Graphic Novel Review - 'Star Knights' by Kay Davault

How did a graphic novel where, throughout reading I thought, "This is really convoluted and complicated for a children's comic,", and "Come on, I can see the twists coming a mile away, they are too obvious", end up being one of the best children's graphic novels I've ever read?

It seems like a miracle, but it happened. I look back on 'Star Knights' and find that I in fact adore it. It actually does make a lot of sense, and is well planned out. Adding to its fantastic qualities is it is so endlessly charming, funny, heartwarming, touching, wholesome, creative, starry, twinkly, and astronomical. It is one of the best original fairy tales ever.

I don't want to spoil anything, but the tiny notes I made regarding 'Star Knights' are as follows:

Its main setting for the animal characters is called Milky Way Marsh. The protagonist is a little frog named Tad, who wants to be a legendary Star Knight. There are falling stars that turn into crowns that in turn turn animals into humanoid Star Knights with a wish (wow what a mouthful! I probably should have used the word transform somewhere in there...). There are woodland creatures, swamp creatures, and creatures who are Knights that live on the moon. Other characters include a trickster spider, a crow, and a toad witch. And there are dark monster battles in the Milky Way Marsh, on the moon, and in space.

The comic also contains elements that make me think of the games 'Super Mario Galaxy', 'The Legend of Zelda', and 'Secret of Mana', and the anime 'Princess Tutu'. There's a bit of 'Revolutionary Girl Utena' and 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' in here, too.

Now onto the bigger notes:

'Star Knights' is similar to Kay Davault's most recent graphic novel, 'Misfit Mansion', in that it tackles the theme of racism and prejudice. It is very effective and nuanced. 'Star Knights' does animal racism, which I haven't seen done in anything this remotely effective since Disney's 'Zootopia'. It might even be better, and more understanding, and more subversive, than that. It is a great and vitally important topic to approach to a younger audience.

I almost didn't read 'Star Knights' because its main characters are male. Shows my own limited and closeminded views, doesn't it? Tad the frog Star Knight and Stello the, ah, other Star Knight (his true identity is a spoiler, even though anyone who has read the comic will immediately know who he is as it is obvious), are brilliant, well developed characters, and the best, most charming of friends. Besides, 'Star Knights' contains many female side characters - who in fact can be called main characters after all - and they are all wonderful and three-dimensional in their own way. They are strong, competent, and flawed!

There's even one of the most adorable and precious sapphic side plots I've ever seen, especially in something targeted towards children. I wonder, could Tad and Stello become something beyond friends in the future, too...?

The artwork - I can't think of another word to describe it: it is perfect. Cartoony, colourful, incredibly adorable, soft, bold, and breathtaking. The hardest of work went into creating this, and I appreciate and thank Kay Davault for her efforts.

Really, 'Star Knights' is a great graphic novel for all ages, destined to become a classic (or it ought to be). Anybody who has read 'Misfit Mansion' first must check it out. If only I didn't spend so much time thinking as I was first reading it, "This fairy tale has too much going on in it, and it is going to make children ask a lot of questions, rather than go with the flow." I simply needed to be more openminded, to trust in it.

Its ending is satisfactory, and darn near perfect. Its anime influences feel fresh and organic, instead of gimmicky, derivative, stale and tacked-on, and they add to the overall adorableness. The fact that it springs and soars to my mind my favourite magical girl anime shows, most notably 'Princess Tutu', makes me doubly love it. In 'Star Knights', there are magical girls and magical boys!

Hooray for feminism!

It is its own 'Star Wars' of kids' graphic novels. It needs to be adapted into an animated movie. It happened with 'Nimona', and there's no reason why 'Star Knights' shouldn't receive the same treatment.

(The same goes for Kay O'Neill's works.)

'Star Knights' - star bright. It is truly magical. Transformative in an assortment of ways - from the milky way stars, threaded into constellations. Look up, look into it, and feel inspired. Empowered.

For anyone can be a hero. And a friend.

Final Score: 4/5