Truly epic character names abound

For those of you who don't care for graphic novels, I'm sorry. I had meant to spread these out a bit more but they all happened to become available at the library at the same time and as I'd had them on hold for ages...I obviously didn't want to pass up the opportunity. Now onto the review!

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson is the tale of a villain and his sidekick. It's also about what is good and what is evil. It's about friendship and loyalty. It's also about sharks. Lord Ballister Blackheart is an evil genius who just happens to have an opening for a sidekick which Nimona believes she is qualified to fill. Initially, Blackheart is against the idea but once Nimona shows off her skills as a shapeshifter and proves her worth he's more than happy to strike up a partnership. The problem is that she shows absolutely no restraint and insists that their plans should be ramped up to include more killing, mayhem, and overall destruction. Blackheart is a stickler for the rules and his nemesis Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin perceives that Nimona is going to cause major waves (sharks!). While their rivalry is one of the reasons Blackheart became a villain he staunchly refuses to kill Goldenloin and therein lies one of the major rubs. There's a political sidestory as well. The Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics where Goldenloin is employed is not exactly on the up and up. Then there's the struggle with what makes someone a 'monster' and what makes them a 'hero'. It's a really good book, guys. The artwork is top notch, the characters are fleshed out, and it is hysterically funny. I highly recommend for anyone who wants a book with a lot of heart. 10/10

PS This started out as a webcomic and I've read other places that if you saw Nimona as the webcomic version then the only new part of this book is the epilogue. Just a heads up. :-)

I don't know how to express how funny I find this.

Can we talk about how epic this art is though??

**If you're interested in buying this book or any books really, you can click here or here. The first will re-direct you to AbeBooks and the second will re-direct you to The Book Depository. These are great websites for purchasing books (AbeBooks carries inexpensive used and out-of-print books and The Book Depository ships free everywhere in the world). Full disclosure: I will receive a commission on all sales made by following either of these links. I wouldn't recommend a site that I didn't use and you are under no obligation to purchase anything. :-) **