What do you think?
Rate this book
Zodiac Starforce (Collected Editions) #2
Zodiac Starforce Volume 2: Cries of the Fire Prince
High school is anything but average for this gang of demon-fighting magical girls! The team forms a surprising alliance with their secretive UK counterparts to save their town and themselves!After defeating a former Zodiac Member and her mean-girl minions, the girls thought they'd catch a break! But once a mean magical girl, always a mean magical girl and Libra's former best friend wants that power back! Determined to bring the goddess Cimmeria into our dimension, her coven opens a portal to the dark dimension Nephos, only they don't get what they bargained for. A new big-bad has come out to play and demons begin to overrun the town! Zodiac Starforce discovers they aren't the only Zodiac team in the game and together they form a tenuous alliance to find out who's behind the demon infestation. The series Comics Alliance calls "your favorite new magical girl team" returns with even more laughs, crushes, and monsters in their latest adventure! Collects Zodiac Starforce 2 #1-#4.
136 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 14, 2018
8 people are currently reading
533 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Panetta
40 books338 followersKevin 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
June 15, 2018
(I've been reading this in singles but since #4 is out I might as well mark the vol instead)
I'm so glad they brought this series back! I really loved volume one, the story, the diversity, the lgbt+ rep! It's all so perfect and it really deserved a second volume.
The story in this one was super interesting and rounded out this arc nicely, whilst still keeping it open for a new one, I really hope we get more soon.
I'm so glad they brought this series back! I really loved volume one, the story, the diversity, the lgbt+ rep! It's all so perfect and it really deserved a second volume.
The story in this one was super interesting and rounded out this arc nicely, whilst still keeping it open for a new one, I really hope we get more soon.
September 11, 2018
that cliffhanger... you don't have a heart @ kevin panetta.
April 29, 2019
Zodiac Starforce is a wonderful comicbook series and I honestly am craving more volumes. Please and thank you.
October 30, 2018
PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BE THE END ;_;
January 21, 2020
So much fun!! I really hope this series continues, I can’t wait to see where the story goes.
September 5, 2018
This was again a really enjoyable and quick read for me, slightly even better than the first volume because there are new characters, there are two sweet romances taking place and the banter between all of the members of the team is just adorable and even more fun. However, I still feel that the plot is a bit rushed to the point that I lose the thread on how they actually beat the bad guy. I also feel that the volumes are too condensed trying to squeeze in character development, several relationships, new characters, actions scenes, etc.
August 17, 2018
Paulina Ganucheau's art is as pretty as ever but the Panetta's story manages to be even more threadbare than the first volume. I already don't care about any of these characters or their token struggles and this volume dumps five more underdeveloped scouts onto the pile.
October 24, 2018
I LOVE THESE GIRLS SO MUCH
this was such a good addition to volume 1 the fire prince was such a fun old school sailor moon-ish villain bUT OMG THAT CLIFFHANGER 😩😩 IM NOT OKAY THERE BETTER BE A VOLUME 3 IN THE WORKS
Read
June 4, 2024
Trigger & Content Warnings
Knife violence
Murder (human sacrifice)
Knife violence
Murder (human sacrifice)
June 4, 2019
Issues 5-8
So... I read the second volume without reading the first one (ups)
Overall I didn't like the story... The idea of having characters that represent a zodiac sign is interesting but the characters don’t have any link to their sign in any way besides the name. I found the story very ambiguous and quick and nothing really happened. I’m sure I would have a better understanding with the first volume read but still it felt flat.
There is a thin layer of female power that is always well appreciated but I would take that as the only reason to consider the story 'good'.
The illustrations the color, the fonts are 5/5. Sadly I cannot based my rating only on the visual.
----------
Magical Readthon 2018 - Charms ExtraCredit Incendio: Read a book with fire on the cover / in the title.
So... I read the second volume without reading the first one (ups)
Overall I didn't like the story... The idea of having characters that represent a zodiac sign is interesting but the characters don’t have any link to their sign in any way besides the name. I found the story very ambiguous and quick and nothing really happened. I’m sure I would have a better understanding with the first volume read but still it felt flat.
There is a thin layer of female power that is always well appreciated but I would take that as the only reason to consider the story 'good'.
The illustrations the color, the fonts are 5/5. Sadly I cannot based my rating only on the visual.
----------
Magical Readthon 2018 - Charms ExtraCredit Incendio: Read a book with fire on the cover / in the title.
December 12, 2018
this graphic novel series is so much fun!
honestly I probably should have reread the first one so I could remember how everything left off. It made things a bit confusing and I couldn’t remember who everyone was, but that’s my own error!
can’t wait for the next volume!
honestly I probably should have reread the first one so I could remember how everything left off. It made things a bit confusing and I couldn’t remember who everyone was, but that’s my own error!
can’t wait for the next volume!
August 29, 2023
Just as generic and ho-hum as the first volume as far as the story goes. Paulina Ganucheau's art is pretty great though.
The book ends on a cliffhanger, but it's been five years without a sequel, so I'm sort of doubting it will ever be resolved.
The book ends on a cliffhanger, but it's been five years without a sequel, so I'm sort of doubting it will ever be resolved.
August 31, 2025
I wish I had looked into this series before picking up this volume because is great, it fixed a lot of issues I had in the first volume and by the end I really cared about the girls....and then I got to the last page of this volume and it said "to be continued" and it has not been continued....turns out there was a whole legal issue happened with a pattent troll (apparenty) and the creators just can't continue with the series now - which I understand and am empathetic towards the situation it sounds so rought, but selfishly like....I just want to know everyone will be okay.
Anyway, you might be able to tell by the level of my upset that this volume was really good and I had such a good time with this volume. There are thoughts I have but they are spoilery so I'll just keep them in my head.
Anyway, you might be able to tell by the level of my upset that this volume was really good and I had such a good time with this volume. There are thoughts I have but they are spoilery so I'll just keep them in my head.
October 2, 2018
Can they just make a TV show out of this already?! Love it.
December 18, 2018
Zodiac Starforce continues to be the Giant Days of superhero comics, but with considerably fewer character moments and considerably more punching dull bad guys. To wit: Alice and her coven raise Pavos from wherever. He's a smoldering hunk who just wants to make Cimmeria love him - so he destroys everything? I dunno. Like I said: dull.
The members of the Starforce each get two or three pages to cover their various personal lives. This stuff is good! This is what makes the series enjoyable. But suddenly we're introduced to a second Starforce with another five members to get to know and, oh right, Pavos is shooting fire at everything and by the last issue it's all too much. Overload! Let the character moments shine, don't drown them in plot and explosions!
The members of the Starforce each get two or three pages to cover their various personal lives. This stuff is good! This is what makes the series enjoyable. But suddenly we're introduced to a second Starforce with another five members to get to know and, oh right, Pavos is shooting fire at everything and by the last issue it's all too much. Overload! Let the character moments shine, don't drown them in plot and explosions!
August 20, 2018
This was SO short and honestly, apparently the first volume was very forgettable as I didn't remember who half of the characters were and what was going on. (that or it was too long between volume 1 and 2). This was VERY short. About 1/3 of the book is the behind the scenes making of the covers and art work pieces. The rest is the comic which was very much rushed. The storyline was kinda wonky (in order to use your super power you need to know your catch phrase, but apparently you don't know it...until the EXACT moment you really need it and then omg you suddenly know it.....mmhmm..) Plus the other Zodiac's show up and it's just...weird. I don't think I'll be continuing the series.
April 15, 2019
This continues to be SO GOOD!!!! I’m gonna need there to be more ASAP ok??
September 2, 2020
I loved the addition of the UK team and the updated costumes and character designs, but the plot was a little hard to follow.
January 27, 2023
Yeah! I finally got the sequel to one of my favourite comics!
And I have to say, it is very different from what I expected, and I barely knew what to expect to begin with. Basically, it's about how our five kickass girls of the Zodiac Starforce (of America?), Emma, Kim, Molly, Savi and Lily, have to fight monsters, and then a Big Bad named Pavos (the titular fire prince), a blue-skinned, pink-haired metrosexual, summoned by Diana's minions from the last volume. He was formerly betrothed to the dark goddess Cimmeria. Unsurprisingly, she is not the only goddess not to appear in this instalment; Astra is AWOL, too, powerful guardian and caring mentor that she is.
Normal lives, normal friendships, and normal relationships clash with the supernatural threat and terror. But then the Zodiac Starforce of England turn up in their own spaceship, and appear to want to help the teenage girl heroes. But there is distrust and ulterior motives all around. Secrets and hormones. But they learn to work together and everything works out fine in the end. Or does it?
'Zodiac Starforce Volume 2: Cries of the Fire Prince' is very dramatic and fun. A lot of action is on display, but it doesn't detract from the character pieces and development.
The leader Emma, aka Gemini, is, out of the blue, having boy trouble, and she appears to have grown much more violent and aggressive after the events of the first volume. But her confidence, sensitivity, and protectiveness of her friends always shine through.
Kim, aka Taurus, is brilliant; we see her family and home problems, her adorable and supportive relationship with her boyfriend (we need more of this portrayed in media in general), and her ambition to be a wrestler - we need stories about lady wrestlers, please! Plus she has Sailor Moon's Moon Stick in her room - a fun little detail!
Molly, aka Ares, is more fleshed out than in the previous instalment; she is given more to do, has meaningful interactions with her friends, especially Emma, and the foreshadowings of her future development are excellently done. What direction is the writer taking her?
Savi, aka Pieces, has a pet tortoise named Hellboy. Oh, and she's as cute and tomboyish as ever, and her relationship with Lily, aka Libra, the newest member of the Starforce, is realistic and ultimately positive; the message is that communication is the key to making any relationship work.
The outgoing Savi and the shy Lily, who doubts being special and important to the team, work wonders together as lovers. Nice 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' namedrop, too.
Really, everything about these girls and their friendship with one another is charming.
In this volume we meet some new characters: Capricorn (no other name given), the older leader of the Starforce of Britain; Sam, aka Cancer, the male medic and healer; Alex, aka Aquarius, the blue-haired archer; Jack, aka Leo, the ladies man; Lux Han, aka Sagittarius, a funny and sarcastic whip girl (in more ways than one); and Jenny, aka Virgo, the distrustful grouch of the team who cannot let go of the past.
Each of these magical people, more experienced that Emma and her magical girls, are diverse, and some subvert gender stereotypes, such as Sam being the healer who doesn't really fight, and Lux is a tracker. I've wanted to see British magical girls since forever, as well! Not a lot is revealed about them yet, however. Regardless, they, along with everyone else in 'Zodiac Starforce', would make fun playable characters in a fighting game.
The villains are certainly memorable. Before even getting to the fire prince, we have Alice... and there's no real point in talking about Cimmeria's other rejected minions, because Alice steals every panel she's in. From barely having a presence in the previous 'Zodiac Starforce' adventure, here she is a leader, and certifiably insane and mad with power. Like a demented, psychopathic Alice in Wonderland, dressed in black. Clearly she was inspired by evil blonde characters in shows like 'Buffy'.
Pavos, the flamboyant and narcissistic demon, freed from his five-hundred-years-prison by Alice in a blood-sacrifice ritual meant to summon Cimmeria, can be annoying and OTT - meant to parody 'Sailor Moon' villains - but he has his funny moments. His deadly powers and drive to remorselessly kill anyone in his path make him a legitimate threat.
Any complaints I have about 'Cries of the Fire Prince' can be overlooked and understood in reflection and hindsight. Though I'm not sure about Emma's hetero love life and where it's going. The High School Detective Club from the first volume went nowhere in volume 2, except to have the only HSDC member to appear in it (who was literally in the background previously) serve as Emma's failing relationship. Where did that come from? How? But yeah, the club of ordinary teens who are fans of the Zodiac Starforce and can potentially be a help to the girls - they are brushed aside to make way for the other Starforce team.
Also, who made the creative decision to have one character say, "I think [spoiler name] is hurt", when the person they are referring to is bloodied, beaten and unconscious in their arms? You THINK they're hurt!?
And volume 2 ends in a cliffhanger. *sigh*.
But I am excited as to where the storyline goes next. Mostly in regards to Emma and Molly. Let Kim be a wrestler, too!
Oh yeah, and I do ship Emma and Molly. They are great together, as best friends, developing into something more, hopefully?
'Zodiac Starforce Volume 2: Cries of the Fire Prince' does its job - I am craving for more of this new magical girl team! Seeing as I am usually majorly disappointed by sequels, that is astronomical praise coming from me. The character work is strong, if limited due to issue length, and so are the action and drama. The artwork is lovely, colourful and expressive as ever.
So while I don't think it's as good as volume 1, it is a worthy sequel to the 2016 hit.
If this franchise doesn't become famous in the comics sphere, if not beyond, merely due to its genre, then I don't know what to believe in anymore. Magical girls are cool, as I've stated many, many times before. 'Sailor Moon' and its silk ilk and influences are heavenly gifts!
Final Score: 4/5
And I have to say, it is very different from what I expected, and I barely knew what to expect to begin with. Basically, it's about how our five kickass girls of the Zodiac Starforce (of America?), Emma, Kim, Molly, Savi and Lily, have to fight monsters, and then a Big Bad named Pavos (the titular fire prince), a blue-skinned, pink-haired metrosexual, summoned by Diana's minions from the last volume. He was formerly betrothed to the dark goddess Cimmeria. Unsurprisingly, she is not the only goddess not to appear in this instalment; Astra is AWOL, too, powerful guardian and caring mentor that she is.
Normal lives, normal friendships, and normal relationships clash with the supernatural threat and terror. But then the Zodiac Starforce of England turn up in their own spaceship, and appear to want to help the teenage girl heroes. But there is distrust and ulterior motives all around. Secrets and hormones. But they learn to work together and everything works out fine in the end. Or does it?
'Zodiac Starforce Volume 2: Cries of the Fire Prince' is very dramatic and fun. A lot of action is on display, but it doesn't detract from the character pieces and development.
The leader Emma, aka Gemini, is, out of the blue, having boy trouble, and she appears to have grown much more violent and aggressive after the events of the first volume. But her confidence, sensitivity, and protectiveness of her friends always shine through.
Kim, aka Taurus, is brilliant; we see her family and home problems, her adorable and supportive relationship with her boyfriend (we need more of this portrayed in media in general), and her ambition to be a wrestler - we need stories about lady wrestlers, please! Plus she has Sailor Moon's Moon Stick in her room - a fun little detail!
Molly, aka Ares, is more fleshed out than in the previous instalment; she is given more to do, has meaningful interactions with her friends, especially Emma, and the foreshadowings of her future development are excellently done. What direction is the writer taking her?
Savi, aka Pieces, has a pet tortoise named Hellboy. Oh, and she's as cute and tomboyish as ever, and her relationship with Lily, aka Libra, the newest member of the Starforce, is realistic and ultimately positive; the message is that communication is the key to making any relationship work.
The outgoing Savi and the shy Lily, who doubts being special and important to the team, work wonders together as lovers. Nice 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' namedrop, too.
Really, everything about these girls and their friendship with one another is charming.
In this volume we meet some new characters: Capricorn (no other name given), the older leader of the Starforce of Britain; Sam, aka Cancer, the male medic and healer; Alex, aka Aquarius, the blue-haired archer; Jack, aka Leo, the ladies man; Lux Han, aka Sagittarius, a funny and sarcastic whip girl (in more ways than one); and Jenny, aka Virgo, the distrustful grouch of the team who cannot let go of the past.
Each of these magical people, more experienced that Emma and her magical girls, are diverse, and some subvert gender stereotypes, such as Sam being the healer who doesn't really fight, and Lux is a tracker. I've wanted to see British magical girls since forever, as well! Not a lot is revealed about them yet, however. Regardless, they, along with everyone else in 'Zodiac Starforce', would make fun playable characters in a fighting game.
The villains are certainly memorable. Before even getting to the fire prince, we have Alice... and there's no real point in talking about Cimmeria's other rejected minions, because Alice steals every panel she's in. From barely having a presence in the previous 'Zodiac Starforce' adventure, here she is a leader, and certifiably insane and mad with power. Like a demented, psychopathic Alice in Wonderland, dressed in black. Clearly she was inspired by evil blonde characters in shows like 'Buffy'.
Pavos, the flamboyant and narcissistic demon, freed from his five-hundred-years-prison by Alice in a blood-sacrifice ritual meant to summon Cimmeria, can be annoying and OTT - meant to parody 'Sailor Moon' villains - but he has his funny moments. His deadly powers and drive to remorselessly kill anyone in his path make him a legitimate threat.
Any complaints I have about 'Cries of the Fire Prince' can be overlooked and understood in reflection and hindsight. Though I'm not sure about Emma's hetero love life and where it's going. The High School Detective Club from the first volume went nowhere in volume 2, except to have the only HSDC member to appear in it (who was literally in the background previously) serve as Emma's failing relationship. Where did that come from? How? But yeah, the club of ordinary teens who are fans of the Zodiac Starforce and can potentially be a help to the girls - they are brushed aside to make way for the other Starforce team.
Also, who made the creative decision to have one character say, "I think [spoiler name] is hurt", when the person they are referring to is bloodied, beaten and unconscious in their arms? You THINK they're hurt!?
And volume 2 ends in a cliffhanger. *sigh*.
But I am excited as to where the storyline goes next. Mostly in regards to Emma and Molly. Let Kim be a wrestler, too!
Oh yeah, and I do ship Emma and Molly. They are great together, as best friends, developing into something more, hopefully?
'Zodiac Starforce Volume 2: Cries of the Fire Prince' does its job - I am craving for more of this new magical girl team! Seeing as I am usually majorly disappointed by sequels, that is astronomical praise coming from me. The character work is strong, if limited due to issue length, and so are the action and drama. The artwork is lovely, colourful and expressive as ever.
So while I don't think it's as good as volume 1, it is a worthy sequel to the 2016 hit.
If this franchise doesn't become famous in the comics sphere, if not beyond, merely due to its genre, then I don't know what to believe in anymore. Magical girls are cool, as I've stated many, many times before. 'Sailor Moon' and its silk ilk and influences are heavenly gifts!
Final Score: 4/5
January 10, 2020
Definitely an improvement on the first volume, the artwork remains fantastic but the story is far more engaging and the stakes are more dire. I loved the inclusion of a second Starforce team and the new villain and just wonderful. Unfortunately, unlike the 1st volume, this one has a cliff hanger ending. So far, there have been no announcements about the continuation of the series, so we may never know what happens next.
August 27, 2018
Great representation, strong characters, interesting family dynamics, and hella cute artstyle!!
July 14, 2019
A cool Volume
I wish there was a bit more development with the characters because the development that there was was really great.
I hope that there is a third volume.
I wish there was a bit more development with the characters because the development that there was was really great.
I hope that there is a third volume.
December 14, 2018
I need more. Mooooore. This zodiac, sapphic X-men-esque graphic novel is everything. WHY can I find nothing of future publications??? :(
February 19, 2021
Wait, what!? You end it on a cliffhanger like that!!?
Can't wait for the next one, whenever it may be coming!
Can't wait for the next one, whenever it may be coming!
September 17, 2018
GIVE ME THE SCORPIO CHARACTER ARC NOW! Also Pavos is the gender fluid king of my dreams. I'm gonna have a rough time waiting for the third volume of this, sigh, the art style is so good and the writing stayed consistent while also letting the characters develop instead of becoming caricatures of their original characters (which I notice happens more and a lot faster in graphic novels than any other form of media). I'm excited to see where these awesome ladies go and how much butt they kick.
November 24, 2018
welcome back to another episode of rambling observations
#1
Josh (finally learned his name!) is so supportive of Kim, it's so beautiful. Well, that answers what happened to Diana's minions. Lily got unbrainwashed by the power of gay so what about the other minions? Also, is that a cult with magic powers?
#2
Imagine living in a world where most everything is pink, blue, and purple; that's what this comic is like especially Emma's bedroom. Pavos is so pretty! Are all the Gods in this series pretentious? Savi and Lily; my dorky, queer children! Savi watches the Last Airbender! Hahaha, now you know how Savi felt Darren!!! How does Alice seem to get unbrainwashed every 5 minutes? Is that a cry for help or a trap?
#3
"There's no good. No evil. Only power and unanswered questions." Okay is there going to be some big twist where Alice is a zodiac? Kim is so tall and beautiful. I absolutely love the colors in these comics so much! I need an answer... where is Scorpio?!!?!?! I liked the last volume better but this is still intense and I would watch the Saturday cartoon version.
#4
The blonde lady - the 'evil' one - could so be either Amber Rose or Hen from 9-1-1. Is the other Starforce supposed to be teenagers? They look old. Alice needs an exorcism and bad. Cliffhanger! If #1 was the Saturday morning cartoon, this is the 1hr long 'movie'.
5 stars. I love how cute and dorky this is. I can't wait until #3 comes out. I will be rereading these next year.
#1
Josh (finally learned his name!) is so supportive of Kim, it's so beautiful. Well, that answers what happened to Diana's minions. Lily got unbrainwashed by the power of gay so what about the other minions? Also, is that a cult with magic powers?
#2
Imagine living in a world where most everything is pink, blue, and purple; that's what this comic is like especially Emma's bedroom. Pavos is so pretty! Are all the Gods in this series pretentious? Savi and Lily; my dorky, queer children! Savi watches the Last Airbender! Hahaha, now you know how Savi felt Darren!!! How does Alice seem to get unbrainwashed every 5 minutes? Is that a cry for help or a trap?
#3
"There's no good. No evil. Only power and unanswered questions." Okay is there going to be some big twist where Alice is a zodiac? Kim is so tall and beautiful. I absolutely love the colors in these comics so much! I need an answer... where is Scorpio?!!?!?! I liked the last volume better but this is still intense and I would watch the Saturday cartoon version.
#4
The blonde lady - the 'evil' one - could so be either Amber Rose or Hen from 9-1-1. Is the other Starforce supposed to be teenagers? They look old. Alice needs an exorcism and bad. Cliffhanger! If #1 was the Saturday morning cartoon, this is the 1hr long 'movie'.
5 stars. I love how cute and dorky this is. I can't wait until #3 comes out. I will be rereading these next year.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2019
This book feels like another writer took over and decided to retcon the team as much younger. They are all way too naive.
This is not the same battle hardened team as the last book. I don't think the author knew how to write two teams that despite different technical levels were both still badass. So instead they toned down our team to make the UK team seem all the more impressive. Emma's PTSD? Gone. Anything resembling a battle tactic? Out of here. Everything that made this series refreshing? Dead and buried.
This is not the same battle hardened team as the last book. I don't think the author knew how to write two teams that despite different technical levels were both still badass. So instead they toned down our team to make the UK team seem all the more impressive. Emma's PTSD? Gone. Anything resembling a battle tactic? Out of here. Everything that made this series refreshing? Dead and buried.
August 16, 2025
04/12/2022
2.75 ⭐
The artwork and colouring is amazing and so eye-catching but way too much happened in this volume. There wasn't enough character development or character info/intro for me to get attached to the new characters (or even some of the older ones). That TBC at the end really hurt too because I feel like it's pretty obvious now that this series isn't coming back.
Graphicsathon Round 7
Letterboxd | Instagram | Bookstagram | Tumblr | Twitter | StoryGraph | Hoemance Book Club | Graphicsathon
2.75 ⭐
The artwork and colouring is amazing and so eye-catching but way too much happened in this volume. There wasn't enough character development or character info/intro for me to get attached to the new characters (or even some of the older ones). That TBC at the end really hurt too because I feel like it's pretty obvious now that this series isn't coming back.
Graphicsathon Round 7
Letterboxd | Instagram | Bookstagram | Tumblr | Twitter | StoryGraph | Hoemance Book Club | Graphicsathon
August 14, 2019
Review posted on my blog, It's YA Girl Reviews
A great follow up to the first volume, Fire Prince Pavos makes for a perfectly easily-hateable villain in a tone that fits very well with the rest of the story. Loved getting to see Libra discover her strengths and weaknesses as a Zodiac Starforce member, and the other characters grew into more well-rounded people without losing their original charm.
A great follow up to the first volume, Fire Prince Pavos makes for a perfectly easily-hateable villain in a tone that fits very well with the rest of the story. Loved getting to see Libra discover her strengths and weaknesses as a Zodiac Starforce member, and the other characters grew into more well-rounded people without losing their original charm.
August 24, 2018
More awesomeness from Zodiac Starforce! Magical teens go!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews