Graphic Novel Review - 'Mega Princess' by Kelly Thompson (Writer), Brianne Drouhard (Artist), M. Victoria Robado (Colourist), Warren Montgomery (Letterer)

It's 'Phoebe and Her Unicorn' meets 'Princeless' meets 'Nancy Drew' meets 'Shrek', and it's all magical kingdoms and mermaids and dragons and talking animals and fairy godmothers and sorceresses and all that good Disney Princess-esque pomp!

Far from being that puerile, 'Mega Princess' is funny, smart, charming, colourful, delightful and splendid. It's a story about Princess Maxine "Max" I of Titan, an aspiring detective who, on her tenth birthday, ends up not only meeting her fairy godmother, but trying to find her kidnapped baby brother, Bobs.

She is determined to solve the mystery of his whereabouts, and to save him. Together with her reluctant and bickering steed Justine (aka "Jerk pony"), Max braves shrinking herself to meet tiny people and bugs; riddling with a fox; going into the ocean and transforming into a mermaid; growing long Rapunzel hair; and transforming into a little swan on a moat full of frogs - these are "the powers of all princesses everywhere", gifted to her by her young and cool goth fairy godmother, Amber. Hence the name, "Mega Princess".

What a versatile fairy tale parody! 'Mega Princess' is great as a standalone comic, but it would make an awesome children's cartoon series as well. All of the characters are hilarious, sweet and adorable - even Justine, who for a pony is exactly like a sulky older sister who seems only talented at sarcasm, but she's goodhearted, and she warms to Max. The little princess has terrific and concerned parents to boot.

Points for diversity in making Max mixed-race, and some other characters dark-skinned.

'Mega Princess' is also a medieval-aesthetical fairy tale with pop culture references (Max loves Sherlock Holmes, Philip Marlowe and Miss Marple, and Justine loves 'The Wizard of Oz' and hasn't seen many other movies). Just go with the flow, and roll with it.

It has a particularly funny and touching payoff involving a hedgehog, too. Read the comic to find out what I'm talking about.

Princess detectives all the way! Who knows what other takes on fantasy princesses in the media I'll discover on my quest...

Final Score: 4/5