Hark! A Vagrant Graphic Novel Review

Hark! A Vagrant by Kate Beaton

I can’t recommend this book more. Hark! A Vagrant is a brilliant collection of Beaton’s web comics. I’ve been reading her web comic for a while, and it was great to re-read some of my favorite ones and to discover new-to-me ones. Anyone who enjoys a literary, historical, or Canadian joke will appreciate this collection.

(Jason, who a scientist, was not so entertained by these jokes; mostly because he didn’t get a lot of them, and he doesn’t like when that happens. Liberal arts, ftw.)

My favorite jokes are probably the ones about Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters and their books. Mostly, because I’ve always been in agreement with Beaton’s assertion that their romantic heroes were not as romantic as they were played to be. Seriously, all those guys were a bunch of jerks and those heroines could’ve done better.

I love exploring parts of history and making them humorous. I imagine that Beaton’s drawings could be used in an education setting to liven up ideas about famous historical people. Sometimes history, especially the kind taught in primary schools, can be a little dull and dry. Engagements with history is only bound to rise with humor.

I adore Beaton’s take on Wonder Woman. She can just write Wonder Woman all the time. I love this idea of Wonder Woman having some meta knowledge about how creators and DC fans have treated her over the years, and that she would be extremely unhappy with it.

I’m looking forward to giving this book as a gift to others and to reading it again.