tailmon's reviews
70 reviews

Jo: An Adaptation of Little Women (Sort Of) by Kathleen Gros

3.5

Pretty good, like on a similar level of quality to Anne, but this one needed a little more juice. Come on, can't one person in this thing be homophobic? Can't there at least be an active worry that your sister might die? Still very sweet, especially in its portrayal of family and friend relationships.

Thieves by Lucie Bryon

4.5

WOW!!! Just plain FUN, amazing flow to this thing, the art style is so cute and charming. I'm so impressed, just great!

The Marble Queen by Anna Kopp

3.0

It's really funny and distracting how much words are used to convey movement in this book - maybe it's helpful to beginner comics readers? Anyway, the character design and art are really strong in here, and the political intrigue pulls you along through the story well. I can't really tell if this is supposed to be a standalone or the beginning of a series - it seems like a standalone based on its length and lack of volume numbering, but it also leaves itself very open to continuation and some things, like the extent to which the thorns and snakes encroaching on Amelia and Salira are literal or metaphorical, don't seem resolved. I don't know that I'd commit to continuing reading if it is a series, but it was a good read.

Navigating With You by Jeremy Whitley

3.5

I'm a bit conflicted on this one - I quite like both leads, their relationship, and how their identities affect their experiences, but I am surprised that this was published in 2024 with a (unless I am missing something) male writer and a male artist. I think the story shines through on its own anyway, and the incorporation of the manga is a cool choice (although it was confusing whether to read it right-to-left or left-to-right at first, and I find the definition of yuri given in the book a bit off). It seems like girl/girl graphic novels are going hard on bisexual women's evil ex boyfriends these days.

Rainbow! Volume 1 by Sunny

2.0

Tone and pacing issues. This probably works fine as a webcomic but it didn't really divide nicely into a volume.

Pardalita by Joana Estrela

5.0

Very special book - another YA lesbian text with a dedication that makes me weepy. The line movement and dissolution of shapes in the artwork is so cool and I love the blend of comics and prose. This is interesting as a translation since it involves a Portuguese-speaking character learning English but I think it works fine. Not my favourite thing I've read this year but it gets five stars because there's simply nothing wrong with it. 

Princess Princess Ever After by K. O'Neill

3.0

Cute! Didn't totally love the resolution but there's tons of charm in here, as expected from O'Neill.

Cheer Up! Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier, Val Wise

3.5

Short and sweet. Pretty good exploration of Bebe's experience as a trans girl and various types of transphobia are confronted, sometimes feeling a bit heavy handed but not unbelievable. Maybe this is just coming off of The Deep Dark which has a somewhat similar setup for its leads' shared backstory but I would have liked to know a little more about Annie and Bebe's friendship before Bebe transitioned. I also think the language of Annie liking Bebe "because [she's] a girl" is a bit flawed but it works alright as a shorthand and it's a cute romance overall.

Anne: An Adaptation of Anne of Green Gables (Sort Of) by Kathleen Gros

4.0

Really cute, I haven't read the original Anne of Green Gables so I can't really judge adaptational choices but I think it confronts the experience of foster care and of being an angry young girl quite well. End of the day though I think Gros should have gone harder on making Anne of Green Gables butch.

The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag

4.5

Super beautiful use of colour throughout. I love a depressed butch protagonist and I think Nessa's transness is handled really well - refreshing to see a scene of a trans girl in a swimsuit where it's just not an issue! And needless to say the creatures is excellent