A review by crin_d1nk
Lumberjanes: To The Max Edition, Vol. 1 by Grace Ellis, ND Stevenson, Shannon Watters

adventurous fast-paced

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

4.5

Lumberjanes: To The Max Edition, Vol. 1, written by Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis, with art by Brooke Allen, is an absolute joy to read. Set at a girls’ sleepover camp, the story follows best friends Jo, April, Mal, Molly, Ripley, and their cabin leader Jen as they embark on a whirlwind adventure filled with mazes, anagram puzzles, capture the flag, battling foxes, mysterious objects, sibling rivalries, and even yetis. Armed with intelligence, strength, badge-winning skills, and, of course, the power of friendship, they’re ready to conquer it all.

I wasn’t prepared for the sense of nostalgia and excitement Lumberjanes stirred in me. It made me want to revisit my Girl Scout days or gather my closest friends for some camping and outdoor fun. The series moves at a relentless pace, and I really appreciated how there’s no downtime. While each issue initially appears to be a stand-alone adventure, by the end, everything ties together seamlessly, leaving plenty of threads to pull on in future stories. I also thought it was clever how each issue connects to a camp badge. Not only do these badges add depth to the narrative, but they also subtly reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the characters.

As much as I enjoyed the fast pace, it did have a downside— the characters didn’t feel as fully developed as I hoped. I often found myself confusing Jo and Mal, and though I connected more with April, Ripley, and Jen, I was never able to fully grasp the personalities of all the girls. From the back matter of this volume, it seems the creators weren’t sure how the series would be received. This likely influenced their decision to focus on telling a complete, short story, just in case the series was canceled. My hope is that future volumes will give these characters more room to grow and allow us to better understand them.

Brooke Allen’s art is a perfect match for the story. She captures the joy and fun of the girls' adventures, while also conveying the danger and excitement in a way that keeps the stakes high. Maarta Laiho’s colors are a huge part of that balance. The story often relies on the characters’ facial expressions and the background details to convey emotions, and Laiho’s colors really bring those moments to life. Each character stands out clearly with distinct features and outfits, which makes them easily identifiable. For example, you can instantly tell that Jen is the responsible leader just by looking at her neat, professional clothing. In contrast, Ripley’s playful, disheveled appearance reflects her easily distracted nature.

I also want to highlight Aubrey Aiese’s lettering, which adds an extra layer of expression to the dialogue. The way she varies the size and thickness of the letters within thought bubbles helps convey the characters’ excitement or fear. You can practically hear the voices of the characters, thanks to how the letters are stylized.

Overall, Lumberjanes is an outstanding collaboration between all involved. Without the contribution of each of these talented women, the final product wouldn’t have the same energy and charm.