Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Nimona by ND Stevenson

18 reviews

breamfish1138's review

adventurous funny inspiring 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

4.75

I had to re-read this after the Netflix movie came out (which is also ⚡️METAL⚡️ as hell), and it still holds up. Art is kinetic and fluid, the story is somehow simultaneously goofy and emotive and poignant and the characterisation is on point. Sure, the pacing can be odd, but such are webcomics. ND Stevenson, well done dude you cooked with this one.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Child death, Blood, Torture, Abandonment, Animal death, Confinement, Violence, Murder, and Gore

Minor: Cursing

torismazarine's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Ableism, Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical content, and Murder

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.

annapox's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Murder, Medical content, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Murder, Blood, Animal death, Death, and Violence

Minor: Classism, Abandonment, Ableism, Grief, Cursing, Vomit, Gore, and Pandemic/Epidemic

anispaperbacks's review

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted 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? Yes

3.75

 I had so much fun with this!!! I hadn't read it yet but I have seen the movie (trust that I ugly cry everytime I watch it) so I was so excited when I got my hands on a copy of it!! As it was a graphic novel, it was a super quick read. I could have easy done it in one sitting but I did space it out a bit to savour it :) At first I think it maybe felt a little jarring in comparison to the movie as it sort of jumped right in to Nimona being Ballister's sidekick etc etc but as I was reading it, it all started to feel more natural to the novel. In my opinion the movie did a more solid job of setting up characters, back stories, world building etc but that suits that media type while how the graphic novel did it suited its media type. Plot wise, they're fairly different, but again they both stand really well on their own and both are excellent pieces of media and I love them both dearly. It was great to be able to experience another version of Nimona and Ballister's antics and again, seripusly just such a fun and cool story. I love the characters and their, I love the cool futuristic medieval type world, I love the plot and its message (and i love the artstyle!!! its sososososo much fun as well) 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Blood, and Grief

hmetwade's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Violence, Abandonment, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gore, and Confinement

therainbowshelf's review

adventurous emotional funny mysterious medium-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

I’ve had my eye on this one for a few years, and a friend recently lent it to me because she loves it. It was fun seeing the way that Nimoma’s chaotic energy helped or overshot Blackhart’s plans, as well as how Blackhart’s supervillain status began and the ways he ran with it. It wasn’t a wow-me book but it was such a fun read! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Violence and Death

uranaishi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Abandonment, Medical content, Violence, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Child abuse, Gun violence, and Death

Minor: Murder, Alcohol, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Blood, Body horror, and Grief

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