Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Nimona by ND Stevenson

13 reviews

vixenreader's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Nuanced and uncompromising in its portrayal of trauma after discrimination, it still serves as a cute and heartfelt fantasy adventure with lovely character building and a mature narrative. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Violence, and Confinement

Moderate: Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Ableism, War, and Torture

Minor: Gore, Genocide, Grief, and Cursing

Be aware that there is non-consensual experimentation, unhealthy coping mechanisms for rage, and the guilt over disabling a loved one.

sauvageloup's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

a really fun rollercoaster of a graphic novel, v different from the film but with it's own up sides 

pros:
- interesting exploration of good and evil, morality and immorality. we see the same look at what makes a hero or villain as in the movie, but nimona is a lot more dubious morality, as is the director and ambrosius. ballister holds his position of no murder wherever he can, but does have no compulsions of robbing a bank and is a more established and badass villain.
- ballisters character was very interesting, he praises and accepts nimona more, encourages her as his sidekick, and has much less doubt than movie bal. the theme of nonbinary-ness is less emphasised and instead we look at morality more. he has far more of a reason to be a villain with ambrosius deliberately chopping his arm off, and then the institute being ableist. 
- ambrosius was much darker, and refused to admit he did wrong till late in the book. they were never rly affectionate on page before the final page, and no kisses. much more of an arch nemesis than a breakup vibe.
- nimona was still likeable despite her gung ho attitude to murdering guards. she sees very black and white while ballister is aware of nuance. whilst childish, she isnt a child much in the comic until

shes actually captured, which made her character feel different.

I felt there was also a different focus on trauma, isolation and the impact of it, nimona in the movie seemed affected in her depression and suicide attempt with the sword and her upset over the little girl's reaction, whereas comic nimona reacts with pure rage most of the time and doesnt forgive ballister, who cant get through to her through talking and has to use a weapon against her. it showed that sometimes support comes too little, too late and she was experiencing a trauma response. 
- I did overall appreciate the more adult feel of the comic

with ambrosius's darker personality, the director's torture of nimona, nimona's constant violence, the gory art, the physical altercation between bal and ambrosius in the pub, etc.

- I liked the art style a lot and would like to reread to appreciate it more. the dialogue is fab too, there was no weak bit.
- the plot spread over a wide time line with a few flashbacks too, and was woven together very well. everything from the

planting the virus in the apples, the different institution perspectives, nimona's fake background, bal and ambrosius's relationship and fighting

flowed together really well and added interesting complexity.
- the side character of dr blitzmeyer was interesting too, a fellow scientist like ballister. he sees her indifference to his reputation as friendship, whereas she is surprised by his trust and openness. she was a bit of a plot device but added comedy and i liked her. 
- there are really funny bits too, amidst the dark aspects, with funny dialogue. some came off better in movie, but the textual jokes were great too.
- I liked the twist too of nimona

being able to separate herself into two selves and control the other one. she becomes her anger and her vulnerable side, separated. the monster and the inner child. when separated they lose the balance that let them trust and work with bal. cool and interesting application of nimona's abilities.

cons:
- nimona is harder to like with her unsympathetic disregard for people's lives and as much as its understandable, you get to love her more through ballister than because of herself at least at first. I felt movie nimona had her sad backstory played up more, and her violence played down. 
- compared to the movie, I missed the transgender focus and the theme of acceptance and moving past prejudice. perhaps a result of the authors developing gender identity. the added on screen gayness of bal and ambrosius was great too.
- did think the other scientist was a bit of a plot device and we didnt see much of her.
- liked the flashbacks to gloreth and nimona's friendship in the movie, not present in the comic.

overall, very enjoyable and different from the movie in a lot of ways, but with parallels too. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Torture, Murder, Kidnapping, and Gun violence

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Classism, Blood, and Abandonment

Minor: Homophobia, Vomit, and Bullying

zombiezami's review against another edition

4.0

My only note is that Stevenson should not have included skin-walkers, since Native folks have been pretty adamant that they don't want non-Natives using that lore.

Otherwise, I really enjoyed it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Murder, Torture, Medical trauma, Death, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Grief, Gore, and Police brutality

Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, Confinement, Vomit, and Cursing

Minor: War, Cultural appropriation, and Pandemic/Epidemic

bellebookstitch666's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Kidnapping, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Medical content, Police brutality, Torture, and Gore

brassmonkey's review

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Death

Moderate: Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, and Violence

julesadventurezone's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, and Violence

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Gun violence, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

cozyreader9752's review

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, and Medical content

strawberrytheauthor's review

adventurous dark funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This and Bloodlust and Bonnets are both so good. I describe both as wacky-evil fantasy. The real villains are always the ones that are the ‘good guys’ in the book and the characters all like murder a bit too much.

I loved this book it was so quirky and fun! It’s a fast read that still has depth. 

Quotes: 
“You can’t just go around Murder king people. There are rules Nimona.”
-said by Ballister Blackheart “the villain”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Kidnapping, Murder, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Medical trauma, Violence, Abandonment, and Blood

Moderate: Grief and Bullying

Minor: Body horror

rnbhargava's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Nimona is a fun fantasy comic read. The characters are quite good. The world is inventive and specific. The web comic strip origin is quite apparent. Some chapters feel too slight but then others feel loaded with twists and turns. I liked the story, I get the appeal. It felt a bit thin. At points it could have used further panels expanding on what certain characters were doing. I liked it. I wouldn’t say it’s my new favorite standalone comic but I’m glad I read it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical content, Ableism, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Animal death, Toxic friendship, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Murder, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Classism, Gore, and Kidnapping

The themes can be heavy but the depictions in the art is all of moderate to light. Maybe only give this at youngest to a tween-younger teen.

trippalli's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

3.5

A sweet tale about a shape shifter kid who's had some rough times growing up and has become a villain sidekick.. Turns out there villain has a lot of ethics though and the "good guys" called the institution might not.. Where heros fall in love but end up in different sides and the kid has all the biggest powers it's a wild and adventures ride.  While cartoony and light in mode, said happens and could have triggers for some folks

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Content Warnings

Minor: Violence, Child abuse, Murder, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Forced institutionalization