Comic book reviews for Lumberjanes #54, Lumberjanes #55, and Lumberjanes #56 by Shannon Watters, Kat Leyh, Dozerdraws, Maarta Laiho, and Aubrey Aiese
Average rating: 4.3/5 stars
Lumberjanes #54 by Shannon Watters and Kat Leyh (written)
Art: Dozerdraws (illustrated), Maarta Laiho (colors), and Aubrey Aiese (letters)
It was hard for me to rate a book with lots of cats a three. But it’s true. It’s a three. Even if the cover by Kat Leyh was maybe one of the all-time cutest Lumberjanes covers.
No one is surprised that the Greek gods refused to help out against Tromatikós. Or that the adults would fail to find the solution. It will always be the girls who play hero. I love seeing Scout Leader Ned come over from the boys camp to inform them that the cats were also stolen.
As predicted, Ripley is the worst captive. She also doesn’t really understand why the Tromatikós captured her over the other girls, and why she brought along all the cats.
Those cats are a handful without adding Ripley. I don’t think Tromatikós had babysitting in mind.
I did love Jen changing out of her camp counselor uniform before disobeying Rosie and heading off to find Ripley.
Lumberjanes #55 by Shannon Watters and Kat Leyh (written)
Art: Dozerdraws (illustrated), Maarta Laiho (colors), and Aubrey Aiese (letters)
Dozerdraws outdid themselves with the movie monsters. That was some top-notch art. I loved the little details, like the zipper that the girls point out, and Laiho was perfect on the TV black and white colorings.
Of course, Ripley is afraid of TV monsters. Most kids are when they say they aren’t. Though I adored how resourceful she is and also careful with the kittens. She always makes sure they are all there and that their needs are taken care of. The Scouting Lads may, as a group, be more organized, but Ripley knows when it’s important to be responsible and be brave.
The Tromatikós was very disappointed, but only for a moment. They really need to stop volunteering her information about the magical nature of everything.
Mal continues to evolve as a character through these last several arcs. She’s becoming a very responsible and natural leader to the group, which before, she often went along with everyone, or didn’t as strongly help them make good decisions. But even with Jen assisting them, Mal leads.
The final panel with Marigold and Ripley was just beautiful and sad.
I do wish the storytelling was a bit more consistent this arc. The second part of a rising action doesn’t have to be boring, or bring the pacing down. The last issue felt like a waste compared to this one.
Lumberjanes #56 by Shannon Watters and Kat Leyh (written)
Art: Dozerdraws (illustrated), Maarta Laiho (colors), and Aubrey Aiese (letters)
Classic April to not run out of energy when fighting. It was fun to see them all pull together, and then everyone got emotional when Ripley and the kittens showed up. I feel Ripley in the emotional moment.
You knew they were never going to leave a kitten behind. That just wasn’t going to happen.
This book is always a precarious balance of keeping the girls at story-center, having them solve the puzzle or save the day, and have stakes without making it too terrorizing. Considering we’ve had some of them scared to swim, but no one bats an eye about floating on a giant cat and then randomly in the sky…to which they eventually fall…
Jen getting angry at Ripley was perfect, and same with her giving them all candy and catnip. Yeah, pre-teens on that much sugar are scary.
The Tromatikós splitting under stress due to being put back together with non-archival glitter glue was too funny. And a very nice ending to this monster.
The kitten and Lumberjanes sleeping pile was pretty dang cute.