Zodiac Starforce: By the Power of Astra

Zodiac Starforce (Collected Editions) #1

by Kevin Panetta, Paulina Ganucheau (Illustrator)

They're an elite group of teenage girls with magical powers who have sworn to protect our planet against dark creatures . . . as long as they can get out of class! Known as the Zodiac Starforce, these high-school girls aren't just combating math tests. They're also battling monsters--not your typical afterschool activity! But when an evil force from another dimension infects team leader Emma, she must work with her team of magically powered friends to save herself--and the world--from the evil Diana and her mean-girl minions!

From Kevin Panetta (Bravest Warriors) and Paulina Ganucheau ( New Animated Adventures, Bravest Warriors), this super-fun and heartfelt story of growing up and friendship--with plenty of magical-girl fighting action--delivers the most exciting new ensemble cast in comics!

Collects Zodiac Starforce #1-#4

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBT, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 9, 2016

About the author

Kevin Panetta is a Washington, DC based comic book and graphic novel writer. He has written licensed children's comics from Boom! Studios. His first creator-owned series, Zodiac Starforce, debuted from Dark Horse Comics in August 2015.

Reviews

[Melanie (meltotheany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, this was nothing short of probably the most adorable graphic novel I’ve ever read. Secondly, I love magical girls, always and forever. Thirdly, I never knew I needed magical zombie girls until now, but it turns out I did. Fourth, the color pallet and art throughout this entire story is beyond words beautiful. And lastly, this showcases how girl friendship can be the most powerful magical force in the world, and I loved this.



Oh, and this is about magical girls who all embrace a different zodiac sign. Like, can I yell how perfect this is any louder? This story embraces and celebrates body diversity, ethnic variety, and multiple sexualities! Like, there was a text message in this using the pan hearts and I promise you that I was hollering over it for at least fifteen minutes.

I loved this! I loved how unconditional friendship was always at the forefront. I loved all the diversity (Molly is Asian, Lily is Black, Emma is for sure not white at the very least, Savi is a bi/pan main character, and Lily is a lesbian/bi/pan main character)! I also loved the constant portrayal of grief from Emma. I will always love seeing girls ditch abusive boys and getting with sweet girls, let’s be real. And this was nothing short of a treat to read! Also, it feels like a good standalone, but I want so much more from these girls and this world! I can't wait until July! Oh, and I’d commit a minor felony to get a Virgo Zodiac! You all, pick this graphic novel up!

Okay, I’m going to briefly break down each of the issues in this bind up volume, so there will be spoilers ahead! I just always like to break down graphic novels this way, so I can come back and remember each issue! Plus, I think people like it. Hopefully. Okay, moving on to the break down!



➽ CHAPTER ONE
We get to learn all the characters, but this issue really focuses on the Starforce leader, Emma! She is a sixteen-year-old in high school, when a monster attacks! After defeating it, she starts to feel weird. Then her friend, Kim, finds her and stresses how important it is to get the gang back together! Also, Kim is looking for a missing friend named Alice, who happens to be at a party the girls attend.

➽ CHAPTER TWO
The girls made a new friend named Lily, who Savi has taken an interest in! They all attend a volleyball game together, which more monsters attack. Emma’s infection is spreading, and the girls need to do something quick!

➽ CHAPTER THREE
Well, a portal is now open, and monsters are everywhere in Virginia! Emma is unable to move and has passed out. We find out a mean girl that we met at the party in issue one is a much worse mean girl than originally anticipated. And she wants to sacrifice Emma to Cimmeria to please her.

➽ CHAPTER FOUR
Cimmeria offers Emma something that would be hard for any child to turn down, but luckily for us, Emma isn’t any child. And…. I got all the zombie magical girls I didn’t know I needed! The conclusion was super satisfying, but I want more. And… I want to meet these new characters! And like, please give me my Virgo Starforce girl, please!



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[Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS!

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This just proves that another magical girl graphic novel can only make your life better. Zodiac Starforce is such a brilliant team because it was formed prior to the comic's beginning. I really liked how this followed a different storyline than most magical girl series, which is like 'let's collect a new member in each comic!' I loved the diversity of the girls, I loved the transformations and the colour palette is so cosmic cute <3

Where's Volume Two???

[Holly Hearts Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the artwork and diversity but I didn’t enjoy the story all that much. I felt like I was thrown in with characters who had already gone through so much backstory and development that we didn’t get to see at all. A lot of “past” stuff is quickly mentioned and I was pretty meh about it.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic graphic novel!!!
First of all, the art in this is stunning. I love how bright and happy it feels.
This is probably one of the few "superhero" comics I will ever enjoy, especially because the characters are so relateable and lovable.
Excited to see how the next volume is because I am already OBSESSED.
also, there's a f/f romance that I am LIVING for.

[kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although, admittedly, I’m a little hurt by the lack of a Virgo Starforce member, this was a lot of fun. The art work and colour pallet were gorgeous and I may or may not had already ordered the sequel (spoiler, I’ve definitely already ordered the sequel.)

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colour Palette - 5 stars
Character diversity - 5 stars
Every outfit (background or main) - 5 stars
Actual Story - 5 stars.

SOOOOO CUUUUTE.

[Olivera · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well this was cutesy.
2,5 stars. Not enough substance for a higher raiting, but it was nice nonetheless. I'll probably be checking out the next volume once it comes out.
Also, I'll be basic and say what everyone else is saying about this- it totally is like Sailor Moon.

[Guts Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay seriously? If you like anything related to Sailor Moon, astrology, or ass kicking, this is the comic for you. Did I mention it's females doing the ass kicking? That's right! This comic is beyond awesome. Paulina's art is so magically colorful that I just want to stare at it for days. Really. Get this comic.

[Kayla Charisse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girl power + female friendships + LGBTQ romance + bold and colorful art = when is volume two coming out??

[rachel, x · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found out about this series on a recommendation list for diverse graphic novels. I'm so thankful my library was able to order it in! It was everything, and more, I wanted from Power Up.

Quick Thoughts:

• The cast was all completely adorable
• I was invested in all of their relationships - friendships and romances alike
• Anything with female friendship at its core is a win for me, really
• This cast had something special about them, though, that really drew me in
• The mythology was different and intriguing
• There were a few moments that I was a tad confused, however
• It almost felt like a spinoff of an existing series somehow??
• Despite that, I was never disengaged from the story
• I was hooked from the very first page
• The art style was glorious with its beautiful, bright colour scheme
• The fluidity of the panels made the story flow so well
• It was just so much fun

If you're looking for a young adult sff graphic novel with a sapphic ship, female friendships and interesting mythology, this is not one to overlook. I hope there will be a second volume!

Also, can someone please make this series into a tv show?

➸ Trigger warnings for blood and injury depiction, death of a mother, death of a friend, physical assault, kidnapping, and bullying.

▷ Representation: bipoc & sapphic mcs.

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[Jackie B. - Death by Tsundoku · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zodiac Starforce is a wonderful modern rendition of the Magical Girl Warrior trope. A bright, bubbly, action story which defies stereotypes on so many levels. Our quartet of heroines is diverse. The story picks up two years after the Zodiac Starforce girls saved the world and are now trying to just live out their lives. We begin both in the middle of the story and at the start of a new one. Monsters are returning, it seems like the school's mean girl Queen Bee could be more than she appears to be, and the girls need to figure out how to rebuild their friendships after the last battle broke them apart. Will they be able to get it together to save the world?!

I adore the art and coloring of this graphic novel. Reminiscent of Jem and the Holograms, we have soft outlines with a bold palette of colors giving them a modern look. It's a bit retro but in a respectful and intentional way. As our girls are diverse physically, their outfits represent them as much as the Zodiac Starforce team. This is a refreshing change from identical school girl outfits for thin high school girls. Instead, the personality of each character comes through in their costume design. For example, sporty, bisexual Savanna sports sneakers and a baseball cap. But aggressive, punk Kimberly dons elbow pads and a short jacket with spikes around the collar. Each outfit is unique and practical, but the uniform look of the Zodiac Starforce girls persists.

A smart, colorful, and creative read, I strongly recommend Zodiac Starforce: By the Power of Astra to all fans of the magical girl trope, and to anyone looking to discover a heartwarming story of maintaining friendship against all odds.

[Lainey · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those rarities that can back up being marketed as "Buffy meets Sailor Moon."

I really enjoyed the graphic novel and graphic novels aren't really my thing. I really enjoyed that this first volume wasn't the journey of the girls getting their powers. I loved that it started as they had already saved the world two years ago and kind of disbanded, but not circumstances are putting them back together again.

Molly is my favorite for sure.

I read this graphic novel for #Diverseathon because of how diverse the characters are in appearance (Emma is biracial, Lily is black, Molly is Asian, and Kim is plus-sized) as well as the LGBTQ+ relationship!

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved every second of this. GOOD LORD GIMME THE NEXT VOLUME!!!

[Alexa (Alexa Loves Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ultimately a fun story of friendship and magic! It definitely had modern day Sailor Moon vibes to me, even though the story is def different.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really solid start to what I hope will be an excellent series. I found things a little confusing at times because there's a few names and stuff to learn but it's all good.

The art is bright and wonderful and the story is all about sisterhood, love and girl power which I AM HERE FOR!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Ahhh, I really enjoyed this graphic novel. It was beautifully illustrated and the colours are SO bright and vivid and rainbow-like (yes, my eyes have turned to hearts)!

ZS is basically an all-female version of Power Rangers whereby we follow the four team members (Emma, Kim, Savanna and Molly) as they try to juggle the pressures of school life with the unexpected arrival of some giant-ass monsters! They also have to battle with Diana (another high-school girl) who's a bit of a bitch and her evil minions. It's up to Kim, Savanna and Molly to save their leader (Emma) who has been infected and close the portal which has opened up in their hometown.

ZS is incredibly cute at times (especially the scenes involving Savanna and Lily) and focuses on the power of friendship, belonging and togetherness.

I shall definitely be continuing on with this series because there are still seven star signs unaccounted for. I can't wait to see who Virgo is :)

[Maria Kramer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just not my style - I've never been a fan of the magical girl when it's played as straight as this is. The characters were very flat, and I felt like I'd been dropped into the volume lacking vital background info.

[Elysia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun comic about magical girls kicking butt and saving the world and each other. Although I was a little disappointed with some ableist language, and what seemed to be the trope of girl hate (in terms of villains), I did really enjoy the friendship, budding romance between two of the girls, and the beautiful colour palette.

[Nihan Alak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Renkler ve çizimler hoşuma gitti ama hikaye çok klişeydi. Sevimli, okunmasa da olur bir çizgi roman bence. Booomboş bi insan olduğum için seriye devam edicem. ^^

[Mehsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read all the volumes separately, but so it is easier to catalogue + review I have decided to go for this edition which combines all of them.

So, I have been looking forward to reading this one for some time. My twitter feed was full of images and squealing people who loved this series. The art looked amazing, the story looked fun, so after waiting to make sure all 4 were out (so I could go through them in one go), I read them today.

And, *sighs*, I know again why I tend to skip comics. The art is generally always gorgeous, the characters are mostly fun, the story is interesting. But I just HATE, HATE how we get dumped into a story, with seasoned characters, with teams already done stuff and more. And sure, at times we get some information on the characters, but generally it is just that readers are bumped off a cliff without preparation.
I so wish, that comic artists would give us an introduction, or at least an origin story, or something at least to ease us into the world of these characters, and not feel like we missed out x number of issues or years.
That is the problem I had with this story. The book starts off immediately with action, which is great, but then we find out the girl is already a Zodiac Starforce member, her friend outside is one as well, and apparently they have more friends who form a team, and they already did x number of stuff and blabahabha. Sorry, but what? Instead of making me curious it makes me frustrated. Yet another story without any introduction. Yet another story that feels like we should know more but don't get all the information.

Also the situation with Alice, um what happened to her? Why is that one girl so frantic about her. Is Alice not supposed to be in the posse with the evil queen bee (which is such a cliché btw).

And what is up with the cliffhanger at the first issue? Um, dark powers? Some portal? Some boss is reviving? What? What? WHATTTTT???? Sooo confused.

The transformations were gorgeous though, I really felt like I was reading/watching Sailor Moon, or another Mahou Shoujo genre manga. I love the colours and how bright stuff was.
I also loved the girls' special powers, each one had powers that matched their Zodiac sign, and I found that really fun and creative. Like our Taurus girl had Heavenly Bull Armour. Awesome!

After a bit I did start to get into the story (though still highly annoyed with the no-origin story), and I just loved the characters.

There was on other thing I didn't like. Savi (the girl with orange hair and energy for ten), I didn't like how she was in a relationship with a guy, but flirting with a girl. :| Sure, I was happy to see some girl/girl love (and later something special as well), but I wasn't happy it was done this way. I don't approve of this kind of stuff, and I also don't like to see it in a book. If it was done normally, so in other words, Savi not being in a relationship (no matter how crap), then I would have adored this part of the comic. Now I was conflicted. On the one hand I hate stuff like this, on the other hand I was squealing in joy.

Also what the hell happened in issue 3? The queen bee is that kind of character? Um. WTF? Where did that come from. I never expected that to happen and I am not entirely happy if I like it. Sure, it is a nice addition, but again, it feels like I missed something important. Especially with how our girls react to it. Like it is normal, and something they were expecting to happen.

The last issue has a lot of battle, lots of choices, and something big happening, and I quite liked it, though I also thought the battle was a bit too easily done and finished.
I liked that we got an epilogue, that raises some questions, and makes me wonder about others. I was already wondering where the other Zodiac Starforce people were, considering I would think that for each sign their is a girl (or guy considering the epilogue).

The art is absolutely gorgeous, and I just adore the colours used. I also love how the characters and the backgrounds are drawn. Really a big plus!

However, with the cheating, the thrown off a cliff (aka no origin story/correct introduction), the confusion because of that. I can't give this one more than 3 stars. And I am not sure if I will continue this series.

Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com

[Jade Ratley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this comic. The characters were fun, the plot was fun, the art was fun, I had a whole lot of fun with this! I was introduced to this through Jes talking about it on her Instagram, as soon as she mentioned it, I knew I needed to read it - it just seemed so up my street, and it was!
In a way this reminded me a lot of Lumberjanes, with a strong group of gals saving the day, heading into danger and mystery, but having each other's backs the whole time, I’m all for that girl power! But of course there were some pretty big differences, like the fact that these girls have superhero-like powers gifted by a goddess and are fighting monsters in high school. But it was super fun, and I really enjoyed it. I loved the use of the Zodiac in here too, and how their zodiac sign influenced their power, I thought it was really cool.
My only flaw here is that I would have liked a more substantial or fleshed out villain to elevate the plot a little. But as you can see, 4*, I did enjoy this a lot!

[Sam (she_who_reads_) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️
I’m so conflicted about this one- the art was beautiful, and there was some great humour...but overall I just felt like this lacking. I could have done with a lot more backstory, or some character development, because I wanted to love these girls, and I think I would have, if I had been given time to know them and understand their motivations. I honestly checked about 10 times to make sure this volume 1 because we really are just dropped into the middle of the story I felt. I want to know more about these girls, how they became who they are, and how everything works in this world! This just felt like it was brushing the surface and I was continually confused about what was happening.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh gosh, this was so good.

I love magical girl stories and this one was just my cup of tea. the girls are lovely together and I love the lore with the signs. besides, the art is just jaw dropping and I love love love the colour palette. I can't wait to read more.

full review here: https://catshelf.wordpress.com/2017/0...

[Fanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

➵ high school girl with magical powers, an evil force, a group rebuilding their friendship, a diverse cast, and a growing sapphic romance—everything sounded perfect and everything delivered a *lot* through soft outlines with a bold palette of colours that is intentionally retro.

[Victoria ✮⋆˙ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay that was so good!! I'm so excited to read the sequel!

Honestly this might be my favourite magical girl comic now, it's just so wholesome

[Artemis Crescent · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Zodiac Starforce: By the Power of Astra’


“How is a star formed? It begins with a collapse.”


I have waited for over half a year for this comic to come out in my country. Seems fitting then that the book’s themes orbit around the zodiac star signs - Gemini wins out!

There are many reasons why this was perhaps my most highly anticipated graphic novel to date, whose hype miraculously exceeded my expectations. Mainly it’s because, and this should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me, I love the Magical Girl genre. I love or at least guilty pleasure-watch a lot of anime about magical girls - not limited to ‘Sailor Moon’; for there’s also ‘Madoka Magica’, ‘Princess Tutu’, 'Revolutionary Girl Utena', ‘Cardcaptor Sakura’, ‘Tokyo Mew Mew’, ‘Wedding Peach’, really I could go on. In the West we have shows like ‘Winx Club’, ‘W.I.T.C.H.’, and ‘Steven Universe’. Even ‘The Powerpuff Girls’ was a response to the Magical Girl-type anime of the nineties as well as a parody of superheroes.

I was a huge fan of girl power shows and books long before I knew what feminism was. I’ve just always loved seeing girls kick butt and save the world, usually through compassion and empathy - non-violent solutions. They would solve major conflicts and other problems through talking and expressing emotions openly without fear. Having emotions is a source of strength for these characters, not a weakness. Yeah it’s sexist, and the girls have to fit traditional, skinny beauty standards, and get boyfriends in the form of “true love”. But similar to the early days of ‘Wonder Woman’, the magical girls strike a pose and make a stand for femininity as a positive thing, a force for good to all man-and-woman-kind.

The typical Magical Girl themes of friendship and love may seem really cheesy, sappy and juvenile, but they are in fact important principles to live by in reality. Outside of all the magic stuff - which I also love - these girls can help to teach valuable lessons about life and hope; nobody should have to struggle alone, and people can be kind and generous enough to be by your side no matter what. This resonated with me personally growing up, and watching these young women conquer evil while being a female-centered team made me feel no longer so alone.

What can I say, I am a softy at heart who adores these sorts of characters. It’s why I also love superheroes and heroines who come from a planetary-wide diversity prism, reflecting real people - heroic in their own way -in our mundane, scary, harsh, but varied and rewarding world.

This review became an essay on the Magical Girl genre without my intending it to. So to get back on track I’ll actually talk about ‘Zodiac Starforce’. It’s a modern tribute to the whole genre, and to female heroes in general. A love letter that clearly knows what it is and knows who would want to read it - someone like me, who grew up in the nineties surrounded by girl power imagery.

The creators love magical girls, and it shows on every colourful and beautiful page. ‘Zodiac Starforce’ is everything I love about a much underappreciated genre and more: A sympathetic lead (with mad and great hair); female friendships (this is a HUGE theme here); a female villain with a compelling backstory and understandable motivations; morals about the importance of love, family, and free will; and that having faith alone won’t solve anything, but as long as you stay strong on the inside, persevere and never give up on hope, you’ll eventually succeed.

‘Zodiac Starforce’ doesn’t outright parody or deconstruct the ‘Sailor Moon’ formula into extremely dark places (like ‘Madoka Magica’). More like it analyses the tropes with an affectionate eye, and through a self-awareness that’s neither cynical, lazy nor jaded, it conducts its own original twists and ideas. It has depth, it has intense and exciting moments where the stakes get higher and higher - and the reader cares because they care about the characters.

Ahh the characters. I remember each and every one of them:

The “leader” of the Zodiac Starforce team is Emma, aka Gemini, a sensitive soul who has been dealing with a lot of tragedy and grief. But she is not as soft as she seems, and through all her tears she is no doubt the heart of the group and the whole comic. Yes her signature colour is pink, and her hair turns pink when she transforms into her magical girl self, but she isn’t white, and that’s a bloody big plus. Quite a stylish girl too, is Emma. Her design looks akin to that of Jem from a certain band of holograms.

Kim, aka Taurus, is a boisterous “tomboy” who acts as the big sister of the group. She cares deeply for her friends and wants nothing more than to get the team back together after two years out of action (this book isn’t an origin story, so it gets right into the action, with information sprinkled here and there to avoid confusing the readers). Kim possesses super strength as a magical girl, and both defends and rushes into battles like a bull (she even calls her magical armour, “Heavenly Bull Armor”). If Emma is the heart, then Kim is all the muscles pumping the life force and spirit into the heart. She also has a nice boyfriend who doesn’t get in the way of the story at all.

Savanna “Savi”, aka Pisces, is a freckled, quick, nimble, pixie-like bisexual who like Kim is funny in her own manner. Her sexual identity is explored and developed wonderfully throughout; nothing seems forced, and it is remarkable to behold.

Molly, aka Ares, at first appears to be a typical aloof, sullen and sarcastic girl. She is the most reluctant to join the Starforce again, and gets into arguments at a hair-trigger (she resembles both the manga and anime personalities of Sailor Mars). But like the others, Molly is always concerned for her friends, and is incredibly tough and competitive. She is also Asian, adding to the diversity well.

Last but not least is the new addition to the Zodiac Starforce, Lily - Libra - a shy Black girl who becomes more confident and trusting towards her new friends through her relationship with Savi. This even becomes a plot point and helps to reinforce the book’s major themes near the end.

The main villain is the ominous dark goddess Cimmeria, coming back from another dimension after her major defeat by the Starforce two years previously. She’s the dark counterpart to Astra, the goddess who assembles the Zodiac Starforce soldiers to save the world from monsters. Astra isn't much better herself, however, but that's another story. Cimmeria’s minion is Diana. In a fine subversion of the high school mean girl clique cliché, Diana is not evil, cruel or manipulative for the sake of it. I won’t say any more due to spoilers, but her character will be difficult to hate by the end.

I am just delighted by the diversity - race, LBGTQ etc. - of these young women’s designs and complex personalities. As well as the magic and portals to other dimensions going on, the characterization of ‘Zodiac Starforce’ is a fantastic, revolutionary crème de la crème.

Flaws include a very fast-pace throughout the book which makes it look rushed sometimes, and with only four issues/chapters in the trade collection it is like a pilot to a much bigger story. The mini web issues, character sketches and cover art at the end are nice, though.

I think I’ve said my piece. ‘Zodiac Starforce’ - A star-studded nostalgia trip, a maximum sate for modern fans of the Magical Girl genre... A celestial celebration of the entire concept of girl power and all it stands for. It’s bright, charming, action-packed, fun, and gorgeous, with a lurking darkness beginning as a shadow, then turning into a total eclipse. Ending in a sparkly, galaxy-sized bang in the form of a message that loudly sings of compassion, companionship, love and hope in the midst of tragedy and loneliness.

I strongly recommend ‘Zodiac Starforce: By the Power of Astra’ to all Magical Girl fans, and girl power fans, and fans of three-dimensional, well-rounded female characters.

This star was formed, and transformed into a gem, made for me.

Final Score: 5/5

[Anne (ReadEatGameRepeat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just a really fun volume, I really loved the girls together I'll always have a weak spot for books that have girl-friendships as a central theme. I'm looking forward to reading more of this story in the next volume soon. This comic just has a little bit of everything.

my only downside for this is that it felt like I was reading a sequel - I stopped reading about halfway through just to check that I in fact was not reading a sequel. The girls have a lot of history between them and especially also for their adventures as the zodiac starforce and it felt at points like I was supposed to know much more about the adventures than I did.

I sitll had a good time though and I'm very excited to get to the next volume (and also kinda sad that there are only 2 volumes).

[⭒Christie ☽✯➳✯☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Loved the art style & bonus material at the end of this trade. 💕

[Madi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute but kind of confusing. I'm not sure if this was a web comic but I got lost a lot since there was zero back story. But SO CUTE.