What do you think?
Rate this book
Steven Universe (2017) #5-8
Steven Universe: Punching Up (Vol. 2)
An all-new set of adventures for the characters of the hit Cartoon Network TV series!
Steven, the Crystal Gems, and the whole Beach City gang embark on new Steven and the Gems enter a wrestling league, get lost in a haunted corn maze, and find a mysterious beach house.
Join writers Melanie Gillman and Grace Kraft with illustrators Katy Farina ( The Amazing World of Gumball ) and Rii Abrego for the ongoing exploits of Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe.
Steven, the Crystal Gems, and the whole Beach City gang embark on new Steven and the Gems enter a wrestling league, get lost in a haunted corn maze, and find a mysterious beach house.
Join writers Melanie Gillman and Grace Kraft with illustrators Katy Farina ( The Amazing World of Gumball ) and Rii Abrego for the ongoing exploits of Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe.
112 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2018
12 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 15, 2020
Cute and fun stories about Lion, wrestling, fishing, and corn mazes. A good Steven fix between episodes as I near the end of rewatching the whole series and prepare to watch the movie for the first time.
April 29, 2021
This one was fun! Lion’s day on his own, Peach Panther <3, the fishing day that led to onion and his dad being the day savers, and peridot and lapis’s corn maze (though I worry about the longevity of this one as they close up the hole where the gem monster lives). I appreciate that these comics exist because I get to revisit the Steven Universe world with all new stories. I’m excited for more!
April 7, 2018
This is a slick edition of four comics from the ongoing series begun in 2017--issues five through eight. Though there's no new content, comics-wise, there are cover galleries that allow you to see all the variants. All the stories are fun, and I like this type of storytelling better than the original comic series--each "chapter" has one story instead of the way they had one main story and several shorts in the original eight-issue series. The four chapters don't connect to each other to tell a continuous story overall though.
I don't think there was a single chapter in this collection that was a standout favorite; I liked them all about the same except for thinking #5 (about Lion) was the weakest. There was one that was precious in which Pearl and Amethyst became wrestling partners, so seeing the refined Pearl as the Peach Panther in the wrestling ring was really funny (and I like their relationship). There were also two issues that included a lot of adorable content that focused on my favorite character Garnet; #8 was primarily about Steven and Garnet solving a corn maze (and fighting a monster that happened to be in it), and Garnet being a mom in that one was funny and cute--but #7 also had Garnet just being a competent leader and owning her role calling the shots on the Gem Sloop. I heart her.
I've reviewed each individual issue of the comics so I won't repeat here. Just know I think this book is quite worth it.
I don't think there was a single chapter in this collection that was a standout favorite; I liked them all about the same except for thinking #5 (about Lion) was the weakest. There was one that was precious in which Pearl and Amethyst became wrestling partners, so seeing the refined Pearl as the Peach Panther in the wrestling ring was really funny (and I like their relationship). There were also two issues that included a lot of adorable content that focused on my favorite character Garnet; #8 was primarily about Steven and Garnet solving a corn maze (and fighting a monster that happened to be in it), and Garnet being a mom in that one was funny and cute--but #7 also had Garnet just being a competent leader and owning her role calling the shots on the Gem Sloop. I heart her.
I've reviewed each individual issue of the comics so I won't repeat here. Just know I think this book is quite worth it.
August 6, 2020
Shrawan 22, 2077, Thursday
Steven Universe: Punching Up - Melanie Gillman (Goodreads Author) (Writer), Rebecca Sugar (Creator), Grace Kraft (Writer), Katy Farina, Rii Abrego (2018)
(Steven Universe (2017) #5-8)
Genre: Sequential Art > Graphic Novels/ Fiction/ Comics/ Childrens > Middle Grade/ Fantasy
Pages: 112
Rating: 8/10
Theme: Love/ Family/ Relationship
Opener:
“Wow! That went surprisingly well! Lucky for us it was a pretty small Gem Beast.”
Summary:
Steven, the Crystal Gems, and the whole Beach City gang embark on new adventures: Steven and the Gems enter a wrestling league, get lost in a haunted corn maze, and find a mysterious beach house.
Final Review:
Who could say no to that pink Lion? Lighthearted fun adventures for the win. Breezy read through. The artwork is colorful and cute and the stories whimsical.
Steven Universe: Punching Up - Melanie Gillman (Goodreads Author) (Writer), Rebecca Sugar (Creator), Grace Kraft (Writer), Katy Farina, Rii Abrego (2018)
(Steven Universe (2017) #5-8)
Genre: Sequential Art > Graphic Novels/ Fiction/ Comics/ Childrens > Middle Grade/ Fantasy
Pages: 112
Rating: 8/10
Theme: Love/ Family/ Relationship
Opener:
“Wow! That went surprisingly well! Lucky for us it was a pretty small Gem Beast.”
Summary:
Steven, the Crystal Gems, and the whole Beach City gang embark on new adventures: Steven and the Gems enter a wrestling league, get lost in a haunted corn maze, and find a mysterious beach house.
Final Review:
Who could say no to that pink Lion? Lighthearted fun adventures for the win. Breezy read through. The artwork is colorful and cute and the stories whimsical.
November 25, 2018
Steven Universe is always like a ray of sunshine through a cloudy day - as empowering as it is warm. “Punching Up” is a set of stories that provide glimpses into the worlds of the gems, letting us see who they are when they let their guard down. From Lion’s adventures when Steven leaves him “sleeping lazily through the day”, to Pearl’s explorations of confidence and need to express herself, to Garnet’s willingness to allow for a little bit of moral ambiguity, these stories are as adorable as they are powerful.
October 25, 2019
I love the expansion of the Steven Universe...universe (lol) and seeing the bits of story that we don’t see in the TV series. Lion is particularly interesting as we don’t know much about its origin other than one thing (I won’t spoil for those who haven’t seen the show) - I’m intrigued by its power to create portals and stand on water!
I love getting to see more of Pearl and Garnet’s personalities too. They’re adorable.
Peridot’s facial expressions are everything.
I love getting to see more of Pearl and Garnet’s personalities too. They’re adorable.
Peridot’s facial expressions are everything.
February 28, 2019
Some of these are quite trivial and some of them are just as good as the show (ie very good indeed).
September 27, 2019
Good graphic series. I like the lessons about being a family. Good for 4th and up.
October 27, 2021
From a Lion lazing to corn maze mysteries, these stories are sweet little adventures that any fan of the show would enjoy.
December 8, 2021
The Lion story was the best and should have been an actual episode on the show!!
March 10, 2019
As with many comics originally released in individual issues, the publishers later released this trade paperback compilation of the issues--5 through 8 in Volume 2, with more volumes scheduled for release after the individual issues have been out a while.
I had already written outlines and reviews of the four comics as they came out. There's not much point in writing up rereleased content, but just for your info, I'll spotlight the included stories and list the variant covers!
CHAPTER FIVE is about what Lion does all day.
For issue 5 there were FOUR covers included!
1. The main cover: Steven with Garnet examining bubbles, by Missy Peña.
2. Subscription cover: Steven and Connie in the arena with Pearl and Holo Pearl, by Rian Sygh.
3. Variant cover: A pattern of Lion amongat roses, by Sara Talmadge.
4. San Diego Comic Con exclusive cover: Steven flying on Lion, holding Lapis's hand while she flies too, by Paulina Ganucheau.
CHAPTER SIX is about Pearl and Amethyst becoming wrestling partners in the underground wrestling league.
For issue 6 there are THREE covers included!
1. Main cover: Lapis flying with Steven on her back, carrying Peridot by one arm, by Missy Peña.
2. Subscription cover: Sugilite towering over Pearl and Steven amidst destruction with a Japanese caption, by Josceline Fenton. (Note: the Japanese text says "kaiju joou"--monster queen--and Sugilite's name in a weird translation.)
3. Variant cover: Steven, Connie, and Lion with flower crowns, by Sara Talmadge.
CHAPTER SEVEN is about a mission to recover an artifact on the Gem Sloop.
For issue 7 there were THREE covers included!
1. Main cover: Garnet and Pearl walking down the beach holding Steven's hands so his feet are off the ground, with Amethyst flying behind in Owl form, by Missy Peña.
2. Subscription cover: Sardonyx with a microphone, next to Steven sitting on a suspended moon, both singing, by Josceline Fenton.
3. Variant cover: Steven floating in his house eating a yummy confection, above the other Gems who are standing or seated at the counter, by Sara Talmadge.
CHAPTER EIGHT is about Garnet attending a corn maze with Steven and solving a Gem monster mystery.
For issue 8 there were THREE covers included!
1. Main cover: Amethyst on a starry background with Cookie Cats, by Missy Peña.
2. Subscription cover: The Crystal Gems from the back facing away from the camera, dressed in casual/punky clothes, by Paulina Ganucheau.
3. Variant cover: Gems in a stylized series of ocean waves, by Sara Talmadge.
There is NO other new content in the book, so if you only care about having all the stories and already own individual issues, there is no need to get this. But if you prefer having them all together and want the variant cover art, pick it up!
For me, the best one might've been #6 with the wrestling or #7 with the fun trip on the sea, though #8 is also great because of the cute Garnet moments despite the sort of weak plot. I think the weakest was #5 with the depiction of Lion's day, since there's not much to process even though there are some cute moments between characters. It's all worth reading, though.
I had already written outlines and reviews of the four comics as they came out. There's not much point in writing up rereleased content, but just for your info, I'll spotlight the included stories and list the variant covers!
CHAPTER FIVE is about what Lion does all day.
For issue 5 there were FOUR covers included!
1. The main cover: Steven with Garnet examining bubbles, by Missy Peña.
2. Subscription cover: Steven and Connie in the arena with Pearl and Holo Pearl, by Rian Sygh.
3. Variant cover: A pattern of Lion amongat roses, by Sara Talmadge.
4. San Diego Comic Con exclusive cover: Steven flying on Lion, holding Lapis's hand while she flies too, by Paulina Ganucheau.
CHAPTER SIX is about Pearl and Amethyst becoming wrestling partners in the underground wrestling league.
For issue 6 there are THREE covers included!
1. Main cover: Lapis flying with Steven on her back, carrying Peridot by one arm, by Missy Peña.
2. Subscription cover: Sugilite towering over Pearl and Steven amidst destruction with a Japanese caption, by Josceline Fenton. (Note: the Japanese text says "kaiju joou"--monster queen--and Sugilite's name in a weird translation.)
3. Variant cover: Steven, Connie, and Lion with flower crowns, by Sara Talmadge.
CHAPTER SEVEN is about a mission to recover an artifact on the Gem Sloop.
For issue 7 there were THREE covers included!
1. Main cover: Garnet and Pearl walking down the beach holding Steven's hands so his feet are off the ground, with Amethyst flying behind in Owl form, by Missy Peña.
2. Subscription cover: Sardonyx with a microphone, next to Steven sitting on a suspended moon, both singing, by Josceline Fenton.
3. Variant cover: Steven floating in his house eating a yummy confection, above the other Gems who are standing or seated at the counter, by Sara Talmadge.
CHAPTER EIGHT is about Garnet attending a corn maze with Steven and solving a Gem monster mystery.
For issue 8 there were THREE covers included!
1. Main cover: Amethyst on a starry background with Cookie Cats, by Missy Peña.
2. Subscription cover: The Crystal Gems from the back facing away from the camera, dressed in casual/punky clothes, by Paulina Ganucheau.
3. Variant cover: Gems in a stylized series of ocean waves, by Sara Talmadge.
There is NO other new content in the book, so if you only care about having all the stories and already own individual issues, there is no need to get this. But if you prefer having them all together and want the variant cover art, pick it up!
For me, the best one might've been #6 with the wrestling or #7 with the fun trip on the sea, though #8 is also great because of the cute Garnet moments despite the sort of weak plot. I think the weakest was #5 with the depiction of Lion's day, since there's not much to process even though there are some cute moments between characters. It's all worth reading, though.
August 2, 2018
I will have a review of this coming soon on No Flying No Tights.
July 25, 2019
Anything surrounding Lion gets my praise. Also haunted things. This was just a plethora of grins and laughs from start to end. I'm really enjoying making my way through these volumes; they're fast and always amusing. I just adore every single one of these characters to bits, and the dialogue in the graphic novels matches perfectly with the show so I can almost hear their voices as I read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews