October Magica - 'Volume 1'

WELCOME TO OCTOBER MAGICA!

"I want you to contract with me... and become magical girls!"

"These wishes... do they absolutely have to be for yourself?"

"Do you truly want that person's dream to come true? Or is it that you want to be that person's savior for making that dream come true?"

'Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.'

Fresh off of September Moon, comes another month where I reread another popular magical girl manga series.

This time it's October Magica, where each day I will reread and rereview a manga volume based on the anime, 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'.

'Madoka Magica', while more recent than the classic 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon', has no less become almost as synonymous with the magical girl genre as the latter franchise - the dominating cultural phenomenon across the globe. Considerably a "dark deconstruction" of magical girls, that is overall a darn great, intricately and solidly written Faustian story - and really a perfectly written, characterised and animated twelve-episode anime, as compact as they come - 'Madoka''s success and popularity in both Japan and the West are more than deserved. It has remained a beloved anime darling since its first airing in 2011.

The fact that I remember vividly when it came out, and when I first saw it online, fifteen years ago... time is scarier than any monster and existentialist theme.

That said, I have to wonder why the magical girl genre is still not respected and taken seriously in the mainstream pop culture sphere, compared to anime and other media aimed at "boys". Why is it still not talked about nearly as much - not even close - as other genres in anime and manga, like those in Shōnen Jump? Deep rooted, persistent misogyny, and the patriarchy's insecure and pathetic hatred of all things "girly" and "feminine", definitely come to mind...

'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' is a freaking goddess-send of an animated series, that everyone should watch, and it is one of my favourite anime, period; not only of the magical girl genre.

My way of celebrating 'Madoka Magica' in 2026, and, appropriately, in the witchy month of October, is to spend each day rereading and rereviewing a volume of the various manga adaptations and spinoffs I own - and only what I own; I haven't read every manga spinoff series, as I don't have the time, money, or inclination to.

I'll start with the very first manga adaptation, 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Vol. 1', for October 1st.

Rereview here, for your (re)reading pleasure.

'Feel the witches' curses and wards, and the horrifying aura, and step into the dark.

But whatever you do, never, ever make a contract with Kyubey.'

Graphic Novel Review - 'The Legend of Korra: Kya and the Secret of the Sand' by Kiku Hughes (Writer), Alexandria Monik (Artist), Diana Sousa (Colourist), Richard Starkings (Letterer), Jimmy Betancourt (Letterer)

A nice little comic treat for Kya from 'The Legend of Korra'.

'Kya and the Secret of the Sand' is framed as a story that Kya tells Korra, set between seasons three and four of the show, when Korra is recuperating and going through physical therapy, among other therapies, as she has sunk into a deep depression after her trauma, inflicted on her in the third season finale. Kya tries to help her, by explaining a time when she also felt disconnected from everything she is, and who she thought she was; when her world had turned upside down in conflict, confusion, and generational and spiritual trauma.

Avatar or not - a child of the Avatar or not - trauma of all kinds is real, and felt by everyone affected by it from all sides, levels and layers, whether they consciously realise it or not. History, including all of its human travesties and pain, needs to be passed down, and shared openly and honestly - for learning, for healing, for progress, to begin earnestly, within and without. As a support group and community, for no one should suffer alone.

One of the lessons to take away from 'Kya and the Secret of the Sand'* is: Stop ongoing corruption and the aftereffects of war. Pick up the pieces, and heal as best you can, externally and internally. And uncover the truths deliberately left buried, figuratively and literally. It won't be easy - it never is - but your efforts will be worth it some day.

Just because a war is over in favour of the "good guys"'s side (for no one truly wins in war - it shouldn't have happened in the first place, and it only leaves behind mass death and devastation), it doesn't mean the work is done, and it's all happily-ever-after onwards. It's not that simple. Leave no stone (or dune) unturned; no trace of a fascist regime unchecked, and left to carry on and continue to make people suffer, in the hands and in the pockets of the rich and privileged.

I like this one. I like these 'Avatar' and 'Korra' comics that give the spotlight to female characters who were otherwise underutilised in their respective shows, such as Suki in 'Suki, Alone'.

Indeed, Kya is more than just the daughter of Aang and Katara, and the middle child of her family. In 'The Secret of the Sand', Kya is as great a young waterbending healer as she is an elderly waterbending master.

In a snippet of her past, she's a wide-eyed, optimistic healer and teacher - a doctor, professor and missionary, basically - wanting to help people in places unfamiliar to her - in this case, the deserts and outskirts of the Earth Kingdom, among the recruited and unfairly reviled and stigmatised sandbenders. Above all, she wants to find herself; her identity outside of being a child of Avatar Aang, who saved the world. (Also, she's moving on from her first heartbreak, possibly connected to her queer awakening).

I like that both the writing and the art don't make Kya into a clone of her mother. The comic makes sure that we know she is her own separate, independent character, and a likeable, loving, altruistic heroine worth rooting for, as she roots out (sorrynotsorry) just a part of the grand scale, systematic corruption at the Earth Kingdom that's been going on for generations. Slight spoiler, but it's to do with draught, and restricted water access - life source access - for people everywhere. It's about governments limiting resources for survival (or not), depending on class, of course.

Kya is a waterbender and master healer, so this task suits her in many ways. She will have to overcome inner, spiritual conflict and blockage (the story's use of metaphor is not lost on me) on this coming-of-age adventure. And she has other women by her side as comrades and friends, to face this man-made-and-led, rotten system head on.

There is more to the comic than that, crammed into its seventy pages. This lies at the problem of it being too short to show and explore everything its writer, Kiku Hughes, no doubt wanted to, and much further.

But for what it is, it's okay. It's cute.

One area it doesn't explore to its full potential is Kya's budding sexuality - that aspect of her character is not made explicit, only implied. It is subtle, with no words (none are needed?); specifically in her relationship with her female sandbending partner, named Tsetseg, a largely ostracised recluse who ends up teaching her so much, about the Earth Kingdom deserts, her people's forgotten history, and Kya's inner peace and limitless bending possibilities.

Tsetseg's family has suffered greatly, and not only during the hundred years war, but they survived. They always survive. She has brilliant lines such as: "[...] the Earth Kingdom think that strength only comes from immovability. They think that's what a mountain is. But we know that strength also comes from the ability to adapt. To become something new while remaining yourself. It's not easy to do." and "Stealing people's land, their water, their families--that's all any kingdom is."

I hope Kya and Tsetseg did meet again, at the very least.

There is also the moment where Kya is settling in in her camp base, her healing teacher's quarters, and she places her family picture on her desk... then she puts it back in her bag. This is never brought up again. Is it a sign of her independence? But she never wanted to cut herself off from her family, since despite growing up with a significant amount of pressure and expectation, she still loves them, so... why no coming back to that? It could have added more to her character development. It's yet another aspect to her that's left by the wayside - by the blocked waterslide.

Like nearly every 'Avatar' and 'Korra' comic, 'Kya and the Secret of the Sand' could have benefitted from being longer and more developed. Gimme more!

But I remain liking Kya and this little story, from when she was a young woman, finding and healing herself, and fully experiencing a queer awakening in the process. Just like Korra. (No Asami here either, sadly.)

Hooray for Kya, the lesbian waterbending master and healer!

Related is my review of 'Suki, Alone', which can be found here.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Queen of the Sea' by Dylan Meconis

'Queen of the Sea'

It's a big, long historical fiction graphic novel.

But it is utterly engaging, stunning, fascinating and enchanting, and, in my opinion, never boring.

Why, I read it all in one night! I couldn't put it down.

'Queen of the Sea', by Dylan Meconis, author of 'Bite Me! A Vampire Farse' (the main reason I wanted to read this, I'm not ashamed to admit), is basically a reimagining of the early reign of Queen Elizabeth I in the sixteenth century, and her years-long conflict and control for the throne and Crown of England from her half-sister Mary I, aka "Bloody Mary". The names are changed, and Elizabeth of England - or Eleanor of Albion - isn't the main character.

'Queen of the Sea' is told entirely (except for the prologue) from the point of view of Margaret, a young girl raised in a convent on a tiny island off the coast of Albion, where Eleanor ends up in exile.

Margaret's existence is a mystery even to herself, and the kindly yet conflicted and secretive nuns who raised her won't give her straightforward or helpful answers to her probing questions. (Heck, historically, and compared to other portrayals of orderly religious women out there, these are the most positive and human nuns I've seen since 'The Sound of Music'.)

More than anything, this is the coming-of-age story of Margaret. Smart, cunning, compassionate, feisty, brave, bold, redhaired Margaret - sheltered and isolated, yet never alone.

There is so much to talk about in 'Queen of the Sea'. So much happens, and here are numerous themes to explore.

But I'd rather as many readers as possible go into it mostly blind, like I was.

Just know that I'm sure it will be worth it.

It is an alternate history lesson come to life, containing painfully - and heroically - human characters and players.

Chess players, that is.

Devastating, yet beautiful and lush. And magnificently intriguing. It even manages to be funny, witty and clever, at appropriate moments, which are surprisingly many.

It is a book that is hard to put down, and you wouldn't want to.

Which makes it a further devastation that it ends on a cliffhanger, and to date there is no news of a sequel release. At all. After seven years.

It's a real shame.

But I can only surmise - and hope - that things do work out for the bold, daring and determined Margaret, who will be a queen in her own right, whether anyone knows it or not.

Whether history remembers her for it or not.

Dylan Meconis definitely knows her history, and its nuances, and how people would have lived in the various, difficult, dangerous and deadly circumstances and political warfare of sixteenth century England; especially for those on a secluded little convent island, that serves as both a safe haven and prison for political exiles, pariahs, and other innocents. Meconis did her research. Her artwork is excellent, charming and appealing, as well. 'Queen of the Sea' must have taken her years to create and put together.

I can confidently declare it was absolutely worth every pencil stroke.

Best of all, it is all-ages! Anyone can read it, and enjoy it, and learn from it; take its lessons to heart.



'Queen of the Sea'

To be queen of a sea kingdom.

Eh, it would be no worse than any other kingdom that exists.



Final Score: 4.5/5

Book Review - 'Disney's Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Sally's Journal: Notes from Halloween Town and Beyond' by Mari Mancusi (Writer), Andre Ducci (Illustrator)

'Are you an adventurer looking to explore the far reaches of the Hinterlands? You've come to the right place!'

We're here, at my 1300th book review.

There comes a point where you've written so many reviews over the years that no number shocks you anymore.

Less shocking now is the fact that I've been rambling online about books for over thirteen years.

I reckon, for me, such a milestone review should be of a book that combines a myriad of the things I love, like the favourite ingredients to a meticulously, majestically brewed potion - witchcraft, Halloween, 'The Nightmare Before Christmas', Pumpkin Queen Sally the ragdoll, and other strong female characters and presences, and messages of love, community, equality, and building bridges.

And 'Disney's Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Sally's Journal: Notes from Halloween Town and Beyond' contains these in spades (and hearts). And it is such a fun, funny, creative, colourful, cute and engaging Halloween and holiday book, that can be devoured like trick-or-treat candy in one afternoon, at any day of the year, not just autumn.

The basic premise is: Sally is writing a journal and record of Halloween Town, and other Towns, such as Christmas Town, Valentine's Town, Easter Town, St. Patrick's Day Town, Time Town, Fable Town, and Dream Town, and each of their cultures, people and creatures, that she's discovered and explored so far. It's an adventurer's guide, for everyone to read and learn from, and be instructed on the various constructive crafts, potion recipes, and other fun activities included.

Those, and newspaper articles, and job advertisements.

Sally is a kind, friendly, benevolent, dedicated, determined, diplomatic, hardworking, responsible explorer queen, who wants to bring about peace, community and camaraderie between the holiday realms, and other realms hidden further in the mysterious Hinterlands.

'Sally's Journal' expands on the lore of the 1993 animated film, 'The Nightmare Before Christmas', that has been established in 'The Pumpkin Queen' novel series and 'Sally's Lament' (also written by Mari Mancusi!). I admit to only having read 'Long Live the Pumpkin Queen' by Shea Ernshaw, as well as its graphic novel adaptation, but that's not a problem; 'Sally's Journal' is very accessible to all sorts of readers, of all ages, with the additional lore and characters from other reading material explained simply therein.

I love all the contents, but I especially adore the section on Dream Town, and getting to know Luna Slumberly, Sally's apprentice.

Luna is another ragdoll, who made her debut in 'Hour of the Pumpkin Queen' by Megan Shepherd, the sequel to 'Long Live the Pumpkin Queen'. She was a volunteer at the Lullaby Library, and currently runs Dream Town. She is Sally's adventure buddy, bookworm best friend, and little sister figure (I'm going light on spoiler territory, here).

Luna sounds like a delight, anything but slumber-ly; a girl after my own heart! Also she has one of my favourite names, is a lilac girl, and strong female leads forever!

Sally's husband, Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, receives special and important mention and praise as well, of course.

The couple are adorable together. Well, Sally gets along with nearly everyone, and forms bonds with the many people she encounters on her travels.

She is a queen, but most importantly, she is a friend to all.

Great fun, creative and hilarious info is contained in the pages of 'Sally's Journal'. The illustrations by Andre Ducci are gorgeous, creative and brilliant, and fit 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' wonderfully, like a perfectly-sewed-and-coloured patchwork ragdoll.

'Disney's Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Sally's Journal: Notes from Halloween Town and Beyond' - an enjoyable, magical, otherworldly Halloween treat for 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' fans and beyond.

As delicious and irresistible as real candy.

Consider it an early Halloween present recommendation from Artemis Crescent, on her 1300th review.



'No matter what corner of the Hinterlands you decide to visit, I'm confident you can make you dreams (or, if you prefer, nightmares!) a reality.

Frightfully yours,

Sally (blurb)



And as Sally would say, '[...] we are much more alike than different. And with a little patience, respect, and understanding, we can gain so much from one another and enrich all our lives.' (page 14)



'Good or bad, whatever the challenges may be, I know we'll conquer them all. Because we'll do it together.
Clearly it was meant to be.

Yours in fright,

Sally' (page 207) ('Conclusion')



Connected book reviews:


'Long Live the Pumpkin Queen'

'Long Live the Pumpkin Queen (Graphic Novel)'


Final Score: 5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Daybreak, Vol. 1' by Moosopp

'They're crushing, there's chemistry, and they're totally clueless.'

Never has a concise blurb tagline been more accurate.

'Daybreak' is a webcomic about two high school seniors, Marcus and Cog, and their blossoming relationship. It's cute, adorable, wholesome, endearing, and frustrating, how neither of them would just be honest and confess their true feelings, when it is painfully obvious from the start that they really like each other. But teen anxieties and insecurities win out, and it's funnier and cuter this way, I guess?

Nah, I don't think so, but that's my personal preference; my stance against the trope of the long, drawn-out will-they-won't-they BS, in writing romantic relationships, when the couple in question getting together is a foregone conclusion and endgame 96% of the time. With very few exceptions, this type of relationship writing in fiction - the teasing, the noncommitment - is lazy, boring, and a waste of time, in my opinion. By the time the couple are together, at the merciful end of their story - or, frustrating you further, they still aren't together yet, or it's left ambiguous - it's not a satisfying conclusion, and you are either like "Ugh, FFS, finally!", or you're burned out in your investment, and you don't care anymore. It wasn't worth the wait.

But at least in 'Daybreak, Vol. 1' - the ongoing, coming-of-age webcomic so far - the love relationship between the two leads is sweet enough at whatever stage it's at.

Marcus and Cog are such interesting and three-dimensional main characters. Marcus is a tall sweetheart, a hugger, and a great cook (and he appears to have fangs, manga style...?), and Cog is shorter, grumpy, cool, laidback yet high strung at the same time, a bookworm and academic, and an aspiring actor. Hilarity, and misunderstandings, ensue between these barely-progressing, scared-to-advance-further, precious cinnamon roll lovebirds.

'Daybreak' really is like a much more comedic 'Heartstopper' and 'If You'll Have Me', and every slice-of-life high school manga ever. However, it's raises the bar higher than your average, standard manga set in a high school, and it is much funnier, cuter, lighter, and more colourful and heartwarming. And stars exclusively Black, Brown, Asian, and Muslim characters. And its LBGTQIA+ content is totally normalised. The diversity is so wonderful and refreshing, and treated as the perfectly normal and everyday way of life and humanity it is.

This isn't to say that 'Daybreak''s flaws can be overlooked, and its cuteness is able to eclipse them. Slow relationship progression between Marcus and Cog aside, they are the only characters given priority in focus and attention so far. With the exception of Cog's best friend Toma, every side character barely exists - I don't even think the names of the majority of them are yet known to the readers.

I suppose the cuteness and humour do win out at the end, though, as I still like 'Daybreak, Vol. 1'. I adore it's art, it's diversity, and Marcus and Cog, the clueless, unwilling queer-Black-boy couple of the century.

(One odd detail: Neither boy/enby appears to have parents.)

Diversity examples: Marcus is Black, trans, and has dreadlocks, Cog is Black, goes by he/him/they/them pronouns, and always wears a headband bonnet, Toma is Asian, and one of Marcus's friends wears a hijab and has vitiligo (I don't now her name, it's never stated, I'm sorry). No one is white. It's brilliant.

'Daybreak, Vol. 1' - I can't praise it enough for being cute and diverse AF. A lovely, hilarious, heart-melting, romantic POC and LBGTQIA+ webtoon.

Read it, and find yourself wishing for the MCs - for M and C - to hurry up and confess they like each other already! They're going out together like a couple anyway!

We'll have to wait, for them to be ready. For as long as it takes.

Hopefully it won't be too long!

Final Score: 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Raven Saga, Vol. 1' by Chihiro Howe

'Raven Saga, Vol. 1' - a webcomic that is all at once like multiple animated Disney films, Studio Ghibli films, and nineties anime shows. And like the spiritual sequel to multiple European fairy tales, both known and as yet unknown.

It is a lighthearted, whimsical fantasy adventure, with a dark, mysterious underbelly of a beast, that promises more violence, and possible tragedy, to come.

Basically, 'Raven Saga' is about Wen, a sixteen-year-old girl who lives in a secluded little farm in a wood with her kind but overprotective grandmother, Clarimonde, who forbids her from leaving the farm, past the stone markers at its gate. This is where Wen has spent her whole life, and of course she wants to go out and explore the world, and she grows frustrated over her grandma never telling her why she can't leave.

However, as circumstances almost mechanised by destiny would have it, Wen steps out of the farm in following a will-o'-the-wisp, unwittingly breaking a supernatural barrier around their home. A mysterious boy named Corliss and his talking swallow friend Theo arrive on the scene. Then Grandma Monde is kidnapped by another mysterious boy with ravens.

Together, Wen, Corliss and Theo travel the fairy tale world to find "the Court of the Stars" and "the Morning Star", and hopefully rescue Grandma. Wen is away from home for the first time, with Corliss as her protector (not so much guide, as he's got a terrible sense of direction; even she is better). She is both excited and scared, mostly for her grandma, and for what may lie ahead for her in an increasingly unpredictable world...

There is a lot more to it than that, but I don't wish to spoil too much. Just know that 'Raven Saga, Vol. 1' is full of charm and wonder, containing likeable characters, and mysteries that intrigue far more than frustrate as the volume progresses. The story is sweet and creative, yet no less foreboding, not to mention thrilling, and you can't wait to read what happens next.

Wen is a particularly lovely, sweet, wonderful, infectious, spritely and curious young heroine, who may seem naïve and helpless - for understandable reasons, as she's been sheltered all her life - but she proves to be capable and determined when the need rises. She will do anything to protect the people she cares about, and she misses her grandma terribly during her journey - her coming-of-age fairy tale. She gets happy and sad easily, and either way she won't give up on her objectives, and on other people, believing in the best of a world she hardly knows.

She's not worldly, but that doesn't mean she isn't smart. She reads books - she loves books, another reason to adore her.

Wen is like a fairy tale Disney Princess - the most obvious one - a source of inspiration - is Rapunzel - and I mean that as a compliment. She is rather a naïve and optimistic child, and no doubt she will grow and develop, and become stronger later on, with or without the men currently protecting her on her anime/fairy tale quest.

It is blatantly apparent that there is more to Wen than even she knows - how much has her grandmother been keeping from her? And why? And what does it have to do with ravens? And stars? - but it is yet another enticing mystery to the webcomic; to this blue-haired, yellow-eyed, sparkling gem of a fresh-faced heroine.

Flaws in 'Raven Saga, Vol. 1' include:

It ends on a cliffhanger too abruptly - darn Webtoon Unscrolled! - and there's no guarantee that any of the mysteries, big and small, left vague and shrouded in dark, undefined mists, will be revealed properly, let alone solved completely, in the next volume.

It is obvious that, typically, a romantic relationship is being planned and built between Wen and Corliss, her prince and white knight figure. She has no female friends yet, besides her grandmother.

And there is a very weird line of hers on page 220, regarding her group's journey: "It won't be a waste of time! We're getting somewhere, aren't we? Trust me... coming from someone going nowhere for the last ten years..." Uhhhhh, what? "going nowhere for the last ten years"? Wen is established to be sixteen at the beginning of the comic, and it has been stated many times that, for as long as she can remember, she has lived in her farm home alone with Monde, and has never been anywhere else until now. She never knew anyone else, either - not her parents, nobody. So what's the "going nowhere for the last ten years" about? Is it a typo? I genuinely implore anyone to explain this to me. Please.

But regardless, 'Raven Saga, Vol. 1' is so adorable, adoring, affectionate, passionate, engaging, dynamic and touching, as a cartoony, manga-esque (it's a webcomic, alright) adventure comic, containing fairy tale elements, that it is hard for me to resist.

It is, for lack of a better word, animated.

I recommend it for young adult audiences and older.

Looking for a happily ever after...?

We'll see if I will bother to continue the comic, in the next volume, in the future...

Final Score: 3.5/5

Book Review - 'Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies' by Megan McDonald (Writer), Lenny Wen (Illustrator)

'Imagine a door.

A teeny-tiny fairy door.
Now imagine it is magic.

Open the door.'



It's been a long time since a children's chapter book made me feel like a kid reading fantasy in the school library again, but golly gossamer wings, did 'Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies' deliver.

It's a short read that unabashedly, wonderfully follows child logic all the way through.

It is about a little girl named Eliza, who has a secret door to a fairy land in her private cubbyhole - the "Land of UnderStair" - in her bedroom. Nestled inside her cosy UnderStair lair are stuffed animals (that may be alive and whispering), drawings, and books such as 'The Daisy Chain Book of Fairies', and her diary, where she calls herself "Eliza of the Elves". With her dragonfly pin come to life, her "familiar" Haiku, Eliza has her adventures through the teeny-tiny, mossy door into the Land of the Fairies, wherein lies an enchanted forest, full of flower fairies, thyme bracelets, green-skinned witches, bark-skinned witches, curses, and sentient winds and storms. Plus fairy dust, and sprinkles of magic; magic that is usually small, quiet and unnoticeable, unless you believe in it.

There is nature, and flowers and rainbows everywhere! Magic and fairies are equal to them!

'Fairy Door Dairies' is like if Tinker Bell was good-natured all the time, and ever so fondly took over an 'Alice in Wonderland'-type storybook world. It is also like 'Rainbow Brite', and 'Dragon Tales', but with flower fairies. Its premise make its ripe with potential as a Saturday morning cartoon - it's positively blooming with it.

It is easy to interpret the fantasy world and elements as being from young Eliza's imagination, and whether or not it is doesn't matter. Just enjoy the excited child's rich imaginative adventure, that will later be written down in her diary, and read aloud to her younger sister, as a "true story?".

The fact that the fairy land and its door are already known and established by Eliza at the beginning of the book, as soon as she rushes home from school to her beach cottage, and into her bedroom cubbyhole, may confuse some readers, and make them feel like they've picked up a sequel instead of the first book of a series by mistake. But it isn't too disorientating or distracting. Again, just enjoy the creative fairy tale.

Why, daffodils with giraffe heads pop up at one point!

So charming, whimsical and magical. And nostalgic.

Like reading the fairy tales and adventure series you loved as a kid.

Oh, and the illustrations are cute and colourful, as well.

I recommend 'Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies' for children, and older, who are children at heart.

Final Score: 4/5