The Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics has long kept the peace in the kingdom, its champion Ambrosius Goldenloin always ready to cross swords with
any monster or villain... particularly his nemesis, Ballister Blackheart. At least, that's what the news channels would have everyone believe. A former
Institute student himself, Blackheart's seen the truth behind the golden facade - but he's never been able to convince anyone where the real danger is. Until,
that is, he acquires a new and unexpected sidekick.
The girl Nimona comes from nowhere, a shapeshifter with flexible morals who insists on helping Blackheart with his evil plans. With her on his side, Ballister
starts making progress exposing the Insititute's true nature... but the Director is willing to go to any lengths - and rack up any body count - to bring the
archvillain down.
Review
Similar to the Lumberjanes series (which Stevenson co-writes), Nimona mixes superficial humor and action with unexpected, sometimes dark
character development. Blackheart and Goldenloin share a complicated history, long locked in a stalemate as hero and villain under the Institute's control, though
the animosity is deeply personal. Nimona's arrival disrupts the equilibrium, her backstory and motivations stranger and darker than anyone's. The setting freely
mixes science and magic, swords and guns, a weirdly wild world where just about anything can happen, with an explosive climax. As a minor complaint, the lettering
was sometimes a little tough to read on my Nook screen, particularly the white lettering on neutral or light backgrounds. Ultimately, though, it's an excellent,
often amusing story of the power of friendship and love, and the devastating damage wrought by betrayals big and small.
The Lumberjanes series, Issues 1 - 4 ND Stevenson and Shannon Watters, illustrations by Brooke A. Allen BOOM! Box Fiction, MG? Adventure/Fantasy/Graphic Novel/Humor Themes: Diversity, Girl Power, Locations with Character, Wilderness Tales ****
Description
At Miss Quinzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types, girls spend their summers canoeing, hiking, learning about
nature, making friends, and earning Lumberjanes merit badges... or, at least, that's what most girls do. April, Jo, Mal, Molly, and Ripley keep
driving their cabin counselor Jen nuts breaking camp rules - but it's not really their fault. Something weird's going on in and around camp, with
bear-women and three-eyed foxes and more, plus a peculiar warning about a "Kitten Holy" they can't make heads nor tails of. Like it or not, they're
up to their eyeballs in the strangest summer of their lives! At least they'll get some kick-ass merit badges at the end - if they make it that long...
This volume includes the first four issues of the Lumberjanes comic books.
Review
This girl-power fantasy adventure comic doesn't loaf around, hurling the reader straight into the action and introducing both characters and concepts
on the fly. It's a weird, wacky tale with some hilarious lines, not so subtly poking popular story tropes (and outfits like Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts),
though the characters are sometimes a jumble and some haven't developed much depth yet. Still, it's quite fun and reads quickly, and it got some laughs
out of me. I expect I'll be exploring more of this title in the future.
The Lumberjanes series, Issues 5 - 8 ND Stevenson and Shannon Watters, illustrations by Brooke A. Allen BOOM! Box Fiction, MG? Adventure/Fantasy/Graphic Novel/Humor Themes: Diversity, Girl Power, Locations with Character, Wilderness Tales ****
Description
The adventures of the Lumberjanes girls of Roanoke cabin continue. From friendship bracelets to Capture the Flag, summer camp continues... to be
plagued with monster attacks and magic and general weirdness in the woods. The mystery surrounding the golden-eyed beasts deepens as a fellow camper
proves to be more than just another Lumberjane, drawing Roanoake into a case of celestial sibling rivalry with the power of the universe up for grabs.
Review
Much like the first collection, this volume starts quickly and maintains high levels of action and humor. Cabin counselor Jen has been drug into the
strangeness, adding a new dynamic as the five core characters continue to grow. Still a fun series.
The Lumberjanes series, Issues 9 - 12 and 14 - 17 ND Stevenson, Grace Ellis, and Shannon Watters, illustrations by Brooke A. Allen and Carolyn Nowak BOOM! Box Fiction, MG? Adventure/Fantasy/Graphic Novel/Humor Themes: Diversity, Girl Power, Locations with Character, Wilderness Tales ****
Description
After solving the riddles and defeating a pair of rogue godlings, the girls of Roanoke cabin thought they'd settle down to a somewhat normal
summer camp experience... only to find even more unusual adventures waiting for them (and occasionally stalking them, or outright attacking them.)
From a journey through a lost world to a scary story contest to the mystery of a former camper living in the woods, the Lumberjanes are at it
again.
This special "Friendship to the Max" deluxe volume includes special notes and behind-the-scenes sketches.
Review
I really don't know what's going on with the volume numbering on this series. Technically, this should be the third collection, but it's listed
as the second. Apparently, it's a compilation of Volumes 3 and 4 (with issue 13 withheld, for reasons I don't know), though I see no sign of an
independent Volume 3 on Hoopla. In any event, these episodes build on the previous series to create more magic, more mayhem, and more mirth. It's
still sometimes a bit tough to tell a few of the characters apart, an issue not helped by changing art styles. Still, it's fun, and mostly maintains
the spirit and quick pacing of the previous Lumberjanes adventures.
After dealing with strange beasts, vengeful ex-campers, possible time paradoxes, and other problems, the girls of Roanoke cabin take some down
time by the lake... only to hook another adventure. April, lifelong mermaid fan, can't help getting involved when they inadvertently witness a
tiff between a group of merpeople - even if doing so makes the other girls miss the dance they were looking forward to.
This volume also includes issue 13, about the girls' first day at Lumberjanes camp.
Review
Another light, fun adventure at an unusual summer camp, it focuses on April, the impetuous and highly competitive little redhead who is often
overshadowed by other characters. She means well, but has to learn that camp isn't just about her, and her actions can have negative consequences on
those she loves the most. Naturally, it's no spoiler to mention it all works out in the end. As for the origin issue, it feels oddly incomplete,
just offering a quick glimpse at the girls arriving at camp and meeting each other. Overall, it still made for an amusing read.
As their summer at Lumberjanes camp continues, none of the girls at Roanoke cabin - April, Mal, Jo, Molly, and Riley - can complain of boredom;
between dimensional portals, were-bears, mermaid bands, godlings, and the odd dinosaur encounter, there's never a dull moment at Miss Quinzella
Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types. When April sets out to earn a group badge for knot tying, they meet the
camp's newest counselor, Seafarin' Karen - an encounter which, once more, pulls the Roanoke girls into an adventure full of magic, danger, and
friendship to the max.
Review
The series remains a light, fun, and quick read, never short on humor or adventure. There are greater arcs - the secrets hidden by the former
camp counselor/were-bear, the unknown forces at work in the forest (beyond the dimensional portal "issue" it seems to be experiencing), the possible
fates of the girls after camp - and some incremental character development, but for the most part each volume works as a standalone. Like the
previous adventures, I found it enjoyable, with fun characters new and old.
The Lumberjanes series, Issues 25 - 28 ND Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Kat Leyh, Grace Ellis, and Brooke Allen, illustrations by Maarta Laiho, Carey Pietsch, and Ayme Sotuyo BOOM! Box Fiction, MG? Adventure/Fantasy/Graphic Novel/Humor Themes: Avians, Diversity, Felines, Girl Power, Locations with Character, Wilderness Tales ****
Description
With the High Council on its way for a camp inspection, Roanoke Cabin counselor Jen is determined not to let anything go wrong, supernatural or
otherwise: her college application may depend on it. But when the kittens from the nearby Scouting Lads camp invade, now manifesting magical powers,
it's the start of another high-flying adventure - literally high flying, when a giant bird abducts the High Council before their very eyes.
Review
Another fun and quick-reading outing from the Lumberjanes series follows through on some earlier threads; the kittens were conjured by Riley
during their first adventure, and Barney the Scouting Lad struggles to find a place among the Lumberjanes, where he feels more at home than around
other boys. Old ways and new clash, as the Roanoke girls and the elders of the High Council try to figure a way out of their predicament. Meanwhile,
Hes from Zodiac Cabin seems to have a grudge against the girls. An amusing tale that both progresses the main plot (such as there is one) and sets
up the next adventure.
The Lumberjanes of Roanoke cabin were looking forward to a nice, normal, and magic- and monster-free breakfast with their friends of Zodiac cabin.
(It will also be a good chance to see how new Lumberjane Barney is settling into camp.) But instead of hugs and laughs, all they get is cold stares;
everyone has been turned to solid stone! Just then, they see an old frenemy wandering around camp: the perpetual teen goddess Diana, who was supposed
to have been exiled back to Olympus. Is she responsible for this? If not, can she find out who - or what - is? And will they ever get to share waffle
sticks with Zodiac?
Review
Like the previous installments, this is a fun little adventure of monsters, mayhem, and friendship to the max. There's some minor character
progression along the way as the girls deal with imperfect families. Mostly, though, it's just an amusing diversion, a nice and needed dose of
whimsy.
