out there, and simultaneously no limit to being human. No real limits within or without. There should be no limitations placed on humanity. Why should there be? Nothing and no one beyond earth and in the big, endless universe would stop us, tell us what we should and shouldn't do; what we should and shouldn't be.

Reach out within, and above and beyond.

Imagine! Create! Be! The possibilities are infinite.

(So take down the patriarchy, white supremacy, warfare, capitalism and money, too, while you're at it.)

This is a future for humanity worth striving for.

'Strange Bedfellows' is explosive, emotional storytelling, and a creative, comforting, and hopeful ride. It is also very funny, witty, clever, touching, sad, heartbreaking, and bittersweet, to go with its themes of identity, self-discovery, connection, empathy, doing what you love, navigating with the people in your life who love you, and mental illnesses, such as anxiety, panic attacks, breakdowns, and burnout.

It isn't perfect, however. The comic is a bit long and overwrought, and the main characters are not always likeable - though they are only human... humans with mutant superpowers, and there are no actual space aliens in this intergalactic sci-fi take on the future.

But it is worth it.

'Strange Bedfellows' is, in more ways than one, a dream come true.

I recommend it to everyone, including 'Star Trek' fans, 'Doctor Who' fans, 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' fans, and people who like 'Akira', and the comics 'Project Nought', 'On A Sunbeam', 'Juniper Mae', 'The Infinity Particle', and '5 Worlds'.

Final Score: 4/5

P.S. I have to add, that I find it really funny that so many works of science fiction will bend over backwards never to use the word mutant when depicting otherwise ordinary humans with superhuman/metahuman powers and abilities, often inherent, because they are afraid that Marvel will sue them or something. As if Stan Lee and the rest of Marvel came up with the word, and therefore it is solely theirs, and they've patented it.

Like, in 'Strange Bedfellows', people with powers - developed from space radiation that infected their parents and grandparents - are called Ghosts. I don't exactly get it either. Another example is in the anime 'Tiger & Bunny', where people with powers, who are also superheroes, are known as NEXT (Noted Entities with eXtraordinary Talents). Individuals with witchlike/supernatural abilities in the anime 'Witch Hunter Robin' are called "seeds". In the television show 'Smallville', a DC adapted property, humans infected by scattered pieces of kryptonite from a meteor shower are called krypto-freaks, or just kryptonite-poisoned metahumans. And in another show, 'Heroes', people with powers are referred to as... people with powers. Zero points for creativity there, 'Heroes'.

I mean, 'X-Men' shouldn't be the only franchise in existence allowed to say a simple, pedestrian word like mutant! People in real life would definitely say mutant! Not solely "the infected" or something to do with evolution or a phenomena or whatever!

It's like in zombie horror fiction, where more often than not the word zombie is in fact never used for some reason - they are also "the infected", or "them", which is meant to sound ominous but is actually vague, lazy, stupid and unrealistic. We would definitely, 100% call them zombies! Because that's what they are!

Humans in a non-fantasy world setting with metahuman abilities - humans with cool superpowers of any kind, of any origin, but most notably from radiation and/or genetics - are mutated persons, i.e. mutants!

I just thought I'd point this trope out.

Graphic Novel Review - 'Story Spinners: A Sisterly Tale of Danger, a Princess, and Her Crew of Lady Pirates' by Cassandra Federman

Oh my goddesses, what a fun, funny, joyful kids' comic.

'Story Spinners: A Sisterly Tale of Danger, a Princess, and Her Crew of Lady Pirates' - it is exactly what you'd expect from a title like that. It is a romp. A rumpus ode to girlhood, sisterhood, and feminism told in modern children's fairy tale comic form:

Sisters! Princesses! Lady pirates! Female friendship and companionship (and other ships ;) ) over men. Females having adventures and being creative and spontaneous (and diplomatic!) over a happily ever after "true love" with a man, a "prince".

Dragons! Mermaids! Spiders! Sharks! Sentient monster garbage trucks! Volcanoes! Vampires (sort of)! This graphic novel has it all!

Practically every female of every kind is represented here, even if in the background.

(That includes POC rep and LBGTQ+ rep in the art.)

What delightful imaginations young girls have! We need to celebrate stories like these.

There's even an environmental message to go with the sisterhood, the storytelling, the subversive fairy tale, and the feminist teachings.

Who knew that a simple narrative about two very different sisters - the older "mature, intelligent" Kennedy and the younger "stupid, out of control, messy, tomboy" Devon - who try to navigate and compromise when telling their own fairy tale to their baby sister, Eve, to get her to sleep at night, could be so hilarious, fun and infectious? It is wild and random (but not really) in the best way. It is a great way to showcase children making up a story on the spot, and who learn to communicate, see the benefits in each other's differences, and accept and love each other as they are.

Kennedy and Devon's much younger sister brings them closer together by the end of the progressively feminist tale.

Sisters forever!

I don't have a sister. Not a sister by blood, anyway I sometimes wish I did. But I imagine this is a realistic, if exaggerated for cartoony and comical effect, yet positive depiction of early childhood sisterhood. It is chaotic, but sweet.

'Story Spinners''s art is like that of a simple cartoon, or a comic strip, but it is very fitting, as is the use of shadowing and colours. The real world of Kennedy, Devon and Eve is mostly in purples, lilacs, blacks and whites (Kennedy's orange shirt and dialogue balloons stand out, as do Devon's blue clothes and dialogue balloons). The sisters' bedtime story, their princess fairy tale world, is all in colour, and it is action-packed and exciting.

'Story Spinners: A Sisterly Tale of Danger, a Princess, and Her Crew of Lady Pirates' is not as silly as it seems. It is genius.

It is like the best Nickelodeon cartoons. It is like 'The Powerpuff Girls' meets 'Princeless' (especially its spinoff, 'Princeless: Raven The Pirate Princess: Captain Raven and the All-Girl Pirate Crew') meets a less fantastical 'Of Her Own Design'. It should be adapted into an animated series. I hope it continues as a graphic novel series, at least.

Sisterhood, storytelling - it is its own magic, and journey of self-discovery. I've always known it, always reiterated it, and 'Story Spinners' is the newest reminder and reinforcer of this truth.

Happy Story Spinners and Sisters, Eve!

Final Score: 5/5

Book Review - 'Good Different' by Meg Eden Kuyatt

'Good Different' - one of the most darn beautiful and relatable things ever.

It is more than a book; it is an experience.

I rarely read novels in verse, and poetry, but 'Good Different' got me. It hooked me from the start. It can be read in a day, no matter what else you're doing.

It is a beautiful piece of modern literature for all ages, about kindness, understanding, empathy, boundaries, likes, dislikes, and realising that, yeah, everybody is different - every human being is different, it is impossible for us all to be a single homogenous hivemind built to serve within the confined structures of set rules made to keep us under control and "normal" - and that's okay. It's a great, marvellous thing.

There is no such thing as "normal". Any failure to conform to "normal" standards is the failure of the system and the people in charge, and not anyone else.

Adapting means adjusting to necessary changes, and seeking help, care, support and understanding along the way, in order to "fit in" and "be normal". It means feeling accepted as you are, and therefore free and happy. It is not about conforming to oppressive, restrictive, harmful and unhealthy social rules, cues, and systems.

Administering change in the system, and accommodating an individual's needs, is also a message; a reminder that:

No one is alone. No one is a freak. There are more people like you than you think. There is someone out there who feels the same way you do, who likes what you like, and shares your experiences. You will know if you give them a chance, and let them in.

Everyone is weird, and that's amazing. It's fantastic. It's human.

To deny this, and to hide, censor and block this universal truth, is a violence. It is an evil, unnatural wrong.

'Good Different' is about neurodivergence and autism. It is about childhood, and growing up and discovering you are on the spectrum, and that there is nothing "wrong" with you after all. It is about a thirteen-year-old girl, Selah (I love her name, and I will always think of her as "Selah Moon" in my mind), and her self-discovery, coming-of-age journey, as she navigates school, friendships, and her family, which also has a history of autism (there is generational trauma in here, too).

Selah Godfrey tries to be "normal" and put on a neurotypical mask, but of course it is not working. In public, she is suffocating and hurting, constantly playing by the rules of "normal" she made up in her head, trying to keep herself under control, quiet, small and unassuming. Hiding in bathrooms and toilet cubicles, and at home and in her bedroom, won't work as temporary places for release and recharge forever.

Poor young Selah is exhausted. Being social and keeping up with other people is draining her, and she is on the edge - the edge of releasing, no--exploding at a worst time and place, and having a breakdown or meltdown. She can't hold in her true thoughts, feelings, quirks, and sensory issues for much longer.

But maybe writing will help. When she can't express herself in speech, maybe writing down her thoughts and feelings as poems will help. Help her feel free, and listened to.

As herself.

I adore that 'Good Different' is generally a feel-good, uplifting book, and that Selah does have lovely, encouraging and supportive teachers, like her brilliant English teacher. Mrs. V. Her family is learning and growing for the better, too, thanks to her. No more masking! Any selfish, narrowminded, not-so understanding characters, such as certain other teachers, and "friends", and her school principal, they are not given much of the time of day - not so obsessed over in sensitive Selah's life. Outright bullies are deservedly one-dimensional and not given any description and page time beyond a blip in a day and poem of Selah Godfrey.

Selah's special interest in and hyperfixation on the 'How to Train Your Dragon' series - and how she feels like a dragon in a world built for humans - is especially adorable. I love and relate to anyone with geeky interests. Her going to a fantasy con with her friend, Noelle, is a magical highlight - and an enlightening experience, for both Selah and the reader - in so many ways.

Selah feels she is a dragon, or a dragon tamer and rider. She feels there is a dragon inside of her; she wants to be a dragon, and let all the boiling, building fire out. I personally feel I am, and want to be, a magical girl (from my "Selah Moon" comment, this is probably obvious even to people who don't know me). I think I've always felt that way, since my very lonely and struggling childhood.

This novel in verse really touched and spoke to be on a deep level.

Selah, go be a dragon, and I'll be a magical girl and witch.

Let us make magic and change together.



I'll reveal nothing further.

Just read 'Good Different'. It is good for the soul. It is one of the best books about autism ever written. Forget 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time', read this instead. And 'A Kind of Spark', which in my opinion isn't perfect, but is still worth the read (it is especially relevant for its subject matter of witch trials and why they happened).

'Good Different' and 'A Kind of Spark' encourage empathy for difference (it is one of the things that is inherent and can't be taught; only hatred and bigotry are taught), and a strong sense of social justice, in people.

Autistic children, autistic adults, let it be known once and for all:

There is nothing wrong with you. You are not weird in a bad way. You are not a mistake. You are not broken. You are not damaged. You are not dangerous. You are not onerous; a burden or a nuisance.

You are you. You are an individual. You should stand out. You are the most beautiful creation the world should be grateful to know. You are important and needed in the world.

You are loved.

Screw normal. It's a manmade myth.

We are all different, and no one is alone. Let us embrace that.

Let us express it creatively and imaginatively, like the dragon girl Selah.

Like dragons, let's soar.

What a positive, uplifting, empowering, hopeful message.

Go check out 'Good Different' right now, if you haven't already. Trust me, you need it. Everybody needs it. You will not be the same afterwards.

And that will only be a good thing.

Adios, depression!

Final Score: 5/5

P.S. In terms of LBGTQ+ rep, there is an artist at a booth at the fantasy con that Selah and Noelle go to, who is referred to by they/them pronouns. Then there's Noelle once saying she has no interest in romance whatsoever, regardless of gender. That's about it, and whether it's intentional rep or not, I'm counting it as such anyway.

Book Review - 'A Library' by Nikki Giovanni (Writer), Erin K. Robinson (Illustrator)

A beautiful little picture book with gorgeous, experimental, patchy (in a good way!) illustrations, that is about, of course, a library.

'A Library' is about one little African American girl's love for her local library and the books she borrows and reads from there. For each book is a magical journey, where she can experience so many different emotions, and explore many different scenarios and adventures.

Indeed, books and libraries are magic.

They are a sanctuary. They are not merely an escape; they are places that provide hope, courage, support, learning, understanding, and kindness.

Children deserve magic, play and creativity in their lives.

'A Library' isn't perfect to me - I felt it could have contained more substance, especially concerning the nondescript books themselves that the girl devours, and it is so short and not that wordy that it can be finished in about half a minute - but it is good for emotional intelligence for children.

Protect libraries everywhere. Protect books. Protect learning and education. Always.



'A library is: a place to be free [...]'


'[...] to be wonderful
to be you

a place to be
yeah...to be [...]'


'[...] to be
another
me.'



Of course, you can read anywhere, not just libraries, at anytime. To find you, to be you - a better you - and another you.

Exploration, emotions, and empathy!

Beautiful, human explorations.

Final Score: 4/5

Manga Review - 'Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena' by Chiho Saitō (Writer, Artist), Be-Papas (Original Creator), Fred Burke (English Adaptation), Lillian Olsen (Translator)

Funny, I bought this before I remembered that I already read it and owned it, as part of the 'Revolutionary Girl Utena Complete Deluxe Box Set'. I had pretty much forgotten all about the manga version of the movie 'Adolescence of Utena'. Until now.

For what it's worth, 'Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena' is an okay, if truncated, manga adaptation, with its own choices, traits, strengths and weaknesses. On its own, it is serviceable and enjoyable, with a great, classic shōjo art style that reminds me of Naoko Takeuchi's. It is nowhere close to the WTF factor as the movie, nor as subtle. What is going on and why is explained quite plainly to the reader. It certainly takes itself more seriously.

In addition, any character besides Utena, Anthy, Touga and Akio, such as the other duelists, they are completely forgotten about by the end. They end up serving no purpose. It is all about the foursome; they are the focus.

Speaking of focus, it is not much a deconstructed fairy tale, with a strong emphasis on subverting gender roles and identity (though it is present), like the original anime.

Still, it is a good, fantastical, brutal, grown-up little story and collectible for any 'Revolutionary Girl Utena' fan. It is especially refreshing to include it in the manga adaptation collection, which has been, sadly, a straightwashed, straightforward, watered down and less symbolic version of the anime. 'Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena' isn't straightwashed, thankfully. Slightly less incest than in the anime, too.

It's also weird how Chu-chu, Anthy's little pet monkey, does end up making an appearance here, but not Nanami, Touga's younger sister. She doesn't exist in this alternate reality.

I know I've said this time and time again, but poor girl.

Nanami just can't catch a break.

For more context, and further thoughts on the manga series and the anime series, read my review of the 'Revolutionary Girl Utena Complete Deluxe Box Set'.

Then there's my recent review of 'Revolutionary Girl Utena: After the Revolution'.

Farewell, 'RGU'. Farewell, Utena. Till we meet again. May you keep revolutionising the world. Alongside your true love, Anthy.

Sapphic love revolutionises the world. Subtly.

Farewell to all the roses and stars.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Botticelli's Apprentice' by Ursula Murray Husted

'Botticelli's Apprentice' - what a colourful, cute, poignant, meaningful, heartwarming feminist history lesson and art lesson this turned out to be.

I might not be that interested in Italian history, the Italian Renaissance arts, or how paints, powders, paintbrushes, panels, canvasses and portraits are made, but wow did 'Botticelli's Apprentice' manage to hold my attention and keep me invested for 257 pages in under two hours. In fact, I am now fascinated by how paints and brushes are made, at least originally. (All those eggs and crystals! And goose feathers!)

Humans are such fascinating, amazing, innovative, inventive, creative, and invigorative beings. Seeing how art is created - how classic works of art, like from the Renaissance period, were made - is an enlightening, soulful experience. I feel honoured and privileged.

And this is coming from a graphic novel that wouldn't look out of place in something like 'Hark! A Vagrant', or the works of Pénélope Bagieu. Don't let the cartoony and childlike art style fool you - it is a work of art in of itself. Beneath the surface, the cover, it's a smart, subtle, unpretentious, well-rounded, all-encompassing beauty.

'Botticelli's Apprentice' is a funny, touching and charming children's historical fiction graphic novel, full of heart, brains, and passion.

For all its educational content, at its heart it is about a chicken farm girl, Mella, who wants to be an artist - she is an artist - and her scraggly dog who chews and eats everything. A boy apprentice/reluctant partner is there too, I guess.

There are older female characters who inspire Mella; not solely and simply Sandro Botticelli, and Leonardo da Vinci. In fact, the older women, including her mother and aunt, are Mella's muses, in more ways than one.

I love Mella. Such a strong, determined, intrepid, brave, wise, funny, temperamental, and sensitive young girl. And brown-haired girls FTW! I love too how loving and supportive her mother and her aunt are. I wish they could have received extra page time.

Oh, 'Botticelli's Apprentice', what a lovely masterpiece you are. It's funny how I read Ursula Murray Husted's previous comic, 'A Cat Story', first, and it wasn't until I got my hands on this that I realised it's by the same author. In my humble opinion, 'Botticelli's Apprentice' is a better work of all-ages art and fiction, and Italian art history lesson.

This year, I am going to Rome, and very soon, so it seems fitting that I read the 2025 graphic novel 'Botticelli's Apprentice' when I did, and really liked it.

It's brilliant, and a reminder of just how important art is.

Final Score: 4/5