Graphic Novel Review - 'Save Yourself!' by Bones Leopard (Writer, Creator), Kelly & Nichole Matthews (Artists), Jim Campbell (Letterer)

A Magical GirlsTM comic where the magical girls are actually the bad guys? And it's a superhero-style comic with art, panelling and pacing that's similar to a Marvel comic? And it's queer AF? And it's a standalone!!!???

Save yourself the agonising, burning curiosity now and go ahead and read 'Save Yourself!'

Sure it has its flaws - it could have benefitted from being a lot longer, with better established worldbuilding, and character arcs and development; this might be one of those rare comics with virtually no flashbacks where its pacing issues might have been solved with flashbacks - but darn it, 'Save Yourself!' manages to be full of fun and heart. It is never boring, never too confusing or frustrating, and the characters are unique, diverse, interesting, unforgettable, and just burst with charm, personality and likeability whenever they appear on-panel.

The art is gorgeous, lovely, and colourful, with brilliant touches of lighting, shading and shadowing. There lie within subtle little clues to the characters' personalities and pasts, as well.

*Looking back on the flaws* And yes, the ending is rushed, and the villains aren't well developed, with indistinguishable personalities and powers, and they don't really receive a resolution to their characters, either. There's that nonconsensual kiss in the first issue/chapter from the cool, buff, alien hero love interest to the human protagonist.

But the passion! The emotions expressed! The cool, endearing hero characters! The effortless diversity that can't be ignored and dismissed. The gender equality! The pronouns!

The pink! So much pink!

In addition to its queer love and alien/human drama and world-saving action, 'Save Yourself!' contains themes of propaganda, the failures of bureaucracy, fandom disillusionment, grief, and found family (and how, sadly, you can't always rely on and stand by your blood relatives when you know they're doing something deeply wrong, and they refuse to listen and change no matter what you say or do). In regards to its messages and politics, this comic could only have come out post-covid, and it is especially, vitally relevant in 2024.

Did I already mention another refreshing aspect, in that it is a standalone!?

'Save Yourself!' - Another contemporary LBGTQ+ Magical GirlTM comic you should check out. It is like 'Flavor Girls' (definite similarities there, especially the sci-fi, 'Pacific Rim'-like ideas), 'Hovergirls', 

'Magic Girls: Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess', 'Steven Universe', and a very queer Marvel comics adventure. It is a short but substantial and enjoyable delight.

Astral, astronomical, and astounding.

Final Score: 3.5/5