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Kagagi: The Raven
Matthew Carver is an average 16-year-old kid dealing with normal teenage high school drama, teenage angst, and a huge crush. Or, at least, he was yesterday. Today he found out that he has inherited an ancient power and responsibility - the age-old evil known as the Windigo has returned, and Matthew Carver must defeat it! He is The Raven!
78 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 2011
1 person is currently reading
109 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 19, 2016
I went to Can*Con a couple of weeks ago, and I got to hear Jay Odjick speak on the topic of print-to-screen adaptation, and from the brief snippits he dropped about Kagagi, I connected to wi-fi and nabbed the first graphic novel then and there.
Beginning with the myth of the Wendigo, Kagagi: The Raven tells the origin story of a modern day hero, and does so through an Algonquin lens. As a queer guy, I love finding #ownvoices stories, and as a lover of graphic novels—and superheroes in specific?—I was over-the-moon to find this book.
This is very much a beginning, and the set-up is pretty awesome. Matthew Carver, who is orphaned, is the only native guy at school, and who seems to have something of a small (read: giant) crush on Cassie, a girl who is unfortunately dating a popular jock bully jerk type.
Finding out he's got powers and a mortal enemy? Really not a good time. But the evil targets someone he cares about, and Matthew has to hop up the steep learning curve, and fast.
I devoured this, then went back and re-read it with more love and care. I really liked the art style, the writing is solid, and in many ways this comic was an homage to all the good things of superhero origins—but done with an all-too-rare Algonquin narrative.
Frankly, I can't wait for more.
(Oh, and as I mentioned at the start, given the topic of the panel, I don't have to wait for more: including 20% Algonquin spoken dialog, there's a thirteen part CGI series, available at APTN, World's First National Aboriginal Broadcaster, which I've already begun and am loving.)
Beginning with the myth of the Wendigo, Kagagi: The Raven tells the origin story of a modern day hero, and does so through an Algonquin lens. As a queer guy, I love finding #ownvoices stories, and as a lover of graphic novels—and superheroes in specific?—I was over-the-moon to find this book.
This is very much a beginning, and the set-up is pretty awesome. Matthew Carver, who is orphaned, is the only native guy at school, and who seems to have something of a small (read: giant) crush on Cassie, a girl who is unfortunately dating a popular jock bully jerk type.
Finding out he's got powers and a mortal enemy? Really not a good time. But the evil targets someone he cares about, and Matthew has to hop up the steep learning curve, and fast.
I devoured this, then went back and re-read it with more love and care. I really liked the art style, the writing is solid, and in many ways this comic was an homage to all the good things of superhero origins—but done with an all-too-rare Algonquin narrative.
Frankly, I can't wait for more.
(Oh, and as I mentioned at the start, given the topic of the panel, I don't have to wait for more: including 20% Algonquin spoken dialog, there's a thirteen part CGI series, available at APTN, World's First National Aboriginal Broadcaster, which I've already begun and am loving.)
December 13, 2014
Portrayals of aboriginal people in comics are often tokenistic, two dimensional, and stereotypical. Aboriginal women in comics are sexualized, with costumes that are reduced to a few bands of leather and tassels. Aboriginal men are made into stoic figures. Aboriginal groups are often invented for comic book worlds, creating communities that have never existed and using a mish- mash of iconography from a variety of native peoples.
This is why it is so refreshing to see Jay Odjick and Patrick Tenascon’s Kagagi: The Raven, a comic that puts an Anishnabee man in the role of the hero rather than the sidekick or token diversity team member.
Kagagi: The Raven is a powerful story about transformation with a mixture of coming of age story, resistance to the superhero destiny, and overcoming systemic bullying… and perhaps that is why his superhero bears the Trickster qualities of Raven with a little touch of Nanabush.
If you would like to read a longer version of this review, you can check it out on my website at http://speculatingcanada.ca/2014/10/1...
This is why it is so refreshing to see Jay Odjick and Patrick Tenascon’s Kagagi: The Raven, a comic that puts an Anishnabee man in the role of the hero rather than the sidekick or token diversity team member.
Kagagi: The Raven is a powerful story about transformation with a mixture of coming of age story, resistance to the superhero destiny, and overcoming systemic bullying… and perhaps that is why his superhero bears the Trickster qualities of Raven with a little touch of Nanabush.
If you would like to read a longer version of this review, you can check it out on my website at http://speculatingcanada.ca/2014/10/1...
July 9, 2020
Writing is hard.
January 3, 2019
I didn't like it as much as I wanted to, but it is a pretty good start.
The beginning legend and its artwork are fantastic. The question it leaves, and many of the other questions that come up, are intriguing. The world-building is decent, and it is really important to have a Native American protagonist.
The downside is that the exposition and angsty teen dialogue are a little clunky. I wouldn't have minded that so much, but both of the female characters are really underdeveloped, and the drawing of the love interest is terribly, awkwardly presented and sexual. Racism is not the only longstanding comic tradition that needs to be changed.
I nonetheless believe it has potential.
The beginning legend and its artwork are fantastic. The question it leaves, and many of the other questions that come up, are intriguing. The world-building is decent, and it is really important to have a Native American protagonist.
The downside is that the exposition and angsty teen dialogue are a little clunky. I wouldn't have minded that so much, but both of the female characters are really underdeveloped, and the drawing of the love interest is terribly, awkwardly presented and sexual. Racism is not the only longstanding comic tradition that needs to be changed.
I nonetheless believe it has potential.
October 9, 2015
My main complaint is that this is all there is for Kagagi comics. It's an excellent origin story for Matthew/Kagagi, who's an Anishinabe superhero battling the Windigo. But that's unfortunately all it is.
January 28, 2019
J'ai hésité entre 3 et 4 étoiles. Kagagi est une BD dont le scénario retrace les origines de son super-héros : de jeune ado anishnabe à guerrier qui doit se battre contre une dangereuse créature mythique, le Windigo. Le scénario, trop court, nous laisse un peu sur notre faim. Mais la qualité graphique de la BD et sa façon de mettre en avant-plan un personnage des Premières Nations m'a fait pencher pour les 4 étoiles. En espérant qu'il y ait une suite!
May 8, 2019
I quite enjoyed this superhero origin story. It does follow a lot of the tropes, including ones I'm not a huge fan of, but it does shine wherever it strikes out on its own.
I did find it a little short and rushed, but I understand that it is setting up characters for a series in which they can be explored with more depth. The story does what it needs to do.
I liked the artwork, which used a lot of solid lines and colours. It reminded me a bit of Saturday morning cartoons.
I did find it a little short and rushed, but I understand that it is setting up characters for a series in which they can be explored with more depth. The story does what it needs to do.
I liked the artwork, which used a lot of solid lines and colours. It reminded me a bit of Saturday morning cartoons.
February 20, 2024
I had been looking for this for ages, but finally managed to buy the hardcover from the creator himself at a comic con! It's absolutely gorgeous (even has a ribbon bookmark!)
The only problem I had, was that I wanted more!!!!
The only problem I had, was that I wanted more!!!!
May 4, 2019
The story of a First Nation’s super hero. I haven’t read many comic books so I don’t know how it compares.
June 17, 2023
Unlike books, I can read and reread comic books, graphic novels, and children storybooks over and again.
Kagagi is one of those that I will never grow tired of rereading.
It is the only comic book indigenous superhero that I have in my collection, and currently, the only indigenous superhero who I have actually had the chance to read...I know there are more out there, yet knowing about available titles and running across them are two different things.
Beautiful artwork, especially the prologue. Epic storyline.
This does leave the reader with a whole lot of questions, yet, I believe that is the result caused by any good story.
Brilliant!
Kagagi is one of those that I will never grow tired of rereading.
It is the only comic book indigenous superhero that I have in my collection, and currently, the only indigenous superhero who I have actually had the chance to read...I know there are more out there, yet knowing about available titles and running across them are two different things.
Beautiful artwork, especially the prologue. Epic storyline.
This does leave the reader with a whole lot of questions, yet, I believe that is the result caused by any good story.
Brilliant!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews