Galaxy: The Prettiest Star by Jadzia Axelrod and Jess Taylor. DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults, 2022. 9781401298531. 192pp. Includes a list of resources at the end for anyone who might need help. Taylor Barzelay doesn’t recognize himself in the mirror. His father and his high school basketball coach rides him pretty hard and keeps him from getting close to other kids. His younger sister and brother offer some distraction, but Taylor is about to explode because of his secret. Those people are not his family. Even his dog, Argus, isn’t really a dog. They’re all from the planet Cyandii, and they’re only pretending to be human (and canine). They fled home when the Vane attacked and they are hiding on our planet, afraid of being discovered, afraid of the finding the gem in Taylor’s chest.. And it’s even worse for Taylor, who was the Galaxy Crowned, the beautiful, horned princess Princess of Cyandi. Taylor’s “dad” General Phil turned her into a boy to make the disguise all the better. They still live in fear of being discovered, of being reveled as aliens. But Taylor has just met Kat, and their friendship seems to be heading toward more, including revealing the truth about who Taylor is. I don’t usually care for comics art without black inks, but artist Jess Taylor makes these pages sparkle. Their art is the perfect compliment to Axelrod’s entirely new take on the alien princess story. I hope to see Galaxy make more appearances in DC comics soon.

The Last Session Volume 1: Roll for Initiative by Jasmine Walls (writer) and Dozerdraws (artist). Mad Cave Studio, 2022. 9781952303197. Includes issues #1 – #5. Members of their high school’s gender sexuality alliance bond over playing a tabletop RPG together (one that includes nonbinary character options). Four years later they’re all good friends, and they’re finally getting close to finishing that first campaign, which is good because they’re all about to graduate and/or move away. They’re super excited, especially Jay (the game master)’s partner, Cassandra, who finally gets to meet Jay’s friends in person and game with them. But Cassandra doesn’t have a lot of RPG experience, and at first she’s kind of rough / annoying / clumsy. Lana (language studies major, about to leave for grad school) has the worst reaction to Cassandra, who is herself very worried about everyone liking her. There’s an epic, fun fantasy story in here role played by the group members, who I’m sure you’ll love, as you see them deal with what’s happening in their own lives at that pivotal moment around the end of college. Worth noting: not all of them have been to college, but everyone else moving away/on gives them something to deal with, too. I haven’t read a graphic novel this fun and inclusive since Megan James’ Innsmouth, which I recommend, too.

Slip by Marika McCoola (text) and Aatmaja Pandya (illustrations). Algonquin Young Readers, 2022. 9781616207892. Jade is heading off for a month-long residency at the Art Farm to work on ceramics that will (she hopes) get her a scholarship to art school. She’s worried about her best friend Phoebe, who recently attempted suicide, but the intensive learning experience she’s there for seems like an amazing opportunity — her workspace is beautiful, and there’s also a wood fired kiln she may be able to fire some of her work in. Her mentor is supportive, but Jade is distracted. She does find a way to commune if not communicate with Phoebe, and even meets someone, Mary, who potentially seems like she might be more than a friend. But Jade’s inner doubts continue to plague her, and critique sessions don’t add to her confidence. Can she get in touch with her feelings and figure out the concept behind the animal figures she’s been sculpting? The art in this book is great. It switches between blue and red ink (and sometimes combines them) in different contexts to great effect. There’s a little magic, some romance, and just enough drama that it all feels real.  

Spear by Nicola Griffith. Tordotcom, 2022. 9781250819321. 184pp. This tale starts with a girl growing up in a secret, hidden space in a somewhat magical part of a forest and ends in a full-on Arthurian romance, a heroic journey of the best type. It’s not too much of a spoiler to say that at a point early on the young woman in question leaves the safety of home to find her way in the world disguised as a man (or at least dressed in a way that she’s mistaken for one), and that the Tuath Dé figure into it. I don’t want to say more — if you like the sound of that, just read it. I love Griffith’s writing in every way, right down to her sentences. And as with all of her books, I feel like this one resisted my attention for a bit, like my brain just can’t handle writing this good without ramping up its processing power. I started and restarted reading this book three times in a week, and then its rhythm took hold of my brain and I could not put it down. It’s one of my favorite books.

Gay Giant by Gabriel Ebensperger. Translated by Kelley D. Salas with Mercedes Guhl. Street Noise, 2022. 9781951491161. 256pp. Ebensperger’s comics are big and bright and his font of choice and drawings make everything feel positive, even when he’s working through some stuff. It’s probably got something to do with the art being overwhelmingly, wonderfully pink. As a little boy Ebensperger played with girls and girls toys, and people often thought he was a girl. He didn’t feel that he fit in. He was a bit of a fashion trendsetter. He had a crush on both Chris Pine and Ferris Bueller at different times, and loved Jem and the Holograms. For a long time h kinda avoided admitting, even to himself, that he was gay. I don’t remember a big coming out scene with his parents or family, but there’s a hilarious description of the first time he masturbated, and a very touching first kiss. My favorite moments: the pages showing that he’s not really a giant compared to his brothers and others (including Totoro), and, when he’s a little kid, when he puts on his mom’s red shoes and asks his dad to pretend it’s his wedding. The whole thing has a bit of a science fiction ending that I didn’t see coming (and that I don’t think mentioning in this way will ruin for you).    

Leviathan (Adventuregame Comics) by Jason Shiga. Amulet Books, 2022. 9781419757792. 144pp. Every new book from Shiga (Meanwhile, Book Hunter, Demon) is a reason to celebrate, plus this is the start of a new series, so woo hoo! It’s a pick-a-path type book that reminds me of old console RPG video games and which shares how-it-works DNA with Shiga’s Meanwhile (though there are no tabbed pages here, at least not in my advance review copy). There’s a page at the beginning explaining how the book works. You start by ordering either mead or poppy milk and then show some ID, which involves choosing, among other things, your name, your eye color, and character class. And then you’re off trying find a job which leads to tracking down the Starlight Wand that controls the Leviathan, which either protects the Cobalt Isles or is a monster (you’ll find out which). There are clues to remember, loops you’ll probably get stuck in for a while, and a visit to the town library, which was both fun and, if I remember correctly, unavoidable. Truly fun for all-ages unless the word “mead” is too much for you or your library.

Bathe The Cat by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by David Roberts. Chronicle, 2021. 9781452142708. Grandma is coming for a visit, and one of the dads urges his family to clean. He makes a list of tasks on the fridge. The cat doesn’t like the last one, so he keeps rearranging the words. Hilarious book with really fun drawings.           Stella, Star Explorer by Kelly Leigh Miller. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022. 9781534497672. Stella isn’t sure why anyone would stay on Earth when they could live in space. So she and her dog Luna take off. They soon meet an Alien, Io, and his pet, Mimas, who are very lost (and, spoiler alert, who eventually lead her to appreciate the Earth). Love the combination of comics and the picture book format here, and Miller’s drawings are top notch.       A Home Under the Stars by Andy Chou Musser. Sasquatch Books, 2021. 9781632173270. Toby didn’t want to move to the city. He can’t even see stars in the sky there. He can’t sleep. But then the lost lion in his closet needs to find the North Star, and Toby helps him (and a bunch of other animals lost in the city). I love the art in this book so much! It’s got great energy.