Something sweet. Something kind. Something candidly cute, wholesome, peachy, plummy, and precious for kids. Something to be borrowed over and over again everywhere, and read anywhere at anytime, for generations. Something I had to read twice to appreciate it (I guess I was dealing with my own bad demons the first time, plus a page or two was inexplicably missing in that copy).
That something is 'Meesh the Bad Demon'.It's hard to understand why I didn't check it out sooner, and why I didn't fall in love with it on my first read. Because really, 'Meesh' contains nearly everything I love: Magical girls, magical jewellery and crystals, fairies, demons and angels (or fairy stand-ins for them), fantastical princesses and queens, loads of different fantasy creatures, an antiprejudice theme, friendship and family themes, a pink and purple colour palette and aesthetic, and lighthearted, colourful girl power.
Too simplistic and childish? Not really. There is more than meets the eye here. And I'm not one to dismiss any piece of media for being "for kids".
I adore the protagonist, the titular "bad demon" Meesh, a little demon girl who loves flowers, sparkles, fairies and magical girls. This is her saving-her-world-and-people, coming-of-age story, about believing in herself, and being true to herself. Her own unique self. I also adore her complicated yet well developed relationship with the fairy princess Nouna, who is her heroine, for she is the star of her favourite magical girl TV show. The blooming friendship between these two kids is charming and awe-inspiring, and surprisingly realistic, considering all the fantasy elements. The initially high-and-mighty, ignorant and thoughtless Nouna clearly has insecurities and self-esteem issues, and mother issues, which she takes out on poor Meesh, and needs to deal with in a healthy way, through her friendship with the demon. Both girls need enough self-confidence to save the day.
Tackling emotions, such as fear and sadness (and uncertainty), head-on, is one of the comic's magma-core themes.
But the relationship I love most of all is the one Meesh has with her grandmother, Chow. A lava plant worker with a mysterious past, Chow is such a cool grandma, who cares for her little, outcast granddaughter very much.
Meesh will set off to save her grandma, as well as the rest of demon-kind, from a terrible, lava-based disaster that has suddenly befallen them. She will seek help from the fairies in the sky, on clouds; specifically her TV heroine, Princess Nouna, and her healing ruby...
Other things worth mentioning in 'Meesh the Bad Demon' are Chai the cute part wolf (though everyone is cute in this comic), sentient trees, a one-eyed cat, and another theme that has to do with subjugation, colonialism, and refugees...!?
Not so simple, airy-fairy fluff after all.
Noteworthy flaws include the disappearance of a few elements, like Meesh's Nouna doll, and not establishing the existence of a demon guardian well, until the every end.
'Meesh the Bad Demon' - a nice little fantasy graphic novel, starring a wonderful, fangirly young heroine. It is like the most enjoyable of kids' cartoon series'. I might actually read the sequel, which hopefully will explore and develop things further.
We'll see! Enjoy your day and night.
Demon or fairy, we are all different, and we all strive to be the best we can be.
Final Score: 3.5/5
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