September Moon - 'Volume 2'

WELCOME TO SEPTEMBER MOON! 🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙

Where I (re)read a 'Sailor Moon' manga volume a day.

In the name of the Moon (and the Silver Millennium, and the "Mare Serenitatis" or "Sea of Serenity"), let's do this!

My refreshed and renewed thoughts on 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 2' can be found on my rereview here.

September Moon - 'Volume 1'

WELCOME TO SEPTEMBER MOON! 🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙

This month I'll be rereading a 'Sailor Moon' manga volume - including the 'Eternal' edition, the classic Chix Comix Pocket Edition translation, and the two 'Codename Sailor V' volumes - every day, in chronological order. I hope I can keep up, and stay as excited as I am now.

I can't wait to relive my childhood! To experience this classic, nostalgic, original magical girl manga once again, that started in Japan in 1991, the year I was born. I shall read these with refreshed eyes, as a magical girl myself in my mid-thirties!

In the name of the Moon, let's do this!

Starting everything off: my rereview of 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1 (Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon Renewal Edition, #1)'.

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