Nimona Kindle & comiXology

My daughter is dyslexic. She wants to read, so much so that I've spent probably over $500 in books.Sadly she has read only 2 books ever until now. She LOVED Nimona and read it cover to cover in one sitting. She wants the sequel. :( Sadly there isn't one yet, but I am searching for the next and excited about what I can find that's out there for her.She has no interest in audio books though I've tried several times and she has 4 paperbacks she really wanted collecting dust too.This is exciting...my daughter asking and reading!! Whoop Whoop!!

Nimona was first publsihed by Stevenson herself as a webcomic, which eventually grew into this fantastic 256 page graphic novel that earned recognition for being a finalist of the National Book Award! And although the graphic novel takes its name from the it's shapeshifting female protagonist, the story is not *really* about Nimona herself. It isn't really about protagonist Ballister Blackheart, once a hero in training and now the appointed villain, or his "nemesis" and the kingdom's champion Ambrosisus Goldenloin either. Rather, the story of Nimona - at it's heart - is about more than just good versus evil but the difference between good and just, nice and right, and the importance of intention. As Blackheart, now aided by the impulsive and massively destructive Nimona, endeavors to bring the injustices of the Insitution - the kingdom's version of the State Department and Department of Defense - to light and their "antics" soon reveal more than slightly sinister plots at the heart of the kingdom, the novel also reveals to each character the truth about themselves and the secrets held deep in their hearts. This graphic novel, at once whimsical and harrowing, pushes us to do the same and look inward, asking ourselves the question of whether or not we really are the people we *like* to believe we are, and are we ready to take the steps into becoming the people we're truly supposed to be?Slate reviewers said of Nimona, "[It's] [f]unny and vibrant. A kind of deadpan epic," and it's hard to describe the experience of the work in any other way (I also strongly recommend reading the reviews from the New York Times and the UK's the Independent). The never named fantasy realm the characters inhabit, with it's medieval setting and many anachronistic elements, also deepens the sense of...well, magic. The detailed choices of what looks modern by reader's perspective versus what remains in a more medieval style is really interesting, but doesn't distract and makes you want to know more about this world and dive deeper. In the same way, Stevenson tooled around with a number of stylistic options before deciding on the work that we see now, and in reading the bonus pages offered in the graphic novel you can see clearly how that choice impacts the action and movement present in each panel and our investment in the characters generating these actions. Color is another element which was obviously thought out carefully in the creation of Nimona. With Blackheart's and Goldenloin's names not only having color present in their names, but their designs being dark versus light to symbolically reinforce their positions as villain and hero - and then totally reject that cliché and turn it on it's head!Nimona is truly a work of art in both the visual and literary sense. Something that is gripping and tender and appropriate for all ages. Such an impressive and beautiful work.

This was a fun and surprising read. The pages pop and the story pulls you in. The concept of a side-kick wannabe seeking out a villain to minion for is only the beginning of this multilayered story. I thought I’d seen it all but was so glad to be wrong when reading this book.The first thing that pulled me into this fantasy world, aside from the characters, was the blending of science and magic. This gothic-like society has some pretty high tech devices available to both sides of good and bad, but it’s definitely the magic that steals the show.Then there’s the frenemy/bromance between the two main male characters. No spoilers here, but I like both of these characters, even when they are being bad.Then there’s the titular character of Nimona. She’s a strong and powerful female lead with flaws and complexity galore. She’s probably the best troubled teen character I’ve read in a fantasy, in the past few years.This story packs in a lot of action, intensity, and emotion, but there are some sweet and funny moments along the way. The simplistic drawings allow the reader to focus on the story without being pulled away until a slight change of color signifies something important. The writing and drawing styles compliment each other well to deliver a story, I can’t imagine being told any other way.This book will likely become one of my yearly re-reads. Highly recommended to fans of YA Fantasy, Sci-fantasy, and Sword and Sorcery graphic novels.

This is a fun and interesting comic that looks to subvert and reinvent various tropes. A supervillain gets a new sidekick, Nimona, a shapeshifter who at first starts showing us the more human side of this villain, especially when she proves more powerful than anyone thought. Ultimately, the story turns dystopian, showing there is a much deeper level of villainy in this world that makes our supervillain this world’s best hope. But I must admit the ending fell short from me, mostly for its dependence on frames of action sequences with somewhat silly sound effects and the plot lines and conclusions rushed through without a lot of satisfaction. Stevenson sets up a lot of fresh, original thinking about good vs. evil, relationships and heroism, but doesn’t end them in a way that also feels fresh.

I am finally going to earn my wings as a literary pseud and reviewing a comic fer gawd sake! Mostly I like to read simple stories that go begining-middle-end, tell a tale and don't have hidden meanings or explore great themes. I am not keen on any of that stuff. This is a very simple story but it has so many layers (there I have done it I have used the magic passphrase I am now a lierary pseud and I can go off and have Molly Bloom and Blazes Boylan tattooed on one buttock and seven clones of Marcel Proust on the other).The main character is adorably cute, the villain has a splendid backstory to go with his splendid false arm and the hero has shiny armour. The story goes so, stuck in a rut villain aquires a new young energetic and ruthless henchwench/side-kick. His evil plans start to work. They steal stuff from shady Govt. dept.. Hero repeatedly beaten by duo before Hero always won. Henchwench revealed to be shape changing dragon. Shady Govt. dept. captures and does vivisection experiments on her. Much destruction and death ensues in retribution, much more destruction and death averted by love. The End. Lovely little story but much more about themes. Common ones, the mutability of love and hate, retribution, absolution and new beginings. Less common ones, the impact of god like power on the human, the obligations of the godlike like to the human and how big are the dots in the yin and the yang.Buy comic and read it. Hope the author/artist does not do a sequel because although the main character is very personable and I would love to see more of her the story is complete and perfect.

I've just finished reading Noelle Stevenson's Nimona. The graphic novel has been on my wishlist for a while, but it wasn't until I saw the She Ra reboot she developed that I realised I really should read it.And it was brilliant. Nimona herself is an amazing character - anarchic, silly, dark, and emotional. And the contrast between her and her boss Ballister Blackheart makes for some hilarious comedy, and some moving scenes. I also enjoyed the very distinctive art style. Highly recommended.

Well, well a graphic novel I can actually read. By that I mean that I am more used to pages of prose and usually moan there aren't enough words in the speech bubbles of comics to tell the story. Not here, though. It was quite a pleasurable reading experience.I really enjoyed Nimona. It's a story full of sorcery, science, shapeshifting and sass. I adored how the whole hero/villain dynamic was portrayed and how the story got a little darker as we found out the characters' back stories. I felt some scenes could have been expanded a little but this was such a quick, fun read that left me wanting more. I hear that there's going to be a film in 2022 - I'll be checking that out! And if Noelle Stevenson wants to create any more graphic novels about Nimona and co, I'll definitely be buying a copy

Review originally posted on my book blog: https://afrolicthroughfiction.wordpress.com/2016/01/09/nimona-by-noelle-stevenson/So, as with all graphic novels, the main thing that caught my eye was the art style. I remember thinking it reminded me a lot of Rainbow Rowell’s books, but not quite being able to figure out why…and then I found out that Noelle Stevenson created the art on the cover of Rainbow Rowell’s book Fangirl. So that explains a lot. And much like that cover, I love the art style. Something about it is quirky and unique, the sort where you can definitely recognise who drew it.What really makes this story is Nimona, the main character. I mean, she’s such a dork. You can’t help but love her. She causes so much havoc just by being so impulsive and spontaneous. I couldn’t help but laugh whenever she just did her own thing, and the randomness of it all. Plus the fact that she can shapeshift makes her infinitely more interesting. I mean, how cool would it be to be able to change into any animal as quick as a flash??? Ugh.I was surprised by how much was going on in this story. It wasn’t just one plot line, there was a tangled web of people’s backstories along with the main story. It was one of those stories where you never quite know who the bad guys really are. But the story isn’t predictable at all – far from it.How can it be when Nimona’s involved?I got through this graphic novel really quickly even though it’s longer than most. There was never a dull moment.I liked the ending. It left me with some unanswered questions though. I enjoyed seeing the little bonus snippets at the end too.And let me just add one more thing…Ambrosius Goldenloin’s hair is better than mine.OK, I enjoyed this one a lot. It was fun, quirky and original, so I rate it…4.5/5 stars!

Charming, funny, beautiful illustration and a story of the value of being more than just right.This wonderful book is rough around the edges: sketchy, sharp, unpolished and very unlike so many pristine digitally finished graphic novels, and it works brilliantly. It's so beautiful and its characters are so simply and lovingly crafted. I am envious of my past self, who has not yet read it, and will be able to discover each page for the first time.