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| Boom! Box |
Noelle Stevenson
Grace Ellis
Shannon Watters
Brooke A. Allen
2015
The Summary
"Friendship to the max!
"At Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types, things are no what they seem. Three-eyed foxes, secret caves, anagrams. Luckily, Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are five rad, butt-kicking best pals determined to have an awesome summer together...and they're not gonna let a magical quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way! The mystery keeps getting bigger, and it all begins here."
The Good
As an ardent fan of Nimona, I couldn't not read Noelle Stevenson's latest foray into the comic book world.
Let me say, first off, Lumberjanes is great. It's fun, if slightly absurd, and full of strong female characters who learn and grow and form relationships as they go along. Jo, April, Molly, Mal, and Ripley all have unique characteristics, quirks, and qualities that make them both enjoyable and endearing. Morever, each girl has special skills that make her invaluable to the group--and, you know, helps them save their camp from certain destruction.
Jo is highly intelligent, specializing in mathematics and puzzles; April is dramatic and witty, and she has more than a few surprises up her sleeves; Molly is an incredible archer (which does come in handy in their misadventures), and she has a special companion you'll be more than happy to know in later issues; Mal is cautious, but she's incredibly detail-oriented and highly skilled at crafting plans, even on the fly; and Ripley, while naive and childish, is a ball of energy willing to take on any task--even if it means riding like a rodeo cowboy on the back of a raptor.
And, yes, there really is an incident involving dinosaurs. (I told you it was sometimes absurd, but I think that might be volume 2.)
Although the Lumberjanes is good wholesome fun with an uplifting message for girls everywhere (i.e. it's okay to be tough, take adventures, and, in general, kick butt), it has an underlying layer of complexity that can make it appealing to readers of all ages and genders. Not only does the story incorporate hints of mythology, deal with everyday difficulties most girls face, it also supports a level of diversity that feels natural.
For instance, I recently learned that Jo is transgender, while Mal and Molly are lesbians. But their identities aren't defined by their sexuality. If anything, their friendships and their adventures define who they are, who they will become. Honestly, I loved seeing the different facets of their personalities, which helped flesh them out as characters, and how they developed with each subsequent challenge they faced. They're good, solid characters and, truthfully, they're probably the nicest girls you're ever likely to meet.
Yes, it's a weird adventure. Yes, it's sometimes so crazy random that you don't really know what's going on. But that's totally okay. It's a story about adventure, self-discovery, and forging lasting friendships--and it's fun to follow along for the ride.
The Bad
Lumberjanes sometimes feels a little fragmented. Although it has a overarching narrative that contains the full story, it's primarily a collection of separate adventures that just so happen to come together. I liked it, but I found it came as a bit of an acquired taste.
The Ugly
Lumberjanes is a pretty mild graphic novel. I mean, it's safe for kids while remaining appealing for older readers, so it strikes a good balance. It's not explicit, or graphic, or full of foul language. Seriously, the harshest phrase you're likely to hear is "What the junk?" or "Holy Mae Jemison!"
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