Reversal

by Alex de Campi, Skylar Patridge (illustrator), Kelly Fitzpatrick (illustrator)

A contemporary fantasy/action-adventure graphic novel from Eisner-nominated writer Alex de Campi, and artists Skylar Patridge and Kelly Fitzpatrick.

Two years ago, magic suddenly, violently became a thing again.

Now, Tré Grant is just doing her best to survive sixth grade, which is a little more real than it used to be thanks to the monsters that regularly emerge from the nearby forest to attack her city. But when she discovers a magical artifact that could be the key to lifting the curse on the forest, Tré accidentally becomes the hero the city needs, even if she's not the one it expects.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fantasy

304 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 2025

About the author

Alex de Campi is a New York-based writer with an extensive backlist of critically-acclaimed graphic novels including Eisner-nominated heist noir Bad Girls (Simon & Schuster) and Twisted Romance (Image Comics). Her most recent book was her debut prose novel The Scottish Boy (Unbound). She lives with her daughter, their cat, and a Deafblind pit bull named Tango.

Reviews

[Chanel Chapters]

Misunderstood monsters and magical artefacts with diverse rep.

4⭐️

[Cadillac Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex de Campi is a phenomenal writer but I think her biggest strength is finding incredible collaborators, or maybe her collaborators are great at picking Alex de Campi. Either way, we end up with a wonderful comic. Reversal is a wonderful urban fantasy yarn with killer art from Skylar Patridge (w/ colors from Kelly Fitzpatrick). Solid action, pitch perfect humor, and the emotional core that exemplifies de Campi's writing. Diverse + full of queer joy, it even has a craggy faced old guy for all of us craggy faced old guy fans (I love a good craggy faced old guy!). Go read this, it's good!
also, Dark Horse is putting out some of the nicest trade paperbacks on the market. Stitched binding and everything, other publishers need take note.

[Fiore]

DNF @ 50%, interesting scenario, uninteresting characters.

[Corinne McCrory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reversal is gorgeous, fun, and impactful. I adored the characters and the world was grounded and fantastic in equal measure.

Alex De Campi and Skylar Patridge on the same project is basically my dream, and Reversal still blew me away.

I'll be recommending this read to anyone who will listen.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's got Friendship, Adventure, (a lil bit of) Romance, and Inclusion. Filled with empathy for people and animals. I would definitely read the second book

[Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hits all the marks. Written with both art and feeling, illustrations that brings the story to life, beautifully coloured. One of those rare books that made my heart sing.

It’s not afraid to face the darker side of people being people, but the light shines through. Just lovely.

[Dan P · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of an all-around misfire. Bland story, so-so art, annoying quippy dialogue, and an overbearing moral message that treats the reader like a child. I've really enjoyed de Campi's work before but this was not it

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found an error on page 21 (I think it’s 21, it doesn’t have page numbers), Robin is telling the couple with the baby they can sleep in the boys’ room. In the fourth panel they forgot to colour her shirt... Five stars.

[Brian Keohan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO much fun!

[Krystle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Wolky · Rating 3 out of 5]

It just wasn't for me.
I can appreciate that it was a YA fantasy situation, and there are certainly people for whom this is the best comic they've read. It was a fun time, but not a great time.

[Mee Too · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a goodread. I think the book did really well at addressing a-lot of topics without being overwhelming or oversimplifying the issue. All and all it was about humans inability to except differences in others.

4⭐️✨⭐️