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chwaters's review against another edition
4.0
A fun, light-hearted graphic novel by one of the authors of "Skim". Emiko self-identifies as a geek and has typically been OK with being in the background. Her summer is promising to be boring, the only thing getting her out of the house being her babysitting job for a young couple. One day, she witnesses a unique girl making a scene by dancing and tossing out flyers advertising a freak show. In spite of her hesitations, Emiko is intrigued and eventually makes her way to the club where she is utterly enchanted by the freedom of expression on stage. Emiko decides she wants to become a part of the scene and begins to work on an act. Inspiration eludes her until she stumbles across a journal written by the mother of her babysitting charge.
In a sense, this is a coming-of-age tale. Emiko is dire need of something to help her discover who she really is. While a freak show may not be the answer for everyone, Emiko's sense of liberation while performing is easy to relate to. With a little bit of help from some of the women in her life (though they will likely never realize it), Emiko is able to transform herself into a superstar of sorts. How long can she keep it up? Furthermore, how long can the freak show scene sustain itself?
I liked it a lot. And I really, really want to visit that freak show to see for myself the acts portrayed in the book. It's pretty rare to see performance art depicted in a teen graphic novel, so that makes this little book unique. Emiko is easy to relate to, especially for anyone who's ever spent time in the shadows. It's hard not to be enchanted by the world Emiko becomes a part of and it's disappointing when she ultimately has to move on.
In a sense, this is a coming-of-age tale. Emiko is dire need of something to help her discover who she really is. While a freak show may not be the answer for everyone, Emiko's sense of liberation while performing is easy to relate to. With a little bit of help from some of the women in her life (though they will likely never realize it), Emiko is able to transform herself into a superstar of sorts. How long can she keep it up? Furthermore, how long can the freak show scene sustain itself?
I liked it a lot. And I really, really want to visit that freak show to see for myself the acts portrayed in the book. It's pretty rare to see performance art depicted in a teen graphic novel, so that makes this little book unique. Emiko is easy to relate to, especially for anyone who's ever spent time in the shadows. It's hard not to be enchanted by the world Emiko becomes a part of and it's disappointing when she ultimately has to move on.
readingwithcats's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Emiko steals diary entries from her deeply unhappy employer’s journal to impress a sleazy crew of “performance artists.” And, I’m sorry, but there is no coming back from that.
mewpasaurus's review
2.0
Color me unimpressed. Story and character's actions made this story somewhat unredeemable, especially as she's only doing it to fit in amongst a bunch of slightly older, disaffected youths who claim that they are pursuing "art". Sprinkled throughout with some truths learned through insight and bad decisions, most of this graphic novel is a bit of a snooze.
Art was okay, but nothing to write home about.
Art was okay, but nothing to write home about.
kevinhendricks's review
2.0
A geek girl discovers herself in performance art over a transformative summer. Felt a little flat and quick.
ashawp's review
3.0
An interesting peek into the world of expressive young artists. I was about as clueless as Emiko so that helped me ease into the culture. I wasn't completely sold on the story - but I appreciated Emiko as a unique character. She actually reminded me of a good friend of mine in a few ways.
quinnster's review
3.0
Both sad and empowering, Emiko Superstar is quite the coming of age story. Braver than she thought she was, but at the same time still hiding behind someone else.
andreablythe's review
4.0
3 and 1/2 stars
Emily is a lonely geek, who discovered the Freak Factory, a dumpy, garbage strewn hangout, where people come to perform and let their weirdness shine. Enamored by the dancer Poppy, Emily finds courage to take the stage and become Emiko the superstar, even if only for a short while.
This is definitely a young adult comic/graphic novel with a simple, uplifting storyline. It's not deep and there is no sense of complexity. But it's a well put together story and Emily is likeable. And like Emily, I could fall in love with Poppy and her sense of freedom, too. The art style also supports it well and I like that a variety of body types are shown.
Emily is a lonely geek, who discovered the Freak Factory, a dumpy, garbage strewn hangout, where people come to perform and let their weirdness shine. Enamored by the dancer Poppy, Emily finds courage to take the stage and become Emiko the superstar, even if only for a short while.
This is definitely a young adult comic/graphic novel with a simple, uplifting storyline. It's not deep and there is no sense of complexity. But it's a well put together story and Emily is likeable. And like Emily, I could fall in love with Poppy and her sense of freedom, too. The art style also supports it well and I like that a variety of body types are shown.
mayhap's review
5.0
The fate of the Minx imprint is really a crying shame. For an all-too-brief moment, DC Comics was publishing these fantastic narratives about teenage girls who were not even remotely the assumed norm, delivered in the form of extremely viewable and readable graphic art. Sadly, these books were published under a false imprimis ("'Minx'? Srsly???") and not under any other and didn't have a great fate.
This is a great story about being mixed-race, about transitioning from one grade to another and not wanting to stay in the same cliques, about self-expression, about living in a world that is more complicated that you are allowed to acknowledge, and about the powers that be. It is extremely smart.
This is a great story about being mixed-race, about transitioning from one grade to another and not wanting to stay in the same cliques, about self-expression, about living in a world that is more complicated that you are allowed to acknowledge, and about the powers that be. It is extremely smart.