Comic book reviews for Lumberjanes #71, Lumberjanes #72, and Lumberjanes #73 by Shannon Watters, Kat Leyh, Kanesha C. Bryant, Julia Madrigal, Maarta Laiho, and Aubrey Aiese
Average rating: 4.6/5 stars
Lumberjanes #71 by Shannon Watters and Kat Leyh (written)
Art: Kanesha C. Bryant and Julia Madrigal (illustrated), Maarta Laiho (colors), and Aubrey Aiese (letters)
As much as I love the knotweed fight, I instead wish this was just the flashbacks to Jane’s life. None of this needed back-and-forth between the timelines. I wonder if there’s an assumption the younger reader audience won’t understand the story or lose interest if they don’t include the current timeline.
I’m such an Abigail and Rosie shipper. This also shows my age.
The map was a sweet feature, and it shows how ingenious and resourceful the girls can be. This comic continues to be refreshing after all of these years.
The old-timey Yeti was pretty sweet. And I’m looking forward to learning how Jane took back the house and the campground, and I also want to know where she is. We certainly have met Nellie.
Lumberjanes #72 by Shannon Watters and Kat Leyh (written)
Art: Kanesha C. Bryant and Julia Madrigal (illustrated), Maarta Laiho (colors), and Aubrey Aiese (letters)
I wanted more with Jane and her mother. Her mom was very much like, “okay, you can have the camp.” I figured there would be more tension there, but I guess we cannot make a storyline more than four issues; otherwise, we’d have to make a larger trade paperback collection.
I do want more stories about Jane. I’m glad the Roanokes asked Rosie and Abigail if they’d ever met Jane as it gives more context to the timeline. I do want to know more about the cat with sheep horns that bird Jane protected them from. Do eventually you get to turn into an animal and back-and-forth after you become zen with the forest? What will Rosie be able to transform into?
Totally pro bringing Abigail back into the fold. The girls are very charming, and they demand stories. Plus, it will be interesting to have another character with a bit of gray in her past, given how Diane reformed. Even if April still doesn’t like her.
Yep, if you leave even the smallest bit of knotweed root in the soil, it will grow an entirely new plant. This is an excellent concept to teach children.
Lumberjanes #73 by Shannon Watters and Kat Leyh (written)
Art: Kat Leyh (illustrated), Maarta Laiho (colors), and Aubrey Aiese (letters)
Is summer coming to an end? Or are we just ending this numbering? Or perhaps, we will have an entirely new group of campers for a new summer.
I get that Jo skipped grades. However, how old is she? It seems like Jen is going to college age. But then again, the other counselors seem to be older. What is anyone’s age in this book?
Despite this being yet another April conflict and April ultimately winning her detractors over and getting her final badge, I did enjoy this. It was nice to see an adult having issues with her. The elusive party badge seemed a little silly, given that June would’ve experienced the surprise theater party that April threw for Jo. Okay, it was a little stealthy around Jo’s birthday, but still, I doubt the counselors didn’t know.
Similarly, it seemed ridiculous that Barney had so few badges that they were still a sapling and not a full Lumberjane. Like they’ve been on plenty of badge-getting missions in these books, not to mention with their camp group. I would like to see Barney taking the lead in the storyline and not just being the sidekick or pushed around by April’s more assertive personality.
Of course, Ripley wants to see Jonsey the velociraptor, one more time. I love that she’s been collecting stuff to give to her, including half her candy stash. That’s a lot of candy. And also, I hope Jonsey can read.
I like this team-up of Ripley, Jo, and Jen. Their skills and attitudes work well together. I love the idea that Jen’s been working out while the girls were off adventuring independently.
Since it was pointed out that Jo’s going off to college, I wonder how many of our campers will be back next summer. We may not get an entirely new crop for next summer. Ripley will certainly still be young.
Plus, I’m waiting to see what will happen with Molly.
The larger-sized issues worked very well for telling a Lumberjanes story. It allowed the characters to be themselves fully. One problem I’ve had with these 4-issue story arcs is not enough time to marinate in the story development and to become more complicated or show off the different characters. This felt like a lot more breathing room.