Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
This is a wonderfully done comic, but unfortunately it's not for me. I struggled to follow the story for the first half (the fact that I couldn't easily tell characters apart didn't help), and when I finally did feel like I had a grasp on what was going on I couldn't get into it much.
I loved the art, though, its colours (and lack of them) and beautiful drawings kept me going till the end.
When my niece will become a teenager I will pass this book to her, I figure that she'll enjoy much more than I could.
I loved the art, though, its colours (and lack of them) and beautiful drawings kept me going till the end.
When my niece will become a teenager I will pass this book to her, I figure that she'll enjoy much more than I could.
Beautiful art and a story to match. The color palette is unlike any I’ve seen. Stories like this about love and friendship are too hard to find these days.
The book that got me into gay Sci-fi and also graphic novels
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA this book was so good!!!! I read it all in one night and I love it very much. Tillie Walden is an excellent storyteller with a BEAUTIFUL art style, and every one of the characters is SO DANG COOL. The setting is amazing as well—space? fish? boarding school? more space? AWESOME COWBOY PEOPLE? HECK. YEAHHHHHHH
Thank you, Tillie Walden.
Thank you, Tillie Walden.
Beautiful and engaging graphic novel. Due to illustration/inking style I occasionally had difficulty telling characters apart, and I want some more depth and answers, but beautiful overall
On a Sunbeam is the comic equivalent of a Radiohead song; hauntingly beautiful and atmospheric, with a story that will never truly leave your mind. It is “Motion Picture Soundtrack,” it is “Sail to the Moon,” it is “Videotape,” and it is very nearly everything I could ever want in a graphic novel.
I’m not normally a fan of more simplistic art styles like Walden’s, but she makes it work in all the best ways. The character’s facial features are simple, but are able to show such a wide range of expression. There’s so much detail and care put into the backgrounds and settings, with carefully picked color schemes that make for an immersive, lived-in sci-fi world. I kid you not, both the desktop wallpaper of my laptop and the home screen of my phone are both panels from On a Sunbeam now. That’s how much I loved it.
The design of the vast reaches of Walden’s universe is beautifully atmospheric, a sci-fi with a fantastical twist. Each planet that the crew visits is so unique, and I ADORE the design of all of the ships–all inspired by fish! What’s not to love? (WHERE. CAN. I. BUY. ONE.)
Beyond the beautiful artwork, On a Sunbeam boasts a tender romance that spans across the stars. It alternates between the past and present fluidly without any confusion, and through both, you come to love the whole cast of characters. And speaking of that cast–there is diversity aplenty here! In the group of main characters, there is not one but two multiracial wlw relationships (including Mia and Grace). Most of the Sunbeam crew is POC (Black, Latinx, etc.), and there’s also a nonbinary character who plays a crucial role. There’s also several background wlw relationships and…not a single man in sight? I simultaneously love that but also recognize that it raises a few questions. Walden makes her cast effortlessly diverse, making On a Sunbeam a tale for the ages.
And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for…FOUND FAMILY VIBES! The chemistry between Mia and the rest of the crew is impeccable, and I can’t help but adore every single character we come across. Grace was wonderful as well. They were all so distinct, and I managed to love every single one of them.
All in all, On a Sunbeam is a graphic novel that hits all the right spots, whether it be in the worldbuilding, the art, or the characters. Seriously, if you haven’t already read it, you are missing out. 5 stars!
I’m not normally a fan of more simplistic art styles like Walden’s, but she makes it work in all the best ways. The character’s facial features are simple, but are able to show such a wide range of expression. There’s so much detail and care put into the backgrounds and settings, with carefully picked color schemes that make for an immersive, lived-in sci-fi world. I kid you not, both the desktop wallpaper of my laptop and the home screen of my phone are both panels from On a Sunbeam now. That’s how much I loved it.
The design of the vast reaches of Walden’s universe is beautifully atmospheric, a sci-fi with a fantastical twist. Each planet that the crew visits is so unique, and I ADORE the design of all of the ships–all inspired by fish! What’s not to love? (WHERE. CAN. I. BUY. ONE.)
Beyond the beautiful artwork, On a Sunbeam boasts a tender romance that spans across the stars. It alternates between the past and present fluidly without any confusion, and through both, you come to love the whole cast of characters. And speaking of that cast–there is diversity aplenty here! In the group of main characters, there is not one but two multiracial wlw relationships (including Mia and Grace). Most of the Sunbeam crew is POC (Black, Latinx, etc.), and there’s also a nonbinary character who plays a crucial role. There’s also several background wlw relationships and…not a single man in sight? I simultaneously love that but also recognize that it raises a few questions. Walden makes her cast effortlessly diverse, making On a Sunbeam a tale for the ages.
And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for…FOUND FAMILY VIBES! The chemistry between Mia and the rest of the crew is impeccable, and I can’t help but adore every single character we come across. Grace was wonderful as well. They were all so distinct, and I managed to love every single one of them.
All in all, On a Sunbeam is a graphic novel that hits all the right spots, whether it be in the worldbuilding, the art, or the characters. Seriously, if you haven’t already read it, you are missing out. 5 stars!
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I keep reading comments of people with many questions and comments about gender and the lack of men in the book/universe. However I just found this story to be engaging and heartwarming and so queer it didn’t try to be anything but. It’s what I needed in the moment I read it and I came away from it smiling.
Read the pages from the author in the back and you’ll see that this story originally was part of a small web comic series. I don’t think the point was to break any barriers telling a story. The emphasis was clearly on the art and the feel-good plot. If you came away from this story confused about the plot, how gender works in this universe, or are still misgendering a main character, you’ve missed the point—this book does not serve to educate you. There are plenty of resources out there.
Read the pages from the author in the back and you’ll see that this story originally was part of a small web comic series. I don’t think the point was to break any barriers telling a story. The emphasis was clearly on the art and the feel-good plot. If you came away from this story confused about the plot, how gender works in this universe, or are still misgendering a main character, you’ve missed the point—this book does not serve to educate you. There are plenty of resources out there.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated