A wonderfully immersive fantasy tale that easily transcends its familiar milieu and characters.
A formidable woman is forced to settle old scores when her vengeful ex-compatriots come to town intent on taking what’s hers in Moloney’s graphic novel.
Meabh of Cklonia violently broke with the Adventurers’ Guild ages ago and was on the run for a long time (“No one’s bigger than the Guild”) before she met the kindly Traolock, a marksman who offered her a home at The Lough Inn in the medieval-like town of Carraig an Bhun. When Traolock died, Meabh became the proprietor of the tavern and something of an upstanding citizen, although she has maintained a crusty exterior and continues to drink way too much ale to drown out painful memories. The relative calm of this life is smashed when the corrupt Darius of Ard Gaothain and his band of sketchy “heroes” decides The Lough Inn would make a perfect outpost for Queen Grainne’s upcoming war. The only thing standing in their way is Meabh, their old-comrade-in-arms, and her avid hatred for everything they represent. Moloney and illustrator Romero weave a compelling visual narrative paralleling Meabh’s conflicted past with the challenges threatening her present circumstances. The well-conceived panels flow easily, conveying a real sense of weight and drama as the plot unfolds. The pacing is sharp, allowing space for both the quiet and chaotic moments to cast their magical spells over the reader. Character relationships are well established and packed with real feeling; the hatred between Meabh and Darius is palpable but so is the love between Meabh and Fergus the dwarf. The internal dynamics of Carraig an Bhun are equally alive as the denizens grapple with their complex relationships with Meabh and the other “blow-ins” who emigrate to their town. Domesticity is never as safe and solid as it may appear on the surface—it’s this fragility that the devious and cunning Darius hopes to exploit and Meabh, the ultimate outsider, must defend. The final showdown may be a foregone conclusion but the climax takes readers right to the knife’s edge before all is said and done.
A wonderfully immersive fantasy tale that easily transcends its familiar milieu and characters.Pub Date: Nov. 19, 2024
ISBN: 9781960578877
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
Review Posted Online: Oct. 4, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A clever and timely conversation on reclaiming identity and acknowledging one’s full worth.
Superman confronts racism and learns to accept himself with the help of new friends.
In this graphic-novel adaptation of the 1940s storyline entitled “The Clan of the Fiery Cross” from The Adventures of Superman radio show, readers are reintroduced to the hero who regularly saves the day but is unsure of himself and his origins. The story also focuses on Roberta Lee, a young Chinese girl. She and her family have just moved from Chinatown to Metropolis proper, and mixed feelings abound. Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane’s colleague from the Daily Planet, takes a larger role here, befriending his new neighbors, the Lees. An altercation following racial slurs directed at Roberta’s brother after he joins the local baseball team escalates into an act of terrorism by the Klan of the Fiery Kross. What starts off as a run-of-the-mill superhero story then becomes a nuanced and personal exploration of the immigrant experience and blatant and internalized racism. Other main characters are White, but Black police inspector William Henderson fights his own battles against prejudice. Clean lines, less-saturated coloring, and character designs reminiscent of vintage comics help set the tone of this period piece while the varied panel cuts and action scenes give it a more modern sensibility. Cantonese dialogue is indicated through red speech bubbles; alien speech is in green.
A clever and timely conversation on reclaiming identity and acknowledging one’s full worth. (author’s note, bibliography) (Graphic fiction. 13-adult)Pub Date: May 12, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-77950-421-0
Page Count: 240
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: Feb. 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet bedtime story.
A boy and his stuffed bear head into the woods.
Having captured readers’ attention with Born a Crime (2016), his bestselling memoir of growing up in South Africa, comedian and television host Noah has written a parable about decision-making. As he puts it in a brief prologue, “It’s about disagreements and difference—but it’s also about how we bridge those gaps and find what matters most, whether we’re parents or kids, neighbors, gnomes, or political adversaries. It’s a picture book, but it’s not a children’s book. Rather, it is a book for kids to share with parents and for parents to share with kids.” With plentiful illustrations by Hahn and in language aimed at young listeners, it tells the story of a small boy so impatient to start his Saturday adventures that he rebels against the rules of his household and heads out without brushing his teeth or making his bed, despite the reminders of his stuffed bear, Walter. “We can’t just run away,” protests the bear. “Your mother will miss you. And where will we sleep? And who will make us waffles?” “We’ll build our own house,” the boy responds. “And we’ll grow our own waffles!” From there, the pair go on their walkabout, encountering a garden gnome, a pair of snails, and a gang of animated coins who have lessons to offer about making choices. Though the author suggests in the introduction that adult readers might enjoy the book on their own, those looking for a follow-up to the memoir or a foray into adult fiction should be warned that this is not that book.
A sweet bedtime story.Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2024
ISBN: 9780593729960
Page Count: 128
Publisher: One World/Random House
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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