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leahrosereads 's review for:

Excellence Volume 1 by Brandon Thomas
4.5
adventurous medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Everything about this graphic novel drew me in. Synopsis, cover, art style, but it was the writing and story that we follow in these pages that kept me invested and so intrigued.

Spencer's relationship with his father is so realistic and complex, and it can be a bit uncommon to see such vulnerability and nuance of familial relationships in comics.

This is brilliant in all it sets out to do, subverting tropes and showing Black and African American culture in absolutely pure excellence.