Nimona: 02/02/16

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson is a graphic novel fantasy about good vs evil and the joy of being a sidekick. Lord Ballister Blackheart has been the local villain for years, going against Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin who looks like an escapee from a YA fantasy romance. Like Megamind and Metro Man, these two have their roles down to a well choreographed dance.

That is until Nimona sets herself up as Blackhart's protégé. She wants to take evil to the next level and she has the power to make that happen. See, she's a shape shifter with impulse control issues. Besides changing into things, she also like blowing things up, and poisoning people.

This isn't just an amoral fantasy romp. Although it seems that's what Nimona wants and what Blackhart is willing to permit, their actual motivations are slowly revealed. Blackhart it turns out, has a conscious and Nimona has a backstory, though she's such an unreliable narrator that it's hard at first to suss out just what it hers is.

Nimona is a nuanced story about right and wrong and questioning authority, and being true to oneself, all told with dead-pan humor. It's a fun read that demands a re-read. It amuses and makes you think.

With it's blending of magic, science, and dystopian society, it's a good one for fans of Adventure Time.

Five stars

Comments (0)