Katie Cook

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Netgalley.)

It's been a year since teenagers Callie Benson and Declan Hickey journeyed into the Elder Woods to save Callie's father ... and came back with both a budding new relationship, and an honest-to-goodness posse (both Lasser and Radish have definitely grown on me!). Now high school graduates, Declan works at the Bensons' antiquities shop in the magical realm, which Callie co-owns with her dad. Lasser has made himself at home show more in the broom closet, and Radish is a sworn protector of both "my lady" and "sir."

During an impromptu visit to see Callie's uncle Maddy, a fellow fairy, plant lover, and self-proclaimed professor, Declan begins to experiment with his fae magic, cause his lovely pink wings to spark and catch on fire ("hot wings," lol). As it just so happens, none other than Laurel Poppyfield - the matriarch of the oldest and most esteemed fairy family - is holding a death day celebration, and there's bound to be loads of magical healers in attendance. The journey will be fraught - but it might just lead to more magical self-discovery for both Callie and Declan.

NOTHING SPECIAL continues to be one of the most gosh-darn special comics on WEBTOON. Katie Cook has a delightful sense of humor, and she sprinkles her comics with so many amusing details and pop culture references that it's hard to catch them all. (Seriously, I re-read Volume 1 before starting Volume 2, and I picked up on so many more fun flourishes the second time around.)

I especially love Lasser and Radish, who have both grown and evolved in their own ways. (See, old dogs can learn new tricks! Even in the afterlife!) Radish has come to accept Declan as a fellow Callie-worshipper, and Lasser has moved on from Callie ... possibly to a handsome tradesman named Quinn? Hopefully reading all those fantasy romance novels (courtesy of Declan's late grandmother, rip) will pay off.

I was also delighted to learn that Declan is a vegetarian, and my heart cheered when Radish liberated his fellow plant souls from their captivity in trendy ghost lanterns.

My only complaint? We never find out what became of the spirit of Declan's tree after he sells his grandmother's house! There's a hulking spirit lurking in the background of later panels, so I have my suspicions, but Cook doesn't say for sure. show less

OMG! This is the cutest all ages graphic novel ever!!! I'm such a fan now. Gronk is this adorable monster, who is bad a being a monster and ends up leaving her monster community and living with Dale, her dog, and her cat. Dale is this super adorable Geek girl, so I totally fangirled every time I saw one of her cute t-shirts and 80's references. The family scenario is sort of like Garfield (single adult with two pets), except no one is cynical or aggressive, they are all so sweet with each show more other. The artwork is stunningly adorable, the characters are extremely likeable, and I just wanted more, more, more. This is fine for elementary school kids and up. Dale edits her language around Gronk, so it isn't to bad for the young audience, but parents may want to read ahead first. show less

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through NetGalley.)

For seventeen-year-old Callie Benson, the high school experience has been especially ... challenging. She can see the echos of plants and animals who have died but not yet moved on - and her furtive conversations with invisible spirits have earned her the reputation of the "crazy" girl on campus. Her father is a demon who's always gone, traveling between the human world and other realms in search of magical objects for show more his antiques store. Her mother - well, Callie doesn't know much about her; it's just been Callie and her father for as long as she can remember. Callie knows that she's not human - at least not entirely - but beyond that, she's not sure what she is. Just that she's nothing special.

Callie's world opens up when she discovers that a fellow classmate named Declan can see the spirits, too. Callie helps him gently dispel an especially giant spirit who has camped out in front of his house (and, more alarmingly, watches him sleep at night), and the two become fast friends. When Callie's dad goes missing on her birthday, she and Declan enter the other world in search of him. With the help of a demon named Lasser and the spirit of one very possessive radish, can Callie rescue her father - while also coming to terms with what she is?

NOTHING SPECIAL is one very special strip. (Sorry, I had to.) The storytelling is magical, and I especially love the spirits that follow Callie around. (A sassy radish? Sign me up!) The mystery of Callie's lineage is a juicy one and I enjoyed the big reveal with her mom at the end. Cook's artwork is charming with just the right amount of cutesy mixed in. Bonus points for bonding over pop culture references.

You can also find it on Webtoons, where Katie Cook is already well into Season Three. (This book comprises Season One, chapters 1-29.) show less

Katie Cook is my favorite new comic writer/illustrator! I was so excited about this 2nd volume and I was not let down. These short snippets into the world of Dale, Gronk, and their cute little nerd family are utterly engrossing and delightful. I just want to be friends with Dale and have a cute little monster like Gronk running around my house like a troublesome 3-year-old child. Teens and adults, especially nerd girls, will relate to Dale and her families geeky shenanigans. Light-hearted show more and fun on a cold winter day. This is a great table top comic strip book. show less