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Bug Wars
Bug Wars Book One: Lost in the Yard
Honey, I Shrunk The Kids meets Conan The Barbarian in this epic tale of a kid from Alabama suddenly lost in a vicious world beyond his imagining, a world of marauding ant armies, spell-casting spider witches, and beetle-riding barbarians.
The Old Slaymaker House; Neighbors whisper about it. Children dare each other to step foot in its overgrown lawn. Exterminators refuse to visit and shudder at the thought of what multi-limbed monsters may burrow in its earth. For Slade Slaymaker and his brother Sydney, it’s the last remnant of their father, a dedicated entomologist devoured by the very creatures he dedicated his life to understanding. Slade, too young to remember his death, continues his legacy with his own love of all things insect. Sydney, old enough to remember the gruesome scene, despises and seeks to annihilate any bug he sees.
When these two brothers’ opposing obsessions clash, Slade finds himself shrunk to the size of his diminutive subjects and thrust into the middle of a brutal Bug War, an earth-shattering struggle that will decide the fate of his family and, perhaps, uncover the secrets behind his father’s gruesome demise.
From the superstar team of writer JASON AARON (Southern Bastards, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Absolute Superman) and artist MAHMUD ASRAR (Conan the Barbarian, X-Men, Batman VS Robin) comes BUG WARS: BOOK ONE, collecting issues #1-6 of the sprawling new dark fantasy epic.
The Old Slaymaker House; Neighbors whisper about it. Children dare each other to step foot in its overgrown lawn. Exterminators refuse to visit and shudder at the thought of what multi-limbed monsters may burrow in its earth. For Slade Slaymaker and his brother Sydney, it’s the last remnant of their father, a dedicated entomologist devoured by the very creatures he dedicated his life to understanding. Slade, too young to remember his death, continues his legacy with his own love of all things insect. Sydney, old enough to remember the gruesome scene, despises and seeks to annihilate any bug he sees.
When these two brothers’ opposing obsessions clash, Slade finds himself shrunk to the size of his diminutive subjects and thrust into the middle of a brutal Bug War, an earth-shattering struggle that will decide the fate of his family and, perhaps, uncover the secrets behind his father’s gruesome demise.
From the superstar team of writer JASON AARON (Southern Bastards, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Absolute Superman) and artist MAHMUD ASRAR (Conan the Barbarian, X-Men, Batman VS Robin) comes BUG WARS: BOOK ONE, collecting issues #1-6 of the sprawling new dark fantasy epic.
208 pages, Paperback
Published October 21, 2025
12 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Jason Aaron
2,359 books1,679 followersJason Aaron grew up in a small town in Alabama. His cousin, Gustav Hasford, who wrote the semi-autobiographical novel The Short-Timers, on which the feature film Full Metal Jacket was based, was a large influence on Aaron. Aaron decided he wanted to write comics as a child, and though his father was skeptical when Aaron informed him of this aspiration, his mother took Aaron to drug stores, where he would purchase books from spinner racks, some of which he still owns today.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
October 12, 2025
Bug Wars is an absolutely brilliant initial concept. I really loved the start of this, which has this fun nature of bugs going to war while simultaneously grounding the story with a family moving back home. It's a single mother and her two kids just trying to make it, and you begin to get their background really quickly. Jason Aaron feels right at home when writing that family stuff, and that personal drama was totally clicking for me.
When the kid goes into the bug world, it’s fun at first. It felt like a great, action packed adventure. I loved the first two issues because they struck that perfect balance.
But quickly, the book turns into that fantasy typical shit that I was NOT feeling in the second half of this volume. It became all about deep, political lore, with so much talking and world-building for the bug world that it didn't really click with me after issue #3. It sucks, because I genuinely loved the premise and the opening chapters, but it began to completely stop being my type of book soon after that pivot.
Still, you have to give it credit: it's ambitious, it's fun, and the art is good. The start was definitely good enough to count for a lot. It just lost its way for my personal taste by focusing too much on the heavy fantasy talk. A 3 out of 5.
When the kid goes into the bug world, it’s fun at first. It felt like a great, action packed adventure. I loved the first two issues because they struck that perfect balance.
But quickly, the book turns into that fantasy typical shit that I was NOT feeling in the second half of this volume. It became all about deep, political lore, with so much talking and world-building for the bug world that it didn't really click with me after issue #3. It sucks, because I genuinely loved the premise and the opening chapters, but it began to completely stop being my type of book soon after that pivot.
Still, you have to give it credit: it's ambitious, it's fun, and the art is good. The start was definitely good enough to count for a lot. It just lost its way for my personal taste by focusing too much on the heavy fantasy talk. A 3 out of 5.
August 15, 2025
Jason Aaron the goat, love the art. Can’t wait for the future, maybe I’ll buy the next Vol instead of singles
December 25, 2025
CONAN THE BARBARIAN MEET'S A BUG'S LIFE IN BUG WARS!
HECK yeah! What a unique and brilliantly bloody dark fantasy! I saw some images from Bug Wars this year online and added it to my TBR because it looked cool, but wow were my expectations blown out of the water!
Book One of Bug Wars, Lost In The Yard, dives right into the action with the introduction of the vast, violent world... of the Yard. As in, front-and-back, outside of your house. Rather than creating a different world or taking us to some far flung future, Bug Wars brings us down to the world outside of all our homes.
The world of insects and mytes as envisioned by creators Aaron, Asrar, Wilson and Carey is brutal and ichor-slicked. When protagonist Slade Slaymaker and his mom and brother are forced to move into the home where their father died, he uncovers a secret that drags him into that world - and unveils a destiny he did not plan for.
While the brevity hurt things bit, especially toward the end of the book when it felt like some things were pretty rushed, and therefore keeps me from giving a five star rating, this is one of those times it came pretty dang close!
But seriously: this is NOT for minors. Adult eyes only, yeah?
HECK yeah! What a unique and brilliantly bloody dark fantasy! I saw some images from Bug Wars this year online and added it to my TBR because it looked cool, but wow were my expectations blown out of the water!
Book One of Bug Wars, Lost In The Yard, dives right into the action with the introduction of the vast, violent world... of the Yard. As in, front-and-back, outside of your house. Rather than creating a different world or taking us to some far flung future, Bug Wars brings us down to the world outside of all our homes.
The world of insects and mytes as envisioned by creators Aaron, Asrar, Wilson and Carey is brutal and ichor-slicked. When protagonist Slade Slaymaker and his mom and brother are forced to move into the home where their father died, he uncovers a secret that drags him into that world - and unveils a destiny he did not plan for.
While the brevity hurt things bit, especially toward the end of the book when it felt like some things were pretty rushed, and therefore keeps me from giving a five star rating, this is one of those times it came pretty dang close!
But seriously: this is NOT for minors. Adult eyes only, yeah?
September 23, 2025
The Slaymakers have returned to the Old Slaymaker abode in Alabama. Slade does not remember his father, but his older brother Sydney found their dad's carcass being eaten by bugs over a decade ago in the basement. While Sydney understandably kills any bugs he sees (because of the PTSD), Slade has taken over their father's love for entomology and keeps a large collection of bugs. A brotherly fight breaks out that leads to Slade accidentally grabbing an amulet that shrinks him to bug size. It is a whole different world when you're the size of a bug and there's a whole new civilization out there to explore.
I won't say anymore because you should definitely read this one. It's definitely worth the time.
#ThxNetGalley #JasonAaron #BugWarsBookOne
I won't say anymore because you should definitely read this one. It's definitely worth the time.
#ThxNetGalley #JasonAaron #BugWarsBookOne
October 27, 2025
Thanks NetGalley for the eARC!
Bug War by Jason Aaron is a dark Southern fantasy that blends family trauma, grief, and a violent conflict between insects. The concept is strong, and the artwork is incredible, both striking and deeply unsettling. Every page is packed with detail, and the visuals alone create a haunting atmosphere that stays with you.
Unfortunately, the story does not match the power of the art. The dialogue feels overly simple, and in my review copy, many speech bubbles were blank, which made it difficult to fully follow or assess the writing. Conflicts are resolved too easily, and the emotional depth of the opening fades as the story moves toward dense world-building that feels unfocused.
While the visuals are truly impressive, the uneven storytelling keeps Bug War from reaching its full potential. I’d give this book a 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Bug War by Jason Aaron is a dark Southern fantasy that blends family trauma, grief, and a violent conflict between insects. The concept is strong, and the artwork is incredible, both striking and deeply unsettling. Every page is packed with detail, and the visuals alone create a haunting atmosphere that stays with you.
Unfortunately, the story does not match the power of the art. The dialogue feels overly simple, and in my review copy, many speech bubbles were blank, which made it difficult to fully follow or assess the writing. Conflicts are resolved too easily, and the emotional depth of the opening fades as the story moves toward dense world-building that feels unfocused.
While the visuals are truly impressive, the uneven storytelling keeps Bug War from reaching its full potential. I’d give this book a 2.5 out of 5 stars.
December 30, 2025
4.25/10
December 31, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Image Comics for the digital review copy.
1.5⭐️
Sadly, this was simply too crude and elementary to justify the extent of mature and violent content for me.
The only thing “high” fantasy about the world is the pages from the main character’s dead (not a spoiler) dad’s journal describing myte society. I would’ve loved to have seen the contents of the journal pages be woven into the story rather than tacked onto the end of each issue. Instead of being a fun bonus insight into the myte types and cultures, the journal pages read as an outline of what could’ve been. Notably absent from the gore and the allusions to war happening is any scheming or politics.
I do think some of the physical world building is quite cute or clever (e.g., the Hanging Gardens of Wyrdweb), and the artwork is incredible. But this doesn’t make up for the overly simple dialogue and flat characters.
There are multiple jokes about “what happens in the backwoods”—as someone from Appalachia, please get better material. This is so old that it’s no longer offensive due to the meaning but rather because it’s so elementary and overdone.
At every crossroads, it seems like Bug Wars chose low-hanging fruit or ragebait instead of doing something interesting. I hesitate to recommend it to its clear intended audience—teenage boys—for obvious reasons.
1.5⭐️
Sadly, this was simply too crude and elementary to justify the extent of mature and violent content for me.
The only thing “high” fantasy about the world is the pages from the main character’s dead (not a spoiler) dad’s journal describing myte society. I would’ve loved to have seen the contents of the journal pages be woven into the story rather than tacked onto the end of each issue. Instead of being a fun bonus insight into the myte types and cultures, the journal pages read as an outline of what could’ve been. Notably absent from the gore and the allusions to war happening is any scheming or politics.
I do think some of the physical world building is quite cute or clever (e.g., the Hanging Gardens of Wyrdweb), and the artwork is incredible. But this doesn’t make up for the overly simple dialogue and flat characters.
There are multiple jokes about “what happens in the backwoods”—as someone from Appalachia, please get better material. This is so old that it’s no longer offensive due to the meaning but rather because it’s so elementary and overdone.
At every crossroads, it seems like Bug Wars chose low-hanging fruit or ragebait instead of doing something interesting. I hesitate to recommend it to its clear intended audience—teenage boys—for obvious reasons.
November 12, 2025
Jason Aaron has a mind built for epic adventure. BUG WARS is highly creative and totally engrossed me. What the book is not, unfortunately, is an educational book for young readers. Nor is it welcome socio-religious commentary for the current moment in America. Aaron seems to want to share his childhood love of insects with the next generation, but instead has written a book so crass and vulgar that it should be restricted to a mature audience, on top of having themes that are best left in the dustbin of history. Which is a shame. Aaron has a few mature tropes that he earned acclaim for in THOR, now seems, to me at least, rote, cliche and unpleasant. I see that the hero of BUG WARS, Slade Slaymaker, is Aaron's childhood self-insert. I do not begrudge him that--this is HIS book! But the similarity between this self-insert and the other protagonists he has written for THOR has retroactively soured my opinion of those works I previously adored.
THOR by Jason Aaron was a meditation on the role of God, and a statement of Aaron's disappointment in Jesus. The Thor character is everything he should be by the mythology: a lustful, partying, uncertain king, who fights gloriously, and answers the prayers of everyone who calls on him, in conspicuous, undeniable, divine intervention, which the text asks you to compare to your own Jesus, whose miracles have to be taken on faith. Thor is what Jason Aaron thinks is the ideal hero, and the ultimate god: one who is right before your eyes, not asking to be taken on faith, not asking anything of you at all, simply giving you what you ask for. The mantle of ultimate god moves from Oden to Thor to Jane Foster back to Thor again. Aaron thinks the title "[king of the] god(s)" is something we should strive for, and that there is progress being made. We can be gods. (You have to wonder, is Aaron one of those anonymous twitter religious LARPers, with a cartoon Aryan profile picture, who pretends to worship the cartoon characters he writes about? The wokees with a RETVRN aesthetic? We was Vikings?)
And now BUG WARS. Slade Slaymaker is an athiest child who becomes Thor, when playing in his backyard alone. By Slade's sonship, he is the chosen one to become Woden (a more obscure spelling for the same norse all-father Oden) with Thor's magical axe. He falls into what has been described as a "Game of Thrones"-type magical world of bug people, but it is a world that reflects Aaron's own attitudes. His bug-friends are a lesbian excommunicant (spider), another a Conan pastiche (beetle), and last his loyal, invulnerable, flying steed (another beetle). Their enemies are fascists (ants), capitalists (bees), and priests who take communion (fly maggots). It's very transparent what Aaron thinks of the world today, and how that informed his writing on THOR. These attitudes are very "Millennial-Coded," which is another strike against this being for younger readers (the generation that made no effort to raise any children). These attitudes will die with their generation. These attitudes split our country down the middle and caused so much of today's suffering--and tomorrow's war. It's Unamerican to be this bigoted. He has a right to be an unamerican bigot, but I have a right to call a spade a spade. These attitudes are common, and many are already numb to them. These attitudes are the gasoline-powered lawn mower that, when pushed along by the bug-hating older brother, is coming to eat our homes.
The other major strikes against this work are the graphic depictions of group sex involving people and bugs (in full view of a 15 year old boy), other full frontal nudity, gory violence, and rapid-fire profanity. It is all gratuitous. It became grating.
Even with these deeply rooted issues I have with this book and now with Aaron's writing as a whole, the concept of BUG WARS itself is strong. It engrossed me. This journey into another world was the most thrilling Isekai I've read in years. I will probably be back for more BUG WARS, but probably not any other work Aaron does for the big two publishers.
Jason Aaron I know you won't read this, but I am worried about you. You can pray to Jesus whenever you want, right now if it occurs to you. You can even tell Him you're mad at Him. That's ok. But while I do most of all hope you reconcile with your Father and Brother above, It may actually be more pressing that you reconcile with your fellow man. The bad guys are not bugs for you to squash.
THOR by Jason Aaron was a meditation on the role of God, and a statement of Aaron's disappointment in Jesus. The Thor character is everything he should be by the mythology: a lustful, partying, uncertain king, who fights gloriously, and answers the prayers of everyone who calls on him, in conspicuous, undeniable, divine intervention, which the text asks you to compare to your own Jesus, whose miracles have to be taken on faith. Thor is what Jason Aaron thinks is the ideal hero, and the ultimate god: one who is right before your eyes, not asking to be taken on faith, not asking anything of you at all, simply giving you what you ask for. The mantle of ultimate god moves from Oden to Thor to Jane Foster back to Thor again. Aaron thinks the title "[king of the] god(s)" is something we should strive for, and that there is progress being made. We can be gods. (You have to wonder, is Aaron one of those anonymous twitter religious LARPers, with a cartoon Aryan profile picture, who pretends to worship the cartoon characters he writes about? The wokees with a RETVRN aesthetic? We was Vikings?)
And now BUG WARS. Slade Slaymaker is an athiest child who becomes Thor, when playing in his backyard alone. By Slade's sonship, he is the chosen one to become Woden (a more obscure spelling for the same norse all-father Oden) with Thor's magical axe. He falls into what has been described as a "Game of Thrones"-type magical world of bug people, but it is a world that reflects Aaron's own attitudes. His bug-friends are a lesbian excommunicant (spider), another a Conan pastiche (beetle), and last his loyal, invulnerable, flying steed (another beetle). Their enemies are fascists (ants), capitalists (bees), and priests who take communion (fly maggots). It's very transparent what Aaron thinks of the world today, and how that informed his writing on THOR. These attitudes are very "Millennial-Coded," which is another strike against this being for younger readers (the generation that made no effort to raise any children). These attitudes will die with their generation. These attitudes split our country down the middle and caused so much of today's suffering--and tomorrow's war. It's Unamerican to be this bigoted. He has a right to be an unamerican bigot, but I have a right to call a spade a spade. These attitudes are common, and many are already numb to them. These attitudes are the gasoline-powered lawn mower that, when pushed along by the bug-hating older brother, is coming to eat our homes.
The other major strikes against this work are the graphic depictions of group sex involving people and bugs (in full view of a 15 year old boy), other full frontal nudity, gory violence, and rapid-fire profanity. It is all gratuitous. It became grating.
Even with these deeply rooted issues I have with this book and now with Aaron's writing as a whole, the concept of BUG WARS itself is strong. It engrossed me. This journey into another world was the most thrilling Isekai I've read in years. I will probably be back for more BUG WARS, but probably not any other work Aaron does for the big two publishers.
Jason Aaron I know you won't read this, but I am worried about you. You can pray to Jesus whenever you want, right now if it occurs to you. You can even tell Him you're mad at Him. That's ok. But while I do most of all hope you reconcile with your Father and Brother above, It may actually be more pressing that you reconcile with your fellow man. The bad guys are not bugs for you to squash.
September 27, 2025
4.75 stars
Yeah. This is amazing.
I usually start my reviews with a little summary of what the book is about, but I can't right now. Let me just say, whatever you are reading right now, put it down. I need you to pick this title instead. You won't regret it.
So! Insects, huh. Bugs, and spiders. I'm not a fan of them. This series creeped me out so bad, yet I loved every page. I haven't felt like this since I started reading Saga almost a decade ago.
Bug Wars Book One is the story about a boy who loves insects. And about a young man who hates them.
The Slaymaker family is grieving. The father, an entomologist, died a few years ago in his study, in the basement of his childhood home. His oldest kid, at the time a young child, was the one who found his body. Eaten and mutilated by insects of all kinds. He has since then feared and despised bugs. Now, the money is tight, so the mother and the two sons are forced to move to the house with awful memories. The one that has a big yard full of insects and spiders. One day, the oldest son, Syd, can't handle the feeling of bugs everywhere so he takes poison to kill them all, including his brother's beloved collection. Slade tries to save his little friends, but they all die except for his favorite. A rhinoceros beetle called Pac. This little bug flees and enters the father's study where no one has dared to go since the day of his gruesome death. Slade chases after him and while trying to grab Pac happens to touch an amulet and everything changes.
He is now tiny. Think of it as Honey, I shrunk the Kids. And he's outside, surrounded by other humanoid creatures that resemble and ride different bugs. Slade Slaymaker is about to discover the Yard.
Oh man, the worldbuiling is so good. The yard has a variety of insects and arachnids, and most importantly, there live the mytes. The maggot monks, the ant imperium, the spyder wytches. There's a whole world of empires, clans and sects. It's unbelievably cool. It's disturbing too. Humanoids that mate with insects, cities in decadence, a little of magic weaved by ancient spiders.There are butterflies titties, butterfly dongs, there is an ant orgy. Things get weird and creepy, and it's a blast.
In between issues, we get a few pages of the journal of Slade's father, the entomologist. He details the different mytes, the different insects that live in the yard and how their society is structured. These pages are so entertaining and are actually really educational about real life insects.
This is a story of adventure, war, revenge, and mystery. It's the story of a broken family that love each other regardless of trauma. It's a coming of age story of a boy with a magical amulet that rides a beetle and it's forced to kill and fight to defend his life and protect his family. It's also a story with a lot of humour. I don't want to spoil much, but the big bad villain? It's actually hilarious.
If you haven't noticed yet, I absolutely loved this graphic novel. I love how twisted it is, yet how it never loses sight of the heart of it all, Slade wanting to protect his family. I love him as the hero of the story. I can't wait for his next adventure and how the worldbuilding will keep expanding.
Yeah. This is amazing.
I usually start my reviews with a little summary of what the book is about, but I can't right now. Let me just say, whatever you are reading right now, put it down. I need you to pick this title instead. You won't regret it.
So! Insects, huh. Bugs, and spiders. I'm not a fan of them. This series creeped me out so bad, yet I loved every page. I haven't felt like this since I started reading Saga almost a decade ago.
Bug Wars Book One is the story about a boy who loves insects. And about a young man who hates them.
The Slaymaker family is grieving. The father, an entomologist, died a few years ago in his study, in the basement of his childhood home. His oldest kid, at the time a young child, was the one who found his body. Eaten and mutilated by insects of all kinds. He has since then feared and despised bugs. Now, the money is tight, so the mother and the two sons are forced to move to the house with awful memories. The one that has a big yard full of insects and spiders. One day, the oldest son, Syd, can't handle the feeling of bugs everywhere so he takes poison to kill them all, including his brother's beloved collection. Slade tries to save his little friends, but they all die except for his favorite. A rhinoceros beetle called Pac. This little bug flees and enters the father's study where no one has dared to go since the day of his gruesome death. Slade chases after him and while trying to grab Pac happens to touch an amulet and everything changes.
He is now tiny. Think of it as Honey, I shrunk the Kids. And he's outside, surrounded by other humanoid creatures that resemble and ride different bugs. Slade Slaymaker is about to discover the Yard.
Oh man, the worldbuiling is so good. The yard has a variety of insects and arachnids, and most importantly, there live the mytes. The maggot monks, the ant imperium, the spyder wytches. There's a whole world of empires, clans and sects. It's unbelievably cool. It's disturbing too. Humanoids that mate with insects, cities in decadence, a little of magic weaved by ancient spiders.There are butterflies titties, butterfly dongs, there is an ant orgy. Things get weird and creepy, and it's a blast.
In between issues, we get a few pages of the journal of Slade's father, the entomologist. He details the different mytes, the different insects that live in the yard and how their society is structured. These pages are so entertaining and are actually really educational about real life insects.
This is a story of adventure, war, revenge, and mystery. It's the story of a broken family that love each other regardless of trauma. It's a coming of age story of a boy with a magical amulet that rides a beetle and it's forced to kill and fight to defend his life and protect his family. It's also a story with a lot of humour. I don't want to spoil much, but the big bad villain? It's actually hilarious.
If you haven't noticed yet, I absolutely loved this graphic novel. I love how twisted it is, yet how it never loses sight of the heart of it all, Slade wanting to protect his family. I love him as the hero of the story. I can't wait for his next adventure and how the worldbuilding will keep expanding.
September 28, 2025
Well, I was going to read Heyer (Cotillion) and somehow got hooked on this fantasy comic because of a review. According to the author, it's a mix of "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" and "Game of Thrones," although it seemed more like "Epic" (or The Secret World, 2013) mixed with "Mad Max" to me.
Slade, his older brother Sidney, and their mother, for financial reasons, have to return to the house where their father, an entomologist, died. There, Sidney found him devoured by insects, and this brings him several traumas; meanwhile, Slade follows in his father's footsteps with his fascination with insects.
But what he's soon to discover in his own backyard will make him question many things, about the world of bugs, and about his father.
It's a violent comic, with lots of dismemberment and many mentions of hominid (Mytes) sex and insects, and, ahem, something else.
The various clans in the courtyard are loosely based on insect life, and there are also mentions of magic, witches, a possible end of the world, and even a portal.
As our acne-ridden teenage protagonist says, there are still many unanswered questions.
I would read the second volume.
}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
(Esta vez en castellano)
Bueno, yo iba a leer a Heyer (Cotillion) y de algún modo me embarqué por una reseña en este comic de fantasía que según el autor es una mezcla de "Cariño, he encogido a los niños" y de "Juego de Tronos", aunque a mi más me ha dado pinta a "Epic" (o El Mundo secreto, 2013) mezclado con "Mad Max".
Slade, su hermano mayor Sidney y su mamá por motivos económicos deben regresar a la casa donde murió su padre, un entomólogo. Allí Sidney lo encontró devorado por insectos y esto le trae varios traumas; mientras que Slade, sigue las huellas de su padre en su fascinación por los insectos.
Pero lo que va a descubrir pronto en su propio patio le hará dudar de muchas cosas, del mundo de los bichos, y acerca de su padre.
Es un comic violento, con muchos despedazados y muchas menciones de sexo de homínidos (Mytes) e insectos y ejem algo más.
Los distintos clanes del patio se basan flojamente en la vida de los insectos , y también hay menciones de magia, brujas, un posible fin de mundo y hasta un portal sale por ahí.
Como dice nuestro protagonista adolescente con acné, quedan aun muchas cosas sin respuesta.
Leería el segundo volumen.
Slade, his older brother Sidney, and their mother, for financial reasons, have to return to the house where their father, an entomologist, died. There, Sidney found him devoured by insects, and this brings him several traumas; meanwhile, Slade follows in his father's footsteps with his fascination with insects.
But what he's soon to discover in his own backyard will make him question many things, about the world of bugs, and about his father.
It's a violent comic, with lots of dismemberment and many mentions of hominid (Mytes) sex and insects, and, ahem, something else.
The various clans in the courtyard are loosely based on insect life, and there are also mentions of magic, witches, a possible end of the world, and even a portal.
As our acne-ridden teenage protagonist says, there are still many unanswered questions.
I would read the second volume.
}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
(Esta vez en castellano)
Bueno, yo iba a leer a Heyer (Cotillion) y de algún modo me embarqué por una reseña en este comic de fantasía que según el autor es una mezcla de "Cariño, he encogido a los niños" y de "Juego de Tronos", aunque a mi más me ha dado pinta a "Epic" (o El Mundo secreto, 2013) mezclado con "Mad Max".
Slade, su hermano mayor Sidney y su mamá por motivos económicos deben regresar a la casa donde murió su padre, un entomólogo. Allí Sidney lo encontró devorado por insectos y esto le trae varios traumas; mientras que Slade, sigue las huellas de su padre en su fascinación por los insectos.
Pero lo que va a descubrir pronto en su propio patio le hará dudar de muchas cosas, del mundo de los bichos, y acerca de su padre.
Es un comic violento, con muchos despedazados y muchas menciones de sexo de homínidos (Mytes) e insectos y ejem algo más.
Los distintos clanes del patio se basan flojamente en la vida de los insectos , y también hay menciones de magia, brujas, un posible fin de mundo y hasta un portal sale por ahí.
Como dice nuestro protagonista adolescente con acné, quedan aun muchas cosas sin respuesta.
Leería el segundo volumen.
October 1, 2025
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.0 of 5
**Right out of the gate I want to make one thing clear... I was approved for a "Preview Copy" ARC of Bug Wars. Apparently a "Preview Copy" is not a complete copy of the book but a sample of the book. In this case, it appears to be issue #1 of the Bug Wars comic book and the graphic novel collects the first three or four issues.**
Slade Slaymaker and his family are returning to their rural home after a dozen years away. Slade's deceased father had a passion for entomology and the young Slade is now interested in insects as well. Slade's older brother, Sydney, couldn't care less. What the family doesn't know is that down at the insect level of the yard, life and death struggles are occurring with fierce bug wars being fought. There are barbarian bug riders, spell-casting witches, and true armies of ants at war.
Insects caused Slade's father's death and Sydney wants nothing more than to get rid of all bugs. Slade on the other hand, wants to understand them the way his father did. But as Sydney and Slade fight, Slade falls into the bug world, shrinking down to any size and becomes embroiled in the war.
The concept is interesting but doesn't feel at all new. Of COURSE it feels like a dark version of Honey I Shrunk the Kids or The Incredible Shrinking Man, thrust into Conan's barbarian world. These comparison's will be made by anyone who has seen either of these movies.
It's a strange idea to have this magical, sword & sorcery type world in the same realm as our 'normal' world (the world of Slade and Sydney). Using an Alice in Wonderland-type device brings the 'real' person into the magical world. But this magical world is much more dangerous than Wonderland was.
The bug world is violent. Much more violent than I need in my graphic novels. I read a lot of dark fantasy and horror, I don't mind splatterpunk, but do we really need to see heads flying off bodies? Do we really need the massive amount of cursing that opens this book? Probably not. It sets a tone, but frankly, this reader wouldn't bother read the next comic volume. The characters are too one-dimensional when this is their language.
The art is okay. It's consistent and decent. It doesn't draw me into the story but it generally serves the story well.
It's really hard to say how the graphic novel stands as a story since I only have a quarter of it. Finding out more about Slade's father and how Slade will fit into this story is important, and based on this first issue, I really don't know how soon this information comes out.
Based solely on this first volume, just a fraction of the graphic novel, this is decent but not great.
Looking for a good book? Bug Wars, a graphic novel by Jason Aaron with art by Mahmud Asrar starts out interestingly enough but is more violent than it probably needs to be in order to get the point across. My preview ARC is only a fraction of the book.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
**Right out of the gate I want to make one thing clear... I was approved for a "Preview Copy" ARC of Bug Wars. Apparently a "Preview Copy" is not a complete copy of the book but a sample of the book. In this case, it appears to be issue #1 of the Bug Wars comic book and the graphic novel collects the first three or four issues.**
Slade Slaymaker and his family are returning to their rural home after a dozen years away. Slade's deceased father had a passion for entomology and the young Slade is now interested in insects as well. Slade's older brother, Sydney, couldn't care less. What the family doesn't know is that down at the insect level of the yard, life and death struggles are occurring with fierce bug wars being fought. There are barbarian bug riders, spell-casting witches, and true armies of ants at war.
Insects caused Slade's father's death and Sydney wants nothing more than to get rid of all bugs. Slade on the other hand, wants to understand them the way his father did. But as Sydney and Slade fight, Slade falls into the bug world, shrinking down to any size and becomes embroiled in the war.
The concept is interesting but doesn't feel at all new. Of COURSE it feels like a dark version of Honey I Shrunk the Kids or The Incredible Shrinking Man, thrust into Conan's barbarian world. These comparison's will be made by anyone who has seen either of these movies.
It's a strange idea to have this magical, sword & sorcery type world in the same realm as our 'normal' world (the world of Slade and Sydney). Using an Alice in Wonderland-type device brings the 'real' person into the magical world. But this magical world is much more dangerous than Wonderland was.
The bug world is violent. Much more violent than I need in my graphic novels. I read a lot of dark fantasy and horror, I don't mind splatterpunk, but do we really need to see heads flying off bodies? Do we really need the massive amount of cursing that opens this book? Probably not. It sets a tone, but frankly, this reader wouldn't bother read the next comic volume. The characters are too one-dimensional when this is their language.
The art is okay. It's consistent and decent. It doesn't draw me into the story but it generally serves the story well.
It's really hard to say how the graphic novel stands as a story since I only have a quarter of it. Finding out more about Slade's father and how Slade will fit into this story is important, and based on this first issue, I really don't know how soon this information comes out.
Based solely on this first volume, just a fraction of the graphic novel, this is decent but not great.
Looking for a good book? Bug Wars, a graphic novel by Jason Aaron with art by Mahmud Asrar starts out interestingly enough but is more violent than it probably needs to be in order to get the point across. My preview ARC is only a fraction of the book.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2025
“Bug Wars Book One” is a syfy/fantasy graphic novel that ultimate comes down to a family drama that takes place in the deep south.
We immediately see there is an issue between these two brothers. As they are moving in, the older brother, Sydney, starts mowing. This may not seem like he is staying focused and on task, but it is his way of addressing a trigger point in his life. You see, he is dealing with the trauma of finding his father deceased when he was only 5 years old. And the father was covered in bugs when he found him. Sydney is waging a war against all bugs. Spoiler Alert: The bugs are plotting their revenge.
The younger brother, Slade, is out to protect the bugs. Why? Well, he takes after his dad and loves bugs. Even to the point of having a pet beetle named Pac. Slade is out to save the lives of every bug. This leads to a major confrontation while mom is at work. A confrontation that will forever change their family.
In a pivotal moment, Slade finds himself the size of a bug and in the middle of a war between the different clans of bugs and spiders. However, there is a peace treaty pending that could unite the bugs and spiders against their common enemy. The mower of the grass…Sydney.
Now, this might seem a bit comical. There are plenty of moments of humor in this graphic novel. Anyone that has ever visited or lived in the deep south, Alabama in particular, will get a chuckle out of the role of mosquitos and the declaration of “Role Tide!” in a pivotal moment. I mean, I am a UT Vols fan and I even laughed out loud at that moment.
But do not let the humor lull you to sleep. There is plenty of blood and guts. There are enough F-Bombs being dropped to destroy an entire planet. There is an ant orgy (a sentence that I never thought I would ever type) that includes breasts and male genitalia. It never quite gets pornographic, but…
And to me, that is the missed opportunity here. This was an incredible opportunity to use this story of loss and complicated family dynamics, of finding your place in the world, and facing fears. This graphic novel is so well written, it would have been a great opportunity to help younger (older elementary/middle school/high school) readers that have faced these issues.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
We immediately see there is an issue between these two brothers. As they are moving in, the older brother, Sydney, starts mowing. This may not seem like he is staying focused and on task, but it is his way of addressing a trigger point in his life. You see, he is dealing with the trauma of finding his father deceased when he was only 5 years old. And the father was covered in bugs when he found him. Sydney is waging a war against all bugs. Spoiler Alert: The bugs are plotting their revenge.
The younger brother, Slade, is out to protect the bugs. Why? Well, he takes after his dad and loves bugs. Even to the point of having a pet beetle named Pac. Slade is out to save the lives of every bug. This leads to a major confrontation while mom is at work. A confrontation that will forever change their family.
In a pivotal moment, Slade finds himself the size of a bug and in the middle of a war between the different clans of bugs and spiders. However, there is a peace treaty pending that could unite the bugs and spiders against their common enemy. The mower of the grass…Sydney.
Now, this might seem a bit comical. There are plenty of moments of humor in this graphic novel. Anyone that has ever visited or lived in the deep south, Alabama in particular, will get a chuckle out of the role of mosquitos and the declaration of “Role Tide!” in a pivotal moment. I mean, I am a UT Vols fan and I even laughed out loud at that moment.
But do not let the humor lull you to sleep. There is plenty of blood and guts. There are enough F-Bombs being dropped to destroy an entire planet. There is an ant orgy (a sentence that I never thought I would ever type) that includes breasts and male genitalia. It never quite gets pornographic, but…
And to me, that is the missed opportunity here. This was an incredible opportunity to use this story of loss and complicated family dynamics, of finding your place in the world, and facing fears. This graphic novel is so well written, it would have been a great opportunity to help younger (older elementary/middle school/high school) readers that have faced these issues.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
Read
September 10, 2025"Honey, I Shrunk The Kids meets Game Of Thrones" is the summary at the back of the opening issue, but Aaron and Asrar previously collaborated on Conan, whose swords & sorcery vibe, not to mention sole protagonist, are a much closer match than GRRM. For me, there's a far better encapsulation at the opening of #2: "Holy fuckin' cricket shit! The kid punched Grimgum's whole dern face the fuck off!" Let's be honest, if there's one thing comics do better than any other medium, it's one character punching another character's whole dern face the fuck off, and Bug Wars is not shy about taking advantage of that. And variants, obviously – plenty of limbs get removed too, there's one lovely bit of design where a speech bubble gets sliced in half along with the speaker's head, and I'm not even spoiling any of the more ingenious insect-specific demises. This is, if you hadn't gathered, Jason Aaron in the unfettered, gory mode he always seems to pull out for his Alabama stories. The lead this time is Slade Slaymaker, an overdone name for a withdrawn kid who mainly finds companionship in bugs, an interest he inherited from his entomologist dad. Whereas disturbed big brother Syd bloody hates them, because of how said dad died. Which could have been the basis for a boring psychodrama, but handily there's a Macguffin lurking, which throws Slade into the miniature world of the family house's yard, where tiny humanoid Mytes align and apparently interbreed wíth the copious invertebrate life, resulting in savage wasp-riding raiders, imperialist ants, sexy naked butterfly people, and so forth. It's absolutely high on its own fascination with the weird and frequently vile variety of arthropod life, and deservedly so, though as such also a terrible idea for anyone not keen on creepy-crawlies (I struggled myself with the visit to Wyrdweb, home of the Spyder Wytches of the Krimson Skein, AKA the ferns in hanging baskets at the side of the house).
(Netgalley ARC)
(Netgalley ARC)
October 13, 2025
Puh, der war auf eine andere Art und Weise (für mich) hart 😅 Slade zieht zusammen mit seiner Mutter und seinem Bruder Sydney zurück in das Haus, in dem sein Vater starb, als Slade noch ganz klein war. Sein Bruder fand ihn dort im Keller, während Käfer ihn auffraßen.. schonmal der erste Punkt, den viele abschrecken könnte - mich erstmal noch nicht 😂 Sydney hat eine regelrechte Phobie seit dem Ereignis entwickelt und will alle Käfer beseitigen, da sie seinen Vater gefressen haben und er nicht der nächste sein will… im ersten Moment auch total verständlich. Slade hingegen liebt die Käfer und Insekten, so wie es sein Vater schon tat. Als Sydney durchdreht und Slade’s Haustiere an den Kragen will, flieht Slade’s Lieblingskäfer Pac in den Keller - woraufhin Slade ihm folgt und dort beginnt die Geschichte.. den dort findet Slade ein geheimnisvolles Amulett, welches sich in seiner Brust festsetzt und ihn schrumpfen lässt! 👀 Hier beginnen schonmal die ersten Parallelen, die man ziehen kann - denn das erinnert schon etwas an “Liebling, ich habe die Kinder geschrumpft” 😄 im Verlauf gerät Slade ziemlich schnell zwischen die Fronten der Käfer im Garten und so wird er durch das Amulett zu “Conan, der Barbar” - zweite Parallele offenbart.
Optisch find ich’s schon ganz nett, denn es ist sehr detailliert, markant und vollfarbig - auch die Charakterdesigns sind ganz cool. Der Plot ist an sich interessant, wenn man eben auch schon vieles vorhersehen kann. Als dann immer mehr Krabbelviecher der anderen Art vorkamen, war’s für mich dann aber leider sehr hart weiterzulesen - das triggerte dann doch sehr meine eigene Phobie 😬🙈 Deswegen bin ich auch etwas zwiegespalten, wie ich den Comic nun fand - einerseits schon spannend, andererseits halt auf eine gewisse Art “eklig” 😅
Wer damit keine Probleme hat und gern mal sowas liest, der kann auf jeden Fall mal einen Blick hineinwerfen.
Erscheinungstermin ist der 21.10.2025
Optisch find ich’s schon ganz nett, denn es ist sehr detailliert, markant und vollfarbig - auch die Charakterdesigns sind ganz cool. Der Plot ist an sich interessant, wenn man eben auch schon vieles vorhersehen kann. Als dann immer mehr Krabbelviecher der anderen Art vorkamen, war’s für mich dann aber leider sehr hart weiterzulesen - das triggerte dann doch sehr meine eigene Phobie 😬🙈 Deswegen bin ich auch etwas zwiegespalten, wie ich den Comic nun fand - einerseits schon spannend, andererseits halt auf eine gewisse Art “eklig” 😅
Wer damit keine Probleme hat und gern mal sowas liest, der kann auf jeden Fall mal einen Blick hineinwerfen.
Erscheinungstermin ist der 21.10.2025
September 6, 2025
It’s hard to not copy other reviewers, but this really does read like Conan the Barbarian story, only with a teenage boy fighting his way through armies of insects and mytes — humanoid insects. Spyders, wasps, the ant empire, beetle riders, butterflies, honeybees, maggots, and so much more. It’s lush and beautifully drawn with some of the most unique character ideas and world building I’ve seen in a long time. The pace is lightning fast and the action is nonstop, and I can’t wait for the next omnibus to come out. It’s just … so much fun. I think this is the best graphic novel I’ve read all year.
There’s also good character development as Slade has to go from being a nervous, shy and awkward young man to being the champion of humanity in an effort to keep the bugs of the yard from killing his brother, like they killed his father. And yet, he’s still just a kid underneath it all, wanting his mother to make him feel safe and loved.
There’s a lot of violence and a fair amount of gore with graphic deaths, decapitations and bugs killing people left right and center. If you’re squeamish about bugs, you’ll want to skip this one, but if you give it a try it’s just a joy to read. Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
There’s also good character development as Slade has to go from being a nervous, shy and awkward young man to being the champion of humanity in an effort to keep the bugs of the yard from killing his brother, like they killed his father. And yet, he’s still just a kid underneath it all, wanting his mother to make him feel safe and loved.
There’s a lot of violence and a fair amount of gore with graphic deaths, decapitations and bugs killing people left right and center. If you’re squeamish about bugs, you’ll want to skip this one, but if you give it a try it’s just a joy to read. Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
September 21, 2025
Bug Wars Book One brings together Conan the Barbarian, A Song of Ice and Fire, and Honey I Shrunk the Kids to introduce readers to Slade Slaymaker - a young bug enthusiast whose brother hates what he loves. The two boys are thrust back into their late father’s world as their mother encounters financial problems and eventually we fall into the Yard… honestly, I was thrilled. I love all things creepy crawlies and as a D&D/World of War Craft nerd, this was right up my alley. The art is phenomenal. It brings be back to old school graphic novels and comics with the full color and just enough detail to keep me on each page for several minutes. As an artist, it was inspiring. The panels and gutters are clean, too. One thing I love about this book is that each volume bleeds into the next seamlessly, like chapters. You’re not getting whiplash. While I want to say this is a coming of age, it’s not geared for kids, older teens at the youngest. There are adult themes, gore, and vulgar language. Overall, I highly recommend this one if you love graphic novels and action-packed, quest style storylines.
December 8, 2025
Silly and messy fantasy comic, with a kid zapped into the insectoid world of his back garden. He loves bugs, at least, unlike his older brother – who discovered their dad eaten alive by them during his work studying them. Anyway, in said back garden there are a host of warring critters, and he's just bound to be right in the middle of them – especially when the same brother gets the lawnmower out and begins annihilating them…
All told this was just weird – anthropomorphised bugs all against each other and all against the lawnmower. I didn't care to put the effort in to remember who was against who and why and what they all believed in, especially when our lad's arrival in their world left just an illogical hodge-podge of Incredible Shrinking Apocalypse. Oh, and the bugs that just dropped the f-bomb as often as they could got tiresome way too fast. Its place in my memory will be more mayfly than buried-forever cicada.
All told this was just weird – anthropomorphised bugs all against each other and all against the lawnmower. I didn't care to put the effort in to remember who was against who and why and what they all believed in, especially when our lad's arrival in their world left just an illogical hodge-podge of Incredible Shrinking Apocalypse. Oh, and the bugs that just dropped the f-bomb as often as they could got tiresome way too fast. Its place in my memory will be more mayfly than buried-forever cicada.
Read
October 17, 2025The lush artwork in Bug Wars brings to life a fully realized world inspired by Aaron’s childhood memories, and the story’s love for bugs shines throughout, though it occasionally veers from rich worldbuilding into infodumping, particularly in the elder Slaymaker’s journal entries.
This is a true time capsule of the 80s and 90s from the fashion to nostalgic nods to what Aaron calls “the tales of tiny adventurers living right beneath our feet,” evoking stories like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, The Indian in the Cupboard, and The Littles. That said, some elements could use revision like the deeply unfunny “Ant Hiroshima” tagline in a fake bug spray ad and the dated depiction of female characters.
Thanks to Image Comics and NetGalley for the advance reading copy.
This is a true time capsule of the 80s and 90s from the fashion to nostalgic nods to what Aaron calls “the tales of tiny adventurers living right beneath our feet,” evoking stories like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, The Indian in the Cupboard, and The Littles. That said, some elements could use revision like the deeply unfunny “Ant Hiroshima” tagline in a fake bug spray ad and the dated depiction of female characters.
Thanks to Image Comics and NetGalley for the advance reading copy.
October 23, 2025
Miniature scale, massive causulites. 'Bug Wars: Book One' is equal parts backyard horror and sweeping fantasy epic. Slade Slaymaker, fresh from his Alabama home, finds his father’s insect obsession was far more dangerous than he realized. Shrunk to insect size, he’s plunged into a world of ant armies, spider-witches, beetle cavalry, and ancient feuds beneath the lawn. Aaron’s script juggles big ideas (legacy, obsession, survival) while Asrar’s art makes every creepy-crawler moment pulse with danger and wonder. The world-building grabs you; this isn’t just bugs gone big, it’s a pint-sized war with stakes that feel massive. If you’re in for high fantasy with a weird creepy-crawly twist, this one delivers. This tale is 'Mouse Guard' and 'The Witcher' vibes mixed with 'Honey, I Shrunk the Kids' meets 'Conan the Barbarian'.
October 19, 2025
Definitely not for folks who are bothered by insects and the like, Bug Wars volume 1: Lost in the Yard is a bloody new tale.
Pitch is Honey I Shrunk the Kids meets Conan, even some of the names land that way. Honestly I don't want to spill too much because this was just fun. Unnerving sometimes, gotta watch those little things.
Writer - Jason Aaron
Illustrator - Mahmud Asrar
Colorist - Matt Wilson
Designer - Becca Carey
Reasons to read:
-It is a romp
-Beetle on insect and myte violence
-The names and titles are fantastic (wardaddy is a standout)
-Bits of world building, like why are there so many different species in Alabama make way more sense if you read the notes
-Educational
Cons:
-Going to be checking your boots a bit more often after reading it
Pitch is Honey I Shrunk the Kids meets Conan, even some of the names land that way. Honestly I don't want to spill too much because this was just fun. Unnerving sometimes, gotta watch those little things.
Writer - Jason Aaron
Illustrator - Mahmud Asrar
Colorist - Matt Wilson
Designer - Becca Carey
Reasons to read:
-It is a romp
-Beetle on insect and myte violence
-The names and titles are fantastic (wardaddy is a standout)
-Bits of world building, like why are there so many different species in Alabama make way more sense if you read the notes
-Educational
Cons:
-Going to be checking your boots a bit more often after reading it
September 19, 2025
*3.5 stars*
Bug Wars is a really fun read. Fast-paced and action-packed, it delivers on the promise of the premise; if you are intrigued by the idea of small people using insects to wage war on each other in your backyard, you will enjoy this graphic novel. I would recommend this book to readers who love coming-of-age tales where the main character is dropped into a hidden or portal world and to fans of fantasy graphic novels, as well as to anyone who loves movies like “Honey I Shrunk the Kids”, “Epic”, and “Arthur & the Invisibles”.
Thank you to NetGalley & Image Comics for the arc! All thoughts & opinions in the review are my own.
Bug Wars is a really fun read. Fast-paced and action-packed, it delivers on the promise of the premise; if you are intrigued by the idea of small people using insects to wage war on each other in your backyard, you will enjoy this graphic novel. I would recommend this book to readers who love coming-of-age tales where the main character is dropped into a hidden or portal world and to fans of fantasy graphic novels, as well as to anyone who loves movies like “Honey I Shrunk the Kids”, “Epic”, and “Arthur & the Invisibles”.
Thank you to NetGalley & Image Comics for the arc! All thoughts & opinions in the review are my own.
September 22, 2025
What a read!! This is such an exciting concept! I absolutely love the premise of this. I think just about every boy growing has imagined something like this at one point or another. To adapt that childlike imagery into something for adults to read is spectacular.
The art that helps drive this story is just as incredible. The color schemes of the panels keep you drawn in and excited for what comes next.
While I did love the story and art, the only thing I didn't care for was at the very beginning where the adult language was a bit frequent. I get that its a teenage character and boys will be boys but thats about it. My only complaint. Will be reading more of this series for sure.
The art that helps drive this story is just as incredible. The color schemes of the panels keep you drawn in and excited for what comes next.
While I did love the story and art, the only thing I didn't care for was at the very beginning where the adult language was a bit frequent. I get that its a teenage character and boys will be boys but thats about it. My only complaint. Will be reading more of this series for sure.
September 23, 2025
This comic was wild in the best way. I'm a big Dungeons and Dragon fan, and this had a lot of the elements that I like about that were reflected in this story. I'm also into bugs, so there really was no better comic for me to read. I thought the worldbuilding for this comic was really interesting and creative, I loved getting to the end of an issue and seeing the pages describing the different types of bug colonies. I also thought the story was really interesting, and enjoyed the art. It was grotesque but not in a way that made me not want to read it. I'll for sure be recommending this to people.
October 20, 2025
Bug Wars tells the story of Slade Slaymaker when he gets shrunk down and discovers a world of bug people in his backyard.
This was a great book for a lot of reasons.
It will appeal to anyone who enjoyed movies like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. It will appeal to any kid who saw a big field and thought, “What if.”
All the different factions of bugs were thought out and well documented in notes in the issues.
The artwork for the bugs was great. All the characters looked distinctive and believable.
I eagerly await the second volume.
This was a great book for a lot of reasons.
It will appeal to anyone who enjoyed movies like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. It will appeal to any kid who saw a big field and thought, “What if.”
All the different factions of bugs were thought out and well documented in notes in the issues.
The artwork for the bugs was great. All the characters looked distinctive and believable.
I eagerly await the second volume.
December 5, 2025
Mahmud Asrar's art is great as always, but it's attached here to an extremely basic fantasy story you've read 12 times before with a Honey I Shrunk the Kids twist, and it's frankly boring as hell. The bug world setting is over-planned and under-baked, and it's painfully obvious the frequent nudity and extreme cursing are only there to childishly distract from the rest of the lackluster presentation
August 20, 2025
This was pretty epic 🤩
It was like honey i shrunk the kids, ‘beyond the thunderdome, and lord of the rings all rolled into one. Unfortunately the last chapter felt a bit wonky and rushed. It was as if the writer is not sure a second volume is coming anytime soon. I can’t imagine this getting better but if it does …. Are we in for a treat.!
It was like honey i shrunk the kids, ‘beyond the thunderdome, and lord of the rings all rolled into one. Unfortunately the last chapter felt a bit wonky and rushed. It was as if the writer is not sure a second volume is coming anytime soon. I can’t imagine this getting better but if it does …. Are we in for a treat.!
October 8, 2025
A fun mini-series with great art. Actually, I didn't know it was a mini-series going until the end and I was a little disappointed than there's not any more to immediately get into but that's a better feeling than the burnout I've experienced with long ongoing stuff. Hopefully, what comes next will have as much fun world building as this first series.
October 23, 2025
Received as an ARC from Netgalley:
This was an exceptionally fun graphic novel with a really cool setting. Almost felt like "Honey I shrunk Conan the barbarian". Artwork was awesome and the setting had enough grimdark in it to really make it a thrilling read.
Interested to explore more from this universe in the future. Aaron continues to be an exceptional comic author.
This was an exceptionally fun graphic novel with a really cool setting. Almost felt like "Honey I shrunk Conan the barbarian". Artwork was awesome and the setting had enough grimdark in it to really make it a thrilling read.
Interested to explore more from this universe in the future. Aaron continues to be an exceptional comic author.
October 29, 2025
Asrar’s drawing and Wilson’s coloring both look great in a vibrant and energetic action blockbuster style, and Aaron’s entomological worldbuilding is imaginative and fun. The fantasy quest plotting and family drama are pretty dull, sadly, and also regularly juvenile in an R-rated way I just found eye-rolling.
November 1, 2025
5/10
Very much a fantasy story. I really hate the fantasy genre. Made up words filling every sentence. Dumb, uncool names for a hero that can never be remotely as cool as Lisan al-Gaib. Clans that just are stereotpical fantasy clans. Politics for the sake of it. It's honestly just another fantasy world with a new coat of paint. For many people, that will be exciting. Not my cup of tea, though.
Very much a fantasy story. I really hate the fantasy genre. Made up words filling every sentence. Dumb, uncool names for a hero that can never be remotely as cool as Lisan al-Gaib. Clans that just are stereotpical fantasy clans. Politics for the sake of it. It's honestly just another fantasy world with a new coat of paint. For many people, that will be exciting. Not my cup of tea, though.
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