Nimona
2015
- fantasy comics
- science fiction comics
- graphic novels
- good and evil -- fiction
- shapeshifting -- fiction
- knights and knighthood
- shapeshifting
- comic books, strips
- supervillains
- monsters
The story
The graphic novel debut from rising star Noelle Stevenson, based on her beloved and critically acclaimed web comic, which Slate awarded its Cartoonist Studio Prize, calling it "a deadpan epic." Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism! All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive, sharply irreverent epic from Noelle Stevenson. Featuring an exclusive epilogue not seen in the web comic, along with bonus conceptual sketches and revised pages throughout, this gorgeous full-color graphic novel is perfect for the legions of fans of the web comic and is sure to win Noelle many new ones. Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are. But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.
What it’s like
Bright, flat-colour panels with bold ink lines and a playful, cartoonish snap: a sun-washed medieval kingdom of castles, jousting fields and gleaming armour rendered in clean pastels and saturated accents, shifting into moodier greens and shadowed corridors when things turn. The rhythm is quick and punchy, with deadpan one-liners, sight gags and sudden full-page reveals that land like comic-timing cuts, and the sound you hear in your head is brisk and witty rather than sweeping. Its vibe is irreverent, warm and mischievous, with an undercurrent of ache about loyalty and being misunderstood. It suits a lazy afternoon, a comfort reread, or a long commute where you want something that makes you grin every few pages. The story follows an unlikely villain-and-sidekick pair whose friendship grows more complicated and tender as the chaos escalates. Intensity is mild: there are fight scenes and some bloody-cartoon peril, but nothing graphic, and the emotional weight comes from character rather than horror. It is for readers who love queer-coded found-family stories, sharp humour and a tale that questions who gets to be called a hero.
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