Vita Ayala

Vita Ayala & Sam Beck’s adaptation of Tamora Pierce’s 1983 fantasy novel, Alanna: The First Adventure, continues the graphic novel adaptations of the Tortall series which began with Devin Grayson & Becca Farrow’s adaptation of First Test last year. Ayala and Beck faithfully adapt Pierce’s story in which Alanna of Trebond and her twin brother Thom swap identities in order for him to go study magic and her to travel to the court of King Roald to apprentice as a knight. Alanna poses as show more Alan in order to train as a page, meeting other pages such as Raoul of Goldenlake, Gareth of Naxen, and Prince Jonathan of Conté. In addition to those training to be knights and members of the court, Alanna meets and befriends people in the local village such as George Cooper, the King of the Thieves. She works hard to master the skills both physical and intellectual that knights must learn while also concealing her identity. Alanna proves herself when she uses her intelligence to best a bully among the pages, her magic to help heal Jonathan during a mysterious magical sickness, and in uncovering a mystery in the nearby desert.

Through Alanna, the reader learns more about the social expectations of Tortall and its people as well as Pierce’s magical world. She also meets people who teach her about the cultures around the kingdom, such as the different fiefdoms and the nearby Bazhir, a culture similar to the Bedouin in our world. Pierce’s portrayal of knighthood and power is similar to the philosophical approach that T.H. White took in The Once and Future King while she incorporates many different cultures in a way that makes the world feel like a real place with an infinite variety of people all living their lives just as they do in our world. It is a true work of high fantasy and world-building that Ayala and Beck bring to vivid life through the graphic novel medium.

Just as the original novel engaged with issues of gender identity and the questions of puberty, so too does Ayala and Beck’s graphic novel keep these timeless parts of the plot that make this story at once both fantastical and realistic for readers of all ages. Ayala maintains the dialogue while writing this graphic novel so that the story beats all follow the original book. Their comic book work includes titles from all the major publishers that blend fantastical action with grounded characters. Beck’s illustrations gorgeously depict the depth of the world of Tortall with vibrant colors bringing each scene to life. In her work, Beck has illustrated fantasy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to the writing of Ovid and plenty of original stories in between, making her an ideal illustrator for this book. Together, Ayala and Beck’s work transported me back to how I felt when I first read Pierce’s Alanna: The First Adventure and I cannot wait to see their work on the second book, In the Hand of the Goddess. A must-read for fans of Tamora Pierce! show less

If this is to be our lives, we must live them, with compassion and pride
- Desiree Rodriguez, co-editor

Puerto Rico Strong: A Comics Anthology Supporting Puerto Rico Disaster brings together many of Puerto Rico’s best comics creators in response to the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Irma and Maria last year. As in any anthology, I liked some of the stories better than others and that is also true of the art. Some of the stories are personal, even romantic but the majority and the ones I show more most appreciated highlight the culture, the history, and the diversity of the Puerto Rican people. And, of course, the beauty of the island that is reflected in the colouring that is vibrant throughout.

There are also stories about the effects of the hurricanes and the dismal response of the American government as well as many in the US population who seem to be unaware that Puerto Rico is a part of the US. Sadly, as some of the stories about the history of the island show, this response was not an aberration limited only to this time period or this Administration perhaps because Puerto Rico, as an unincorporated territory can't vote. One story especially, The Puerto Rican Birth Control Trials by Ally Schwed was particularly shocking as well as poignant; I was previously aware of coerced sterilization not only of Puerto Rican women but of African American, First Nations, and even poor whites but I was completely unaware of these tests.

For anyone interested in the culture and/or the history of Puerto Rico as well the government”s response to the disaster last year, this is a must-read. And to make it even better, the monies earned from the sale of this graphic novel will go to UNIDOS Disaster Relief & Recovery Program to Support Puerto Rico.

Thanks to Netgalley and Diamond Distributors/Lion Forge for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review show less

Tamora Pierce’s novel series set in the magical land of Tortall were some of my favourites growing up, and I am so stoked that we get to re-explore its characters and stories in graphic novel form. I read the adaptation of Kel’s first story a few months back and enjoyed it heartily, but the epic of the Lady Knight, Alanna, herself were the books I went back to time and time again, so I was even more excited to rediscover her story visually. While it’s not possible to measure up show more completely to the glorious story that Tamora Pierce brought to life, author Vita Ayala and illustrator Sam Beck did a solid job of translating her story into something that was recognizable but still fresh. The pacing of the book is quick (Alanna has to cover a lot of ground as she begins her quest as a page), but all of the major characters are introduced well and retain their unique personalities that orbit around Alanna’s fiery and determined temper. In the original story I recall Prince Jonathan and Sir Myles standing out larger than life, and while they still play admirably on the page here, I particularly liked their treatment of George Cooper. We definitely have a soft spot for the young King of Thieves, and I love that his sassy attitude stands out in this visual treatment. The overall design of the graphic layout is also extremely well done, and matches the specific style of storytelling that is required of a tale dominated by scenes of knighthood training exercises and shadowy pseudo-medieval palace hallways; action scenes are often laid out horizontally across double page spreads (a bit of a change from the vertical styling we’re used to) to give the active characters more room to move, and a careful use of lighting and background details (or lack-there-of) ensures that every scene from smoky banquet hall to candle-lit tavern stands out clearly. I can’t find any info online about whether they’re actually going to continue the adaptation of the series into graphic novel form, but I sincerely hope that they do - not only for my sake, but because the new format is perfect to introduce a new generation of readers to the lands of Tortall! show less

An anthology means something for everyone, and that's especially true of a comics anthology, because in addition to the different subject matter each story tackles, there are different artistic styles as well. Most of the stories are personal to some degree or another, delving into family history and heritage and the ways that Puerto Ricans remain connected to the island even when they aren't living there.

The topics in this anthology range from Taino mythology to the brutal history of the show more Spanish conquistadors, who largely wiped out the Taino people on Boriken and then replaced the Taino population with enslaved West Africans. Poor treatment of Puerto Rico continues through to the present day, as is evident by the U.S. response to the destruction of Hurricane Maria (especially compared to the U.S. response to the Hurricane Harvey, which hit Texas). Puerto Rico Strong also includes family histories - many Puerto Ricans have worked on the mainland, served in the military, and many women were the subjects of early birth control tests (unknown to them, a major violation of informed consent).

One hopes that this collection will do at least a small part to inform readers of the strength of Puerto Rico and its people - these unique Americans - despite the ways they've been taken taken advantage of and mistreated for centuries.

Quotes

What unites us as a people isn't just the culture we come from, but the one we carry with us. (Alan Medina, 18)

"I'm learning that they tell us a lot of stuff...For real, there's a lot of stuff that's not in our books..." (Javier Cruz Winnick, 146)

There's nothing you can do about the past. You can only remember it and use it to shape your tomorrows. (Amparo Ortiz,198, inspired by the poetry of Julia de Burgos) show less