Graphic Novel Review: Nimona

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson, May 12, 2015. 266 pages. Published by Harper Teen. Source; Borrowed from Library.

Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.

But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit. 

Thoughts

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I picked up Nimona from the library. What I was not expecting was a graphic novel that would be, well, fairly interesting and maybe just a tad heartbreaking.

• I'll  try to keep this short. One of the things I enjoyed best about Nimona was the main villain, Lord Ballister Blackheart. Now, I don't usually like the villains more than the hero/heroine, but there was something about the way his character was written that made him interesting. Even though he was the villain of the book, he was not all that terrible; the "hero" was more villainous than he was. I could really delve into how Blackheart was basically forced into the role, by the forces that be, but I think his story is one that should be read in the context of the book rather than me trying to poorly explain why it was so fascinating.

• Nimona herself was also an interesting character. Bloodthirsty, extremely, but interesting nonetheless. While I liked her, I wish that her story had been, well, better revealed. You see, there was all this build up and mystery surrounding her and then, well, then it was just anticlimactic and expected. I guess I was hoping for more originality in her origin story; though she was absolutely fascinating in a way.

• While I liked the art, I did not love it. At times it was difficult to tell what the artist was trying to depict based on the coloring choices. Example, Nimona, was the back of her head bald, was it a weird hat, I don't know and that really bothers me. Other than that minor irritation, the art was really enjoyable and did a great job illustrating the story.

Final Verdict: Nimona- If we're just going with the character dynamics, this book is fascinating as the villain/hero storyline is different. 

Nimona earns

A copy of this book was borrowed from the library. All thoughts are my own.