Nimona
Ratings402
Average rating4.3
Nimona es un cómic divertido, tierno y entretenido que estoy segura que volveré a leer.
El argumento me ha mantenido enganchada, los personajes son geniales y Nimona me ha encantado.
Me ha gustado el doble juego de personalidad y cómo lo reflejaba Stevenson, pasando de muerte-y-destrucción (al principio me reía mucho con esto, al final asustaba bastante) a niña indefensa.
También me ha gustado la relación entre Trabuco y Pieldorada, tan compleja y por lo tanto tan real...
Y por supuesto me ha gustado el final.
Me gustaría saber más de Nimona...
Es el segundo cómic que leo de Noelle Stevenson, después de Lumberjanes.
Y ambos me han gustado mucho, recomiendo a la autora y recomiendo este cómic!
Hard to get into at first but overall fun. I enjoyed the hero/villain stereotype turned on its head.
I have to confess straight away that I am far from a comic book aficionado. I've only gotten into comics in the last couple of years; traditional comic books are usually too intimidating for me (so. much. material.), and often focus on stories that don't interest me or include me (so. many. superhero. dudes). I am also definitely not an art critic. The closest I get to artistic critique is I like the drawings. But stories — good, striking, irreverent, stories? Those I know.
And that's what this comic offers: a damn good, irreverent story, told through solid characters and striking illustrations.
Noelle Stevenson presents a world that is basically a cross between a renaissance faire with magic and, like, the MythBusters (if half of the MythBusters were evil monsters and the other half morally ambiguous types just trying to do their best, and you don't know who's who until it's time to save the faire from fiery destruction).
Nimona, the title character, shows up at villain Ballister Blackheart's lair unexpectedly and declares herself his sidekick in his campaign to fight the power (or more accurately, the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics, led by the mysterious Director). Hilarious hijinks ensue, and thus begins a surprisingly sweet and moving commentary on found families, power, who gets labeled a monster and who doesn't, and—to a lesser extent than I'd like—forgiveness. (More on that later.)
Aside from a somewhat abrupt-feeling beginning, the story is well-paced and the balance between action and character development is nearly perfect. We get steady (and enticingly unreliable) peeks into Nimona's origin story, and although Ballister's backstory is more straightforward, it's no less heart-wrenching.
All the characters (save perhaps the Director) are fully-fleshed out, written with nuance and obvious care for their strengths and their weaknesses. Ballister's a bad guy, but he's not particularly good at being a bad guy. His devotion to science and rules and a sincere (if selective) moral code keeps him from committing the truly evil deeds required to overthrow a corrupt king and the shady Institution, even when violently overthrowing them might be better for everyone in the long-term.
Ambrosius Goldenloin (which, hats off to Stevenson for that inspired name) is a good guy, but he's pretty bad at being a good guy. For one, it's established early on that he has a deep capacity for self-deception, which is worrying in someone who's supposedly a hero. He's also too quick to trust orders when they come from people in positions of power, and much too slow to question even when those orders challenge his limited, privileged morality.
But I was especially drawn (heh) to Nimona, to whom I could devote pages and pages of analysis but will limit myself to a few paragraphs out of respect for all of you.
The beauty of Nimona's story is that it's very onion-like. You can peel away layers of meaning and still find more waiting for you. For me, there were obvious allusions to the experience of queerness, of not knowing what you are; of knowing exactly what you are and not being able to share it with anyone; of being more than can be fit into the tiny steel trap of other people's understanding; and of just wanting the acceptance and love of a family but having to make a mother and father out of rejection.
But Nimona also called to mind the consequences of abuse and trauma, of what can happen when the people who should be helpers commit harm instead, and that surviving horror sometimes means embracing the monstrous parts of ourselves.
There's so much substance packed into Stevenson's depiction of Nimona and her relationship with Blackheart. Both narratively and visually, Stevenson conveys complex emotions, from the hilarious to the heartfelt to the heartbreaking.
There's a lovely, familial affection between Blackheart and Nimona as they become a team: Nimona draping herself casually over Blackheart's shoulder as they plot against the Institution, Blackheart literally cradling and carrying Nimona during her moment of greatest vulnerability. The depth of concern they have for each other is clear, allowed to build naturally, and illustrated beautifully.
Stevenson's gift for balance becomes especially apparent during the book's climax and resolution, during which she does a brilliant job of intertwining dialogue and art to incredibly poignant effect. Blackheart and Nimona's story left me feeling many, many things, all of which felt earned, and that's exactly what I want out of storytelling.
...but.
I'm guessing you saw the rating above, and were waiting for that but. I can practically hear you asking: if I loved the book so much, why am I giving it 3.5 stars? Reader, I am very conflicted about this, I'm not afraid to admit.
Here's the thing: the relationship between Blackheart and Goldenloin is a prominent part of the book, and it's heavily implied to be romantic. There are aspects of this relationship that I find...difficult.
I'm putting this part of the review behind a cut, because it requires a pretty heavy discussion of spoilers to explain fully.
When Blackheart was still a member of the Institution, he won a joust against Goldenloin (the first time they'd ever competed against each other), and Goldenloin was apparently so upset by this that he fired his lance at Blackheart as Blackheart was riding away. Blackheart lost his arm and was kicked out of the Institution because of the injury.I'm given the impression that Goldenloin's denial of this event as it happened is long-standing, but that's not the only problem; it's also that his denial verges on gaslighting. Blackheart gives Goldenloin a chance (and as their conversation implies, probably multiple chances since the incident) to confess to his real intent behind what happened, but Goldenloin not only refuses to concede the truth, he claims that everyone understood the incident was an accident and Blackheart is the only one who's being unreasonable about it.And worse, Goldenloin actually complains that Ballister is still upset about, you know, this totally minor thing of having violently lost a limb to someone who supposedly loved him. It's not until Goldenloin himself loses the favor of the Institution that he's willing to admit to the truth — or a version of a truth, because even then he doesn't fully cop to it.
For those who skipped the spoiler: essentially, Goldenloin made a very bad choice with severe consequences for Blackheart when he and Blackheart were both still at the Institution, and it's something Goldenloin refuses to acknowledge for most of the book but he has to account for toward the end of the story.
Honestly, though, by the time I got to Goldenloin's revelation, it felt heavily reduced by the fact he's only able to come to it because he finds himself as powerless as he once made Blackheart. It's hard to root for that in a love story.
But on the other hand, I like Goldenloin. Yes, he's milquetoasty. Yes, he's much too willing to go along with the Director's orders even in the face of increasingly overwhelming evidence that she's not the force of good she claims to be.
Given the Institution is all he's ever known, however, those things are understandable. In fact, he's a pretty solid example the kind of person any of us could be when forced to question and confront the people we've built our lives around (and who know just how to manipulate us into forgetting what concerns us). That he's able to eventually rally himself to rebel against the Institution, even late in the game, is something I count in his favor.
Goldenloin has faults, sure, that's because he's a layered character. I recognize that there's quite a bit of emotional nuance here that can't be ignored.
See? Conflicted.
However. I just can't forget in all the talk of layered characters and emotional nuance that if this was a mixed-gender relationship and Blackheart was a woman who had been seriously injured by a jealous man who couldn't even admit that he'd hurt her until he'd lost his privilege and power and had nowhere else to go? I'd be wanting Blackheart to get the hell out of there. I would not be finding their relationship layered or nuanced. I'd just be rooting for it to be over.
If I get right down to it, I wouldn't find this dynamic romantic if it were between a man and a woman, and so I just can't excuse it because it's between two men instead.
If Blackheart and Goldenloin's relationship were a smaller part of Nimona, if the nature of it were less troubling to me, if Goldenloin had worked toward making real amends for the harm he caused, if they had actually had a conversation in which Blackheart explicitly forgave Goldenloin at the end, then I think my rating would be much different. Alas, those things aren't true, and my rating has to stay at 3.5 stars.
Open Questions:
- What is the Agency? “Evil” equivalent of the Institution? Nimona pretends she was sent by the Agency when she first appears in Blackheart's lair and then it's never mentioned again. Do I smell a sequel?
- Why does Blackheart agree to take Nimona on as a sidekick so quickly? They obviously bond fast, and I can accept that he was just lonely or he's a sucker for hard cases, but there's very little to support that or any other hint at his motivations for letting a random person who shows up without warning essentially move in with him.
- How old is Nimona really? Does she age herself up, or is she the little girl we see in the flashbacks and at the end of the story?
This review was originally posted on book(ish) humans
The first time I read this in 2019 I only listened to the audiobook and I couldn't really get into it. This time (2022) I listened to the audiobook while reading the actual graphic novel and I enjoyed it a lot more.
4.5 stars Aw, Nimona! This was great! I must admit it took me a while to ~get into it, but once I did, boy was it a wild, angsty-cute, emotional ride! I liked the flip on the usual enemies to lovers trope and it's honestly the first time I read a graphic novel and halfway through all I can think of is “I need to find all the fic”. I recommend it! Read it!
Nimona was both very cute and very sad. I wasn't expecting to feel so many things at the end. I really enjoy Noelle Stevenson's humor and the characters she creates. I think Nimona's story is particularly interesting because of the many possibilities and layers of her origin. I think the only major critique I have is one Stevenson herself shares, and that is the romantic relationship was far too subtle and easy missed by some people. It definitely should have been brought to the foreground of the story in many instances.
About a shapeshifting little girl and heroes and villains and the roles they play. Super funny, smart and original. Blackheart and Goldenloin's nemesis/love was adorable.
Nimona is a badass shapeshifter who can fool you with her appearance as a little girl. All she wants is to be the evil sidekick of our supervillain Lord Ballister Blackheart. He may be the villain in the eyes of everyone but he is an antihero who is trying to bring the dark truths of the Institution to light.
Nimona was really cool. She is full of energy, doesn't really care for consequences, is very impulsive and has not met a door she can't break. I loved Blackheart because he is only a villain due to circumstances and tries very hard not to harm any innocent people. His arch nemesis is Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin but they used to be best friends before the Institution led to their falling out.
I loved their relationship which was more like frenemies and I could really understand how much they cared for each other despite being on opposite sides. It also had a lot of Simon/ Baz vibes from Carry On, so it was disappointing that their relationship was not truly explored.
The writing style is very funny and there were a lot of humorous moments. Nimona could bring out laughs with her dialogue even when she was hell bent on murdering people. The banter between Blackheart and Goldenloin is also very entertaining except a couple of places where it made me very emotional. It was really nice to see a small book like this evoke so many different feelings.
The action sequences were very fast paced and it did get confusing at times. The ending also felt very rushed and I wish it was explained better. I also wish there was more detail about Nimona's backstory because I felt her motivations were not very clear. The ending also left me wanting because though it's not a cliffhanger, it's definitely more open ended than I would have liked.
The artwork is so much different from the only 3 other graphic novels I have read, so I had to get used to the style. It's obviously done in a way that is more attractive to younger readers but I had a fun experience.
Story
I was already familiar with Noelle Stevenson from Lumberjanes. Despite that, this story wasn't on my radar at all for some reason. This has some similar fantasy elements, but is otherwise pretty different.
I found Nimona obnoxious in the beginning, but instantly took a liking to Ballister Blackheart. Nimona grew on me as the book went on however as we learn more about both her powers and her backstory.
This story digs into some pretty meaty topics like the role of government in protecting the status quo as well as human rights while telling an entertaining story. Ms. Stevenson doesn't hit you over the head with her personal politics, but it's also hard to ignore.
Ballister Blackheart is introduced as a villain, and Nimona certainly seems like a perfectly evil henchman at first glance, but the further you read leads to question who is really the villain of this story.
Overall, I thought this was a pretty enjoyable book, albeit far less whimsical as Lumberjanes tends to be. If you enjoy fantasy stories with more going on than just magic and battles, this book is worth a look.
Artwork
I believe the entire series was drawn as a web comic, and that shows at times. Some panels seemed a bit more rushed than the others. I like Ms. Stevenson's art style fine, but it's not always my favorite. I think it works well for the story however.
A very cute little story about evil doers who do some good. My main issue was the changes in the font size, when it got really small, I found it super hard to read. Otherwise a good story with cute artwork.
Young girl assists fantasy supervillain in a magical and technological absurdist world. But is she really just a girl? Is the supervillain really evil? And what evil machinations does the Institute machinate?
The artwork is charming, at times lovely. Nimona's design at the end is actually really cool. The story is by turns silly and funny and then tragic. I laughed, I cried, I had so many feelings. And then I mad my partner read it.
Also–Mansley Girthrod.
My first graphic novel. Bingung reviewnya gmn.
Sir Ballister Blackheart diceritakan sebagai villain, punya asisten baru, namanya Nimona. Sir Blackheart punta hate-love realtionship sama hero nya, Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin. Sebagai villain Sir Blackheart punya hati nurani, klo bisa gk ada warga yg terluka parah atau meninggal. Dulunya Sir Blackheart berteman baik sama SIr Goldenloin.
Ada momen2 yg agk lucu juga. Pantas dicoba...
Nimona is incredibly entertaining with great characters–I loved it! It begins with Nimona convincing renowned villain Lord Blackheart that a shapeshifter sidekick would be useful in carrying out diabolical plans. However, she's not really the type to obey orders and scoffs at Lord Blackheart's rules about not murdering people–and brings complete chaos into his life.
From the start, Nimona is fun with a sense of humor, and it develops more depth as it delves into the characters and their pasts and examines heroism and villainy. The artistic style didn't entirely work for me and I would have liked to know a little more about the world/certain lore, but the characters and story more than made up for that.
Full Review on My Website
I adore this snarky lil devilress...can't wait to read more..There is more right?! There has to be more..!!
[side note] - No their currently isn't any more Nimona.. weep.. On to Lumberjanes! Keep on writing Ms. Stevenson.
Enjoyed this graphic novel a lot more than I expected. The story was unoriginal but very entertaining and well plot-out and executed. I liked the characters, though their portrayal seemed a bit one-dimensional with very linear backstories. I wasn't a huge fan of the art style but I think it suited the story perfectly. Overall a very well done graphic novel!
“3.5”
I was able to finish it in a day. It was a very addicting fast read but I felt myself wanting more.
Finished the second half of this in basically one sitting, I was so caught up in the plot and had to know what would happen next. Love Stevenson's style of art and the Blackheart/Goldenloin and Blackheart/Nimona relationships. The epilogue was the perfect capper to the story and made me so happy.
(Bookriot Read Harder 2016 Challenge: #17 Read a non-superhero comic that debuted in the last three years)
I really enjoyed this one, very unconventional, while using conventional tropes was interesting and intriguing and the characters were awesome. The artwork is a simplistic style, but wonderfully unique. Well worth checking out!