Comics/Graphic Novels

Love 4 a Walk, Vol. 2

by Nuria Sanguino

5 out of 5 stars (5 / 5)

Thank you to Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group and NetGalley for providing a free review copy of this book! All opinions are completely my own.

Love 4 a Walk has been one of my favorite WEBTOON series, so I love seeing it in this graphic novel format! Volume 2 includes episodes 15-30 and picks up right where the first volume left off. This series has beautiful artwork that is colorful and inviting. I think Pam and Tyler are really cute together, and I can’t help but root for them. Their interactions can be charmingly awkward while also sprinkling in some flirty moments too. Their different personalities complement each other well. Their pet dogs are a lot of fun too, and I love their silly antics. This volume ends in a bit of a cliffhanger, but it just leaves me excited for the next volume to see where things go next!

Our Aimless Nights, Volume 1

by Koumori

4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)

Thank you to Random House Children’s Books, Ink Pop, and NetGalley for providing a free review copy of this book! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

This manga was really cute! There has such a sweet innocence to it with a strong “high school crush” feeling. Waya was a very relatable character for me since I am also a quiet person who doesn’t like to draw attention. It was nice to see Chika and Waya go from basically strangers to friends. I liked seeing Waya open up and even start to interact with other classmates a bit. The story in Volume 1 covers about a year, which surprised me. The time jumps weren’t always super obvious, but the setting indicated the changing seasons. A couple chapters were from the points of view of other characters, which felt a little random, but then again it’s probably setting up storylines for a series. I liked the artwork and was able to read the whole volume in a single sitting. This is a manga that I was like to continue reading.

Love 4 a Walk, Vol. 1

by Nuria Sanguino

5 out of 5 stars (5 / 5)

Thank you to WEBTOON Unscrolled and NetGalley for the free review copy of this graphic novel! All opinions are completely my own.

I’ve actually read this comic on WEBTOON a couple times, so it’s nice to see it in a graphic novel format! I really like the art style, and I can’t help but love the characters, Pam and Tyler. They are both dog owners and you can just feel their love for dogs. It’s cute to see the dogs’ antics and how they bring Tyler and Pam together. There’s a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and while it’s a romance, it’s very slow burn. This volume ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but it definitely leaves me wanting to continue reading.

Xolo

by Donna Barba Higuera

illustrated by Mariana Ruiz Johnson

4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)

Thank you to Levine Querido and NetGalley for providing a free review copy of Xolo! All opinions are completely my own.

I went into the book with not much knowledge about Aztec mythology, so this was a fun way to learn about it. The artwork in the book looks Aztec-inspired, and I liked how colorful it was. The gods had their actual Aztec names, which I wasn’t very good at pronouncing some of them, but otherwise the story was easy to understand.

This book is retelling a story about Xolotl, one of the Aztec gods. Xolo was a relatable character. I think his story provides some valuable lessons, like how an outcast or perceived monster can actually be a hero. I also liked how it tied in to dogs and their special connection to humans.

I think this book would most appeal to children, probably in older grade school. The pictures keep it from feeling overwhelming while providing more substance than a picture book.

Verse Book 1: The Broken Half

by Sam Beck

4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5)

The art in this comic is just gorgeous. It really sets an atmosphere that gives it a magical feel. I thought that the Verse, which is their magical language, was especially cool. While at first it looks mysterious, it actually is close enough to English letters that I don’t even need to look at the reference to be able to translate it most of the time. You don’t need to read the Verse if you don’t want to, but I found it fun to look for the hidden messages within it. The story is intriguing, and I enjoyed following the characters’ journeys. We’re already starting to see them grow from where they started, but there’s obviously much more this can go from here. This was my second time reading this comic, but I could see myself reading it again.