Graphic Novel Review - 'My Giant Nerd Boyfriend, Vol. 1: Big Love in Small Moments' by Yen Ee (Fishball)

'My Giant Nerd Boyfriend, Vol. 1: Big Love in Small Moments' - based on the ongoing webtoon by Fishball, here we have a bunch of funny anecdotal comic strips, about the life of the 5'2" artist and her 6'4" boyfriend-turned-husband.

It's not nearly as geeky as I'd hoped it'd be, and there is toilet humour and nudity humour, but apart from that, it is sweet and romantic.

I see quite a lot of myself in Fishball (though I prefer cats to dogs, though her Pomeranian Biscuit is cute as hell), and how I long for a relationship like the one she has with her giant nerd boyfriend - her funny, charmingly awkward and hot AF giant nerd boyfriend!

There are also sad, touching and poignant comic episodes near the end; it's not all stupid laughs. There are important things to learn while reading 'My Giant Nerd Boyfriend', such as: appreciate the time you have with your loved ones, because nothing lasts forever. Love and appreciate the people in your life, and the people who helped raise you into the amazing person you are today, for they love you so, so much.

Did not expect that from something like 'My Giant Nerd Boyfriend', but I'm glad it was made and included, in this collected volume.

Although, I guess I shouldn't be surprised, as the webcomic references covid-19 throughout, and it is depicted/treated with humour, heart, helpfulness, self-love and community.

Similar webcomics:


'Adulthood Is a Myth (A "Sarah's Scribbles" Collection)'

'What's Up, Beanie?: Acutely Relatable Comics'

'I Left the House Today!'

'Fangs'

'The Secret Loves of Geek Girls'


'My Giant Nerd Boyfriend, Vol. 1: Big Love in Small Moments' by Yen Ee, aka Fishball - get right on down and read it, and prepare to laugh, cry, and love.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Harley & Ivy: Life & Crimes' by Erica Henderson, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (Letterer)

'Harley & Ivy: Life & Crimes' by Erica Henderson - what silly, goofy, cartoony LBGTQIA+ fun! That is also a lot deeper and more introspective than it appears.

It is a standalone Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy comic - there is no specific continuity connecting it to anything; at least, nothing fixed (Joker has his 'New 52 Detective Comics'/'Death of the Family' faceoff phase here, and Ivy's backstory has elements that might have been borrowed from G. Willow Wilson's comic run of her character). Anyone can read it, and get the gist of Harley and Ivy's relationship - from clown henchwoman/ecoterrorist fugitives, to fugitive lovers - without being too confused, or having to worry about reading any preexisting DC material.

The Life and Crimes of Harley and Ivy is pure, cheesy fun. Even including the sexytimes and running-from-the-law-in-complete-nudity scenes, where your mileage my vary on whether they are done tastefully or not. Henderson executes these in funny and creative ways, and along with Joker's appearance they are proof the comic is not for kids. I don't care for the sex, the nudity, and the final issue's ending tongue-kissing, but that's solely due to personal preference.

Gorgeous cover art, though.

Great artwork, great characters, both mains and one-offs (Abigail "Ma" Hunkel is a fantastic addition to the cast), and a funny and entertaining buddy comedy/LBGTQIA+ love story overall, Erica Henderson really outdid herself. She wrote, drew and coloured all of 'Harley & Ivy: Life & Crimes', and it is commendable.

Harley is Harley, and Ivy is Ivy, and as different as they are, they compliment and complete each other.

Once again, we as a comic book and pop culture media audience are reminded that Harley Quinn does not need Joker. She never needed him. That cycle of abuse is ended. It is never coming back into play ever again. Partly - well, mostly - thanks to Harley meeting the right woman, who is also her best friend.

Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn and Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy - doing crimes, destroying the shit out of shitty men via plant vines, and - though it doesn't need to be said nowadays, and certainly not in this comic - being gay/bi.

They are meant to be.

They are the ultimate OTP of DC Comics.

Other recommended Harlivy comics:


'Harley Quinn: The Animated Series, Vol. 1: The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour'

'Harley Quinn, Vol. 1: Girl in a Crisis'

'The Strange Case of Harleen and Harley'


Final Score: 3.5/5

Book Review - 'Kiki and the New Magic' by Eiko Kadono, Emily Balistrieri (Translator), Joe Todd-Stanton (Illustrator)

'Kiki and the New Magic' - the sequel to one of my favourite books ever - and one of my favourite pop culture IPs ever - 'Kiki's Delivery Service'.

It's August 2026, and, finally, I got my hands on an early-published paperback copy of 'Kiki and the New Magic' at my local bookshop, and upon reading it, I think I understand why it wasn't widely released with an English translation for so long - thirty three years, in fact - even after the first book had its inaugural English release. Maybe it's because it's... not very good.

I mean, it is highly entertaining - the second chapter and "delivery" has Kiki deliver a baby hippo from a zoo to an animal hospital that culminates in her herding a runaway elephant, it certainly starts with a bang! - and even thoughtful and enlightening; each "delivery" chapter and adventure is more different than the last, yet there is the continuing thread and theme of Kiki's coming-of-age and her figuring out what she would really like to do with her life, as both a normal fourteen-year-old girl and a witch, and not just any witch, but the lone witch in her area, whose only current talent and passion is flying on her broomstick. This won't stop people from placing high expectations on the overworked young delivery witch; they put too much pressure on her, make wild, old-fashioned, inaccurate assumptions about her, stereotype her, both positively and negatively, and take her for granted.

Kiki becomes frustrated and stressed. Life's unpredictability, delivery disasters, delivery/witch postal anxieties, the cluelessness of the ordinary people closest to her, and her losing confidence in herself as a witch, all result in her magic fluctuating, and breaking. She's off-balance, in a funk, not right within herself, has a "Missing Centre Syndrome", like the baby hippo whose tail was eaten by a lion (yes, you read that correctly).

But then, through an open mind and heart, thanks to the different people around her, Kiki fixes and gains her magic - and herself - back in full... as a different kind of magic. A new magic, by her choice. The exploration and practicality of that choice is as much its own magic as the actual magic. It's sort of similar to how the second half of the Studio Ghibli film develops her character and coming-of-age growth.

Plus, how refreshing and freeing that the teenage girl would like to wear colourful, floral dresses, when traditionally witches only wear black.

However, to go back to 'Kiki and the New Magic''s... dip in quality from its first instalment:

As good as its concepts are, how the book executes them is rather messy, uneven and disjointed. The pacing is as fast as Kiki at her fastest on her broom, and just as breezy - the whole thing can be read in a day, which isn't a bad thing, notably for a children's book, but it can make it easy for details, themes and subtext to go over a reader's head in a flash, as memorable as the contents are.

Some of the ideas and writing choices are utterly bizarre, and I don't think this is solely on the English translation. Example one: has Kiki always switched around in referring to her own mother as her mum and by her name, Kokiri? Is this simply an inconsistency? And I hardly believed the two witches are related even when they are together, so bafflingly distant they are. Example two: the weird, thoughtless dialogue the characters spout sometimes - be they main, recurring or only existing in a single chapter - they will make you raise an eyebrow, even if their actions are reasonable otherwise. Example magic number three; at least a few of the chapters don't have the best, most conclusive endings, but one chapter, about hundreds of tennis shoe deliveries and a New Year's marathon race involving Kiki's entire town, and hot sweet potatoes as the reward and finishing line, ends prematurely with no conclusion whatsoever!

Why, with all the weirdness presented, and especially in showing how humans would act in a world where witches are rare but definitely exist - strangely, yet understandably and believably - 'Kiki and the New Magic' is exactly like a '90s low-budget, cosy slice-of-life fantasy anime!

Even with its flaws, its oddness - its hippos, its elephants, its magicians, its tree songs, its neglectful scientist fathers, its singing sloth-like creatures on a tiny island, its white shirt sails, its apples, its red shoes, its potatoes, its tennis shoes, its icy-cold seasons (and other seasons), its Mary Poppins-ness, and so much more - it is still 'Kiki's Delivery Service', and I love it.

I can't help it.

Kiki is still Kiki, and it is great to see her on her delivery adventures again, and the eclectic, eccentric places they take her.

Whether Eiko Kadono wrote 'The New Magic' and the rest of the 'Kiki' series to capitalise on the success of the first book and the Studio Ghibli adaptation by Hayao Miyazaki, I cannot judge, but it has lots (broom)riding on it.

There is genuine charm and whimsy to be found. My favourite chapters - "deliveries", episodic adventures - have to be: 'Kiki Delivers a Walk', where Kiki takes a mapped-out walk around town with an old man's cane on his bedridden request in a hospital - there is magic and bittersweetness, and a giant tree, a jungle gym, and a houseboat; 'Kiki Delivers Red Shoes', which is also about trips down memory lane, and helping the impaired elderly reconnect with themselves and possibly others; and 'Kiki Delivers a Window to the Forest', which is as sweet and whimsical as it sounds.

Another recurring character thread is Kiki's potential romantic feelings for her flight-obsessed friend Tombo, who is a reckless, overenthusiastic and oblivious boy, almost exactly like his Studio Ghibli counterpart. However, this relationship development doesn't lead anywhere at this point, and it seems to be forgotten about by the end.

Jiji the black cat is as snarky and funny as ever. He may indeed be Kiki's wiser, mature inner voice. He receives a romance with another cat in the book.

Medicine Herb Road is such an adorable name...

'Kiki and the New Magic' - off-kilter and helter-skelter. Disconnected, yet connected, through human feelings and experiences. And traditions. It is a bizarro magic world, but it is Kiki's cosy magic world, full of excitement, possibility, probability, and opportunity, and therefore wonder.

It's cute, funny and heartfelt. I recommend it to every fan of Kiki - the most wonderful and relatable young witch to come out of Japan!


"'Making' is mysterious. You're the one making, and yet you're not..."


My review of 'Kiki's Delivery Service'.

Final Score: 3.5/5

RIP Dolly

To a legend, a wonder and miracle of a person, Dolly Parton:

Rest in peace.

You will be loved and remembered by the whole world, forever.

For your amazing talents, passion, creativity and drive, and for you teaching us all to love each other, and ourselves.

Let us never forget.

Let us continue to be inspired, to be our best selves.

Continue reaching, with no limits.

Continue to be inspired by each of our coats of many colours.

Sincerely, from the world,

Love you, Dolly

😢

Graphic Novel Review - 'Disney Princess Comic Strips: The Enchanted Collection' by the Walt Disney Company, Joe Books, Amy Mebberson, Various

A cute and fun collection of webcomics, starring the Disney Princesses, pre-2013.

'Disney Princess Comic Strips: The Enchanted Collection' - originally created by Amy Mebberson, based on her 'Pocket Princesses' webcomics, here we have little amusing comic anecdotes by Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, and Merida. The princesses are separated into their own collections - sorted by Disney chronology, from Snow White to Merida - and they don't interact with each other, as is typical of a Disney licenced product. There's no conflict, no real bad guys (no Disney Villains are present, except for Gaston), and nothing really dynamic - these comic strips are more slice-of-life and cosy/cottagecore fantasy than anything.

They're not the funniest comics in the world, but they're entertaining for kids.

It is hard to remember a time - once upon a time - when the line of Disney Princesses didn't include Elsa and Anna, isn't it? Indeed, 'The Enchanted Collection' sort of feels incomplete without them; I mean, it was published in 2018, and isn't the 'Pocket Princesses' webcomic ongoing? Why not publish more collections like this, Disney and Joe Books? Aren't princesses making enough money for you anymore?

(I would include Moana, Raya, Sofia the First and Elena of Avalor in the media franchise, and Sally the ragdoll should count, as well.)

Let's see, my favourite comic issues, the ones that genuinely made me laugh, are: 'Bird Songs' (Snow White), 'Snoring' (Snow White), 'A Gift to Remember' (Cinderella), 'Snow Spells' (Cinderella), 'Priceless' (Aurora), 'What the People Know' (Ariel), 'Sunken Treasure' (Ariel), 'Belle's Dilemma' (Belle, duh), 'Late Night Reads' (Belle), 'Beauty and the Books' (Belle), 'Disguise' (Belle), 'Mognipicenk' (Belle), 'Endings' (Belle), 'Birthday Wish' (Jasmine), 'Something Cold' (Jasmine), 'Cat Nap' (Jasmine), 'Checkers' (Jasmine), 'Mood Wind' (Pocahontas), 'The Dream Routine' (Pocahontas), 'Archery Training' (Mulan), 'Defensive Training' (Mulan), 'Ring in the New Year' (Mulan), 'Beignet Stand' (Tiana), 'Louis's Fan Club' (Tiana), 'Some Like It Hotter' (Tiana), 'Dry Time' (Rapunzel), 'Drying Day' (Rapunzel), 'Baking Day' (Rapunzel), 'How To Sleep' (Rapunzel), 'Rock Talk' (Rapunzel), 'Gleam and Glow' (Rapunzel), 'Hair Of The Girl' (Merida), and 'Battle Poetry' (Merida).

'Disney Princess Comic Strips: The Enchanted Collection' - good for a light, wholesome laugh. Chuckle and giggle with eleven cute, cartoony fairy tale (and historical fiction) princesses; each having her own distinct personality, life, and happily ever after.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Princess Academy: The Graphic Novel' by Shannon Hale (Writer), Victoria Ying (Artist), Elena Dall'Aglio (Colourist)

A graphic novel adaptation of Shannon Hale's 'Princess Academy', created twenty one years after the OG novel's publication, is certainly not something I expected, nor really needed. But I couldn't resist, I just had to check it out, since I love the novel.

I'm glad it got made.

'Princess Academy: The Graphic Novel' is as much a lovely, dramatic, humorous, cosy, clever and human fairy tale as its source material; insofar as I can remember, anyway, my last read was years ago. But I can tell it is a loving and faithful adaptation.

There are only a few noticeable updated details added, such as one side character and Princess Academy attendee, Frid, now refusing to wear a dress to a ball - she likes to wear pants - and there's Gerti, whose running gag is she keeps saying she's only twelve-years-old, thus highlighting the absurdity and creepiness of her being asked to attend an academy built specifically to teach girls how to catch and marry a prince (though are the other girls still fourteen-years-old...?). These changes don't hurt or hinder the story at all.

The artwork by Victoria Ying suits the tale and characters wonderfully. This is such a colourful, wondrous, understated yet directly challenging children's graphic novel. And it is so breezy - there is no narration present whatsoever, letting the artwork and events speak for themselves. The mountainfolk chanting and song lyrics floating around on page occasionally, such as the beginning of each chapter, could count as narration, and they set the mood and atmosphere of the characters' situations.

The family and female friendship and companionship themes are absolutely touching. There is disability rep, and class and caste commentary and critique.

Miri the mountain girl, the protagonist of 'Princess Academy', and one of the potential princesses at the academy, is as brilliant as she's always been. A charming, funny, brave, observant, wilful, determined, loyal and selfless lass with a heart of gold - a heart full of mountain and quarry songs, that is worth far more than any jewel on any tiara. Young, naïve and inexperienced Miri grows and develops out of her flaws over the course of her story. Strong in heart, mind and spirit, she is magical, without having to actually be overtly magical, in this fantasy tale.

My main criticisms of 'Princess Academy: The Graphic Novel' are similar to my criticisms of the OG book. Although it has been ages since I read 'Princess Academy' - are its flaws in fact as prominent as they are in the graphic novel adaptation?

For example, I already knew that Miri's love interest, Peder, is an annoying, possessive Nice GuyTM, but was he always as entitled, selfish, self-centred and shockingly horrible, with seriously messed up priorities, as he's portrayed here? He never apologises to Miri for the accusatory things he says to her during an argument that he started unprovoked; things that are totally unfounded, imagined, not real, and are no doubt born out of his own insecurities and entitlement issues, which he projects unfairly onto Miri. Granted, Miri doesn't apologise either, which is good because the purehearted heroine did nothing wrong, but it is odd for neither of them to ever mention the fight that caused a rift between them after the fact (it is Peder's fault, not that the story acknowledges this). They're just okay and lovey-dovey at the end of the fairy tale, despite all logic.

This part of 'Princess Academy' does not receive a much-needed update, sadly.

Stop rewarding Nice GuysTM, media, please.

At least it's a small-fry part of the graphic novel, however.

Also, does Britta's abusive guardian get punished or rewarded (!?) at the end? I won't elaborate due to spoilers, but that seems like too crucial a detail to overlook and forget about. What the heck?

This links to there being, once again, no critique on the very existence of monarchies, and princesses as titles. No modern, necessary update there.

Miri's older sister Marda is barely a character. She is sidelined, and receives scarce page time, which is disappointing.

Finally, while I do praise the graphic novel for including POC characters where I think none exist in the original source material (most baffling considering it is set at mountain ranges and villages, where constant stone digging in quarries is a way of life), why did it give Katar, Miri's "rival" and the most antagonistic and aggressive girl at the Princess Academy, the darkest skin out of everyone? At least she's redeemed near the end; take from that what you will. I'll take whatever positivity I can find.

'Princess Academy: The Graphic Novel' has loads going for it, and much upholding it in its favour, that I can forgive its flaws. In whatever medium it is told, it is a nice story, penned by the marvellous and remarkable Shannon Hale.

'Princess Academy' - a story full of heart, and female bonds, and familial love.

It blesses us with Miri, one of the best heroines in children's literature. She's a flower, a flint, a spark, a star, and a song. Classic and underrated.

My review of the 2005 novel can be found here.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'The Hilda Adventures: Volume 1' by Luke Pearson

'Such is the life of the adventurer.'

'The Hilda Adventures: Volume 1' is a new comic collection of 'Hilda' that suddenly popped up out of nowhere in UK bookshops, and of course I had to buy a copy.

This volume collects the first four stories of the original 'Hilda' series by Luke Pearson - 'Hilda and the Troll', 'Hilda and the Midnight Giant', 'Hilda and the Bird Parade', and 'Hilda and the Black Hound'. So it's episodic, but tells a complete story altogether.

What can I say that I haven't previously? It's 'Hilda' - it's charming, it's funny, it's whimsical, it's fantastical, it's fantastic. It's like Studio Ghibli meets 30s-40s children's comics, or 90s Saturday morning cartoons. Its art style evolves and improves the more it progresses. It's quite astonishing how different Hilda and her mum used to look!

Like little Hilda herself, the whole thing is funny, active, energetic, clever and adorable. And terrifically, preciously English.

Hilda is a great, outgoing, headstrong and wonderful female comic and cartoon icon. She is a rebel and adventurer.

For more info, read my other 'Hilda' comic and companion book reviews:


'Hilda and the Troll'

'Hilda and the Midnight Giant'

'Hilda and the Bird Parade'

'Hilda and the Black Hound'

'Hilda and the Stone Forest'

'Hilda and the Mountain King'

'Hilda's Sparrow Scout Badge Guide'

'Hilda's World: A guide to Trolberg, the wilderness, and beyond'


Final Score: 4.5/5