Dazzling; a must-read for any dragon fan
A popular middle-grade dragon series gets a graphic-novel makeover.
Based on the Wings of Fire series, this reworking breathes new life into a motley crew of dragonets who, against all odds, are destined to fulfill a prophecy and end the long-standing war that has plagued their kingdom. Kindhearted Clay, fierce Tsunami, brainy Starflight, overlooked Glory, and runt Sunny have been kept hidden underground their entire lives. When they finally escape, they find a harsh and violent kingdom aboveground, overseen by the malevolent Queen Scarlet, a dragon who revels in death and violence. Working together, the dragonets try to do what is right in a land riddled with treachery, deception, and bloodshed. This high-fantasy graphic novel is assembled by a dream team of established creators: the adaptation is written by Hereville creator Deutsch and illustrated by Secret Coders’ Holmes. Colorist Laiho does stunning work; her vibrant, eye-catching hues nearly jump off the page. Faithful to the original, this stellar adaptation is sure to delight both those familiar and newcomers to this series, and with universal themes such as good versus evil and the hero’s quest for self-identity, this may even ignite new interest in the genre.
Dazzling; a must-read for any dragon fan . (Fantasy. 7-13)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-545-94216-4
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Nov. 26, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2017
Family, friendship, and shenanigan-filled bravery take flight in this Christmas tale.
Searching for a lost reindeer sends two new friends on an adventure they’ll never forget.
Grieving Virginia Kay spots a reindeer out her car window during a move from Arizona to Colorado just three days before Christmas in 1955. She tries to tell her dad what she saw, but he gets distracted and almost crashes the car. When they arrive at Aunt Frances’ apartment, Virginia meets her friendly new neighbor, the chatty Benny Alvarez, who’s always up for snacking. After they spend the day together, Virginia decides she can let Benny in on her secret. Benny declares “We’re in this together,” and the magical twists and turns begin as they team up to search for the reindeer. The Continental Air Defense Command Center is tracking it, too, trying to identify the suspicious flying object. Meanwhile, another plotline following a separate reindeer tracker unnecessarily complicates matters. Still grappling with her mother’s loss, Virginia hopes she can reunite the lost reindeer with Santa. Will she and Benny find it in time to save Christmas? The fast-paced story comes to life on the page through Podesta’s artwork, which features expressive facial expressions, vividly rendered action scenes, and the effective use of color. Virginia and her family present white, and Benny and his family are cued Latine.
Family, friendship, and shenanigan-filled bravery take flight in this Christmas tale. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9781250838230
Page Count: 352
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: July 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2025
DC delivers another charmer.
Members of the Legion of Doom answer their emails.
Harley Quinn, Black Manta, Lex Luthor, Katana, and more correspond with curious fans in this middle-grade graphic novel. After performing a daredevil museum heist in Cairo, Catwoman answers a question from a curious fan about how it is that Batman keeps getting the better of her (laser pointers, but she is sure not going to admit that). Giganta plucks an atomic payload from a truck she crushes before helping a young beanpole see the advantage of unusual height. And so on. This sequel to Dear Justice League (2019) improves upon its predecessor in nearly every way, starting with a poppier color palette that better suits these larger-than-life villains. There’s also more connective tissue among the villains’ vignettes, embracing their peculiar clubhouse energy. The book still contains a few too many of these vignettes, though: The format’s repetitive nature can’t quite be shaken. However, a larger narrative this time around concerning a master plot concocted by Harley Quinn gives the novel some semblance of a spine. Some readers may find themselves speed-reading through the panels of villains sitting down to read the letters to get back to the action. The characters are well designed, Peter’s colors are terrific, and the panels are reasonably propulsive. Black Manta and Katana help to diversify the mostly White humanoid villains, and there is diversity among their correspondents, including one kid who uses a wheelchair.
DC delivers another charmer. (Graphic adventure. 8-12)Pub Date: April 6, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-77950-054-0
Page Count: 176
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
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