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Phoebe and Her Unicorn #20
Unicorn Time Machine
A bright and sparkling new collection of Phoebe and Her Unicorn comics.
In this exciting new collection of Phoebe and Her Unicorn comics, 10-year-old Phoebe Howell and her magical unicorn best friend, Marigold, enjoy a series of fantastical adventures. Phoebe goes back in time to meet her father as a kid and makes some surprising discoveries. Marigold reveals that she sometimes puts the world on mute, a power that Phoebe quickly learns is easy to overuse. And at the Unicorn Award Ceremony, the pair launch a campaign to get Marigold the highest honor. It's all part of the unique bond within one of the most memorable friendships in recent comics history.
In this exciting new collection of Phoebe and Her Unicorn comics, 10-year-old Phoebe Howell and her magical unicorn best friend, Marigold, enjoy a series of fantastical adventures. Phoebe goes back in time to meet her father as a kid and makes some surprising discoveries. Marigold reveals that she sometimes puts the world on mute, a power that Phoebe quickly learns is easy to overuse. And at the Unicorn Award Ceremony, the pair launch a campaign to get Marigold the highest honor. It's all part of the unique bond within one of the most memorable friendships in recent comics history.
176 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2024
84 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Dana Simpson
61 books336 followersDana Claire Simpson grew up in Gig Harbor, Washington, drawing the entire time. She eventually graduated from The Evergreen State College, despite having spent all her time drawing, and not always for credit.
Attempts at doing real work along the way are hardly worth mentioning; the relevant fact is that, from 1998 to 2008, she drew the internet comic strip Ozy and Millie. After winning the Amazon-sponsored Comic Strip Superstar Contest in 2009, Universal Uclick signed her to a development deal for Heavenly Nostrils.
She currently lives in the Seattle area with her tech genius husband and her fairly stupid cat.
Attempts at doing real work along the way are hardly worth mentioning; the relevant fact is that, from 1998 to 2008, she drew the internet comic strip Ozy and Millie. After winning the Amazon-sponsored Comic Strip Superstar Contest in 2009, Universal Uclick signed her to a development deal for Heavenly Nostrils.
She currently lives in the Seattle area with her tech genius husband and her fairly stupid cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 9, 2025
These are great palate cleansers, short and snappy and really cute. I continue to love Phoebe's parents and how they take all the wacky shenanigans in stride. I keep falling behind with the series because 1) the release schedule is really fast and 2) I end up ordering them while I'm in India and have to read them when I'm briefly home. Of course, it's not like my books are going anywhere...
June 20, 2024
Still amazing at Book 20.
December 3, 2024
This was a lot of fun!
Read
October 29, 2024"I guess unicorns ARE like computers. If you don't know anything about them, what they can and can't do, they just seem like magic. But once you know all the ways they're magic, they're kind of...not as magic."
January 30, 2025
A collection of comics featuring Phoebe and her unicorn friend Marigold. In this collection Marigold gets upset about a missing shrub, Phoebe and Marigold exchange jokes to mixed results, they visit Phoebe's dad as a boy via a unicorn time machine, Marigold gives Phoebe a button to mute the world, and they attend the Marigold Heavenly Nostrils Award presentation (an award Marigold has never won).
This was a stellar collection of Phoebe and Her Unicorn comics. I did like the time travel sequence quite a bit, and there were a couple about Marigold not wanting to move because the family cat Gladys is napping on her (the bit on p. 89 about cat cuteness being dark magic used to control others was my favorite).
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: None
Ethnic diversity: Phoebe's family's coloring is such they could be from a variety of ethnic backgrounds...I can't remember if that's come up before. Phoebe has friends and classmates of a variety of skin tones (though they don't feature much in this collection).
LGBTQ+ content: One of Phoebe's friends briefly mentions that his moms want him to do something.
Other: Phoebe finds that listening to others is important when she gets carried away with her new mute button.
This was a stellar collection of Phoebe and Her Unicorn comics. I did like the time travel sequence quite a bit, and there were a couple about Marigold not wanting to move because the family cat Gladys is napping on her (the bit on p. 89 about cat cuteness being dark magic used to control others was my favorite).
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: None
Ethnic diversity: Phoebe's family's coloring is such they could be from a variety of ethnic backgrounds...I can't remember if that's come up before. Phoebe has friends and classmates of a variety of skin tones (though they don't feature much in this collection).
LGBTQ+ content: One of Phoebe's friends briefly mentions that his moms want him to do something.
Other: Phoebe finds that listening to others is important when she gets carried away with her new mute button.
October 19, 2024
Phoebe and Marigold are back for new adventures and all the magic. They start a landscaping company, where unicorn Marigold Heavenly Nostrils will eat the grass and bushes, and Phoebe will receive payment. But they have no customers, mostly because Marigold already keeps the neighborhood looking good with her daily meals. And then, when Phoebe suggests that Marigold turn a neighbor’s shrubbery into a lovely sculpture, Phoebe can’t make it happen because she filled up on bread first (unicorn magic).
When Phoebe’s dad starts talking about being a kid at summer camp, she starts to wonder what he was like as a kid. When she mentions it to Marigold, her unicorn says that she has a time travel token and offers Phoebe the chance to go back in time and meet her dad when he was still a kid. Phoebe decides to try it, and the results surprise her.
When Phoebe learns that Marigold can turn the sound of the world off, in order to enjoy some peace and quiet now and then, she is jealous. So Marigold uses her unicorn magic to give Phoebe a mute button. It’s her belly button, and when she pushes it, it turns off all the noise, including the voices of other people talking to her. At first, Phoebe uses her power carefully, but then she finds herself using it more and more, especially when other people are talking to her. But then she figures out that she needs that information that people keep telling her, after having to go to in disguise just to find out what her friend had told her.
Marigold is up for an award. It’s he Marigold Heavenly Nostrils Award, and despite the fact that it was named for her, it’s never been her year to win it. But Marigold is hoping that this is her year, finally, until Phoebe shows up to the awards ceremony and makes so much noise that the judges offer her the award just to get to her to be quite and go away. She refuses the award, but she learns an important lesson about how to get things done.
Unicorn Time Machine is book 20 in Dana Simpson’s Phoebe and Her Unicorn series. Blending colorful illustrations with inventive stories, these books tell the story of a special friendship. Marigold is beautiful and self-involved, and Phoebe is smart and a little nerdy. And somehow they make their friendship work. They are supportive of each other while still calling each other out on their questionable choices. There is a lot of love, a lot of respect, and a very healthy amount of snark between these friends, and it makes for a charming graphic novel for kids of all ages.
I have been a fan of Phoebe and Marigold for years, and I was so happy that this book felt just as fun and imaginative as the first one I read. I love Simpson’s illustrations and her cheerful but realistic take on life and friendship. I always enjoy myself when I set the world aside and go hang out with unicorns, and Unicorn Time Machine was another strong book in the series. I am well past the 8-12 year age suggestion, and I keep reading these for their sweetness, their humor, and their heart.
Egalleys for Unicorn Time Machine were provided by Andrews McMeel Publishing through Edelweiss, with many thanks.
When Phoebe’s dad starts talking about being a kid at summer camp, she starts to wonder what he was like as a kid. When she mentions it to Marigold, her unicorn says that she has a time travel token and offers Phoebe the chance to go back in time and meet her dad when he was still a kid. Phoebe decides to try it, and the results surprise her.
When Phoebe learns that Marigold can turn the sound of the world off, in order to enjoy some peace and quiet now and then, she is jealous. So Marigold uses her unicorn magic to give Phoebe a mute button. It’s her belly button, and when she pushes it, it turns off all the noise, including the voices of other people talking to her. At first, Phoebe uses her power carefully, but then she finds herself using it more and more, especially when other people are talking to her. But then she figures out that she needs that information that people keep telling her, after having to go to in disguise just to find out what her friend had told her.
Marigold is up for an award. It’s he Marigold Heavenly Nostrils Award, and despite the fact that it was named for her, it’s never been her year to win it. But Marigold is hoping that this is her year, finally, until Phoebe shows up to the awards ceremony and makes so much noise that the judges offer her the award just to get to her to be quite and go away. She refuses the award, but she learns an important lesson about how to get things done.
Unicorn Time Machine is book 20 in Dana Simpson’s Phoebe and Her Unicorn series. Blending colorful illustrations with inventive stories, these books tell the story of a special friendship. Marigold is beautiful and self-involved, and Phoebe is smart and a little nerdy. And somehow they make their friendship work. They are supportive of each other while still calling each other out on their questionable choices. There is a lot of love, a lot of respect, and a very healthy amount of snark between these friends, and it makes for a charming graphic novel for kids of all ages.
I have been a fan of Phoebe and Marigold for years, and I was so happy that this book felt just as fun and imaginative as the first one I read. I love Simpson’s illustrations and her cheerful but realistic take on life and friendship. I always enjoy myself when I set the world aside and go hang out with unicorns, and Unicorn Time Machine was another strong book in the series. I am well past the 8-12 year age suggestion, and I keep reading these for their sweetness, their humor, and their heart.
Egalleys for Unicorn Time Machine were provided by Andrews McMeel Publishing through Edelweiss, with many thanks.
July 10, 2025
I have mixed feelings tagging "Japanese" ONLY for Mr. Sasaki, but that's how I tag things. Heck, I tag holiday" when there's ONE instance of a general gift-giving or candy-distribution holiday.
I do admit that "Mario-gold" never occurred to me before, haha:
While I do still adore this series, it's admittedly in that superficial way that comes with the newspaper-style storytelling of six-strip arcs specifically designed around daily newspaper publication. It's just harder to become THAT invested in a story that wraps up so quickly, and the status quo is so... static... that you could skip this book entirely and still sort of have the "complete" story of Phoebe and Marigold.
Anyway, the titular (sort of) time-travel story is probably the most interesting one, since—as Ethan puts it—it "shifted genres from sci-fi to fantasy!"
(Speaking of, I like that Max gets along with Matt the mushroom faerie geek, haha.)
Recommended for UNICORN fans! But also just about anyone, really! :D
I do admit that "Mario-gold" never occurred to me before, haha:
While I do still adore this series, it's admittedly in that superficial way that comes with the newspaper-style storytelling of six-strip arcs specifically designed around daily newspaper publication. It's just harder to become THAT invested in a story that wraps up so quickly, and the status quo is so... static... that you could skip this book entirely and still sort of have the "complete" story of Phoebe and Marigold.
Anyway, the titular (sort of) time-travel story is probably the most interesting one, since—as Ethan puts it—it "shifted genres from sci-fi to fantasy!"
(Speaking of, I like that Max gets along with Matt the mushroom faerie geek, haha.)
Recommended for UNICORN fans! But also just about anyone, really! :D
October 21, 2024
Twenty collections later (or rather, eighteen collections and two graphic novels later) and I'm still reading the Phoebe and Her Unicorn collections... and they're still as delightful as ever. I loved Calvin and Hobbes as a child, and this comic, while it doesn't get quite as philosophical as Calvin and Hobbes often could, feels like a worthy spiritual successor.
Phoebe is your average fourth-grader, a little bit of an oddball but still dealing with the usual kid issues... except that her best friend happens to be Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, a vain but kind and curious unicorn. And life is never boring when your best friend is a unicorn! When they're not traveling through time to meet Phoebe's dad, going undercover to learn what Phoebe's "frenemy" Dakota is saying about her, or exploring the mysteries of a fairy ring, they're attending a unicorn awards show, experimenting with a "mute the real world" spell... and learning that Marigold has a mysterious enemy...
A lot of comics that run in the newspapers get boring and dry after awhile, but Phoebe and Her Unicorn manages to stay fresh and fun. Its humor is clever, its art is simple but fun, and the characters are layered and delightful. It helps that the characters are relatable and that the comic doesn't shy away from the fact that some kids (and adults, let's be honest) don't adhere to what society deems as "normal"... and that's perfectly okay. Because why be normal when you can be friends with a unicorn?
I hope this comic continues for awhile, because I'm enjoying these collections. If you loved Calvin and Hobbes, give Phoebe and Marigold a shot.
Phoebe is your average fourth-grader, a little bit of an oddball but still dealing with the usual kid issues... except that her best friend happens to be Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, a vain but kind and curious unicorn. And life is never boring when your best friend is a unicorn! When they're not traveling through time to meet Phoebe's dad, going undercover to learn what Phoebe's "frenemy" Dakota is saying about her, or exploring the mysteries of a fairy ring, they're attending a unicorn awards show, experimenting with a "mute the real world" spell... and learning that Marigold has a mysterious enemy...
A lot of comics that run in the newspapers get boring and dry after awhile, but Phoebe and Her Unicorn manages to stay fresh and fun. Its humor is clever, its art is simple but fun, and the characters are layered and delightful. It helps that the characters are relatable and that the comic doesn't shy away from the fact that some kids (and adults, let's be honest) don't adhere to what society deems as "normal"... and that's perfectly okay. Because why be normal when you can be friends with a unicorn?
I hope this comic continues for awhile, because I'm enjoying these collections. If you loved Calvin and Hobbes, give Phoebe and Marigold a shot.
January 4, 2025
The Phoebe/Marigold combo keeps rolling along. Here are some of my favorite story lines in this 20th installment:
1) Their joint Landscaping business is foiled by the fact that unicorns get free bread. Marigold was too full to properly trim the shrubbery.
2) Phoebe travels back in time to see her dad as a boy at camp. He is a bit disappointed she arrives via unicorn. Is this sci fi or fantasy?
3) The Scroll of Diminishment of Ostentation turns out to be a common household object. Can you guess what it is?
4) Phoebe trying to tell Marigold a Knock-Knock joke.
5) Marigold can't get up when she is pinned by Gladys the cat.
One last word of wisdom from Marigold: "A loud neigh a day keeps the existential angst away."
Have you had yours today?
1) Their joint Landscaping business is foiled by the fact that unicorns get free bread. Marigold was too full to properly trim the shrubbery.
2) Phoebe travels back in time to see her dad as a boy at camp. He is a bit disappointed she arrives via unicorn. Is this sci fi or fantasy?
3) The Scroll of Diminishment of Ostentation turns out to be a common household object. Can you guess what it is?
4) Phoebe trying to tell Marigold a Knock-Knock joke.
5) Marigold can't get up when she is pinned by Gladys the cat.
One last word of wisdom from Marigold: "A loud neigh a day keeps the existential angst away."
Have you had yours today?
July 3, 2024
Graphic Novel
I received an electronic ARC from Andrews McMeel Publishing through Edelweiss+.
Phoebe and Marigold return for more adventures. Readers see them head back in time to meet Phoebe's father as a child at summer camp; they also discover that a personal mute button can be fun and cause problems too. Simpson continues to develop her characters and share more about each as well as deepening their relationship. Middle grade readers will appreciate the humor and grasp the more serious points made. I appreciate the Glossary included to help readers learn more vocabulary while enjoying a fun read.
I received an electronic ARC from Andrews McMeel Publishing through Edelweiss+.
Phoebe and Marigold return for more adventures. Readers see them head back in time to meet Phoebe's father as a child at summer camp; they also discover that a personal mute button can be fun and cause problems too. Simpson continues to develop her characters and share more about each as well as deepening their relationship. Middle grade readers will appreciate the humor and grasp the more serious points made. I appreciate the Glossary included to help readers learn more vocabulary while enjoying a fun read.
June 20, 2024
Another great Phoebe & her Unicorn adventure! In the story referenced in the title, Phoebe and Marigold go back in time to meet Phoebe's dad when he was a kid at camp. Other threads include Phoebe starting a landscaping business, and Marigold is unable to move a sleeping cat from laying on her. Clever and cute all the way through.
Publication date October 1, 2024. Thanks to the publisher for an ARC through Eidelweiss.
Publication date October 1, 2024. Thanks to the publisher for an ARC through Eidelweiss.
August 21, 2024
Another delightful series in the Phoebe and her Unicorn universe. This time Phoebe is granted the chance to go back in time and runs into her dad at camp. Things might be a little awkward, but she is able to "convince" him that she is not his future child, though calling him dad a couple of times does mess things up. With more fun antics with Marigold and her friends, this series continues to delight and amuse. I hope it keeps going.
Copy provided by Andrew McMeel Publishing and Edelweiss
Copy provided by Andrew McMeel Publishing and Edelweiss
October 18, 2024
Another Classic. Unicorn Time Machine is part of a long collection of amazing novels starring Phoebe and Her Unicorn Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. This time they use a time machine to learn more about their family's history. Filled with humor. If you love Calvin and Hobbes you'll enjoy this one. Easy to read, the pages connect as a single story but also read as individual scenes.
A 4 panel each page kind of comic with great font size.
A 4 panel each page kind of comic with great font size.
November 15, 2024
A winner! Delightful as usual, with some extra nice drawings (Phoebe in disguise, the sparkle school supplies, the Marigold Heavenly Nostrils competition). Less excited about the 'mute' button sequence (kind of ick and too long.) The mailbox gag is lol funny but too similar to the wall bit. Which was in itself gross. Which might be part of the charm, but not appealing to this fan. Would hate to be in the position to explain it to a school-age kid...
October 23, 2024
I loved the pictures in this book. HMN, as an angel and devil, in a Mario costume, with a cat sitting on her, in a mailbox, trying to go in a pet door, using her horn and tail as candles, twirling around on the ceiling fan, and the tic tac toe unicorns. So cute! I also loved Phoebe traveling back in time to see her Dad as a kid and the award ceremony.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2024
Another super-cute collection of Phoebe webcomics.
Loved meeting Phoebe's dad as a nerdy little kid. Hilarious. There was a joke/gag with Dakota that really didn't go anywhere in this volume (plus, Dakota looked kind of sad at the end of the panels, maybe the payoff is in the next collection).
Loved meeting Phoebe's dad as a nerdy little kid. Hilarious. There was a joke/gag with Dakota that really didn't go anywhere in this volume (plus, Dakota looked kind of sad at the end of the panels, maybe the payoff is in the next collection).
April 15, 2025
I’m running out of ways to express how much I love these books. I smile the entire time I’m reading them, and I always end each book just dying for a new one to come out immediately.
Also, I know I say this all the time, but I LOVE Phoebe’s parents.
Also, I know I say this all the time, but I LOVE Phoebe’s parents.
May 1, 2025
As always these books make me chuckle. my husband always gets at least one or two you've gotta read this comments .... For the most part, there is flow to the comics consolidated here. Maybe not as much as in some of the other books but still it works.
October 3, 2024
These really are sweet and wholesome.
October 12, 2024
I’m always delighted to read the next collection of Phoebe and her Unicorn Adventures.
October 19, 2024
I usually totally adore these books, but I am in rather a disgruntled mood. This issue earned four rather than five stars. I did find Bill pretty amusing. The contest thing didn’t amuse me much.
October 29, 2024
This series is still so fun and charming. I particularly enjoyed the arc where Phoebe meets her dad as a kid in the most mundane time travel trip ever. Good stuff!
November 11, 2024
Love the “dumb Ethen” thing, SOOOOO funny 🤩
November 16, 2024
Always five magnificent stars ❤️
November 29, 2024
Delightful
and as usual really smart and funny installment of this series. Some new characters are introduced who I hope we’ll see more of.
and as usual really smart and funny installment of this series. Some new characters are introduced who I hope we’ll see more of.
Read
December 2, 2024Super fun! I really enjoyed the time travel element in this and the humor was spot on.
December 29, 2024
Volume 20! Phoebe goes back in time to visit her dad at her age, via unicorn time travel, of course. On top of being another cute and funny installment, this gently address coping with anxiety.
Read
February 9, 2025Gladys <3
Omg I love Matt’s design, he’s so cute
Omg I love Matt’s design, he’s so cute
March 8, 2025
Such a fun collection, especially the panels where Phoebe travels in time to meet her dad as a kid.
May 5, 2025
I don't know why this didn't occur to me sooner (or maybe it did, and I promptly forgot) but Phoebe and Marigold are very reminiscent of Calvin and Hobbes. (But not *quite* as charming.)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews