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booksmellers's review
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of the best feelings in the world is picking up a book on a whim, not knowing anything about it, and accidentally discovering a new favorite.
This book contains
- deadpan adolescent humor, akin to Daria
- the classic Funnies feel
- a focus on individuals, their relationships, and themes of everyday life rather than an overarching plot
- artwork that perfectly captures the tone and humor of the SuperMutant Magic Academy
- magic/superpowers à la X-Men, often used as a vehicle to engage with a concept, a joke, or just simply a "wouldn't that be messed up?" situation.
- interesting, complex characters whose relationships with one another encapsulte the high school experience
- Charlie Brownesque philosophical musings about the meaning of life and the fears & struggles of adolescence
What's maybe most impressive about all of this is that Tamaki accomplishes all of this with brevity, each piece of the story in its own 1-2 page comic strip. I felt more emotion reading just a few of the individual comic strips than some of the full-length novels I've read. Several of the pages were laugh-out-loud funny to me. This probably won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it certainly was mine, and (it may be too early to tell) this could end up being my favorite graphic novel of 2023.
This book contains
- deadpan adolescent humor, akin to Daria
- the classic Funnies feel
- a focus on individuals, their relationships, and themes of everyday life rather than an overarching plot
- artwork that perfectly captures the tone and humor of the SuperMutant Magic Academy
- magic/superpowers à la X-Men, often used as a vehicle to engage with a concept, a joke, or just simply a "wouldn't that be messed up?" situation.
- interesting, complex characters whose relationships with one another encapsulte the high school experience
- Charlie Brownesque philosophical musings about the meaning of life and the fears & struggles of adolescence
What's maybe most impressive about all of this is that Tamaki accomplishes all of this with brevity, each piece of the story in its own 1-2 page comic strip. I felt more emotion reading just a few of the individual comic strips than some of the full-length novels I've read. Several of the pages were laugh-out-loud funny to me. This probably won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it certainly was mine, and (it may be too early to tell) this could end up being my favorite graphic novel of 2023.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Death, Sexual content, Drug use, Misogyny, Alcohol, Cursing, and Bullying
prufrockpreptooth's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Particulier. Absurde. Particulièrement absurde.
Et en même temps, on sent la capsule d'adolescence, la vie lycéenne (plutôt à l'américaine) , les influences potteresques, le désir caricatural, les critiques sociales acerbes... Il y a réellement quelque chose, entièrement enrobé d'absurde - et forcément, j'ai aimé
Et en même temps, on sent la capsule d'adolescence, la vie lycéenne (plutôt à l'américaine) , les influences potteresques, le désir caricatural, les critiques sociales acerbes... Il y a réellement quelque chose, entièrement enrobé d'absurde - et forcément, j'ai aimé
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death
betweentheshelves's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
If you're looking for something that's super weird and just kind of out there, I would recommend this 100%. For me, it wasn't necessarily what I was expecting? There's sort of a cohesive storyline that ties all of these comics together, but it really reads as a bunch of mini comics put together in one book. And I can't emphasize the weird enough. Honestly, if you're looking for something that's different than pretty much anything else you've ever read, definitely pick this one up.
There is a sort of subtle world building that happens in this book as well. You get it in bits and pieces as you read these mini storylines about each of the main characters. There's some additional stuff thrown in there, too, and it just makes for a really interesting reading experience overall.
While this was not what I was expecting and not necessarily what I was in the mood for, it's still an entertaining, engaging book that will probably make you think "Wait, what?"
There is a sort of subtle world building that happens in this book as well. You get it in bits and pieces as you read these mini storylines about each of the main characters. There's some additional stuff thrown in there, too, and it just makes for a really interesting reading experience overall.
While this was not what I was expecting and not necessarily what I was in the mood for, it's still an entertaining, engaging book that will probably make you think "Wait, what?"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Gore and Animal death
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, and Death
blackmetalblackheart's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
1.0
I do not know what I am missing here in relation to other reviews, but this was absolute garbage. The characters were ill-defined, the single page strips lacked any kind of context to make them engaging or humorous, and the drawing was lackluster. The art would be fine if there was some actual meat to any of the rest of the work. Towards the end there was some actual storytelling that started to get my interest, but it really went nowhere and was too little, too late.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol and Death
alouette's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
i wasn't expecting the format of this book, as i knew nothing about it when i picked it up, but it was very enjoyable in its strangeness. i like how the threads of different character's stories are weaved together, and the ending was unexpected but funny. still feeling bad for everlasting boy and his bird-lady, they deserved better!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Minor: Death
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