The damsel runs toward danger in this action-packed, witty fantasy series-starter.
Action and intrigue abound in Clemson’s YA graphic novel as a young agent attempts to rescue a princess.
Bec, an agent of D.I.S.T.R.E.S.S. (her medieval-like fantasy realm’s premier espionage agency), has much to prove. Abandoned by her adventuring father (who happens to be a former agent himself) at a young age, she must live up to the expectations put upon her by her family’s epic legacy. She’s done fine so far—however, when she’s tasked with rescuing Estrid, a kidnapped Dwarven princess, she must come to terms with her family’s history and fight to stop an evil sorcerer’s plans for ultimate power. She’s joined by a ragtag team including Dave, a not-quite-a-knight, and Brunhilde, Estrid’s shield-maiden with a love of mead, ale, and calling Bec “Merciless One.” This first volume of Clemson’s series subverts gender roles and moves as far away from the damsel-in-distress trope as possible. Bec is part secret agent (think James Bond) and part superhero with a chip on her shoulder. Her witty comebacks serve as a welcome respite from the book’s heavy subject matter (death, abandonment, and generational trauma). Dave’s status as a hapless would-be knight is also entertaining and offers an unexpected take on standard adventure fair. Brunhilde is a refreshing female fantasy character—she occupies the roles of the rough-and-tumble warrior and excitable fangirl at the same time. But despite all the well-paced action, the story leaves out some important details on peripheral characters. Readers don’t learn the name of Bec’s father (Rickard Flashjoy) until the final portion of the narrative, for example, and the villain’s motivation isn’t very clear beyond the unquenchable-thirst-for-power trope. Mora’s full-color illustrations are exemplary, deftly shifting styles to communicate changes in atmosphere and time period where necessary and creating a world readers can get sucked into. Fans of the Venture Brothers animated series will delight in seeing visual references to the show throughout the comic, including the appearance of a notorious supervillain.
The damsel runs toward danger in this action-packed, witty fantasy series-starter.Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
ISBN: 9781545823385
Page Count: 122
Publisher: Mad Cave Studios / Maverick
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A sparse, beautifully drawn story about a teen discovering her heritage.
In this YA graphic novel, an alienated Métis girl learns about her people’s Canadian history.
Métis teenager Echo Desjardins finds herself living in a home away from her mother, attending a new school, and feeling completely lonely as a result. She daydreams in class and wanders the halls listening to a playlist of her mother’s old CDs. At home, she shuts herself up in her room. But when her history teacher begins to lecture about the Pemmican Wars of early 1800s Saskatchewan, Echo finds herself swept back to that time. She sees the Métis people following the bison with their mobile hunting camp, turning the animals’ meat into pemmican, which they sell to the Northwest Company in order to buy supplies for the winter. Echo meets a young girl named Marie, who introduces Echo to the rhythms of Métis life. She finally understands what her Métis heritage actually means. But the joys are short-lived, as conflicts between the Métis and their rivals in the Hudson Bay Company come to a bloody head. The tragic history of her people will help explain the difficulties of the Métis in Echo’s own time, including those of her mother and the teen herself. Accompanied by dazzling art by Henderson (A Blanket of Butterflies, 2017, etc.) and colorist Yaciuk (Fire Starters, 2016, etc.), this tale is a brilliant bit of time travel. Readers are swept back to 19th-century Saskatchewan as fully as Echo herself. Vermette’s (The Break, 2017, etc.) dialogue is sparse, offering a mostly visual, deeply contemplative juxtaposition of the present and the past. Echo’s eventual encounter with her mother (whose fate has been kept from readers up to that point) offers a powerful moment of connection that is both unexpected and affecting. “Are you…proud to be Métis?” Echo asks her, forcing her mother to admit, sheepishly: “I don’t really know much about it.” With this series opener, the author provides a bit more insight into what that means.
A sparse, beautifully drawn story about a teen discovering her heritage.Pub Date: March 15, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-55379-678-7
Page Count: 48
Publisher: HighWater Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 28, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Flipping awesome.
After a wish goes wrong, a girl and her crush must figure out how to break a body-switching curse.
Chi-Chi Ekeh feels invisible. Like her previous crushes, hot varsity swimmer Flip Henderson—yet another rich white boy at her Texas boarding school—seems unaware of her existence. With only weeks until graduation, Nigerian American Chi-Chi’s friends Esther and Yesenia dare her to ask Flip to Senior Festival. But Flip accidentally shows her promposal video to the whole class—and immediately turns her down. Embarrassed, Chi-Chi flees, but her innocent remark—“I just wish Flip Henderson liked me”—has unexpected consequences. After falling and hitting her head, Chi-Chi wakes up in Flip’s body, and he in hers. Freaked out beyond belief and regularly switching bodies, Chi-Chi and Flip work with Esther and Yesenia to break the curse. Meanwhile, forced to see herself through someone else’s eyes, Chi-Chi must confront uncomfortable feelings. There’s much to love about this book. The fully realized and sympathetic characters, sincere and humorous development of friendships, and protagonist’s relatable and bittersweet emotional journey will keep readers engaged, eager to reach the resolution. Ukazu carefully balances tough topics like self-hatred, depression, and suicidal ideation with funny feel-good moments, deftly rendered in her characteristically expressive style. The dynamic and engaging illustrations bring to life a heartwarming story of self-love, acceptance, and true connection.
Flipping awesome. (author’s note) (Graphic fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2025
ISBN: 9781250179517
Page Count: 320
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
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