Graphic Novel Review - 'Witchy Vol. 2' by Ariel Slamet Ries

How surprised was I when I found out that 'Witchy' was actually getting a second volume, three years after the publication of the first?

Now I've finally got it.

I read it, and despite it being very much a "middle" story - it is basically all about Nyneve learning to make her own broomstick, and it is nearly a hundred pages shorter than volume 1, and the antagonists are barely in it and nothing much progresses - it is still a charming, magical and heartwarming piece. It is part of Nyneve's coming-of-age journey, about her becoming a better witch while she is a fugitive in her world, escaping with her life on the fringes every day. She is at her lowest so far.

'Witchy Vol. 2' embodies something like a training arc in a shōnen manga/anime. It is a lot funnier and somewhat lighter than 'Witchy Vol. 1' - nearly every character has their moments, and the previously closed off and sullen Nyneve is her new, exasperated and sarcastic self as a seasoned broom-maker's apprentice (she's afraid of flight, and her strengths as a scholar as opposed to practical magic, and how she needs to overcome this, continue here). Her expressions and dialogue are priceless, and especially during her witch training she reminds me of Avatar Korra. She is nonetheless scared and depressed as Hyalin's most wanted. In this way she's become more relatable, I think; it shows she is only human and is trying to cope with her devastating situation - her life will never be "normal" or safe again - in her own habitude.

Nyneve's mentor Kaveh is humourous and complex, her academy friends/frenemies from before - Batu and Prill - only appear in the first chapter (Batu really is too good and pure for any world), and her mother Veda remains a prisoner of the Witch Guard, but she has no way of knowing yet that she's still alive.

What a poor, traumatised teenage girl. Whether she is "special" or not, motivated or not, or is just being used and manipulated for some grand plan, I hope Nyneve works it all out, achieves what she needs to on her own terms. Making her own magic. I don't doubt she will, however, as indicated by the comic's end; highlighting what an individual she is, regardless of tradition and what other people think.

I expected nothing less from a fugitive who in fact did absolutely nothing wrong and is an innocent at the heart of it. It is she who will overthrow the corrupt, messed up magical system of her kingdom. A reluctant, clumsy, frustrated, low self-esteemed, but smart, creative, and brave heroine - one of the best kind.

Oh yeah, and the second volume is overtly, hella queer; queerer than the first one. Nyneve expressly wants to settle down with a girl someday (plus she calls Batu's sister "hot"), there are nonbinary players (courtesy of the nonbinary author, Ariel Slamet Ries), and a certain character's transgender identity isn't brought up, but that helps its portrayal as something that's no big deal; a nonissue that doesn't need to be mentioned in the current circumstances.

'Witchy Vol. 2' - small, but worth the wait. There's a swelling, meaningful weight to it, too. A character-driven, character development magical brew.

Read my review of the first volume here for more.

Final Score: 3.5/5