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adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"History is written by the victors [...] They changed our stories to protect themselves, so in time... we would never know that it had been any different."
Back with volume 2! It's been a while since I read the first one, but I still remembered enough though I had a rocky ride. Despite the smallest of recaps, I still felt confused with what was going on, Spencer's splitting his consciousness(es), and future sight.
The artwork is still excellent. Volume two tries to include more social commentary on the state of injustice and the powers that be trying to enforce the status quo for Black people. Some of the commentaries were very on the nose while some were subtle. I honestly hate to make comparisons, but a similar series like Quincredible weaves social and racial commentary seamlessly well. I think with more time Excellence can improve in this area.
There are great ideas, futuristic magic themes, and snazzy art, but it suffers majorly from a discombobulated, unstructured story. Not saying you can't go Everything Everywhere All at Once, but in a written format it takes careful planning to not lose readers in the midst of the twists and turns. Volume 1 was better, so this was an unfortunate letdown. I will still look forward to volume 3.
The artwork is still excellent. Volume two tries to include more social commentary on the state of injustice and the powers that be trying to enforce the status quo for Black people. Some of the commentaries were very on the nose while some were subtle. I honestly hate to make comparisons, but a similar series like Quincredible weaves social and racial commentary seamlessly well. I think with more time Excellence can improve in this area.
There are great ideas, futuristic magic themes, and snazzy art, but it suffers majorly from a discombobulated, unstructured story. Not saying you can't go Everything Everywhere All at Once, but in a written format it takes careful planning to not lose readers in the midst of the twists and turns. Volume 1 was better, so this was an unfortunate letdown. I will still look forward to volume 3.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
I was really disappointed by this series. The characters outside of Sora didn't get much growth that felt sincere and not rushed. Tsugu finally drops the mask and reveals her true feelings about her loneliness, aversion to change, and her parents' divorce, but it just gets brushed aside. Yuushin gets shoehorned redemption as well (ain't no way I'm cheesing with someone who drove me to the point of suicide; we can be cordial, but that's it!).
Perhaps, a lot of the pacing and flat development issues are due to the length of the story. But as it is, The Golden Sheep is beautiful to look at and easy to consume but very shallow.
Also, no thank you to the “let men cheat. don’t break up a happy home” propaganda. The story really tried to slide in that Yuushin’s mom was strong for staying with a man whogroomed a high schooler. >.> Iyanla Vanzant voice "NOT ON MY WATCH!"
Really liked that Sora’s future changed. yeah, he was good at manga, but he decided to pursue cooking instead.
The oneshot included at the end was depressing and strange. I’ll say it’s refreshing to initially see grace given to a teen mother, but for this situation, it seemed really inappropriate. And a bit like Stockholm syndrome.
Perhaps, a lot of the pacing and flat development issues are due to the length of the story. But as it is, The Golden Sheep is beautiful to look at and easy to consume but very shallow.
Also, no thank you to the “let men cheat. don’t break up a happy home” propaganda. The story really tried to slide in that Yuushin’s mom was strong for staying with a man who
Really liked that Sora’s future changed.
The oneshot included at the end was depressing and strange. I’ll say it’s refreshing to initially see grace given to a teen mother, but for this situation, it seemed really inappropriate. And a bit like Stockholm syndrome.
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
I have less sympathy for Yuushin as the story progresses, but I’m happy that the change of environment was positive for Sora. The character Yuushin is literally at the point of needing juvie and intense therapy. Like, I don’t know what to say. His low self-esteem has him reacting violently, and he literally almost sexually assaults a female character. His wanting to desperately set himself apart from his degenerate father makes sense/good character motivation, but his toxicity is overkill.
Also, Tsugu’s kind of just there. She doesn’t have much motivation in this. I thought she would be trying to check out the music scene in the midst of making croquettes. Or convincing her granddad that rock music isn’t bad. Instead, the story focuses way more on Yuushin and Sora’s respective developments. Also, Sally has reaped what she sowed with those fake-behind girls.
Predictions: I know where this story is heading with Sora becoming friends with Yuushin again. Anyone can change, and I think the author is acknowledging deep down inside Yuushin is a decent person who lost his way and gave into nasty vices. BUT after you’ve been so demonically toxic to people, most people don’t want that back in their life.
I doubt it, but I hope Yuushin can make amends/receive forgiveness but NOT become friends with Sora again. Say it with me, BOUNDARIES. </spoiler
Also, Tsugu’s kind of just there. She doesn’t have much motivation in this. I thought she would be trying to check out the music scene in the midst of making croquettes. Or convincing her granddad that rock music isn’t bad. Instead, the story focuses way more on Yuushin and Sora’s respective developments. Also, Sally has reaped what she sowed with those fake-behind girls.
Predictions:
I doubt it, but I hope Yuushin can make amends/receive forgiveness but NOT become friends with Sora again. Say it with me, BOUNDARIES. </spoiler
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Girl moves back to the city from the country and finds out her childhood friend group is more fractured than she ever thought. I didn’t know what to expect coming into this story because I purposely skipped the summary, but I’m intrigued to see what direction it takes. I also love the artwork.
About Yuushin:I get Yuushin’s a kid who is acting out (and the shame of his dad grooming a high school girl was understandably suffocating), but no one made him become a bully. He literally drove his childhood friend to suicide. Come on, man.
About Yuushin:
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Maybe that's what being human [is like]... It'll be scary but not all the time."
Cute story about learning to accept change. This also seems to be the end of the series.
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
PROS
- + Reboot to Static. I’m glad he’s coming back into the mainstream. Static Shock the cartoon was gold and a highlight of my childhood.
- + Love the modern take of how Virgil and the other bang babies get their powers. Trigger warning: police brutality
- + the art style
- + Virgil’s style; the updated designs. It’s so surreal for me to see all the old characters again. And the old outfits from the show too!
- + Virgil’s narrative voice.
- + The supervillains’ motivations made sense, but then he just disappears after a few pages. I’m going to assume it’s a setup for an overarching story concerning him or a teaser for his next appearance.
- + think Virgil’s parents’ conflict with trying to protect him was good. It showed a realistic take on how having a child with superpowers would be terrifying in a way. You don’t want them to hide who they are, but you also don’t want them dissected for science.
- + Sharon has more of a presence here than just being an older naggy sister like in the show.
- + An interesting take on Virgil’s electric powers; they either manifest as or are tied to his anger issues.
CONS
- - Dialogue (Ex: No one says “TL:DR” in actual conversation; “Long story short” would sound more natural)
- - Pacing
- - Coloring looks ashy and blurry like a cartoon filter. Certain shots look unfinished.
- - Frank, the white boy antagonistic bully, acts like a hotep. I don’t expect the average white guy to use “ivory princess.” Static Shock’s Hotstreak he is not. He could still be a wannabe-down white boy, but his dialogue got to tighten up.
- - Supervillain’s name is Holocaust. I get that’s the character’s original name, but with the reboot I would’ve opted for changing it or giving him a nickname. Looks like they did it for Ebon or perhaps he would get the name in his next appearance.
- - I don’t think they explained well what Rocket’s or Daisy’s powers were. I still don't know.
For volume 1 there are some hiccups and some bumpy pieces, but I’m still interested in seeing more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality
Moderate: Confinement, Hate crime, Racism
Minor: Medical trauma
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
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fast-paced
It's okay. The story still doesn't focus on the bookstore aspect. Instead, it focuses on the supernatural creatures and culture around them.
I don't know whether I want to continue or not. There's nothing bad but also nothing begging me to read more, y'know.
I'm glad they cleaned up that bone situation. Kaori is too spirit-aligned at times, and understandably so she grew up there, but I was like that dog ate that boy's mama's bones. of course, he feels weird about that!
I don't know whether I want to continue or not. There's nothing bad but also nothing begging me to read more, y'know.
I'm glad they cleaned up that bone situation.