Graphic Novel Review - 'Storm: Blowback (Storm (2023) #1-5)' by Ann Nocenti (Writer), Sid Kotian (Artist), Geraldo Borges (Artist), Andrew Dalhouse (Colourist), Ariana Maher (Letterer)

Well, I'm pleasantly surprised.

I picked this up from my local library, just to see what it would be like, and if, by chance, I will like a 'Storm' comic, or an 'X-Men' comic with Storm as the protagonist and leading, leader lady.

As it turns out, I do like it!

I'm so happy I like a comic about Storm, a cool, complex POC superheroine!

'Storm: Blowback' is about Storm/Ororo Munroe and her development - of her character, her growth, and her weather-based powers and how they work. It is about how she functions as the leader of the X-Men, and how the other members react to her and her choices, negatively or not.

Goddess, queen, leader, biker, and former thief and street rat, Storm truly is a powerhouse, not to be messed with. She's killing that mohawk, to boot.

Plus it's just nice to see her smile now and then, for a change! She's not always grumpy, cold and unreasonable (at least, that's the impression I got from most other 'X-Men' comics I've read, which admittedly is few). She's a grown, experienced woman who is introspective and thoughtful, not predominately bad tempered.

Apparently, 'Blowback', a modern, 2023 publication, is set during a classic age of 'X-Men' comics - in the eighties, and the events surrounding that era are referenced in it. That explains why Kitty Pryde is a young teenager, and why she is so immature.

However, as impulsive, angry, rude, and petty a "rebellious teen" stereotype my girl Kitty Pryde is in 'Blowback', she does reveal her smarts and cunning, in small but impactful ways, throughout the course of the story, after the first issue. She isn't useless.

The comic tricked me: the writer does understand Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat, after all. (As a footnote, her pet dragon Lockheed is present.)

'Blowback' is big on female friendships, in spite of Ororo's romantic plot with some guy who of course turns out to be very important to the plot later on. She, Kitty, and Rogue are great gals, and even during spats and fallouts (over stupid things, yes), in the end they are best friends through and through, coming together, especially in saving the world. Rogue's aggressiveness, cheekiness, sass, and overly-affected Southern accent are endearing. She's also smart, self-aware, and knows right from wrong. Mystique is included as a villain, and Rogue's adoptive mother.

The guys fare well, too. Wolverine is Wolverine (and a hunk), Nightcrawler is a sexy demon (BTW, the comic has beach scenes and pool scenes, with the men in speedos), though he sadly disappears in the last two issues, and Professor X is actually decent here. He cares about people's privacy and boundaries when it comes to psychically invading their minds. He cares about ethics and consent! I'm not sure about Colossus and his relationship with Kitty, though. Isn't she still thirteen? How old is he?

Overall, the superhero comic is entertaining, action-packed, and funny. It definitely has its shining little moments and clever spots, such as the drama and revelation surrounding Kitty's impulse tattoos, and explaining how Storm keeps her mohawk up! It contains scientific and environmental anecdotes; mainly to do with analysing Storm's powers and their impact on the earth.

'Blowback' is also definitely flawed, I know. It is kind of jumpy, and rushed at the end. Then again, I've gotten used to that serialisation and editing flaw in most Marvel comics. The main villain's origins and motivations, sporadically revealed as the comic nears its closure, are confusing and make no sense. Mystique's role is a bit confusing as well, and closer to the climax, and in the final issue, she is bushed aside and forgotten about. Guess she and her genocidal, world domination plans don't matter that much here. There's the problem of even the possibility of Ororo considering giving up everything to be with a man she just met, no matter how well written and believable it might be from her perspective. And the petty squabbles between the X-Men team members can get a bit much, though this dies down the further the comic progresses. And progress it does, minus the rushed, slapdash climactic issue.

Through all that, I enjoyed 'Storm: Blowback'. Not since 'X-Men, Vol. 1: Primer' have I liked a female-led 'X-Men' comic. It shall join that, plus 'X-Men: Kitty Pryde & Wolverine', 'Astonishing X-Men: Kitty Pryde - Shadow & Flame', and 'X-Men: Days of Future Past', as part of my personal 'X-Men' comics collection (not the library copy, of course, but my own purchase). I like comic book Storm now. Rogue is really funny and complex, alongside her.

Don't forget Kitty Pryde!

A lightning flash! a wind-roaring hooray for strong, powerful, complicated superheroines saving a world that hates and fears them, and for diversity, and thoughtful creativity.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Save Our Forest! (Cross My Heart #2)' by Nora Dåsnes, Lise Laerdal Bryn (Translator)

Wow! I had no idea that 'Cross My Heart and Never Lie' had a sequel (or at least one that is published in English), until I found 'Save Our Forest!' in my local library yesterday! After reading it, I know I must buy my own copy for my bookshelf.

'Save Our Forest!' is a klaxon. A wakeup call. A loud, impassioned voice for action in the face and threat of climate change, told from the perspective and ardent, determined and indomitable young voice of Bao, one of Tuva's friends from 'Cross my Heart and Never Lie', who is now leading, charging, her own story.

'Save Our Forest!' is about trying to save one forest next to a school, from being bulldozed to make a bigger parking lot (less trees, less soil, less habitats, more cars, more gasses), and also about saving the world, if only more people cared and put in the effort. Like government people.

It is extremely frustrating how stupid, selfish, apathetic, lazy, numb, jaded, shortsighted, and blind to science and facts so many adults and people in positions of power are. They should listen to young people - they care, they know, they've got their wits together, and they are the ones who will be affected most by climate change in the future! They will have to bear the brunt of the previous generation's mistakes.

Included in this children's graphic novel are easy-to-follow facts, and calls to action (protests! petitions! demonstrations! civil disobedience!), as well characters and a story. There are great, inspiring quotes here. It is a slight comfort to know that it is not only Greta Thunberg (who is referenced) who cares and is demanding the world change its ways, its economy and political systems, in order to save it. Though we've still got a long, long way to go.

We can't slacken. We can't be complacent. We can't ignore the facts - as that gives those in undeserved positions in government an excuse to do the same.

I like Bao and her passion. I'll keep saying this: We need more Lisa Simpsons in the world! Bao's relationship with her lawyer mum is well done. Tuva is sort of dating Mariam, but that's early-days ambiguity. They're not the focus this time, anyway. Tuva's dad is also present and awesome.

Really, the main thing keeping me from rating 'Save Our Forest!' five stars is Bao's forced romance with the stupid bully Abdi. I don't care that he gets better near the end, it is not needed. After all he said and did to her, why would someone like Bao ever think of him in a romantic light? I know they're prepubescent, with new hormones all over the place, but while reading I was under the impression that Bao was smarter than that. Like she wouldn't have a crush on someone who was previously horrible to her and is now doing the bare minimum of decency. It's the 2020s, I'd thought we were aware and were done with the toxic "bullying and abuse means they like you" mentality and message, especially in stories targeted towards kids.

Again, it is not needed. At least Abdi does come round to apologising to Bao for saying it's her time of the month on one of the many instances she is annoyed at him (aaargh! she should have killed that misogynistic little ^%&$!&*! right there), and he eventually joins her on her cause to save their forest from demolition not entirely out of selfish reasons. But Bao's drive to fight against climate change and apathetic adults is enough for her character; enough of a goal for her; enough of a reason for readers to root for her. Leave the clichéd love subplot out of it! It's its own pollution! to the story and characters. And the couple are twelve-years-old!

What heteronormative nonsense.

But oh well. I can't do anything about it.

But everyone can do something about climate change and global warming. If you like 'Cross My Heart and Never Lie' and you care about the environment - and are rightfully scared of pollution and deforestation and their impact on the future generations of our people in this one world we have, that we are neglecting and destroying - then you should read 'Save Our Forest!'. Everyone should.

The art is colourful, lovely and sweet, too, like in 'Cross My Heart'.

My own copy, come to me!


BANNER: 'DO NOT CUT DOWN OUR FOREST! WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP!'


Final Score: 4/5

Manga Review - 'Little Witch Academia, Vol. 1' by Yoh Yoshinari and TRIGGER (Story), Keisuke Sato (Artist)

I decided to reread this manga, after many years now.

It's been even longer since I saw the first season of the 'Little Witch Academia' anime (I should get around to rewatching the whole series), and the first volume of the manga is similarly magical, cute and funny. The characters are especially funny, memorable, and stand out as unique, daring and endearing individuals. Look at these witch girls: Akko Kagari is just like a female version of a Shōnen Jump hero - headstrong, determined, one-track minded and obnoxious - and Sucy Manbavaran is like Wednesday Addams fused with a poison-type Pokémon, and the regal, sophisticated rival Diana Cavendish, who is secretly a fangirl, in actuality isn't a mean girl at all!

How I'm reminded of how similar 'The Owl House' is to 'Little Witch Academia'.

However, the volume is a mess. Narratively, thematically, and in planning in general. It starts out well, and exciting, in how it adapts the anime introduction to the series. But after the second chapter, 'Little Witch Academia, Vol. 1' practically abandons its main plotline and becomes serialised and anecdotal. It includes stories episodes that are not that interesting, and that matter very little by the end. It should be too early for filler content already! It glosses over and brushes aside side characters, such as the entire Luna Nova Magical Academy staff (apart from Ursula Callistis and one or two bit-part professors, their names are not even revealed). Poor Ursula is underutilised, and then plain forgotten after the third chapter. MacGuffins, props and motifs are similarly discarded. I mean, seriously, what happened to Chariot's Shiny Rod after Akko used it to portal to Luna Nova? It's never mentioned again, as is Akko's living Alcor bird plushie, and her Shiny Chariot card.

Stuff that happens in the anime are referenced, but they are not included in the manga itself; such as Lotte Jansson being able to communicate with spirits, which apparently everyone somehow knows about. Why is there suddenly a dragon at the end, and what the heck is the Sorcerer's Stone and why is it so important? Very confusing and frustrating. The introductory volume has too many details missing from it. It's an adaptation that does not competently stand on its own.

Akko can be a selfish, inconsiderate and thoughtless pain in the backside, too. And sometimes her stupidity can be too much, too puzzling, too baffling. Not to mention that she is at fault for a lot of trouble, as in she starts her own problems, and doesn't end up resolving them - it's usually one of her friends who have to bail her out and fix the messes she caused in the first place.

At least Lotte and Sucy receive stories that reveal their backstories and develop their characters.

There are so many witch boarding school stories and franchises out there, it can be hard to find one that stands out. That strikes the eye, and is slightly more original than the last (and the next). I think what makes 'Little Witch Academia' distinct is its emphasis on humour. It's a comedy, while retaining its magic, and magical, shining heart. Plus it's cute! A cute all-ages anime. We're barely shown any actual schoolwork and themes of an academic nature - ironic, given its title!

Sadly, the manga version is too scatterbrained, confused and random (and surprisingly mundane with little stakes) for me to enjoy, despite liking the characters and comedy. I'm sure others will really fancy it, hold it to high esteem, and be entertained by it, toad warts and all. But I'm afraid I am not one of them.

Oh dear.

Oh well, maybe the anime will fully replenish my witch-loving heart. My magical girl child heart.

EDIT: Now read my review of 'Little Witch Academia: The Nonsensical Witch and the Country of the Fairies', and I shall keep that light novel and this flawed manga!

Final Score: 3/5

Book Review - 'Cinder & Ella' by Barbara Slade (Writer), Lucia Soto (Illustrator)

It's an LBGTQ+ retelling of 'Cinderella', that's diverse, and where there are stepbrothers instead of stepsisters, the fairy godmother role is given to a magical, midnight-blue horse, and of course, the "prince", who ran off at midnight and lost a shoe that won't fit any man in the kingdom, is a girl - a poor girl who loves the princess... and her feelings are reciprocated.

Cinder is a poor ragamuffin girl who is not conventionally attractive, but she is a courageous, determined and heroic dreamer; and Ella is a sad princess who yearns for more than the traditional life of marrying a prince.

Together, they will be each other's happiness.

That's true love.

Basically, if you like 'Princess Princess Ever After' and 'Maiden & Princess', then you should check out the 2023 UK picture book, 'Cinder & Ella'. I can't believe I only stumbled across it today in a big bookshop on my trip to Brighton. The art is spectacularly pretty, colourful, soft, sparkly, lovely, and beautiful. As well as a magical horse, there's a mouse who's all about the pride flag!

It is a short story, and some parts are rushed, and the ending will leave you wanting more. And seriously, near the end, why did Cinder's stepmother nail the stable doors shut while Cinder was inside? There is no indication whatsoever that she ever knew the missing 'handsome young "PRINCE-ESS"' who danced with the princess was her stepdaughter. Did she just want her out of the way during the shoe fitting with her sons at the palace? Why?

But 'Cinder & Ella' is still a nice, wonderful addition to the ever expanding sea of LBGTQ+ content for children, in picture books and other media. I'm glad for effortless diversity and inclusivity. I'm glad that stories like these are being normalised now more than ever, thus LBGTQ+ kids can see themselves in them, and know they are normal, and they can be accepted, and happy.

Live happily ever after, that is, in any fairy tale.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Age 16' by Rosena Fung

Full of honesty, pain, spirit and hope, 'Age 16' is a beautiful graphic novel about coming of age, and generational trauma.

Sort-of autobiographical, it is about three generations of women, and their stories - there's our main girl Rosalind in Toronto, Canada, in 2000; her mother Lydia from Hong Kong in 1972; and her mother Mei Laan from Guangdong in 1954. They all reach a critical change in their lives at the tender, vulnerable age of sixteen. It is also all about cultural and societal misogyny throughout the ages, and how internalised misogyny, the obsession with weight, dieting and impossible beauty standards, and eating disorders, are linked to it.

It is all about women, and mothers and daughters, and female friendships. There is nary an important male figure in sight; most are MIA, or misogynistic POS's not worth the time and space in this graphic novel.

It is a tragic universal truth that a girl's first hater is too often her own mother. As Rosena Fung says at the end in her Author's Note:


'This book is about all the ways we are taught to deny our bodies tenderness, and mothers can be especially critical of their daughters' bodies. They hold the ways the world has been cruel to them as girls and women and pass it on. I recognise now that my mom wanted to protect me from our society's hatred of fatness but in doing so ended up reinforcing it. It's taken a lifetime for me to figure out that I can accept her love but reject this inheritance.'


Overprotection or not, this kind of upbringing is cruel and inexcusable.

Between 'Age 16', and 'The Joy Luck Club' and 'Turning Red' (also set in Toronto in the early 2000s!) and many others, mother-to-daughter generational trauma stories do predominately resonate with Chinese people and their culture. Although, again, this topic is universal, thanks to the rampant misogyny in every fundamental culture in the entire world.

In 'Age 16', I like the use of colouring - a purple palette for Rosalind's time, and orange for Lydia's time, and green for Mei Laan's time. In the end, beautiful-as-she-is Rosalind will come to wear all these colours. The art is round, bouncy, manga-esque, simple, and expressive.

The book doesn't ever compromise and betray its own morals - f*&$! beauty standards and dieting, eat what you want! Be big! Take up as much space as you want! And I love the scene where Rosalind starts to embrace her geeky side when she stumbles upon a con by accident. So much copyright-friendly pop culture stuff and fun! She will love this side of herself, too. F!$£*! what anyone else thinks. She's a photographer, and Lydia is a dancer, or she wishes she were, if only Mei Laan would ever let her be herself, and love herself in her own skin.

Cat treat/meow mix inclusion: Rosalind has a fat cat named Millie. So cute!

'Age 16' is light and somewhat hand-wavey and dismissive of the LBGTQ+ community, but that could be reflective of its timelines, especially in 2000 (a new age of deeply shallow and sexist marketing strategies, like in magazines and advertising everywhere, and things would only get far worse from there...)

Anyway, 'Age 16' - highly recommended. It is a raw mother-and-daughter, generational trauma story that I can stomach, without hating the older generation. Well, not too much. I really like 'Living with Viola' by Rosena Fung, and I like this too. Also recommended if you like graphic novels such as 'Persepolis', 'Huda F Are You?', and 'Anya's Ghost'.

Remember: 'A girl like you... Maybe you're already... Who you're supposed to be.'

Extra quote from the Author's Note:


'Being a girl can feel like you're hauling this psychic pain with you every day, the pain of the world telling you you're too much and not enough. I wrote Age 16 to give voice to that pain but also to show all the ways we can unlearn it. To help us realize we're already who we're supposed to be.'


Final Score: 4/5

Scribble #130

To everyone who has ever suffered, who has ever been oppressed, marginalised, mistreated, disrespected, and/or abused, simply for being who you are:

You matter. You are important. You are amazing. You are loved. Someone does care for you.

Everyone has a voice. A story to tell. Every human is equal.

All are equal. All are unique, beautiful, exciting individuals, whose differences should be embraced and lauded.

There is no limit, no barrier, no restriction, to the human experience.

Being human is about freedom, to be who you are.

Let us, please, always treat each other with kindness and empathy. Never, ever dismiss empathy.

And remember compassion and giving, charity.

Create, build, connect. Commune.

Listen.

Love.

Love can save us. Love can save the world.

Scribble #129

I am beautiful.

Or I try to tell myself that.

You don't know my mind,

and how much I suffer in it.