Comic book reviews for Lumberjanes #60, Lumberjanes #61, and Lumberjanes #66 by Shannon Watters, Kat Leyh, AnneMarie Rogers, Maarta Laiho, and Aubrey Aiese
Average rating: 4/5 stars
Lumberjanes #60 by Shannon Watters and Kat Leyh (written)
Art: AnneMarie Rogers (illustrated), Maarta Laiho (colors), and Aubrey Aiese (letters)
As much as I did find this arc up and down and up again quality-wise, this ending was great. It showed how much the characters have grown and how much they need to realize that both internally and externally about each other.
April was smart enough to honor all the summer birthdays even if she did put together an entire play based on Jo’s favorite movie just for her.
By using their brains, Jo, Mal, Barney, Jen, and Karen all escape the monster. They also make it back in time for the end of the play — so April doesn’t think (like Molly worries) that Jo skipped out or missed anything.
The scene where Jo and April talk was perfection. It brought together all the emotional elements that make Lumberjanes such an endearing story and very relevant for emotional learning for its target audience.
Lumberjanes #61 by Shannon Watters and Kat Leyh (written)
Art: AnneMarie Rogers (illustrated), Maarta Laiho (colors), and Aubrey Aiese (letters)
While this story isn’t the most appealing so far — though confronting your fears is timeless and applicable to the youths’ storyline — I do think Rogers’ art comes into its own here. There’s a real feeling of the camp and place. There’s a specific rustic view of the campsite itself, and the forest comes alive. I’m curious to see how Rogers will portray the dinosaurs and back-in-time world.
It’s nice to see Mal treating Ripley like a peer in this situation instead of like the youngest kid, which a lot of Lumberjanes comics do have the ‘kid sister’ approach to Ripley (though never in a patronizing manner). Of course, Ripley gets very excited at this peer treatment, even if their adventure quickly leads to disaster.
I do not know why, after all this time, the Lumberjanes haven’t learned that the weird spot in the forest will be time travel, and you will then have to find Bear Woman (Nellie).
Lumberjanes #62 by Shannon Watters and Kat Leyh (written)
Art: AnneMarie Rogers (illustrated), Maarta Laiho (colors), and Aubrey Aiese (letters)
Again, Rogers’ art felt very confident here. Like they’ve figured out what their take on the Lumberjanes‘ world is. I greatly enjoyed the full page layout where the Roanokes are going around camp, trying to discover where the hidden portal sits.
Molly’s line, “I can’t believe they ‘fixed’ that outhouse,” cracked me up, and it brought greater delight into the art on the previous page. The campgrounds are so large that they even forgot places.
The turkey scene was too adorable, especially since they were wholly normal wild turkeys. Though the campers should really not allow the turkey to steal the beads, since they’re likely eating them and plastic is not food.
The details in Nellie’s cabin were likewise fabulous. I had fun just staring at the art and trying to figure out if we were in a Where’s Waldo? situation, or if the glasses would appear when needed.
The snow-filled world felt a little different. Mal’s reaction to being stranded alone was too cute. Though I don’t know about her cutting the sleeves off her flannel as my arms would be too cold. I like that Mal was trapped there for four days, and she got dramatic. The detail of Mal’s fur vest being polyester and dry clean only added a layer of showing about this place of old things.
April bringing all the wardrobes with her was spot-on characterization. (Hopefully, Mal will find something with sleeves to wear.) Though her finding the rotary phone was a little over-the-top. I know how there are hilarious kids try to use rotary phone videos out there, but really, the phone makes no UX sense whatsoever.
Of course, they want to explore this world, while Mal wants to go home.