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atperez 's review for:
Saved By the Bell
by Joelle Sellner
I was given this title to review by NetGalley and the publishers Roar Comics in exchange for my honest review.
Fan favorite Saved by the Bell is back in this episodic graphic novel collection about Bayside’s favorite mixed bag high school crew featuring the preppy, the star athlete, the cheerleader, the nerd, the fashion diva, and the honor student. Despite a transplant from the early 90s to more modern times, many elements of this franchise remain the same: Zach and Slater are still vying for Kelly’s affection, Lisa is still repulsed by Screech’s excessive attention, and Jessie is as school and issue-focused as ever. In all eight stories, conflict inevitably ensues as the teens learn to navigate their differences and come to a place of mutual understanding. The stories, reimagined for a new targeted audience of Millenials, take place over the course of the characters’ freshman year of high school and include “Fashion Don’t,” wherein Lisa attempts to win a fashion job at Jessie’s expense, and “Screech “Super” Powers,” in which Screech is hailed as a hero after inadvertently saving Mr. Belding from a mugger. Bold lines and a tropical color scheme pay tribute to Saved by the Bell’s southern California roots, giving it a playful and vibrant feel. Seller and Clugston-Flores also manage to seamlessly inject the collection with modern touches while lightheartedly making reference to memorable moments from the show. However, despite the inclusion of similar humor, characters, and scenarios, the writing and characterization somehow manage to miss the heart of the show, with characters coming across as considerably more one-dimensional than their television counterparts. Nostalgia is enough to bring older readers to the collection but may not be enough to keep them reading past the first few stories. Luckily for younger readers, there is no need to have seen the show to follow along and enjoy it as something altogether new.
Fan favorite Saved by the Bell is back in this episodic graphic novel collection about Bayside’s favorite mixed bag high school crew featuring the preppy, the star athlete, the cheerleader, the nerd, the fashion diva, and the honor student. Despite a transplant from the early 90s to more modern times, many elements of this franchise remain the same: Zach and Slater are still vying for Kelly’s affection, Lisa is still repulsed by Screech’s excessive attention, and Jessie is as school and issue-focused as ever. In all eight stories, conflict inevitably ensues as the teens learn to navigate their differences and come to a place of mutual understanding. The stories, reimagined for a new targeted audience of Millenials, take place over the course of the characters’ freshman year of high school and include “Fashion Don’t,” wherein Lisa attempts to win a fashion job at Jessie’s expense, and “Screech “Super” Powers,” in which Screech is hailed as a hero after inadvertently saving Mr. Belding from a mugger. Bold lines and a tropical color scheme pay tribute to Saved by the Bell’s southern California roots, giving it a playful and vibrant feel. Seller and Clugston-Flores also manage to seamlessly inject the collection with modern touches while lightheartedly making reference to memorable moments from the show. However, despite the inclusion of similar humor, characters, and scenarios, the writing and characterization somehow manage to miss the heart of the show, with characters coming across as considerably more one-dimensional than their television counterparts. Nostalgia is enough to bring older readers to the collection but may not be enough to keep them reading past the first few stories. Luckily for younger readers, there is no need to have seen the show to follow along and enjoy it as something altogether new.