'Evil-ish' is one of the most cartoony and childish graphic novels I have ever read. Surprisingly, it is not quite as satirical or deep as I thought it would be. Indeed, it is so breezy it can be read in under half an hour. In many ways its artwork does reflect its content.
And yet, towards the end, I kind of loved it.It turns out it is not so light and simple after all, and not lacking in depth and creative, genre-savvy substance - far from it. I was feeling its heart, its messages, and the climax - and the final page and everything leading up to it - they make the whole blessed comedy fantasy medieval story worth it.
How cute and romantic! But oh--spoilers! Not going to get into that.
'Evil-ish' could be a Disney movie, or a Dreamworks movie. No, heck, even better - let the creatives of the 'Nimona' movie adapt this! There are similarities to both that and the original N.D. Stevenson comic, actually.
It's great to read a comic from 2025 with a nonbinary protagonist, as well. I think my first was 'Kick Flip Vol. One'. On that note, there are more than one queer and nonbinary characters in 'Evil-ish'.
Hawthorne Vandecast, a teenage barista of a family-run café/shop, and our wannabe "villain" protag - really the hero in the truest sense - is bored, OTT, flamboyant, frustrated, flustered, underprepared, and adorable and precious. I want to protect them and everyone they love. Nearly all the cast of characters are lovable sweeties, even the "evil" ones.
Some are just tragic, hurt, and lonely.
'Evil-Ish' - what a funny, tender, if a little underdeveloped, story.
With the all-consuming, important, relevant message that you shouldn't align yourself with obvious evil, ruthlessness, hatred, and any extremes just because you're bored. Angst, and "not fitting in" and "not conforming" to standards of decency because of boredom, drudgery and feeling an unfulfilling emptiness in life, these are never excuses. Appreciate what you have now, and look out for and be there for your loved ones, your family.
Be good. Be kind. Make good choices.
Remember there are people who look up to you. Who care for you.
Kennedy Tarrell is definitely someone to watch.
(An addendum: The reason why this review is short for me is not only to avoid spoiler-y info and to reflect the quality of the graphic novel itself, but because my cat is currently sleeping on my bed with her head on it, and I don't want to wake her, so I can't look through the book and point specific stuff out. I am not joking.
Okay, I do remember this quote from a "true villain": 'Hurting. Being hurt. It's all the same thing, you know?')
Final Score: 3.5/5
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