Graphic Novel Review - 'The Pirate and the Porcelain Girl' by Emily Riesbeck (Writer), NJ Barna (Artist), Lucas Gattoni (Letterer)

2023 EDIT: Part of my 2023 clear-up, of books I no longer like, or am no longer interested in, or remember well as standing out, or find as special anymore, or I otherwise will not miss.

Final Score: 3.5/5





Original Review:



There are things I could criticise about 'The Pirate and the Porcelain Girl' in terms of story, characterisation, themes and pacing, but darn it it is so fun, colourful, creative, bold, satiating, and (mostly) fulfilling by the end. A complete graphic novel action adventure story.

It needs to receive praise for its character designs, in that you cannot, should not, assume anyone's gender just by looking at them. Except for Ferra Brickminder and Ephemeral, and maybe Felucca, no one in 'The Pirate and the Porcelain Girl' adheres to or even gives a passing thought to gender stereotyping. A story about pirates should subvert stereotypes, and this graphic novel has strong pints of it in the sturdiest barrels. It's an LBTGTQ+ loving world to the core.

The action, rich worldbuilding, emotion and catharsis are solid and awesome, too. So blast it all to the few character-and-motivation inconsistencies, and the underdeveloped side characters, like the many pirate crew members, 'The Pirate and the Porcelain Girl' - exactly what it says on the tin, meaning the title and cover art, wherein lies the romance between a pirate captain, Brigantine, and a union leader's daughter-turned-to-porcelain-by-a-presumed-missing-god, Ferra - is a treat.

The main romance is not the heart of the story; alongside it is the child-and-parent/mentor relationship between Brig and her elder first mate Cutter, which in my opinion is much better developed and more believable, and then there's the history with Brig and her pirate captain hero, Yawl. Overall and at the end of the day, the "brute" Brig cares deeply for her crew. Her family.

Fantasy creatures, orc people, people with pointy ears, and gays galore, 'The Pirate and the Porcelain Girl' is thrilling fun. Another thing a pirate tale shouldn't be is boring, and this is certainly not boring. I'd love to see spinoff material starring Beryl Weaver, Felucca, Dhow, Corinth, Languor, Ketch, Jazri, Billon and Magna - to see more of them and what their stories are would be fantastic.

A heartbroken girl made of porcelain isn't as easily breakable as she initially thinks. Nor is she fragile, pathetic, hopeless, and incapable of being loved. The roughest, toughest, blusteriest pirate captain in all the known seas can be the softest, most sensitive soul underneath, who thinks she has much to prove; too much to reasonably handle, at least alone. The vulnerabilities of these two complete opposites, both external and internal, are what make them complete people, and are what bring them together.

The pirate eyepatch/missing eye/eye scar symbolism and parallels are also well done.

Final Score: 3.5/5