Easily my worst trait. So, keep that in mind as you read this.
I didn’t need any more convincing to check out Saint Seiya: Dark Wing, it’s already Saint Seiya, it’s going to be great.
As an aging anime nerd, I watched the original DIC dub of Saint Seiya when it came to the United States… about 20 years after the original production concluded. The aesthetic is immediately recognizable as an anime from the mid to late eighties. I found it fascinating to watch as a kid, and I was so surprised that this franchise is actually still going. Maybe not in a regulated production kind of way, but every few years, something new contributing to the universe shows up, like the awful movie adaptation from 2023.
I say this to give the series some context; it is very difficult to summarize this universe because it is so long-lived. The most concise way I can put it is this: the Saints are 5 chosen ones – boys who wear sacred armor that are based on constellations, sworn to defend the earth from being taken over by competing gods.
It’s… a lot. And if you’re also into Greek and Roman mythology… uh, you’ll recognize a lot of names, but this series is not based on any of those stories, it is not a re-telling of those legends; it’s more along the lines of appropriation than anything else. Personally, I enjoy the surrealism of it all.
Set in high school, students’ fates are revealed as chosen ones, sworn enemies, divine figures, and all in the service of the battle of the gods. Our protagonist, Soichiro, goes on a school trip to the Mediterranean, but the ship is attacked and sinks into the sea as he tries to save his crush. But Soichiro is revived as one of the dreaded Judges of the Underworld, under the command of Hades. He is pitted against his twin brother, Sojiro, who is reincarnated as the Gold Saint of Gemini.
Dark Wing consists of 4 volumes in total. It is not-quite-linear, relies on dream logic, and honestly, I appreciate its updated setting of the modern world. The linework is clean and detail-oriented when it is called for—these pages have some very elaborate backgrounds when the backgrounds actually show up. It is delightfully nostalgic to look at; fans of the old Gundam Wing manga will recognize these 90s pattern and texture overlays. And maybe the best part of it all is the re-working of popular 80s design elements into a more modern aesthetic (those feathered up-do’s, I mean…).
I do want to be clear: I loved this next installment of the series, but I am fairly certain that a newcomer to this franchise is not going to know what’s going on if this is the first Saint Seiya book they pick up. It’s a good read if you’re willing to just let the story happen, wash over you as the reader. The mythic themes of destiny and fate and rising to challenges never get old for me.
It pains me to say it, but I don’t think this spin-off makes for a great addition to your library collection. If you can link it to some of the more foundational works in the franchise, I think that would be best. But, on its own, even with all four volumes, I’m not sure this is the way to go.
Saint Seiya: Dark Wing Vol. 1 By Masami Kurumada and Kenji Saito Art by Shinshu Ueda Titan, 2025 ISBN: 9781787747180
NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11), Teen (13-16) Creator Representation: Japanese, Character Representation: Japanese,
Imagine my surprise when I heard that civilization collapsed some 3,000 years ago, as opposed to almost any other date (insert Daria theme song here. Look it up, kids.).
1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed is a graphic novel by experts on the subject, Eric Cline, and Gynnis Fawkes. It is an adaptation of Cline’s book of the same name.
Cline has a daunting task ahead of him in this endeavor. The original non-fiction book is complicated and dense (and won several awards), as we would all expect, and to package all that information in a way that is digestible and accessible is a real challenge.
We come across a tried and true method for the storytelling here: the framing device is from the perspective of 2 characters – Pel, a member of of the marauding Sea Peoples, and Shesha, an Egyptian scribe – visit the locations discussed in the text to explore many, MANY theories, facts, speculations, and historical disasters that brought the the Minoans, Mycenaeans, Hittites, Canaanites, Assyrians, and Egyptians to the end of the Late Bronze Age.
There’s a lot of text to get through; when I describe the book as “dense,” I truly mean it. Each page is chock-full of historical explanation and detail. Small text. We’re approaching something more like an illustrated textbook. Your experience of the text-to-picture ratio this is going to vary, but I would not recommend this for younger readers for the sheer amount of words. Again, this is an adaptation of a nonfiction book that does some serious digging (hurrhurr archeology joke) into a very academic subject.
Fawkes’ illustrations are evocative of humanity’s early attempts artworks/image-making. Think like the cave paintings of Lascaux, Greek pottery, and Roman fresco. The lines are simple, and while characters and objects are shaded, hard swathes of colors are used instead of rendering. The stylization is pretty firmly in a cartoon-ish style (as opposed to photorealistic). I do want to draw attention to the environments and backgrounds – there is some really detailed, professional pencil-work at play here that very successfully communicates different materials, fabrics, surfaces, and natural phenomena.
1177 B.C. could be a good addition to a collection, but I feel that its place would have to be pretty unique in an array of collection development needs – we have an illustrated nonfiction graphic novel that is kid-friendly and about a very specific topic. Due to the high volume of explanation within the pages, I don’t think young children would like it very much. And the childish presentation might put some older kids off who are more interested in just the facts; the publisher put their recommended age range as 16-17. While I’m certain there are older teens who would enjoy this, I would think that they might just prefer to grab the original book this comic was based off of.
Use good judgment and consideration.
Reviewer’s note: the location given is an approximation of the regions explored; keep in mind that these civilizations no longer exist and borders and countries have changed over time.
1177 B.C.: A Graphic History of the Year Civilization Collapsed By Eric Cline Art by Glynnis Fawkes Princeton University Press, 2024 ISBN: 9780691213026
Best friends Grace and Lola are on a mission to understand love! In volume one, the girls decide to research the topic, interviewing people at school to learn more about the elusive and confusing emotion and keeping their findings in a notebook called The Love Report. In volumes two and three, they have other things going on: new friends and fun adventures, including a beachy trip to Sardinia. Everywhere they go, though, Grace and Lola find reasons to wonder about love. Boys flirt with them, but what are their intentions? Should Grace confess her feelings to her new crush?
The girls are more casual now about their investigation; no more notebook or interviews, just lots of conversations and musing. And love isn’t the only thing on their minds. A boy at school is bullying and harassing people, including some of Grace and Lola’s friends. Grace is frustrated with shuttling between the households of her newly divorced parents. Lola struggles with body image issues. Their friend Adele has a rough home life, but is suddenly finding major success as an artist. But in and around all that, there’s enough romantic drama and intrigue to keep Grace and Lola asking questions about the nature of love.
Strong female friendships are the throughline of this series. Grace and Lola have some challenges to their bond in volume one, but come through them closer than ever. They also befriend Adele, Felicity, and Charlie, who all get more attention in the second and third volumes. Sometimes, the story follows one of them for awhile, showing the reader things that Grace and Lola don’t know. This expands the world of the story, since their experiences are very different—and sometimes creates juicy drama, as when the readers learn a secret Charlie is keeping from the others. All of these girls mean well and care about each other, and they are all spunky and willing to get creative to take on bullies or help their friends.
These books are translated from French (BeKa is a France-based two-person writing team). The translation is polished – minor errors noted in my review of volume one appeared in an advance copy, and have been corrected. The first two English volumes each collect and translate two of the shorter French volumes, while the English book three translates only one volume, so these three books contain volumes one through five of the French version of The Love Report.
These books touch on some heavy topics. Multiple characters have body image issues, and several have strained relationships with their parents. The school bully is constantly harassing people, especially girls, both in person and online. He even gets scandalous photos of a classmate (wearing a bra but no shirt) and shows them to other classmates. There is some harsh language (e.g. slut, bitch), which is used very rarely and not by the protagonists. Sex is only referred to occasionally, with no specifics. Refreshingly, the one queer couple is quickly accepted by most of the characters.
The manga-inspired art is detailed and full of rich, exuberant colors. Each character has a different personal style and shows it off with lots of fun, varied outfits and hairstyles. There are many different settings, from school to Adele’s art studio to the beaches of Sardinia, and they all add visual interest without stealing the spotlight from the characters.
This series will appeal to readers who like lots of emotion and drama. Grace and Lola are curious but tentative and nervous about love and romance, which will be relatable to some young readers. Hand it to fans of school stories and friendship stories, especially those who like high-drama manga.
The Love Report By BeKa Willcox Art by Maya Willcox Hippo Park / Astra Books for Young Readers, 2024 ISBN: 9781662640605
Volume
ISBN
2
9781662640605
3
9781662640889
Company Age Rating: 10 and up
NFNT Age Recommendation: Teen (13-16), Tween (10-13) Creator Representation: French, Italian, Character Representation: Queer,
“As I delved deeper into the narrative, day by day, step by step, I realized that the fact which made this story famous worldwide became almost secondary.”
It’s a bold claim.
But we’ll get into that later.
Just a quick note: I am very far removed from this story. And this is not the case with author Frédéric Bertocchini, who states that he was born almost 1 year after Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 and the harrowing events that followed. The first I had heard of this story was, strangely, in my high school freshmen chemistry class. Couldn’t tell you how it came up.
The story about the Uruguayan rugby team (Old Christians Club) that crash landed in the remote Andes and what they did to survive is perhaps not well-known in this day and age. Certainly, not particularly well-known to American audiences – there is one movies from the 90s that I can recall (Alive, directed by foreign media have covered the story through documentaries, films, and even theater. And seeing this book up for release, well, I was compelled to take a look. This is Bertocchini’s English-language debut.
The story is told from the perspective of Roberto Canessa; at this point in his life, he is a 19-year-old medical student and has nothing but hope for his future. The comic wastes little time; the disaster strikes early, and now Canessa is tasked with doing what he can with his medical knowledge to try to keep the first round of survivors alive. But the conditions are harsh out this far, the snow is falling, and the airplane has little amenities to offer first aid, let alone serious medical treatment. And it’s not just outside forces that threaten the survivors – infighting, power struggles, threats, dwindling supplies, and paranoia also take hold.
It is on the 10th day of their suffering that Canessa suggests eating the bodies of the deceased. Obviously, an incredibly difficult and painful thing to put forth, something that only can be done by someone who is on the brink of death with no other options for life-supporting nutrition. This is the “fact which made this story famous worldwide” that does, in fact, become secondary to the day-to-day survival activities this group of people had to endure. The story gets grimmer as the days go on – the search for their plane is eventually abandoned by the authorities, the mountain sends its arbitrary wrath, more survivors die, and the ups and downs of hope and despair are experienced with disgust and faith in turn. For the sake of the review, I will say that the survivors are eventually rescued after Canessa and Fernando Perrado trek through the mountains for 10 days, eventually coming to the nearest town and alerting the authorities. The passengers of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 were stuck in the remote Andes for 72 days. Of the 45 occupants on the plane, 16 survived.
The art is flat and blocky with a minimalist color pallet, reminiscent of Mike Mignola’s work. There is something matter-of-fact about the straight lines and square compositions. It makes for an enjoyable, straightforward reading experience.
This story is certainly not for everyone, but I was that kid in school reading about the Donner Party and Franklin’s lost expedition for fun, and I knew what I was getting into. The illustrations are not graphic or violent, an amazing feat, really, considering the subject matter. The book is not exploitative nor morbidly gaze-y. But the slicing of human flesh from human bodies for consumption is shown, and I would say the overall melancholy of the events depicted is definitely something to be aware of. If you can get through that, then you will be able to enjoy this harrowing narrative of loss, grit, and teamwork.
Shadows on the Ice: The 1972 Andes Disaster By Frédéric Bertocchini Art by Thierry Diette Black Panel Press, 2025 ISBN: 9781990521294
Publisher Age Recommendation: High school/16+ NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult, High school Character Representation: Uruguayan
Shadows on the Ice: The 1972 Andes Disaster? Vol. By Frédéric Bertocchini Art by Thierry Diette, Pacal Nino, , Not in listBlack Panel Press, 2025 ISBN: 9781990521294
Company Age Rating: 16+
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18) Creator Representation: French, Character Representation: Uruguayan,
When an unremarkable player in an expansive virtual fantasy world discovers legendary blacksmithing abilities, it’s not exactly the answer to all his problems—but the ability to craft godlike equipment certainly goes a long way toward changing his circumstances.
Overgeared from IZE Press adapts this story of Youngwoo Shin from the Korean light novel of the same title. Youngwoo ks a bit of a loser in real life, and in the massive online VR Game Satisfy, he’s also a low ranging errand boy. However, when a job goes badly, he uses a powerful in-game item to turn his character into a smith and the successor to the greatest blacksmith in the game’s lore. Reset to base level but with an abundance of new abilities, Youngwoo decides to seize the opportunity in front of him in an effort to make something of himself in the game and out of it (there’s a pile of debt waiting for him back in the real world after all). However, alone and with the odds stacked against him, his only chance will be to craft an arsenal of advanced gear capable of offsetting his weaknesses (and there are many of those). It’s a difficult enough challenge on his own, but Youngwoo’s change has not gone unnoticed, and there are others who are quite interested in seeing what the newly forged smith will make of himself.
Volume 1 opens with intercuts of past and present, introducing Youngwoo’s in-game character named Grid in his overgeared state along with flashbacks to how this adventure began. It’s a bit of a jarring opening to follow, but once the stage is set, the story settles on following Grid in the immediate aftermath of his rebirth as an adventuring smith. There’s lots of game lore and rule mechanics mixed in with the gameplay, but with excitement and humor, the story strikes a fairly quick pace of daring and misadventures. Outside of the game, Youngwoo proves to be a bit of an unlikeable character. Struggling with money, jobs, and relationships, his video game addiction and general lack of motivation hang over his decisions. It’s early in the story yet, so there’s presumably room for growth, but it’s Grid’s sometimes bumbling attempts at gaining levels and fighting enemies that drives most of the story. Volume 1 already establishes a cast of in-game characters and conflicts that promise to kick off more shenanigans. And back in the real world, the game’s developers have also taken notice of Youngwoo’s new fortune, though it remains unclear exactly what they expect of him.
Illustrated in full color, this volume is a vibrant romp through the digital world of Satisfy. Video game menus and notifications are integrated into the story, visible to the characters as much as they are to the reader. And when the action kicks off, magic and combat explode across the page with stylization worthy of adventure comics and video games alike. The characters are distinct and the narrative is generally easy to follow, hitting the range of emotional beats effectively. It’s a comic that seems to relish its own concept and execution, and the art team brings the story to life with a visual language that’s engaging and fun to read.
On the whole, Overgeared is an enjoyable start to a new series. For those not thoroughly familiar with the genre already, the digressions into game mechanics and stats screens might be a bit distracting. And though I expect there’s much more to come, Youngwoo’s shortcomings as a protagonist make him occasionally tricky to root for with full sincerity. All that aside though, there’s a great deal to enjoy here in a comic that, while not necessarily treading any new ground, seems to have a great deal of fun setting out on an adventure. It’s a story aimed comfortably at teens, with plenty of fantasy violence but nothing too troubling in the content otherwise. Especially if readers have previously enjoyed titles like Solo Leveling and Ready Player One, Overgeared should find happy readers ready to settle into familiar territory and see where Grid’s often poor decision making leads next.
Overgeared Vol. One By Team Argo IZE Press, 2023 ISBN: 9798400900518
Related media: Book to Comic
NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16) Creator Representation: Korean, Character Representation: Korean,
It’s possible you’ve heard his name, but there’s little doubt you’ve heard his music. This is the life of one of Hollywood’s greatest composers.
In collaboration with the family and estate of Henry Mancini, David Calcano sets out to tell the life story of the famed songwriter and composer in The Extraordinary Life of Henry Mancini: The Official Graphic Novel from Fantoons. Born into an Italian immigrant family, Mancini discovered the power of film and music at a young age. Torn between competing expectations and the challenges of breaking into a competitive industry, he fought to make a name for himself while always chasing the next opportunity, uncertain if it all might fall apart around him. Along the way, he married a woman named Ginny, who would go on to become an icon in her own right. And over the course of his career, Mancini would create songs such as “The Pink Panther Theme,” “Peter Gunn,” and “Moon River,” written especially for Audrey Hepburn.
Jumping between different periods in Mancini’s life and a reflective 70th birthday party where the composer regales listeners with his story, Calcano creates a book that is a celebratory retrospective of a life dedicated to family and to music. Even with the shifts in time, the narrative remains clear, shepherding the reader from Mancini’s earliest days through the end of his life and into the legacy he left behind. Presented accessibly, this is not a critical biography, but neither does it claim to be. Factually researched (including a bibliography at the end) the book smoothly sets about marking the key moments and passions of a man whose massive influence began in remarkably simple ways. It’s not an overly complex narrative, but there are some poignant moments which Calcano lays before the reader, giving them time and space for them to make an impact. These are often the more intimate moments where Mancini expresses uncertainty about his career—but also an especially remarkable scene where an entire audience shifts into only Mancini’s father, as the composer grapples with the weight of both love and expectation that have followed him all his life. Overall, the book is crafted with care, designed to bring a history readers may not know to vibrant life across the pages.
In the artwork, Mancini’s life is bright indeed. Illustrated by a full Fantoon’s team, the illustrations have touches of realism but embrace a bright and colorful animated aesthetic that shifts the experience from simple biography to an energized expression of a life lived with excitement, art, and passion. The images move across decades, not only depicting the life and career of Mancini and his family, but also adding stylistic nods and cameos from some of Hollywood’s most iconic directors including Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock. It’s a visual style that’s enjoyable to look at, but also easy to follow and inviting for readers who may not be certain about diving into a biographical graphic novel.
Though there’s not really anything here in terms of mature content, the book will likely appeal most to adults, who may be more likely to be familiar with Mancini’s work. It’s also perfectly accessible to teens with musical inclinations or interests in nonfiction, especially any who are interested in music or composing. Ultimately, The Extraordinary Life of Henry Mancini may not be a heavy draw for graphic readers more inclined toward genre or intrigue, but for any audience interested in biography or the arts, Calcano’s graphic biography of Mancini is a book clearly created with care and admiration, opening wide the life of a man whose work will likely live far beyond him.
The Extraordinary Life of Henry Mancini: The Official Graphic Novel By David Calcano Art by Lindsay Lee Fantoons, 2024 ISBN: 9781970047288
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
Shy Liam is a little confused when gregarious theater kid Milo wants to hang out with him, but they end up having fun together. After that, it seems they’re always running into each other at their boarding school, exchanging banter, and soon they’ve become friends. But Milo wants to be more than friends—and, once he lets himself think about it, so does Liam.
Admitting their feelings and getting together is just the beginning. Liam is terrified of his conservative, overbearing father finding out that he’s dating a boy, so the two agree to be discreet. This involves a lot of negotiation to determine how subtle they can be before it feels like they aren’t dating at all. Then, as they grow closer, it becomes harder to hide their relationship—and Liam starts to realize he might not want to.
This slice-of-life comic follows Milo and Liam through the emotional and logistical challenges of secretly being a couple. Meanwhile, they sometimes get dragged into hijinks thanks to various clueless and/or troublemaking school friends. A few of those friends get enough page time to have their own subplots, which then sometimes involve the protagonists, as when Liam’s roommate asks Milo to join the cricket team with him. We also see a little bit of what each boy is like outside of school, meeting Milo’s parents and Liam’s father, cat, and therapist.
The story touches on some difficult topics: Liam’s dad is critical and controlling, and Liam himself struggles with some ingrained homophobia—the first time Milo says something highly suggestive to him, a flustered Liam actually hits him in the face. Milo’s mom also becomes melodramatically miserable on learning that he is gay, though Milo seems mostly unbothered by this.
There is a little swearing, some smoking (mostly by Liam), and one scene of implied sex. No below-the-waist nudity is shown, but we do see the characters muddle through the realization that neither of them has done this before, and they turn to the Internet to find out “how to avoid it hurting.” There is a brief discussion of condoms and lube, and then we jump to the two cuddling in bed afterward.
The artwork has a manga feel, with most characters having big eyes, swoopy hair, and pointy little noses and chins. Much of the time, they are in school uniforms, though sometimes we see them in regular clothes (or Halloween costumes) that show a little more of their personal styles. The backgrounds are minimal: a few desks or cafeteria tables, a few trees outside, a glimpse of a messy dorm room. The focus stays on the characters, who are distinct and dynamic.
As a slice-of-life comic about two high school boys figuring out a romance together, this will likely have some appeal to fans of Heartstopper. The art is very different, and Liam is perhaps more prickly and walled-off than the boys of that series. Still, there are similarities, and fans of Heartstopper are a good place to start in recommending this new series.
Tripping Over You, Vol. One By Owena White Art by Suzana Harcum Macmillan First Second, 2025 ISBN: 9781250330710
Company Age Rating: 14-18
NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18) Creator Representation: Lesbian, Character Representation: Gay,
Billions of years ago, the Sun rose and brought light to the world. A billion years is a long time though, and the young, smiling Sun gradually becomes tired and discontent. One night, after a bit of too much partying, the Sun sleeps in… for a long time. The world is not the same, and creatures normally adverse to the light come out of a cave to hunt, and everyone is struggling to make it through continuous darkness, including Death and their friend Philomène the flower…
Botanica Drama is a wordless graphic novel that tells a tale about what could happen to a world if the Sun sets one day… and decides not to rise. The story opens with the “birth” of the Sun, young and excited. Tall, mysterious creatures who thrived in the darkness scurry to hide in a cave, and new and interesting life begins. The circle of life occurs and some creatures meet their fates at the hands of others, and Death, in his prehistoric garb, does his job of guiding their spirits. One new friend is the flower Philomène, who forms an unlikely bond with Death.
Time passes, and there is now a village with several inhabitants including Death and Philomène. No longer so fresh and full of spunk,, the Sun becomes more and more discontent with its job until it eventually shirks its duty after a rowdy night. As the Sun remains sleeping, the darkness continues until winter sets in. Not only do the creatures emerge from their cave to terrorize the villagers, but the cold and dark take their toll as well. Death makes consecutive visits to retrieve and deliver spirits, while Philomène slowly loses their petals.
The Sun shows no signs of waking up and fixing things, so a few ingenuitive villagers eventually come up with a plan to wake it up. What ensues is a funny and heartfelt attempt to wake the Sun and save the world. Almost all the villagers join in, even Death in dramatic and desperate fashion.
Botanica Drama manages to balance humor and sadness with the strength of visual storytelling alone. Being a story without words, Botanica Drama needed to have a strong visual narrative, and it succeeded in that regard. The art has a retro cartoony feel to it that harkens back to classic comic strips.The style embodies the humorous parts, while at the same time conveying the gentle and more serious elements of the story. Overall, the art is charming, and there are so many little elements that it’s worth exploring each panel carefully.
The publisher’s age rating wasn’t immediately listed for Botanica Drama, but older kids to adults can enjoy it. The scene where the Sun parties too hard and passes out involves comedic scenes of excessive drinking, as well as a concerning moment where the Sun drives while possibly still under the influence. Besides that, there are some tense scenes and some sad ones, particularly with Death as a character, but the humor tempers the fear and sadness, and the love and care between the characters shines through.
Botanica Drama By Thom Pow Pow Press, 2024 ISBN: 9782925114314
Related media: Tween (10-13), Teen (13-16), Older Teen (16-18), Adult (18+)
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16), Tween (10-13)
theme song here. Look it up, kids.).
people at school to learn more about the elusive and confusing emotion and keeping their findings in a notebook called The Love Report. In volumes two and three, they have other things going on: new friends and fun adventures, including a beachy trip to Sardinia. Everywhere they go, though, Grace and Lola find reasons to wonder about love. Boys flirt with them, but what are their intentions? Should Grace confess her feelings to her new crush?
became almost secondary.”
answer to all his problems—but the ability to craft godlike equipment certainly goes a long way toward changing his circumstances.
It’s possible you’ve heard his name, but there’s little doubt you’ve heard his music. This is the life of one of Hollywood’s greatest composers.
that, it seems they’re always running into each other at their boarding school, exchanging banter, and soon they’ve become friends. But Milo wants to be more than friends—and, once he lets himself think about it, so does Liam.
Billions of years ago, the Sun rose and brought light to the world. A billion years is a long time though, and the young, smiling Sun gradually becomes tired and discontent. One night, after a bit of too much partying, the Sun sleeps in… for a long time. The world is not the same, and creatures normally adverse to the light come out of a cave to hunt, and everyone is struggling to make it through continuous darkness, including Death and their friend Philomène the flower…
