Blackbird Volume 1 - Softcover

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL -- Gr 10 Up-Nina “Crazy Baby” Rodriguez has always known there's something hidden in the streets of Los Angeles. This graphic novel opens with a flashback-at 13, Nina came face to face with an enchanted beast. Since then, she has held on to her belief of magic. A decade later, after dealing with many traumatic experiences, including her mother's death, Nina now lives an aimless life of drug and alcohol abuse. Then one night, she encounters the same magical creatures again, and they kidnap her sister. Now Nina must find a way to access their secret world to rescue her sister. Beautiful illustrations and captivating colors draw readers into an otherwise convoluted plot. Humphries's storytelling feels a little lacking, though the ending does wrap up the story arc and introduces a dramatic change in Nina's life, leaving readers eager for the next volume.
VERDICT A solid pick for fans of Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.


“Much like Bartel’s art, the world of Blackbird thrums with a fantastical undercurrent, and the moments when it spills through to the surface are supremely satisfying.” ―Kelly Sue DeConnick, Bitch Planet


"The art is stunning and absolutely magical." ?Impulse Gamer


BOOK RIOT -- I cannot say enough about this comic. I read most of the individual issues online (which I never do, but Bartel's art was too beautiful to miss), and I knew I had to get a hard copy when the trade came out. I love the storyline of this comic and the relationships between the characters as well as the magical element of it (something different for me, since I usually go for superheroes), but for me, it's the art that really shines. Bartel is one of my favorite illustrators and I could stare at this all day. Sometimes I flounder with comics, and this was just what I needed to get back into them after some time away.