Lumberjanes #6
Writers: Grace Ellis, Noelle Stevenson
Artist: Brooke Allen
An intense game of Capture the Flag gets even crazier when mythical ancient beings get involved! Does Jo have magical powers? Is Diane totally cheating at this game? Can the girls save Ripley from the other team’s jail?! Questions are getting answered and flags are getting captured!
Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis and Brooke Allen’s Lumberjanes is one of those comics that has gotten to the point at which it doesn’t have to attempt to prove anything anymore. Breaking conventions a bit at the start, with a cutesy look, an all-female cast and no prior works to back it up, the series really had to be compelling to gather a solid readership and solidify it as something special enough to be worth talking about. At this point it’s clear that Lumberjanes is a fun, adorable comic book series with loveable characters and wonderful artwork. The newest issue, focusing on a game of tag along with the regular, weird magic stuff, generally continues the trend of past issues, offering a pleasant romp with sprinkles of plot a bit too convoluted for the tone.
Lumberjanes elegantly jumps between exciting action rife with strange, deadly creatures and more casual, down-to-Earth activity. The first page of this issue cleverly plays with this, making a harmless bit of play appear to be something quite dire. The rest of the issue dramatizes the dumb game to a silly degree, offering lots of laughs. Many of these laughs are visual, executed with exaggerated facial expression and awkward panels bereft of dialogue and filled with blank stares.
These bits are obviously depended on Brooke Allen and colorist Maarta Laiho’s art. The visuals of this book are the most obviously compelling aspect of Lumberjanes, making it look downright gorgeous. As always the colors burst off the page and every inch of every page looks adorable. Whenever things get frantic, the art gets that across with an exciting sense of movement that makes the static sequential art almost look like animation. The effects look striking, the shadows contrast well against all of the color, panels overlap each other neatly, etc. It’s an undeniably nice-looking comic, even though this issue is comparatively light on action compared to the others.
I’ve been bothered by aspects of the ongoing story being more complex and shrouded in mystery than they need to be, and that is still a stickler here. The reason this book is so beloved is because of its gleeful, silly and easy fun, which is slightly bogged down by a thread tying each issue together being a tad confusing. Fortunately, this issue gets the series to a point where the bigger picture is moderately clear, ridding the skies of some of the bothersome fog. Because of this, the ongoing thread, that has always been easy to pull enjoyment out of despite its flaws, is at its most enjoyable here.
At the end of the day Lumberjanes is a great comic that is sure to make any reasonable human being smile. So you should read it.
Story: Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis Art: Brooke Allen
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy
To check out Matt’s about.me, click here.
BOOM! Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
With books like Rocket Raccoon killing it in sales, fun is thankfully doing well in contemporary comics. A shining example of this is Lumberjanes, a painfully cute and colorful book about kick-ass gals at a Scouts camp. Not only is it nice to see a book with a main cast of strong girls, but it’s also nice to see a creative team so full of women, with Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis on writing and Brooke Allen on art. The latest issue continues to impress, with its lovable characters and wholesome entertainment. Lumberjanes #5 keeps up the endearing fun, complete with dinosaurs, arts and crafts, and big, dumb friendship.
Like past issues, #5 offers a pretty standalone story that still manages to add to the larger plot at hand. Lots of easily digestible joy can be found here, like the spunky Riley getting herself impossibly tangled up in fabric while the girls were crafting friendship bracelets. Just about every nugget of comedy is simultaneously charming, prompting constant smiles. Engaging action is all over the place in this issue, this one focusing on a pack of dinosaur’s attack on the camp. There aren’t existential issues at hand in Lumberjanes, just great fun.
The art is very important for the kind of book this is, and Allen’s work, aided tremendously by Maarta Liaho’s gorgeous, explosive coloring, is excellent. The finely-done facial expression and body language here are key to much of the adorable comedy in Lumberjanes. From Riley’s face seemingly imploding with excitement to see dinosaurs, to April’s goofy showboating posture, it works wonders. The action looks more than good, with a dynamic and exciting sense of movement.
The structure of Lumberjanes is interesting, as an eight-issue miniseries that tells a larger story through smaller ones. This makes it an easy read every month (assuming no delays, which sadly happen) while still dangling a carrot to keep going. Sometimes, however, the overarching plot comes off as a tad convoluted and overly ambiguous. It’s good stuff that begs to be pondered, even though something a little simpler would work better for this book. #5 does nothing to change this, with little bits of answers that make way for even more questions.
At the end of the day, Lumberjanes emerges as a spiffy comic book deserving of attention. It’s all about pure fun and good vibes, and does such an excellent job of maintaining that atmosphere. Read this series and crack a smile.
Story: Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis Art: Brooke Allen
Story: 8.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Read
To check out Matt’s about.me, click here.
BOOM! Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Lumberjanes #5
Writers: Grace Ellis, Noelle Stevenson
Artist: Brooke Allen
Archery is a vital skill for any Lumberjane-it teaches balance and precision, which these scouts are definitely going to need with the Bear Woman back! The Lumberjanes are on a chase through the woods and it might be time for some answers…as long as they don’t lose anyone on the way…
Lumberjanes #4
Writer(s): Grace Ellis, Noelle Stevenson
Artist(s): Brooke Allen
After a lot of convincing, the girls are able to agree to get Jen to take them on a hike. Making their way up to the tower and hoping to finally get some answers, they make their way closer only to be stopped by the neighboring boy camp! April, Mal, Molly, Jo, and Ripley have to figure out how to get to the tower, even if they have to use Jen as a distraction to do it.
Lumberjanes #3
Writer(s): Grace Ellis, Noelle Stevenson
Artist(s): Brooke Allen
Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley will have to put their Lumberjane knowledge to the test as they make their way through a mysterious cave filled with traps and riddles!
Sweet Bessie Coleman! Lumberjanes fans around the world have asked, and BOOM! Box is pleased to announce that Lumberjanes is now officially an ongoing comic series. Written by fan-favorite Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis, co-created by BOOM! Studios editor Shannon Watters, with art from Brooke Allen, Lumberjanes was originally slated to run for eight issues but has essentially been “promoted” due to overwhelming praise from critics and fans alike. The series is a fun mix of Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Gravity Falls, featuring five rad, butt-kicking teenage girls who go to summer camp, fight monsters, and discover a mystery that puts the whole world at stake, all while championing the power of “friendship to the max!”
Jo, April, Mal, Molly and Ripley are five best pals determined to have an awesome summer together…and they’re not gonna let any insane quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way! Not only is it the second title launching in our new BOOM! Box imprint, but LUMBERJANES is one of those punk rock, love-everything-about-it stories that appeals to fans of basically all excellent things.
The first two issues of Lumberjanes are already out in the wild. Lumberjanes #3 arrives in comic shops on June 11th with a cover price of $3.99 under Diamond order code APR140998. The main cover is illustrated by Noelle Stevenson, with an incentive cover available in a limited quantity by Faith Erin Hicks.
Lumberjanes #2
Writer(s): Grace Ellis, Noelle Stevenson
Artist(s): Brooke Allen
When you’re a scout, nothing is more important than being prepared, but how do you prepare for legions of supernatural creatures threatening to beat down your scouting camp’s door? Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are about to find out! It’s just supposed to be a normal day at camp with games and a bit of canoeing, but when the girls find themselves separated from the rest of camp they realize there really is a lot more going on and it might be an unhelpful river monster that gives them the key to figuring everything out. Don’t miss out on the second issue of this hot new series from Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, and Brooke Allen!
Jo, April, Mal, Molly and Ripley are five best pals determined to have an awesome summer together…and they’re not gonna let any insane quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way! Five best friends spending the summer at Lumberjane scout camp…defeating yetis, three-eyed wolves, and giant falcons…what’s not to love?!
Lumberjanes is the second title launching from the new BOOM! Box imprint of BOOM! Studios. The comic is one of those punk rock, love-everything-about-it stories that appeals to fans of basically all excellent things.
Take a bit of the kick-ass women from Buffy, mix it with a feel of Scooby Doo and give it the look of a hit Cartoon Network show and you have the first issue of Lumberjanes, a fun and entertaining debute.
The comic features five butt-kicking, rad teenage girls wailing on monsters and solving a mystery with the whole world at stake, set in a camp. There’s something really fun about the issue. It drops you right into the action, only slowing down the pace for the reader to figure out what’s going on well after… and even then, not really.
That kinetic energy that kicks off the story is expressed perfectly in the artistic style that reminds me of the renaissance of cartoons that are hitting the airwaves and entertaining adults and kids alike.
I can go on and focus that fact that this is a female heavy comic, a rarity, and that alone is why it deserves your cash, but in reality, the story, the art, everything about it is quality and fun. This is a fantastic debut, and along with The Midas Touch, is placing BOOM! Box near the top of the list of one of the best imprints out there. It’s all quality.
With the talent of acclaimed cartoonist Noelle Stevenson, talented newcomer Grace Ellis writing, and Brooke Allen on art, this is going to be a spectacular series that you won’t want to miss.
Story: Grace Ellis and Noelle Stevenson Art: Brooke Allen
Story: Art: Overall: Recommendation:
BOOM! Studios provided Graphic Policy with a free copy for review
Lumberjanes #1
Writer(s): Grace Ellis, Noelle Stevenson
Artist(s): Brooke Allen
Jo, April, Mal, Molly and Ripley are five best pals determined to have an awesome summer together…and they’re not gonna let any insane quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way! Not only is it the second title launching from the new BOOM! Box imprint but Lumberjanes is one of those punk rock, love-everything-about-it stories that appeals to fans of basically all excellent things.
Five best friends spending the summer at Lumberjane scout camp…defeating yetis, three-eyed wolves, and giant falcons…what’s not to love?!
It’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Gravity Falls and features five butt-kicking, rad teenage girls wailing on monsters and solving a mystery with the whole world at stake. And with the talent of acclaimed cartoonist Noelle Stevenson, talented newcomer Grace Ellis writing, and Brooke Allen on art, this is going to be a spectacular series that you won’t want to miss.
