Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy
Ratings135
Average rating4
This was fun! I was a little hesitant at first, but the art style grew on me and the humor and quirk made it an entertaining read. :)
Aw, it's over?! As I read books for the PopSugar challenge, I usually feel happy and satisfied at the end of a book because I get to tick off another prompt, but this one just made me feel sad that there wasn't more book! (Luckily Vols 2-6 are also available on ComiXology Unlimited - squee!)
So what makes this so great? Well, it takes all the best parts of Girl Scouts, weaves in equal parts weird fiction and whimsy, and effortlessly sprinkles representation throughout, with scouts of different ethnicities, body types, and gender expressions, girls and women out in the world kicking butt, and a possible same-sex couple (I ship it). Most fun though, is a genius take on profanity substitutes - instead of actual swear words, the girls swear by the names of notable women, mostly POC.
Here's the list from Vol. 1:
Oh my Bessie Coleman
Holy Mae Jemison!
Where the Phillis Wheatley were you?
What the Anahareo is that?
Good Juliette Gordon Low
Totally charming and fun. Noelle Stevenson continues to create hits! Loved the strong female characters, normative budding lady romance, and the hilariously feminist “swears.” The fantasy elements were a little scattershot, but unlike Vol II, followed at least some through-line of sense.
I liked the adventure setting, the girl power messages and the characters.
It was a little cheesy at times and the plot is all over the place, felt kind of disconnected.
It was cute.
Enjoyed this quite a lot. Fortunately I've been forewarned that the second volume is significantly better - if I hadn't been, I would not have read this with as much... hope; by that I mean I probably wouldn't even be considering reading on in the series and would have given it 2 stars. Hopefully it does pick up in the second book for me
I'm not going to lie, I love everything about this little book.
As a former Summer Camp counselor I can attest that it is a 100% accurate depiction.
I picked up some of the latest issues so I decided to do a full re-read mainly to make sure it was as cute and as awesome as I remember it being... It is!!
Story
Once upon a time I was a boy scout. In fact I'm an Eagle Scout. Sadly nowadays various reasons have kept me from camping anymore. Maybe excuses would be a better word. One of these days I'd like to get back to it though. I have found memories of summer camp. Especially the two summers I spent on staff.
In the meantime, I'll have to live vicariously through the Lumberjanes. Add in the fantastical nature of Miss Qiunzilla Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's camp for hard-core lady-types (say that three times fast) and you have a premise I can get behind!
I found it started a bit slow, but by the end I was definitely hooked. The Janes don't earn the kind of merit badges I did as a scout, but then I never went to a camp quite so fantastical either.
I've been becoming a bit of a selective comic trade reader of late, and I'm happy to add another series to the list of things to read.
3.5 Stars rounded up for ending stronger than it started.
Artwork
I didn't love the artwork at first, but it grew on me. I'm not sure if a different artist did the cover, or if it's simply a matter of time spent. I didn't think the characters were as well defined in actual panels.
But as I said it grew on me as it went on. The colors are great and I enjoyed the various magical creatures.
fun read but a bit too cartoonish and silly for me. i may continue but I'm in no hurry.
I like the adventure, I like the characters, I like the drawing style, so - 5 stars.
I thought this was a lot of fun. It took some time to get into the story and characters, and I felt like it was a good thing I read the first couple of issues as one volume, or I don't know that I would have kept going. But once we got to the first mention of the Kitten Holy, I was hooked. I still have a bit of trouble keeping the names straight, and I'm hoping for more backstory, but I will definitely keep reading.
I forgot to log this! Shannon made me read it. I do not love it as much as I love Nimona, but perhaps with time....
This was so cute and I really loved it but I was a little disappointed that it wasn't Noelle Stevenson's art throughout because I loved her work in Nimona (but this art is still good too!)
Ok. I may have chuckled a little too often reading this.
“What did we learn today?”
“That our worst nightmares are real and we should totally be afraid of them because they ARE coming to get us.”
and
“I WILL SNAP YOUR TWIG ARMS LIKE TWIGS FOR YOUR ARROGANCE.”
and
“Okay, that's enough running for....my entire life.”
And so much more. Obviously, I am easily amused. But the writing is fun, the art bright and cheery and action packed. I loved it.
I'm in love with this series and I can't wait to read more. I'm in love with the art style, with the presentation of all different kinds of women, with the use of famous women's names as expletives (“What in the name of Juliette Gordon Low!”), and with the very adorable budding romance between two of the girls. I can't wait to read more.
OMG YES!!! This is the book I've been looking for! Such love for this book. I've already put holds on the next few books at the library but, I'm feeling the need to buy them.
This book is so cute and quirky that I had trouble staying quiet.... WARNING: Don't read this when people nearby you are sleeping.
I'm recommending this to everyone I know. Absolutely everyone.