Helena and Mr. Big Bad Wolf, Vol. 1

海倫娜與大野狼先生 #1

by Bliss, Xiao (translator), Christopher Burgener (letterer)

Helena has always found her strength through stories. When her father left and didn’t come home one night, and when Arthur, her only brother, got into an accident…reading and creating stories was what kept Helena going. By a stroke of luck, she attends an autograph signing of her favorite author, Mr. Big Bad Wolf, and the two grow closer, bonding over their shared love for storybooks. The cold, reserved man with a wolf head is shrouded in mystery, but perhaps he has a gentler side only Helena can see…

Genres: Manga, Graphic Novels, Comics, Young Adult, Slice Of Life, Cozy

196 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 2022

About the author

For Taiwan's author named Bliss, please see 布里斯

Reviews

[Laura A. Grace]

This wasn't quite what I thought it would be, but I believe there is a need for stories like this. Ones that use fiction to show you're not alone in using books to escape harsh reality. Or when you're a writer/artist and in such a deep slump that you feel a breakthrough is forever out of reach.

I really really loved Helena as a female heroine and her consistent courage and strength to bring happiness to her brother when it seemed they had been abandoned. However, my heart really hurt for her as she continued to use picture books as an escape from the pain of things with her brother.

I would say that Mr. Big Bad Wolf's story wasn't any easier to read, but not by much (and only because he was an adult, not a child like Helena). I might not be a writer anymore nor am I an artist, but as a creative who has struggled, I related far more than I expected.

Overall, this wasn't what I personally expected, but I definitely feel it would be deeply encouraging or relatable to struggling creatives! It was a very heartfelt story and I am curious about what will happen next, even if I'm unsure if I'll pick up the second volume or not.

[Ｂｅｅｌａｈ]

Baca tajuk auto rasa nak nyanyi lagu Helena.

So long and goodnight

Mula2 baca ingat si Helena ni budak yang terlebih optimis.
Dia yang selalu tenangkan adiknya waktu adiknya sedih.
Kakak yang sangat kuat, baik dan bertanggung jawab.
Sekali tiba-tiba dia breakdown dalam kelas, dengan saya pun turut sebak.
Eh tapi takde la saya nangis sebab umi ada kat sebelah ni je ha.
Malu la cik kalau nangis depan komik. hehe...
Tapi serius, memang ada babak sedih sangat dalam komik ni.

[Katya Katarina]

I was not prepared for gut punch after gut punch or to cry so early in the day. I want to hold Helena so desperately and tightly to shield her from her past.

[Automne.Litteraire]

Un manga percutant et émouvant qui aborde la question du deuil mais aussi celle de la reconstruction

[Elsa]

4,5⭐️

[Dmytro Naumenko]

Загалом манхьва дуже сподобалася, і першому тому я поставив 4 зірки, а не 5, як другому, бо мені просто було дуже шкода головну героїню. Таке враження, що авторка хотіла зламати бідну дівчинку. Вкінці читача чекає свого роду щасливий фінал, але такій долі не позаздриш навіть у випадку вигаданого персонажа.

Раджу всім, хто переживає як творчу кризу, так і втрату близьких людей. Авторка наводить на дуже правильні речі, до яких можеш або допетрати сам, якщо ти надзвичайно сильний духом, або за до помогою терапевта. Обидва варіанти легкими не назвеш, тому такі твори можуть бути на вагу золота.

Намальовано шикарно, емоційно і детально. Попри простий для сприйняття та прямолінійний сюжет, мене очікували певні несподіванки, тому читав я зі справжнім захопленням. Чого раджу і вам.

[Joldettori]

They say never to pick up a book by it's cover, but what if there is a reason books call to you? the previous work i gravitated torward solely because of it's cover was bittersweet manwha Bloody Sweet, my favourite manwha ever since. here i was immediatly sold because i saw yen press announce this manhua a few days after my calico cat passed away. i saw this little cutie on the cover and immediatly went "allright yenpress, just take my money". seeing it in store immediatly brought back that feeling. spoiler alert, the calico cat isn't even present in the story, however, grief is. it is a gut punching story about how books of all kinds provide a way of coping, grieving and escaping from the ever crushing feeling loss can bring us. it is a story that nearly brought me to tears, but is somehow the exact representation of what i wanted this story to be, even if i didn't give it a single thought before. with grief in the back of my mind, all i needed to pick it up was this calico cat, unaware of how this story is a message of hope, strength, resilience and the healing power of stories. The story is about a young child Helena dealing with the loss of her parents and the inevitable (soon) parting with the brother as well as the adult "mr bad wolf" who is overal feeling lost in the world (reason why we don't know yet). it is completed in 2 volumes and it is safe to say that i absolutely cannot wait for that final volume.

[Valérie Harvey]

Histoire très touchante: la mangaka Bliss réussit à transmettre particulièrement bien les émotions grâce à son récit bien scénarisé. Le découpage des scènes courtes permet d'explorer le passé par petites touches et moments-clés, avançant dans les tourments et traumatismes des différents personnages. Puis, on revient dans le présent par des chapitres plus longs où l'on accompagne les personnages.

Malgré les drames, c'est une histoire qui respire la bonté et qui met l'emphase sur la guérison, à travers la création et l'ouverture à l'autre. Les aventures que se racontent Héléna ou Mr. Wolf à travers leurs propres livres sont des façons d'avancer et de faire la paix.

Les dessins sont très jolis, et la mangaka est très habile pour marquer la différence entre le monde d'Héléna et les livres (le style est alors très différent). L'édition de Maho en coffret collector permet d'avoir des histoires bonus qui se passent après la fin du tome 2, de beaux ex-libris très mignons et un shikishi de l'artiste, ça en vaut vraiment la peine! Surtout pour l'extra avec les personnages: car on s'attache très vite à eux et j'aurais aimé les suivre encore plus longtemps, en explorant des aventures avec les autres orphelins par exemple.

Une mangaka à suivre pour son talent et sa sensibilité!

[Alicia]

This has Siúil, a Rún: The Girl From the Other Side, Vol. 1 vibes but it's also different. But because I feel the same feelings, it's why I enjoyed the volume much more than expected because Helena is an innocent character with a lot of adult emotions projected on her because of the trajectory of her life. Her goal is to protect her younger brother and even that ended tragically enough. So an orphanage and a dream to continue to be an artist, so a change encounter with the mysterious Mr. Big Bad Wolf ends up changing both of them in ways that they don't expect. I'd be interested to see where it goes in volume 2.

[Zephorah Dove]

This story totally went a different way than I imagined it would and I'm so grateful because it turned out to be a really heartwarming story.

Thanks to Edelweiss and Yen Press for the DRC.

I came in expecting a cutesy story about a kid getting lost and found a much darker story that touched on some real and complex topics. Volume one handled it very well while also ending on a crazy cliff note. As an adult who loves picture books (and just read one before reading this) I'm totally going to continue this series and can't wait for the next volume.

[Dolores]

Orphaned Helena loves picture books. They provide her with both joy and escape. She is delighted to be granted the opportunity to meet the author of her favorite picture book--"Mr. Big Bad Wolf". Helena discovers a reclusive and withdrawn man who actually wears a wolf's head in public. The two discover an unexpected connection that might bring healing to them both. I really enjoyed this sweet, sad, series opener.

[Claire]

This wasn't quite what I was expecting. Some dark moments in here and the end surprised me when it was revealed that the Arthur in the hospital wasn't Arthur her brother as so much misfortune has befallen her. I quite like the art as well as the art within the book as they are all drawing pictures. Looking forward to the next volume.

[Aurora]

Having trouble getting into the story because there are too many "wait, what??" moments. What do you mean this child is allowed to just hang out at this unrelated adult man's house. What do you MEAN they were all lying to her about her brother being in a coma??????

Don't think I can force myself through vol. 2, even though it's the final volume. ^_^;

[Camille]

c'était sympa mais je ne m'attendais pas à ça, la couverture est un peu trompeuse et, même si annoncé dans le résumé, son frère est dans le coma, c'est tout de même un manga dur et triste pour moi...

je lirai tout de même le 2e vu qu'il n'y a que 2 tomes à cette histoire.

[Stephanie Molnar]

It was a bit all over the place--was it about the girl being an orphan? The wolf having writer's block? The wolf's past life? The orphanage? It jumped between all plots and I wasn't engaged with any of them.

[Ewoud Smekens]

I really like this book.
You could really feel the emotions flowing through the pages. The art style alsow felt distinguished from other books in the good way ( ; I woud recommend this book to evryon who can accsept a good cry.

[devynreads]

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

WHY WAS THIS ANOTHER SAD AS HELL MANGA AND WHY DID THE MC'S NAME HAVE TO BE HELENA?!?! AHHH 3

[Kayla]

If you enjoyed the Girl from the Other Side, this is a very reminiscent read. It will more than likely destroy my heart, but it will probably also make it so warm.

[Mel]

What a story. I was crying before I even made it to page 20. I believe this will be a good series that will break me, but I will enjoy the breaking.

[Bryan Burton]

this is quite odd. not in a good way. so disjointed.

[nina :)]

3.5

[Cody Roecker]

intriguing

[Kathleen]

More poignant than Expected. I enjoy the author wearing a mask in public!

[Shira]

This was a great book about how creativity can help you through grief and crippling self-doubt.

[BreAnna (Bre'sBooks)]

I wanted to love this, but the format or style or something was throwing me off. It's only two volumes, so I might finish it sometime..

[Stas]

Not sure how I feel about this.
It felt kind of... messy?

There's only 2 volumes, so I'll stick with this.

[Annie]

Beautiful art that turns me into an emotional punching bag. Love that the premise is all around picture books.

[Sol]

This gave me an incredibly cathartic cry tbh
I want to know what happens next ;_;

[Amanda]

So deep and sad, but making me really appreciate the fortune I have in this life

[Orion]

rushed the last 1/3, kinda dreading vol2