The Mushroom Knight, vol. 1

The Mushroom Knight #1

by Oliver Bly (Writer/Illustrator), Steph Snow (Colorist), Anna Marie Navaja (Colorist)

An adolescent girl searches the deep dark woods for her missing dog, entangling her destiny with a chivalrous mushroom faerie on a mystical quest to protect the biome from catastrophic ruin.

The Mushroom Knight follows the adventures of Gowlitrot the Gardener, a sentient bipedal fungus created by a race of woodland gnomes called Gödels, as he investigates and unearths a deadly conspiracy that reveals the true nature of himself and the devastation humans have wrought upon the global biosystem that he has sworn to protect.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comics, Adventure, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction, Magic

112 pages, Paperback

Published March 5, 2024

Reviews

[Hosein · Rating 3 out of 5]

کمیک The Mushroom Knight اولین کمیکِ چاپ امساله که خوندم. نشر Mad Cave Studios به مناسبت ده سالگیش چندتایی کمیک منتشر کرد که این یکی از همه جالب‌تر به نظر میومد و به طور کلی، وقتی یک گرافیک ناول چند قسمتی به طور کامل و همزمان چندتا چپترش چاپ می‌شه (نه اینکه اول توی نت بذارن) یعنی خوبه، می‌شه بهش اعتماد کرد.

توی بحث آرت، The Mushroom Knight واقعا چشم‌نواز بود اما این رو چندان نمی‌تونم در مورد داستانش هم بگم. توی کل صد صفحه، ایده و کانسپت بسط پیدا می‌کرد و تقریبا کلِ اون ماجرایی که قهرمان دنبال می‌کرد معنی‌ای نمی‌داد. انگار که یک کانسپت خیلی قوی رو با یکی از بهم ریخته‌ترین داستان‌هایی که چند سال اخیر خوندم ترکیب کردن و نتیجه... فقط یک کانسپت خوبه.

در مورد اینکه چرا کانسپتش خوبه، حتی خیلی هم اهمیت داره باید یکم توضیح بدم. ما دوره‌های مختلفی از اقتباس از داستان پریان داشتیم. احتمالا معروف‌ترین دوره (که باعث محبوبیتش هم شد) اون زمانی بود که والت دیزنی تصمیم گرفت همه‌ی داستان‌ها رو ملایم و دوست داشتنی کنه و ازشون یکسری از بهترین انیمیشن‌های تاریخ رو بسازه. این ادامه پیدا کرد تا دوره‌ی تالکین و دیدگاه‌های جدید و تغییراتی که به داستان‌ پریان بریتانیایی داد که هنوز هم تاثیراتشون معلومن.
بعد از اون دوتا، ما فقط یک جریان تاثیرگذار دیگه داشتیم که بیشتر توی قرن بیست و یکم خودش رو نشون داد، اون هم تغییرات خیلی افراطی توی این داستان‌ها بود. از بردن سفید برفی توی یک دنیای سایبرپانک و تبدیل کردنش به مکانیک گرفته تا کارهای خیلی محبوبی مثل توایلایت و ابزارهای فانی (The Mortal Instruments) و ده‌ها ری‌بوت شکست خورده از بازنمایی مدرن این داستان‌ها، منابع اصلی به حدی دستکاری شدن و توی فرهنگ عامه با چیزهای بدنامی گره خوردن که من (و احتمالا خیلی‌های دیگه) رو ناامید کردن. کار به جایی رسید که چند سال پیش من حس می‌کردم داستانِ پریان مُرده، الان یکسری نویسنده‌ی خیلی ضعیف و کارگردان‌های ووک فقط دارن از این جسد سوء استفاده می‌کنن. (نگاه کنین به کل اتفاقاتی که برای فیلم جدید سفید برفی افتاد.)

اما به نظر میاد یک جریان جدیدی داره به وجود میاد که این کمیک خیلی خوب اون رو نشون می‌ده. این جریان تمایل داره با الهام از داستان پریان، یکسری نژاد جدید درست کنه و بیشتر با دید فلسفی، اون‌ها رو توی داستان‌های سورئال بذاره. دو سه سال اخیر خیلی کم پیش اومده که کارهایی با این دید خونده باشم، اما واضحه که به مرور تعدادشون بیشتر می‌شه و مولف‌ها بهش توجه نشون می‌دن. همین باعث شد که The Mushroom Knight کمیک جالبی باشه. درسته که داستان چیز قابل فهمی در نیومده، اما کانسپت احتمالا نشون می‌ده که اقتباس‌های این نسل از داستان پریان به چه سمتی می‌ره.

[Esme · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

The aesthetic of this entire book is absolutely perfection like I am obsessed with the art style. I like to imagine that there are tiny beings living in the woods like this.

I was a little confused at times but I was still enjoying the plot.

I will say that there are some triggers in here with animal death just as a heads up because I was caught off guard by one scene.

Thank you Netgalley, Oliver Bly as well as Mad Cave Studios for a copy of the arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gorgeous art, awful writing. The art is simply beautiful, but it just can't make up for the "plot", if you can even call it that. The story meanders and jumps from scene to scene without much coherence, the pacing is completely off and we don't learn anything about the world or its characters. At one point, the main character magically absorbs the soul from a girl's leg to heal himself, promising to return it later, and there is NO explanation of how that works or why someone has a distinct soul in their freaking leg. When the story finally gets some semblance of coherence, it's over and we're left with a cliffhanger.

I was very excited for The Mushroom Knight, but it lacks the basics of good storytelling. Even though the world seems really interesting, the comic book fails to properly convey its rules and inhabitants, which is a shame. I'd be open to read the next volume to see if it gets better, for the amazing art alone.

- ARC provided by NetGalley-

[Sharlie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an eARC in exchange of an honest review.

I’m an avid manga, comics and graphic novel reader. It is one of my favourite genre of literature and I was so excited to read The Mushroom Knight! The art is absolutely stunning and beautiful to look at. The aesthetics , character designs and scenery are simply magnificent! 5/5 for the art.

The story however was confusing with multiple storylines that were hard to follow. The flow of the story was strange, it was very fast and I feel like there should have been more time spent on the worldbuilding. I feel like this would have helped readers better comprehend the story. Also *SPOILERS* but the scene killing the cat put me off completely, there should have been a TW for that.

Overall, I give this 2 stars ⭐️ ⭐️.

[Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first! The artwork for this graphic novel is absolutely breathtaking! The first page had me sold taking about actual bugs and plants in the wild, then after that I found myself somewhat confused by what was going on, and often found myself rereading sentences to make sense of them. While the story was a bit confusing a would hands down check out another Oliver Bly novel just for his art work alone. I found my self looking deep into his pictures trying to see what I could find!

Thanks netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this beautiful graphic novel!

[margaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

picked this up on a whim bc i was drawn in by the art style and all of the illustrations throughout were sooo gorgeous but the plot was really confusing and all over the place… it’s the first volume in an ongoing series and it probably comes together in later volumes but i feel like a first volume should still be able to stand on its own and this didn’t. but still appreciated how much detail was put into the artwork!!

[Isabella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary: Follow the trail of an intrepid adolescent girl as she ventures into the deep, dark woods in search of her missing dog, only to stumble upon the enigmatic Mushroom Knight, Gowlitrot the Gardener. As Gowlitrot unravels a sinister conspiracy threatening the very essence of the forest, our unlikely duo embarks on a quest to protect the biome from catastrophic ruin. With captivating artwork and charming characters, "The Mushroom Knight" promises a journey teeming with wonder and whimsy.


Pros:
🌟 The artwork deserves a standing ovation – vibrant, detailed, and capable of turning mundane mushrooms into faerie-chic fashion statements. My eyes feasted on every page.

🤩 Charming characters abound in this fungal fantasy! From the plucky adolescent girl to the chivalrous Mushroom Knight himself, each character adds a layer of whimsy and wonder to the story.

Cons:
🤔 Confusion, thy name is Mushroom Knight. While the art dazzles and the characters charm, the plot meanders like a lost mushroom in the underbrush. A bit more clarity would do wonders for navigating this forest of fantasy.

🌍 Worldbuilding overload! While the lush setting and lore are commendable, much of the world remains unexplored, leaving readers lost in a thicket of tantalizing but untamed details.


In conclusion, "The Mushroom Knight Vol. 1" offers a delightful romp through a forest of fantasy, brimming with enchanting art and endearing characters. While the plot may stumble like a wayward mushroom, and the worldbuilding sprawls like an overgrown vine, the journey is nonetheless an enjoyable escape from reality. So, grab your cloak, sharpen your wit, and prepare to be whisked away on a fungal-fueled adventure of epic proportions!

Disclaimer: A hearty thank you to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for entrusting me with this eARC. All opinions expressed are as unpredictable as a forest fairy's flight path—whimsical, capricious, and subject to the winds of change! 🌟🍄

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read an advanced copy of this novel. Dark/Horror fantasy. My reflection on it is for a product before publication. Art is 5.

The artwork is amazing.
I found myself just taking in all of the details and motion. Great use of color to hint changes, zooming to hint tension and emotion, the characters have great character design, human world or not. I almost wished this was a silent graphic novel thought. It's more for an older audience, and the text is very complex. Doesn't help when the characters don't finish their sentences and the information gets convoluted.

I appreciate the pages that have less text and more surreal transitions of panels, almost non-sequitur, even when it may confuse us, it adds to the worldbuilding and we eventually get that we're sent into the future or a memory/flashback. But for a first book introducing the world, it would be easier to read clues by a narrator to situate us in space in time and not expect the reader to do all the work. I love the nature world. I too would want to be a Gardener and protect the balance.

The author gives more information on things I don't care about and less on the things I want to know more about. There's a lot of telling and not showing (ironically) I feel we were dropped into this world and there was another volume I missed. This makes it hard to make connections with the characters or feel the emotion (for example: why do I care that she is betraying him or attacking him if I didn't experience their friendship? I don't even know if I would like her as a character or if I'm supposed to be sad that she seems possessed.) Sometimes it has a very adult lusty feeling to it (even when we have a black middle-grade kid as one of the main characters). 

Heavy text and confusing, many times I had to reread the sentences several times and I still didn't get it. The story is made of short episodes but they are too short and sometimes frustrating to understand. I guess it's trying to be too much at the same time and ends up not being focused and essential. Still, there will be fellow experienced comic book readers who will appreciate the author's style. I grew up with European Bande dessinée I don't mind heavy text if it is well written. I would have aimed for a more minimalistic Moebius kind of story for the introduction and let the art shine more.

Still, I think it's worth revisiting the text to make it less confusing. The art is five stars. I would still collect this for the art.  

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this e-Arc.

[itselv]

The coolest art ever!! Couldn’t move on to the next page until I have took an admiring look at every single thing that contained the panels— colors, creatures designs, backgrounds, even characters poses and the extra details in the background! Wonderfully crafted. Super amazing!

I struggled with the plot and the world building, though. Half of that was because I, currently, do not possess the big brain energy for such story. The other half is for this being the first volume, and the beginnings are always vague. but In my opinion, the reader needs a reason to consider continuing the series. just because i read the beginning doesn’t mean i will automatically go on as the series continues, i need something gripping, that makes me want to devour the whole thing bingeably, or at least, excitedly waiting for the next volume to come. And the only thing the might make me read the next volume is the art.

I am so sure that more than one person will find this book five stars experience, i can see how fun it is objectively. But what i said above was all my subjective opinion. Try it if you’re looking for a cool world, cool creatures having their own banters and shenanigans, and cool art.

[⋆｡‧˚ʚ Emma ɞ˚‧｡⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

In “the mushroom knight” you are thrown into a world unknown to humans where bugs and magical creatures reside.
Due to the abrupt beginning I found I hard to follow but what it lacked in plot it made up for in the art style!

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review!

[blok sera szwajcarskiego · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5⭐️
Received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for honest opinion, thanks!

Talk about some weird, eerie, fantastic comic, and this one truly serves. Do I know what I read? Not to the full. Did I enjoyed ut? Oh hell fucking yes I did.

[Crimson Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

While reading this graphic novel I thought the art style was lovely, I liked how at the beginning we are told about the earth and what is beneath the surface as well as telling us how vital the creatures are in keeping the earth healthy. So I think that was great to teach children about how the eco-system right outside their door is in this world, but after this part, there were times I felt confused by the story but I was still intrigued to read on liking characters as I went on the adventure laying ahead of us in this short Graphic novel.

Interesting read with some beautiful art work

Thank u netgalley for an advanced copy I highly appreciate it

[Loïs Berger · Rating 3 out of 5]

The artwork is absolutely amazing, the story can get a little confusing but it was still a nice read.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated, if a little confusing book that captured me from the beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the illustrations, the plot felt like it was setting up for something more complex, so there were parts I had trouble following, but that didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the book however. 4/5

[Sabine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ☆

Firstly thank you Netgalley for providing me with this e-arc

I really loved the art style and the story is interesting, however its also very confusing. Even though this is only the first volume it already feels like you're missing context and started reading in the middle of the story

[Ashley Belle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for my review. The Mushroom Knight is a beautifully illustrated whimsical, creative world with some hiccups in the storyline—I would give it a 3/5 🌟.

I enjoyed learning about the Mushroom Knight’s unique world. The color palette was absolutely beautiful and cozy to see shine in the illustrations—both in the scenery and the characters.

Though, the story fell flat. I had a hard time following some of the conversations. What caught me most off guard was the animal death, which I would have appreciated a TW for in the beginning as it triggered me.

Overall, this graphic novel was enjoyable for the most part. The premise of tiny creatures invisible to the human eye is such a fun idea to play with. World-building is difficult to achieve sometimes, but I feel that if the storyline was cleaned up in future volumes, this series would be an absolutely magical experience.

[Victoria B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this title!

Mushroom Knight was everything. The story was a bit confusing at times, but the art and intrigue of it all certainly made up for it. The art was absolutely beautiful and I need volume 2 asap.

[Pluto_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

well, the ARC has expired and I didn't have the time to finish it. I feel so sad now but I will try to get it one day and resume reading. Thats the only reason I hate about netgalley.

Regardless, I adored the art in this comic and I will never get over how beautiful it is!

[Mamasita81 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl is going into the dark woods looking for her missing dog. A mushroom faerie is on a mission to find out what is happening to his home. Their worlds collide in this dark fantasy.

Story: 3 stars
Art: 20 stars

Okay. So this was very different from what I was expecting. I was expecting a tag team of the young girl and the mushroom faerie, kind of like we help each other out. But no. I'm sure it will happen in further volumes. That being said, it was very hard to understand what was going on. There was a very chaotic story happening. Everything and nothing all at once. I felt like I had been dropped in the middle of an already built story and I was expected to understand the slang, recognize the creatures and understand what was going on. The mushroom faerie's (Gowlitrot) world was the most confusing, but the young girl's was easier to follow. Not to mention my gal (Lemuelle) is adorable and overly dismissed. All she wants is her dog Beans back.

Now, the art. GORGEOUS! The intricate detail. The colors. As another reviewer mentioned, you could even use just the art by itself with no text and you can see the story happen. I found myself looking closely on every panel because there was so much to see. Especially when you're in the mushroom faerie's world.

In conclusion, I don't know what was happening but I was enjoying the view.

TW: animal abuse (what was the reason!!!)

Thank you Netgalley, Mad Cave Studios and Oliver Bly for the opportunity to read/review this ARC.

[Martin Maenza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mad Cave Studios provided an early galley for review.

This gorgeously illustrated tale begins with a reminder of the vastness of nature, something many likely overlook. It is from this poetic and informative opening that we dive deep into the fantastical tale of our frog-riding hero Gowlitrot. In just a few scenes, the reader gets a sense of him - his personality and his demeanor. He balances his sense of duty with a bit of self-motivation. He is very much a rogue in every sense of the word.

There are plenty of moments where the artwork alone is meant to silently move things along. It does so brilliantly, making the most of what the comic medium can powerfully do. I like that the team is equally at home illustrating nature, the fantasy elements and the real-world elements, and that they are able to seamleslly move from one to another.

There is a lot of worldbuilding going on here, and some of it is not immediately crystal clear. There are mysteries, there are oddities, and there are often more questions than answers. It is definitely a story that can pull you in and want to know more. I know I do, so I will be looking forward to future volumes to see where this all is going.

[Wylde-reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given an advanced reader copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for my review

I give this book 3.5 / 5 ⭐️

This book follows Gowl the gardener, a bipedal and sentient mushroom species on a quest to retrieve a stolen crystal. Along the journey chaos and mayhem ensues.

This book had beautiful artwork and gorgeous writing about ecology. The characters were charming and the book was fun.

Unfortunately plot line was a little bit hard to follow. The world building in this book was extensive and not explored enough which left me confused a lot of the time and not sure what was going on or who certain characters were.

Overall I really enjoyed this graphic novel and I think the story has a lot of promise as subsequent volumes are written. I will be picking up a physical copy and following along as the initial premise and the main character are quite intriguing.

[Momo · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars out of 5

3/3/2024 (not adding dates because I don't want it to count toward my reading goal)

This was honestly a pretty quick DNF from me, I got almost halfway through but just couldn't read anymore. I actually really enjoyed the first 10-15 pages (they were very very heavy with information though) but then it just had a completely different atmosphere afterwards and was overall just very confusing. I feel like in even just the half I read, four or five comic books worth of information were stuffed into it. If it weren't for the synopsis I also wouldn't have had really any idea what was going on and what I did read of the story was definitely not for me.

Disclaimer: I received a digital arc copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Risha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world of Mushroom Knight is so rich and lived in! I love how beautifully drawn and how scenes are framed in this volume. Everything is well paced too. I am completely rooting for our human girl. 🥹💕

My one criticism is that our main mushroom, Gowlitrot, feels very bland. Their design is gorgeous but we've had so many protagonists like this before. It's the first volume, so I'm sure there will be some development but so far they bring nothing interesting to the table. To build and create a lively, fantastical world with interesting characters and have our protagonist have absolutely nothing to them is frustrating 😭. At least they look great though 🍄

[Derk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true work of art - an original, imaginative, and magical world presented beautifully. I was pulled inside it almost immediately. I wholeheartedly disagree with some other reviews critiquing the writing and story. One of the reasons I loved the experience of reading it so much is that it felt alive - to make it feel alive you can’t spend pages explaining every aspect of the world or lay out a plot in a perfectly sequential and understandable (to an audience outside of the created world) way. I never write reviews but I had to do my bit to counteract the prevailing sentiments here.

[J MaK · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.2) A hidden realm within the flora is threatened. Gowli, a gardener from a sentient race of mushroom species, must embrace the perils of older magic and the possibility of converging worlds. The story is very arbitrary with panel cuts to sudden flashbacks. Some more helpful than others. On the other hand, I like the artwork, so much, I caught myself creating subplots for the more confusing parts.

[Bee Deratour · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for an opportunity to read this graphic novel.

The artwork in this book is so unique and enjoyable to look at. In many places it was also the saving grace, as the plot was a struggle. The story was a challenge for me to focus on, understand, and want to stay interested in.

I think the concept was super fun, but I just feel like the delivery lacked a little.

I'm still grateful to have experienced this and I think it will find its audience.

[Savannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art in this book is amazing! There's so much to look at. The plot was pretty confusing at times. I think it could have been longer with more attention paid to world building. I found Lem and Gowlitrot to be endearing characters and I might read the next volume just to revisit those two.

Thank you Netgalley, Oliver Bly and Mad Cave Studios for the ARC.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I could rate this book on illustrations alone, it would be 5 stars. I loved the mushrooms and nature and all the pretty aesthetics. However, the story was a little lacking. I didn’t really understand what was happening until near the end. It was hard to follow. Kind of felt like a bad acid trip for most of the book. The ending left a pretty big cliffhanger so I still want to read the next book, but I don’t think I understood the plot the way the author intended the audience to. I want to understand it better.

[Inanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art in this graphic novel is amazing and the fantasy elements feel quite unique and exciting. The plot felt confusing and I am still not sure what it was about, I guess the puzzle pieces will click in the sequels. The part with the missing dog got me very emotional.

[Larakaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A weird and fantastical story with wonderful and whimsical artwork