So delightful! A really funny sendup of princess tropes that also has a lot of heart. I especially love moments like when a suitor calls up to Princess Adrienne in her tower, "Fair Princess!" She points out that "fair" means "white," which she isn't, and maybe he should read a book before attempting to rescue any more princesses. The scene where she attempts to buy some armor for herself cracked me up too--she's presented with Red Sonya, Wonder Woman, and Xena options and rejects all of them for being impractically revealing.

It's a great readalike for [b:Rapunzel's Revenge|2626492|Rapunzel's Revenge (Rapunzel's Revenge, #1)|Shannon Hale|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421704442s/2626492.jpg|2651193], and also just a really fun story for all the young princes and princesses out there! Some humor might fly over the heads of younger readers, but there's nothing really inappropriate, content-wise. (At least, nothing that's not in regular fairytales--there are references to some princes getting eaten by dragons.)

"in space, no one can hear you MEOWWWHISSSS"

shut up, I'm dying, I'm dead, I'm 20 ghosts

LOOK AT THE COVER OF THIS, IT'S LITERALLY RAINING CATS* ON HER

* fine, cat-like aliens


I can't deal with how fun and sweet and badass this all is. I CANNOT deal.

ughhh so, awhile ago I started watching and enjoying the show Arrow, so I picked up the first New 52 volume of Green Arrow, and totally hated it. Like, that version of the character was really annoying to me, and APPARENTLY Felicity, who is totally the best, was invented for the show?

So when I saw these I figured great, they have figured out that people who like the show are looking for a different flavor of comics, but... uh... this isn't quite what I was looking for either? It's set in the same world as the show and it's little vignettes happening AROUND season 1. It's basically weak fanfiction of the show, and most of it is pretty boring. And there's STILL NO FELICITY WTF. I did like the Diggle flashback stuff and some of the Laurel stuff but mostly it's just... like the show but NOT THE PARTS OF THE SHOW I LIKE.

but I skimmed [b:Arrow Vol. 2|18373311|Arrow Vol. 2|Marc Guggenheim|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396230614s/18373311.jpg|25985062] and Felicity is actually in it so I'll probably at least try to read it. Because FELICITY.

(read as single issues except not the issue of SHIELD that's apparently collected here, whatevs)

Kamala is still perfect, and I love the relationships drawn out here. I even liked Loki! what!

(read as single issues) <3 Nat <3 I so love the character development we got in this arc. especially the use of Liho the cat as a vehicle for character development!!! good job Liho. also Phil Noto's art continues to be spectacular.

Spoiler

CONTENT WARNING FOR CAT MURDER THOUGH :''''(

I read this as single issues awhile ago and forgot to post about it. So fun! So sad it's over!

I skimmed through some other GR reviews and saw many people protesting the Winter Friends issue, which was probablyyy my favorite part of this collection. Different strokes for different folks, etc!

I did love the use of sign language and Clint's deafness in this, a really cool effect. It made it a little harder for me to follow... I guess I could have googled the sign language, but I didn't feel like it, so that's on me. The backstory with Clint and his brother was touching, but I did miss Kate here.

Still: damn fine comics, bro.

This was... fine. I get wanting to center a YA novel around teen characters, but... teens like Black Widow. I think most teens, and myself, would rather read a YA novel that was straight-up about Black Widow than read about Black Widow's rando new teen friends having a soul-bond-love-at-first-sight situation.

But, it's a fun spy thriller type story, and I liked the glimpses of Nat's life here, especially the strong implication that Nat and Pepper are besties who hang out a lot.

Spoiler

also wtf, why did Natasha need a forgotten-then-remembered teen brother?

OK, listen, I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but also, covers usually have some useful information on them that this one was lacking. Since there is only one singular author listed, and no blurb on the back or inside flap, I assumed it was just a memoir by one person, and I was like ........ , especially since some of the stories seem to contradict each other?

anyway when you get to the very last page it explains that this is a collection of stories about rape and rape culture that were submitted anonymously online and all illustrated by Maria Stoian

Which is a great concept but I really feel like whoever designed this book should have maybe made that more clear at some point earlier than the last page. Like, if I was confused by it I think probably some of the teens this is targeted to might find it confusing also.

Anyway, the art is very cartoony and abstract, which only contributed to me thinking that all these stories were meant to be about the same person.

They're important stories and I think this would probably help a lot of survivors feel understood and/or illustrate that rape culture is a real thing. I didn't really... enjoy reading it... per se... but I think its audience will find it valuable.

(read as single issues--not including the Secret Love comic apparently collected with this in the trade)
This was... cute and fun and weird? I dunno, kinda like AU [b:Avengers Arena, Vol. 1: Kill or Die|17182376|Avengers Arena, Vol. 1 Kill or Die|Dennis Hopeless|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371428573s/17182376.jpg|23629435]... which is already... kind of an AU.......

I think basically I didn't understand Secret Wars at all

I like Jubilee running her own girl gang though