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Gravity Falls: Lost Legends
A collection of four all-new strange stories from the sleepy town of Gravity Falls in one original graphic novel. Written by Alex Hirsch. Illustrated by Talented Folks To Be Revealed Soon!
148 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 24, 2018
615 people are currently reading
3660 people want to read
About the author
Alex Hirsch
5 books1,036 followersAlex Hirsch is a writer, animator, voice actor, and director. He is best known for creating Gravity Falls on Disney XD and for co-writing the #1 New York Times best-selling book Journal 3. He was raised in Piedmont, California, and received a BFA in Character Animation from The California Institute of the Arts. He currently lives in Los Angeles, and is at work developing projects for Film & TV.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 760 reviews
March 21, 2025
Gravity Falls is the best show for younger audiences that I have watched as an adult. It is Twin Peaks for kids and it captured everything I longed to be a part of in my youth.
The show was relatively short-lived, which is, in some ways, a blessing because so many series in every medium overstay their welcome, desperately repurposing plot lines, overusing minor characters, and ultimately fizzling out.
Alex Hirsch created something incredibly special and was able to conclude it in an emotionally effective manner. He is not cranking out supplemental material either, but Lost Legends retains all the charm and style of the show because it was not pawned off on some industry hack with a political axe to grind (which is surprising from modern Disney).
I would happily read or watch a return to Gravity Falls, (Twin Peaks pulled it off with the same creative mind, David Lynch, at the helm), but I am more than satisfied with what is available.
The show was relatively short-lived, which is, in some ways, a blessing because so many series in every medium overstay their welcome, desperately repurposing plot lines, overusing minor characters, and ultimately fizzling out.
Alex Hirsch created something incredibly special and was able to conclude it in an emotionally effective manner. He is not cranking out supplemental material either, but Lost Legends retains all the charm and style of the show because it was not pawned off on some industry hack with a political axe to grind (which is surprising from modern Disney).
I would happily read or watch a return to Gravity Falls, (Twin Peaks pulled it off with the same creative mind, David Lynch, at the helm), but I am more than satisfied with what is available.
September 2, 2018
This felt like coming home to an old friend.
10/10 recommend
10/10 recommend
December 27, 2018
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
5+ STARS
I sooooo miss Gravity Falls. Alex Hirsch has me hooked on these characters and their supernatural experiences. For fans of the show, old and new, you will not be disappointed with this book. The four adventures included in Gravity Falls: Lost Legends stick with the stories and characters we have come to love. In the words of our narrator, Shmebulock:
A quick and enjoyable read. You won’t be disappointed. Read it for yourself...
5+ STARS
I sooooo miss Gravity Falls. Alex Hirsch has me hooked on these characters and their supernatural experiences. For fans of the show, old and new, you will not be disappointed with this book. The four adventures included in Gravity Falls: Lost Legends stick with the stories and characters we have come to love. In the words of our narrator, Shmebulock:
“I can’t be the only one who wants another SEASON, right? RIGHT⁉️. I’ve invested so much time in these characters’ lives, they can’t just leave me!”
A quick and enjoyable read. You won’t be disappointed. Read it for yourself...
September 9, 2020
5 Stars
*1 star for major ship teasing
*1 star for manga style gravity falls
*1 star for thousands of Mabel puns
*1 star for endless mystery twin feels
*and 1 last star for more gravity falls, more mysteries, and more fun
*1 star for major ship teasing
*1 star for manga style gravity falls
*1 star for thousands of Mabel puns
*1 star for endless mystery twin feels
*and 1 last star for more gravity falls, more mysteries, and more fun
August 11, 2025
2019
I loved this so much. I need more Gravity Falls, and now I want to rewatch the whole series.
2023 x2
2024
I love coming back to this one whenever I need the good vibes.
I loved this so much. I need more Gravity Falls, and now I want to rewatch the whole series.
2023 x2
2024
I love coming back to this one whenever I need the good vibes.
August 4, 2018
absolutely amazing, 10/10, it was so good i want to c r y
February 21, 2021
Re-read 2021: I was in the mood for some Gravity Falls (can we please get more books/show) and decided this was going to be the next to be re-read. I loved the stories, loved the humour, loved the art, loved that it was Shmebulock who told us the tales. The ending was great. So yes, I loved this one!
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Squee! 4 new tales from Gravity Falls featuring all our favourite characters! *fangirls*
I love Gravity Falls, watched it so many times and I will keep on watching it over and over again (and wishing I could buy the bluray of it), so I was delighted that we got a new book featuring new stories.
These stories are told by someone who is an even bigger fan than most of us, and he is an unexpected fan, Shmebulock! I can hear the fans already ask me, but Mehsi, Shmebulock can't talk! Indeed he can't, but for one day in a thousand years (yeah, I don't want to know how old Shmebulock actually is) he can talk! He has taken today as the day to tell us some untold stories.
There are 4 stories. The first one features Mabel, Dipper, Pacifica as mains with bonus Stan and Ford. The second one features Mabel, Dipper, Ford, Stan, Soos, and Wendy. The third is about Mabel, Stan, Ford, and oh yes a bit of Dipper. And the last? The last takes us back to the past as we see Ford and Stan together as kids.
I just adored reading the stories, I am not sure which one is my favourite, I am saying all of them. The first one was fun with Pacifica, and I am definitely still shipping her with Dipper (just like Mabel is doing later on, muahahaha). I loved seeing some more of Gravity Falls, and then especially the place the weirdness disappears to at day. The monster stealing your faces was just creepy as hell (I wouldn't want to meet that guy in a dark alley, or wait, any place).
The second one was also fun, especially when we saw the characters in various drawing styles (my favourite being the manga one). We also find out some more about Stan, which I loved.
The third brought a whole new dimension with it, one that I wouldn't mind visiting. I loved meeting all the Mabel's and see what kinds there are. Plus I had a bit of a laugh at Ford and Stan trying to discuss who knew the kids the best.
And the last one brought us back to the past, see more of Stan and Ford when they were kids. Of course this one also features weirdness, but also tons of mystery. Stan had the right idea at last, but he should think about the execution. :P
The ending, or the last page. Arggghh, dang you Alex Hirsch!
But this book is definitely meant for the fans, those who watched the show. There are various references to events, and not to mention the whole Stan and Ford thing. I would definitely recommend it to all who watched the show and want more in GF in their life.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
---------------------------------------
Squee! 4 new tales from Gravity Falls featuring all our favourite characters! *fangirls*
I love Gravity Falls, watched it so many times and I will keep on watching it over and over again (and wishing I could buy the bluray of it), so I was delighted that we got a new book featuring new stories.
These stories are told by someone who is an even bigger fan than most of us, and he is an unexpected fan, Shmebulock! I can hear the fans already ask me, but Mehsi, Shmebulock can't talk! Indeed he can't, but for one day in a thousand years (yeah, I don't want to know how old Shmebulock actually is) he can talk! He has taken today as the day to tell us some untold stories.
There are 4 stories. The first one features Mabel, Dipper, Pacifica as mains with bonus Stan and Ford. The second one features Mabel, Dipper, Ford, Stan, Soos, and Wendy. The third is about Mabel, Stan, Ford, and oh yes a bit of Dipper. And the last? The last takes us back to the past as we see Ford and Stan together as kids.
I just adored reading the stories, I am not sure which one is my favourite, I am saying all of them. The first one was fun with Pacifica, and I am definitely still shipping her with Dipper (just like Mabel is doing later on, muahahaha). I loved seeing some more of Gravity Falls, and then especially the place the weirdness disappears to at day. The monster stealing your faces was just creepy as hell (I wouldn't want to meet that guy in a dark alley, or wait, any place).
The second one was also fun, especially when we saw the characters in various drawing styles (my favourite being the manga one). We also find out some more about Stan, which I loved.
The third brought a whole new dimension with it, one that I wouldn't mind visiting. I loved meeting all the Mabel's and see what kinds there are. Plus I had a bit of a laugh at Ford and Stan trying to discuss who knew the kids the best.
And the last one brought us back to the past, see more of Stan and Ford when they were kids. Of course this one also features weirdness, but also tons of mystery. Stan had the right idea at last, but he should think about the execution. :P
The ending, or the last page. Arggghh, dang you Alex Hirsch!
But this book is definitely meant for the fans, those who watched the show. There are various references to events, and not to mention the whole Stan and Ford thing. I would definitely recommend it to all who watched the show and want more in GF in their life.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
November 16, 2018
Ooo, yes! Gravity falls gets an awkward sibling hug from me. I miss the show so much, at the same time it really had a perfect end! So, seeing this again I was excited and..oh? more? but that ending was perfect!
Hey, guess what? It's just some really fun and well illustrated stories with these favorite characters! Hooray! I was so nervous it would be a continuation, although with a title like Gravity Falls: LOST LEGENDS hits me over the head that it would just be a series of stories.
If you are a fan of Gravity Falls, YES read this book. If you don't know about Gravity Falls, give the series a watch! ~Ashley
November 4, 2025
This was a really fun collection that made me miss the show. Comix Up in particular had me grinning the whole time I was reading it.
Face It: standard Gravity Falls episode style of monster and weekly problem. I liked the black market that exists under the town and Pacifica learning a lesson about beauty not mattering. though my fav joke was Shmebulock's commentary afterward.
Comix Up: weird, nostalgic, creative, fourth wall-breaking in a way only Gravity Falls can be. this was absolutley delightful and a great chance to show off their pop culture knowledge, ability to draw and mimic other styles, and joke joke joke.
Don't Dimension It: multiverse madness where mabel learns a lesson to be less selfish. full of lots of rhymes and puns, mostly having to do with the name 'Mabel.' good fun
The Jersey Devil's In the Details: the stans go on a childhood adventure where they meet mystery-solving twins, a circus freakshow, and at least one cryptid while having each other's backs.
Face It: standard Gravity Falls episode style of monster and weekly problem. I liked the black market that exists under the town and Pacifica learning a lesson about beauty not mattering. though my fav joke was Shmebulock's commentary afterward.
Comix Up: weird, nostalgic, creative, fourth wall-breaking in a way only Gravity Falls can be. this was absolutley delightful and a great chance to show off their pop culture knowledge, ability to draw and mimic other styles, and joke joke joke.
Don't Dimension It: multiverse madness where mabel learns a lesson to be less selfish. full of lots of rhymes and puns, mostly having to do with the name 'Mabel.' good fun
The Jersey Devil's In the Details: the stans go on a childhood adventure where they meet mystery-solving twins, a circus freakshow, and at least one cryptid while having each other's backs.
June 24, 2025
it felt like watching it again! Twin Peaks for youngers ! I adore the humor and characters. Comix Up is my favourite story ! ⭐
January 9, 2019
Alex... Alex, Alex, Alex. You are a GIFT to this earth.
(Minor spoilers ahead)
Loved every. single. story in this volume. Perhaps it's because I'm a fan of Gravity Falls, but honestly, who if not the fans of the series would buy this first and foremost?? It's canon wish fulfillment!
Face It
This is prolly my favorite out of all four stories (agree to disagree, 'cause I know others would beg to differ). Everyone loves a redemption arc, and I feel like Pacifica's ended before it had even fully begun. Northwest Mansion Noir was just a tiny glimpse into the redefining of Pacifica's character, and we weren't able to see much of her, and consequently, her character development, till Weirdmaggedon... at which point she was too frightened to even act civilly.
Also... I'd love me some Dipcifica haha... McGucket agrees, right? Right...?
Comix Up
Full-on mind-blowing silliness and fun! Glad they did this, because it made huuuuge use of the comic—I'm sorry, graphic novel format. I recognized most of the art styles from comics of days past, so added bonus~! Blarchie, hahaha....
damn, I'm old.
Don't Dimension It
Yes, yes, YESSSSSSSSSSS. Finally! Finally!!! I'm weeping.... I'm so glad they included this, it's my second most fave right after Face It. I feel like Alex Hirsch has been prowling around the Internet looking at his show's reviews... and that most people reacted not-so warmly at Mabel's behavior towards the following episodes (that I've seen, anyway). This. is. BEAUTIFUL. Mabel has reached a level of self-awareness I never thought I'd see.... I'm crying. It just addresses all my complaints about her before. Because while I connect to Mabel in terms of her hobbies (art! sparkles! animals! art and sparkles on animals!!) it is Dipper's character that I'm physically connecting to: the awkwardness, the social anxiety, the love for mysteries, in story format, anyway... even the... sweating problem. (It comes hand in hand with the social anxiety, okay, it's terrible). Super appreciate this story... plus all the Mabel versions!
Pines Bros Mystery
Awesome peek into the lives of the Stans when they were kids... it feels so nostalgic and shows your typical kids-on-a-wild-mystery-adventure that is so easy to love. I wish I could see more of this, both their past adventures AND their future adventures. Their friendship is wild, but heartwarming. Look, I'm turning into an old sap.
I need more... this wasn't enough. Can you tell I loved it??? CAN YOU TELL? CAN YOU TEEEEEEELLL??!?!
Schmebsy, you are the voice of the people.
(Minor spoilers ahead)
Loved every. single. story in this volume. Perhaps it's because I'm a fan of Gravity Falls, but honestly, who if not the fans of the series would buy this first and foremost?? It's canon wish fulfillment!
Face It
This is prolly my favorite out of all four stories (agree to disagree, 'cause I know others would beg to differ). Everyone loves a redemption arc, and I feel like Pacifica's ended before it had even fully begun. Northwest Mansion Noir was just a tiny glimpse into the redefining of Pacifica's character, and we weren't able to see much of her, and consequently, her character development, till Weirdmaggedon... at which point she was too frightened to even act civilly.
Also... I'd love me some Dipcifica haha... McGucket agrees, right? Right...?
Comix Up
Full-on mind-blowing silliness and fun! Glad they did this, because it made huuuuge use of the comic—I'm sorry, graphic novel format. I recognized most of the art styles from comics of days past, so added bonus~! Blarchie, hahaha....
damn, I'm old.
Don't Dimension It
Yes, yes, YESSSSSSSSSSS. Finally! Finally!!! I'm weeping.... I'm so glad they included this, it's my second most fave right after Face It. I feel like Alex Hirsch has been prowling around the Internet looking at his show's reviews... and that most people reacted not-so warmly at Mabel's behavior towards the following episodes (that I've seen, anyway). This. is. BEAUTIFUL. Mabel has reached a level of self-awareness I never thought I'd see.... I'm crying. It just addresses all my complaints about her before. Because while I connect to Mabel in terms of her hobbies (art! sparkles! animals! art and sparkles on animals!!) it is Dipper's character that I'm physically connecting to: the awkwardness, the social anxiety, the love for mysteries, in story format, anyway... even the... sweating problem. (It comes hand in hand with the social anxiety, okay, it's terrible). Super appreciate this story... plus all the Mabel versions!
Pines Bros Mystery
Awesome peek into the lives of the Stans when they were kids... it feels so nostalgic and shows your typical kids-on-a-wild-mystery-adventure that is so easy to love. I wish I could see more of this, both their past adventures AND their future adventures. Their friendship is wild, but heartwarming. Look, I'm turning into an old sap.
I need more... this wasn't enough. Can you tell I loved it??? CAN YOU TELL? CAN YOU TEEEEEEELLL??!?!
Schmebsy, you are the voice of the people.
October 8, 2021
Serotonina directa a mi cerebro, las historias se leen como episodios de la serie y el estilo de dibujo era muy cuqui. Me encanta Gravity Falls y me alegro mucho de que este cómic exista !!
September 18, 2021
--reread September 2021--
Been thinking about rereading this one for a little bit and decided to pick it up on a whim and oh my what a delight it was :) just as good to reread as it was the first time & again makes me want to go and rewatch the show
--original read August 2018--
4.5 Stars overall - TO SUMMARIZE: this book is amazing - if you have seen Gravity Falls you should 100% read this, the stories are all just pretty great and there are so many moments that just made me giggle out loud. If you don't like Puns this book is not for you to be honest. I will say I haven't seen Gravity Falls in a long time and these stories just really make me want to rewatch the show ASAP. Also this book is drop dead gorgeous naked.
Anyway - the stories:
1: Face it
4 Stars - Great story, it wasn't as funny as the other but full of the normal gravity-falls suspense.
2: Comix Up
5 Stars - this is my favorite story in the collection. It is funny, even if a little predictable, I was laughing the entire time. I loved the fourth wall breaking moments and the kinda direct commentary on the way people tend to view graphic novels/comics as not being a valid medium for story telling. Overall just very enjoyable - if you only read one read this one.
3: Don't Dimension it
5 stars - This was honestly great and I am kinda sad it wasn't actually a part of the show but still glad I got to read it.
4: Pines Bros Mystery
4 stars - didn't enjoy this one as much as the others, but still a great story to be honest.
Shmebulock's intro + Outro
This Intro is just Everything, probably one of the best intros I've seen in a while. Schmebulock is honestly just every fanperson ever.
Soos's Comic Corner
I know its a B&N exclusive but honestly totally worth it, really nice to see some of the concept art & read some of the stuff Soos had to say.
Been thinking about rereading this one for a little bit and decided to pick it up on a whim and oh my what a delight it was :) just as good to reread as it was the first time & again makes me want to go and rewatch the show
--original read August 2018--
4.5 Stars overall - TO SUMMARIZE: this book is amazing - if you have seen Gravity Falls you should 100% read this, the stories are all just pretty great and there are so many moments that just made me giggle out loud. If you don't like Puns this book is not for you to be honest. I will say I haven't seen Gravity Falls in a long time and these stories just really make me want to rewatch the show ASAP. Also this book is drop dead gorgeous naked.
Anyway - the stories:
1: Face it
4 Stars - Great story, it wasn't as funny as the other but full of the normal gravity-falls suspense.
2: Comix Up
5 Stars - this is my favorite story in the collection. It is funny, even if a little predictable, I was laughing the entire time. I loved the fourth wall breaking moments and the kinda direct commentary on the way people tend to view graphic novels/comics as not being a valid medium for story telling. Overall just very enjoyable - if you only read one read this one.
3: Don't Dimension it
5 stars - This was honestly great and I am kinda sad it wasn't actually a part of the show but still glad I got to read it.
4: Pines Bros Mystery
4 stars - didn't enjoy this one as much as the others, but still a great story to be honest.
Shmebulock's intro + Outro
This Intro is just Everything, probably one of the best intros I've seen in a while. Schmebulock is honestly just every fanperson ever.
Soos's Comic Corner
I know its a B&N exclusive but honestly totally worth it, really nice to see some of the concept art & read some of the stuff Soos had to say.
November 25, 2018
I loved everything all the stories. I loved Mabel learning to be selfless and Pacifica learning about inner beauty. I loved Stan and Stanley bickering like kids and seeing their past. How they faced the New Jersey Devil was awesome. I just miss this TV show so much. I loved everything about the series. I loved that I got a little more adventures even though it's over. I can't wait to see what Alex Hirsch is going to make next.
February 22, 2020
6/5 stars
I love love love love this.
I love love love love this.
June 7, 2020
Mabel Pines is my spirit animal 💜
February 12, 2021
خیلی چسبید:}}
October 24, 2020
I just finished watching this amazing and wonderful TV series. It is so, so good. I kind of wish I'd waited a bit longer to read this short graphic novel which is essentially four new episodes of the show, but I was also dealing with some highly stressful things in my life and it's always nice to have some comforting entertainment to turn to during those situations. Extending my immersion in the Gravity Falls universe (multiverse?) was definitely what I needed this weekend.
I think you need to be familiar with the show to read this as it does not have any backstory and refers to plot lines from the series throughout. So watch the show, and then read these extra stories when you're missing it. So good.
Five stars is for the series as a whole, four for this particular book, but I have nowhere else to publicly declare my love for the full series so it's going on Goodreads.
I think you need to be familiar with the show to read this as it does not have any backstory and refers to plot lines from the series throughout. So watch the show, and then read these extra stories when you're missing it. So good.
Five stars is for the series as a whole, four for this particular book, but I have nowhere else to publicly declare my love for the full series so it's going on Goodreads.
August 1, 2018
WOW. Really, if you like the show, this one is like having four more episodes to see. Alex himself wrote these stories so the atmosphere, all the secrets etc, it's all there. Plus, the art is exactly the same of the show so that it seems almost like their captured from an episode. Must read for people who liked the show, i would be happy to see more stories like these
November 1, 2018
Don’t judge, but I really love Gravity Falls, and revisiting the universe through four different stories was a lot of fun. All of them were awesome, and I especially liked the Soos story because of how meta it was. This was really entertaining, and it really makes me miss watching Gravity Falls on tv.
July 25, 2018
This was so fun. It felt like I was like watching multiple episodes of Gravity Falls. Definite must for anyone who watched and loved the show.
October 9, 2018
If you like Gravity Falls to any degree you'll love this! The tone, writing, humour and chracters are all spot on, this short return to Gravity Falls couldn't have been any more perfect.
June 23, 2019
mabel sen mükemmel bi karaktersin.❤️
January 7, 2025
Bin ganz auf deiner Seite Shmebulock :,)
January 22, 2025
God, i just love every book with Gravity Falls - but boi, do I want a whole Series just about Stan and Ford and their adventures on the Stan o War II. ;_;
November 25, 2018
Review posted on my blog The Writer's Library.
Well, this was a nice little treat.... That being said, I've never reviewed a graphic novel before, so bear with me. I feel I should also make readers aware of spoilers in this review, not just from the graphic novel, but also concerning the show the stories are based on, Gravity Falls. If you haven't watched the show, I highly recommend you leave this review, watch the show in its entirety, and then come back. It will help this review to make more sense, and I won't have spoiled anything because you'll already know what I'm talking about, or at least have a basic idea.
All that said, let's get right into it.
The book opens with one of the gnomes from the series, Shmebulock, giving background for what the reader is about to encounter. He speaks intelligently, unlike in the show, due to a curse that he is kind enough to tell us about, where he can only speak intelligently every thousand years on a full moon. He also lays the foreground for the stories he will tell about the Pines family, while also reminding the reader to keep a sharp eye out for clues, much like the way the show would hide codes and messages in the background to hint at its overarching storyline and have fans work to uncover the mystery. I'll get into some of the codes in a bit.
The first story Shmebulock tells is a story called "Face It."
When Stanford goes off to hunt the Mothman, he leaves his research in Dipper's care. Once Ford leaves, Pacifica Northwest shows up at the door, asking Dipper to help her get rid of a wrinkle on her face by using magic in time for a family photo shoot. When Dipper refuses to allow her access to the Journals, Pacifica asks to use their powder room, and sneaks up to the attic to peek in the Journals for help. She ends up summoning a monster that moves to steal her face, but Dipper and Mabel run upstairs when Dipper sees a glowing door. They distract the monster, resulting in him accidentally taking Mabel's face instead, leaving just her body. Dipper and Pacifica then leave the body and chase after the monster to get Mabel's face back, coming across an underground magic black market, where Pacifica reveals that she's not sure who she really is without her looks and that she is under tremendous pressure from her parents to maintain her image. They find the face monster at the market, who takes Dipper's face and tempts Pacifica with beauty, threatening to make her ugly if she fights him. Pacifica manages to get past him and get both Dipper and Mabel back, and they make a run for it, eventually being cornered in an outhouse. Luckily, Mabel's body manages to lead Ford to the outhouse, and he freezes the monster before the kids can be harmed. Mabel's face is put back, while Pacifica accepts that, while she may not be perfect, she's still herself. The story ends with Pacifica posing proudly, all dirtied and bruised from the adventure, for the photo shoot with her parents.
I really enjoyed this story. I've had something of a soft spot for Pacifica since her family situation was revealed on the show, and I like how, underneath the supposed shallowness of her character, there is a genuinely good person who just wants to understand who she is as a person. A lot of adolescents struggle with issues involving identity and self-image and, given her background, it was nice to see Pacifica overcome her demons and learn to be herself. Not to mention that the story was really funny. I particularly enjoyed this little joke at the end where Pacifica sees Ford for the first time and, not realizing that he's not the Stan she knows, really gets a good look at him.
Needless to say, I had a pretty good laugh at that one. Well played, Hirsch. Well played.
The next story is called “Comix Up.” It opens with the Mystery Shack handyman, Soos Ramirez, coming to the shack to show Dipper and Mabel his comic book collection. Mabel has fun using white-out to edit the dialogue of the comics to make the story her own when Stan comes in and sees the comics. He gets angry and locks them away in a special chest in Ford’s room. The next day, Stan notices that there is a dialogue box narrating him. Annoyed and angry at the narrator of the story, Stan goes to Ford for help, only for Ford to remember that the chest his brother locked the comics in was cursed. They go in to find that the chest wants to punish Stan for “insulting the medium of the graphic novel” and pulls him into one of the graphic novels he locked in the chest. Ford gets Wendy, Soos, and the kids together to go rescue Stan, and they use magic to enter the book. They end up traveling through all different kinds of stories of different styles and plots, until finally they enter the superhero comic Mabel used the white-out on earlier. A fight breaks out, ending when one of the opposing side uses a grenade to blast the Pines out of the story. Soos ends up being blown into the margins of the comic and hears Stan crying nearby. Climbing over the margin, he finds Stan in a comic called “Lil’ Stanley,” where Stan is selling copies of the story they’re in as punishment for his earlier actions. He admits that he used to love comics and reveals that he tried to sell his “Lil’ Stanley” comic only for it to be rejected. His bad luck with comics, as well as a fistfight he had with Stan Lee in 1973, cements his animosity toward the graphic novel. That confession made, Stan yells out to the narrator that he loves comics, but the narrator won’t let him go until he calls it a “graphic novel.” Stan refuses, and the comic narrator threatens both him and Soos with a “graphic” death. Wendy rips at the paper with her axe before this can happen, though, saving them. Enraged, the narrator threatens to keep them trapped forever, only for Mabel to use her white-out to end the narration. They return to the real world where Stan sells his childhood comic, and a kid picks it up, allowing Stan to fully embrace the medium again.
While not my favorite story in the book, I still found “Comix Up” really hysterical. “Gravity Falls” really only broke the fourth wall in one situation in the main series, so seeing a story like this was really fresh. I loved how the characters interacted with their setting in the first comic, such as Dipper stealing his hat from the frame below him and his character in that frame going, “Hey!” as Dipper realizes he’s holding two hats. I also found Ford’s jokes (what few there were, as he tends to be more of the straight man) to be really funny, such as how he described Stanley: “Looks like me if I gave up on life”! I also liked how, after the later fight and Soos got blown out of the margins, how he commented on the Disney logo, resulting in one of the funniest fourth wall breaks I’ve ever seen. I like how the story ends with Stan successfully selling his comic and the kid buying it is interested because it has swearing in it while being for kids. It’s such a funny jab at Stan’s character that it’s actually satisfying to see the kid buy it, helping to restore his confidence in his comics.
The next story is one of my favorites in the collection. “Don’t Dimension It” opens with the Pines family walking in the forest, just after the events of Weirdmageddon, looking for dimensional rips left over from the rift to patch with adhesive. When Mabel brings her pet pig Waddles along, he escapes his carrier and she runs after him, only to be pulled into another dimension after doing so. She ends up in a dimension called Mab-3l, where there is every possible version of herself, when she meets one that she thinks is “Anti-Label Mabel” (because the double won’t let the dimensional beings name her). When the clone traps Mabel in an outhouse, however, Mabel realizes that the clone is the anti-version of herself and is therefore evil. Mabel watches as Stan and Ford come in and rescue the clone by mistake. Mabel escapes and manages to get the other Mabels to help her stop the evil twin. Back on the ship Stan and Ford are on, Ford realizes that the Mabel they took was not the real one. Before he can kill her, however, the evil clone traps them in glass tubes. Mabel breaks in with every clone from Mab-3l, and a battle breaks out. As Mabel and her evil twin square off, the Stan twins are freed from their prison by a friendly clone named Three-bel. When Mabel manages to expose the evil twin as a fake, Stan and Ford trap her in the tube, and Mabel hits the eject button. Mabel returns to Gravity Falls with her uncles and apologizes to Dipper for being selfish over the summer, and the story ends with the family walking home.
Why do I feel like Hirsch wrote this story because he saw the “Mabel is Terrible” video that was posted online? Regardless of whether he did or didn’t, I still really enjoyed this story. I liked how, in the opening, Stan and Ford are arguing over who’s the more responsible caretaker. It's a really good joke, and their expressions really help to cement the comedic impact. I honestly couldn’t stop laughing at the interaction, because I thought Stan had known Dipper's name. The fact that Dipper has grown to trust Ford enough to tell him something like that, but not tell Stan, surprised me, but it also made for comedic gold.
Moving on to Mab-3l, seeing all the different versions of Mabel was cute (with the exception of Stanbel, which was honestly just disturbing, but it is a Gravity Falls story, so there’s bound to be some disturbing things, I guess). I also need to give mention to the fact that, given how Stan thought his brother didn't know anything about Mabel, Ford is the one to catch on to the fact that something's not right. I particularly enjoyed that he played it cool in front of her, but you can see that he's reaching for his gun as he's talking to her! And I thought I couldn't love Ford as a character any more than I already did!
There’s one more little joke I want to give mention to before I move on. It’s funny because it reveals once and for all that Ford and Stan really aren’t so different after all. They hailed a bus/ship to go after Mabel, but the driver recognizes Ford as a criminal. Stan’s reaction to this, as well as what he and the driver decide to do with him, is hysterical in every sense of the word. Ford's face throughout the whole thing completely sold it, too.
The final story in the book is “Pines Bros Mystery: The Jersey Devil's in the Details.” This story centers around the Stan twins in their childhood. Stan and Ford are out on the beach in their hometown of Glass Shard Beach, New Jersey, playing and talking about hunting down the mysterious Jersey devil, when their father Filbrick screams out in anger from the house. When the kids go in, they learn that their father’s gold chain had been stolen, and he suspects that Stanley did it. When Ford covers for his brother, Filbrick orders that they go out and find it, and if they can’t, they’re both grounded indoors for the rest of the summer. The twins believe that the Jersey Devil got ahold of Filbrick’s chain, and they set off to find it. Just as they’re getting started, they run into “The Sibling Brothers” who are on the same case after finding Filbrick’s poster. Stan also introduces Ford to his pet “Shanklin the stab possum” (a possum with a knife tied to its back) that he thinks can help them find the devil. The kids are up against the rival set of twins to find the devil, who ultimately beat them to solving the case, since they have photographers all over town who get them the answers to the cases they set out to solve. But when they find out that Stanley is the one who stole the gold chain and are chased out of the cave they’re in by the real Jersey devil, the Sibling Brothers trap it and give Ford a choice: if he hands over the proof of his brother’s guilt, they’ll let him take credit for discovering the paranormal beast – if not, the boys will frame both Stan and Ford for the theft. Ford, deciding to stand with Stanley, lets Shanklin loose, who sets the Jersey devil free, causing the Sibling Brothers to fall into a dunking pool. Stan and Ford escape to safety, ultimately being grounded for the rest of the summer after Stan confesses to taking Filbrick’s chain.
The novel ends with Shmebulock hinting at a secret message in the graphic novel just before the sun rises and he returns to his prison of silence.
I have to admit, this last story brought a tear to my eye. Not because it ended on an entirely sentimental note, but rather because we move on to see the Stan twins having adventures on the Stan O’ War II together. Hirsch sure knows how to wrap things up. The story itself was really rather adorable. It was so nice to see Stan and Ford as kids again and get a glimpse of their early life together, as brief as that glimpse was. I liked how, even as children, their polar-opposite personalities really shone through in the story. Hirsch was meticulous in making sure these characters acted like themselves, even though the show ended over two years ago. I think what’s so wonderful about this particular story is that it communicates a pretty simple, yet tremendously powerful, message about standing up for what you think is right, no matter what other people think of you for doing so. A touching final story to wrap up this little gem of a graphic novel.
And, come on. I can't be the only one who thinks that the Stan twins were absolutely adorable as kids. Just look at those innocent little faces!
Before I wrap up this review, I want to talk a little bit about some of the codes scattered throughout the book. Anyone who knows Gravity Falls knows that these codes can often be hidden in the background... or they can be right in front of you. I had to scour the pages for some of them, but it was fun doing it. There were quite a lot of them, so I'll just focus on a few that I found.... interesting, to say the least.
The biggest ones concern the axolotl, which any fan of Gravity Falls knows is the creature Bill calls out to as he's dying. The first one I found translates to "WHERE'S YOUR AXOLOTL NOW?" in Bill's symbol substitution cipher. I mention it because I was fairly shocked once I had decoded it. Could Bill be mocking Dipper or Ford from the grave? Might he not actually be in a grave? Did he somehow escape his ultimate fate? What are you trying to tell us, Hirsch?
It gets better. Two codes that I found on the bus Stan and Ford take in the third story translate to "I DIDN'T VOTE FOR BILL" and "THE AXOLOTL IS MY COPILOT." Could this bus driver know what really happened to Bill? And what's all this about voting? Is Hirsch making a reference to the 2016 election or something? I know the man hates the current president. Could he be comparing Bill to Donald Trump?
I just want to give a quick mention to the code on the side of the "Table of Contents" page before I wrap this up. I didn't translate it, but I did find the translations online. I will say that the decoded messages are nice little Easter eggs from both the Complete Series DVD set and the graphic novel. Special thanks to the Gravity Falls community on Twitter for bringing this matter to light.
All in all, I really think this book is an absolute must-have for any Gravity Falls fan who is aching for more about the Pines family. It's fun, it's creative, and it really can get you thinking over all the little hints scattered throughout the book, resulting in a really enjoyable experience trying to solve the mysteries it contains. Well done, Hirsch.
I swear, no one in this family uses the front door!
Well, this was a nice little treat.... That being said, I've never reviewed a graphic novel before, so bear with me. I feel I should also make readers aware of spoilers in this review, not just from the graphic novel, but also concerning the show the stories are based on, Gravity Falls. If you haven't watched the show, I highly recommend you leave this review, watch the show in its entirety, and then come back. It will help this review to make more sense, and I won't have spoiled anything because you'll already know what I'm talking about, or at least have a basic idea.
All that said, let's get right into it.
The book opens with one of the gnomes from the series, Shmebulock, giving background for what the reader is about to encounter. He speaks intelligently, unlike in the show, due to a curse that he is kind enough to tell us about, where he can only speak intelligently every thousand years on a full moon. He also lays the foreground for the stories he will tell about the Pines family, while also reminding the reader to keep a sharp eye out for clues, much like the way the show would hide codes and messages in the background to hint at its overarching storyline and have fans work to uncover the mystery. I'll get into some of the codes in a bit.
The first story Shmebulock tells is a story called "Face It."
When Stanford goes off to hunt the Mothman, he leaves his research in Dipper's care. Once Ford leaves, Pacifica Northwest shows up at the door, asking Dipper to help her get rid of a wrinkle on her face by using magic in time for a family photo shoot. When Dipper refuses to allow her access to the Journals, Pacifica asks to use their powder room, and sneaks up to the attic to peek in the Journals for help. She ends up summoning a monster that moves to steal her face, but Dipper and Mabel run upstairs when Dipper sees a glowing door. They distract the monster, resulting in him accidentally taking Mabel's face instead, leaving just her body. Dipper and Pacifica then leave the body and chase after the monster to get Mabel's face back, coming across an underground magic black market, where Pacifica reveals that she's not sure who she really is without her looks and that she is under tremendous pressure from her parents to maintain her image. They find the face monster at the market, who takes Dipper's face and tempts Pacifica with beauty, threatening to make her ugly if she fights him. Pacifica manages to get past him and get both Dipper and Mabel back, and they make a run for it, eventually being cornered in an outhouse. Luckily, Mabel's body manages to lead Ford to the outhouse, and he freezes the monster before the kids can be harmed. Mabel's face is put back, while Pacifica accepts that, while she may not be perfect, she's still herself. The story ends with Pacifica posing proudly, all dirtied and bruised from the adventure, for the photo shoot with her parents.
I really enjoyed this story. I've had something of a soft spot for Pacifica since her family situation was revealed on the show, and I like how, underneath the supposed shallowness of her character, there is a genuinely good person who just wants to understand who she is as a person. A lot of adolescents struggle with issues involving identity and self-image and, given her background, it was nice to see Pacifica overcome her demons and learn to be herself. Not to mention that the story was really funny. I particularly enjoyed this little joke at the end where Pacifica sees Ford for the first time and, not realizing that he's not the Stan she knows, really gets a good look at him.
Needless to say, I had a pretty good laugh at that one. Well played, Hirsch. Well played.
The next story is called “Comix Up.” It opens with the Mystery Shack handyman, Soos Ramirez, coming to the shack to show Dipper and Mabel his comic book collection. Mabel has fun using white-out to edit the dialogue of the comics to make the story her own when Stan comes in and sees the comics. He gets angry and locks them away in a special chest in Ford’s room. The next day, Stan notices that there is a dialogue box narrating him. Annoyed and angry at the narrator of the story, Stan goes to Ford for help, only for Ford to remember that the chest his brother locked the comics in was cursed. They go in to find that the chest wants to punish Stan for “insulting the medium of the graphic novel” and pulls him into one of the graphic novels he locked in the chest. Ford gets Wendy, Soos, and the kids together to go rescue Stan, and they use magic to enter the book. They end up traveling through all different kinds of stories of different styles and plots, until finally they enter the superhero comic Mabel used the white-out on earlier. A fight breaks out, ending when one of the opposing side uses a grenade to blast the Pines out of the story. Soos ends up being blown into the margins of the comic and hears Stan crying nearby. Climbing over the margin, he finds Stan in a comic called “Lil’ Stanley,” where Stan is selling copies of the story they’re in as punishment for his earlier actions. He admits that he used to love comics and reveals that he tried to sell his “Lil’ Stanley” comic only for it to be rejected. His bad luck with comics, as well as a fistfight he had with Stan Lee in 1973, cements his animosity toward the graphic novel. That confession made, Stan yells out to the narrator that he loves comics, but the narrator won’t let him go until he calls it a “graphic novel.” Stan refuses, and the comic narrator threatens both him and Soos with a “graphic” death. Wendy rips at the paper with her axe before this can happen, though, saving them. Enraged, the narrator threatens to keep them trapped forever, only for Mabel to use her white-out to end the narration. They return to the real world where Stan sells his childhood comic, and a kid picks it up, allowing Stan to fully embrace the medium again.
While not my favorite story in the book, I still found “Comix Up” really hysterical. “Gravity Falls” really only broke the fourth wall in one situation in the main series, so seeing a story like this was really fresh. I loved how the characters interacted with their setting in the first comic, such as Dipper stealing his hat from the frame below him and his character in that frame going, “Hey!” as Dipper realizes he’s holding two hats. I also found Ford’s jokes (what few there were, as he tends to be more of the straight man) to be really funny, such as how he described Stanley: “Looks like me if I gave up on life”! I also liked how, after the later fight and Soos got blown out of the margins, how he commented on the Disney logo, resulting in one of the funniest fourth wall breaks I’ve ever seen. I like how the story ends with Stan successfully selling his comic and the kid buying it is interested because it has swearing in it while being for kids. It’s such a funny jab at Stan’s character that it’s actually satisfying to see the kid buy it, helping to restore his confidence in his comics.
The next story is one of my favorites in the collection. “Don’t Dimension It” opens with the Pines family walking in the forest, just after the events of Weirdmageddon, looking for dimensional rips left over from the rift to patch with adhesive. When Mabel brings her pet pig Waddles along, he escapes his carrier and she runs after him, only to be pulled into another dimension after doing so. She ends up in a dimension called Mab-3l, where there is every possible version of herself, when she meets one that she thinks is “Anti-Label Mabel” (because the double won’t let the dimensional beings name her). When the clone traps Mabel in an outhouse, however, Mabel realizes that the clone is the anti-version of herself and is therefore evil. Mabel watches as Stan and Ford come in and rescue the clone by mistake. Mabel escapes and manages to get the other Mabels to help her stop the evil twin. Back on the ship Stan and Ford are on, Ford realizes that the Mabel they took was not the real one. Before he can kill her, however, the evil clone traps them in glass tubes. Mabel breaks in with every clone from Mab-3l, and a battle breaks out. As Mabel and her evil twin square off, the Stan twins are freed from their prison by a friendly clone named Three-bel. When Mabel manages to expose the evil twin as a fake, Stan and Ford trap her in the tube, and Mabel hits the eject button. Mabel returns to Gravity Falls with her uncles and apologizes to Dipper for being selfish over the summer, and the story ends with the family walking home.
Why do I feel like Hirsch wrote this story because he saw the “Mabel is Terrible” video that was posted online? Regardless of whether he did or didn’t, I still really enjoyed this story. I liked how, in the opening, Stan and Ford are arguing over who’s the more responsible caretaker. It's a really good joke, and their expressions really help to cement the comedic impact. I honestly couldn’t stop laughing at the interaction, because I thought Stan had known Dipper's name. The fact that Dipper has grown to trust Ford enough to tell him something like that, but not tell Stan, surprised me, but it also made for comedic gold.
Moving on to Mab-3l, seeing all the different versions of Mabel was cute (with the exception of Stanbel, which was honestly just disturbing, but it is a Gravity Falls story, so there’s bound to be some disturbing things, I guess). I also need to give mention to the fact that, given how Stan thought his brother didn't know anything about Mabel, Ford is the one to catch on to the fact that something's not right. I particularly enjoyed that he played it cool in front of her, but you can see that he's reaching for his gun as he's talking to her! And I thought I couldn't love Ford as a character any more than I already did!
There’s one more little joke I want to give mention to before I move on. It’s funny because it reveals once and for all that Ford and Stan really aren’t so different after all. They hailed a bus/ship to go after Mabel, but the driver recognizes Ford as a criminal. Stan’s reaction to this, as well as what he and the driver decide to do with him, is hysterical in every sense of the word. Ford's face throughout the whole thing completely sold it, too.
The final story in the book is “Pines Bros Mystery: The Jersey Devil's in the Details.” This story centers around the Stan twins in their childhood. Stan and Ford are out on the beach in their hometown of Glass Shard Beach, New Jersey, playing and talking about hunting down the mysterious Jersey devil, when their father Filbrick screams out in anger from the house. When the kids go in, they learn that their father’s gold chain had been stolen, and he suspects that Stanley did it. When Ford covers for his brother, Filbrick orders that they go out and find it, and if they can’t, they’re both grounded indoors for the rest of the summer. The twins believe that the Jersey Devil got ahold of Filbrick’s chain, and they set off to find it. Just as they’re getting started, they run into “The Sibling Brothers” who are on the same case after finding Filbrick’s poster. Stan also introduces Ford to his pet “Shanklin the stab possum” (a possum with a knife tied to its back) that he thinks can help them find the devil. The kids are up against the rival set of twins to find the devil, who ultimately beat them to solving the case, since they have photographers all over town who get them the answers to the cases they set out to solve. But when they find out that Stanley is the one who stole the gold chain and are chased out of the cave they’re in by the real Jersey devil, the Sibling Brothers trap it and give Ford a choice: if he hands over the proof of his brother’s guilt, they’ll let him take credit for discovering the paranormal beast – if not, the boys will frame both Stan and Ford for the theft. Ford, deciding to stand with Stanley, lets Shanklin loose, who sets the Jersey devil free, causing the Sibling Brothers to fall into a dunking pool. Stan and Ford escape to safety, ultimately being grounded for the rest of the summer after Stan confesses to taking Filbrick’s chain.
The novel ends with Shmebulock hinting at a secret message in the graphic novel just before the sun rises and he returns to his prison of silence.
I have to admit, this last story brought a tear to my eye. Not because it ended on an entirely sentimental note, but rather because we move on to see the Stan twins having adventures on the Stan O’ War II together. Hirsch sure knows how to wrap things up. The story itself was really rather adorable. It was so nice to see Stan and Ford as kids again and get a glimpse of their early life together, as brief as that glimpse was. I liked how, even as children, their polar-opposite personalities really shone through in the story. Hirsch was meticulous in making sure these characters acted like themselves, even though the show ended over two years ago. I think what’s so wonderful about this particular story is that it communicates a pretty simple, yet tremendously powerful, message about standing up for what you think is right, no matter what other people think of you for doing so. A touching final story to wrap up this little gem of a graphic novel.
And, come on. I can't be the only one who thinks that the Stan twins were absolutely adorable as kids. Just look at those innocent little faces!
Before I wrap up this review, I want to talk a little bit about some of the codes scattered throughout the book. Anyone who knows Gravity Falls knows that these codes can often be hidden in the background... or they can be right in front of you. I had to scour the pages for some of them, but it was fun doing it. There were quite a lot of them, so I'll just focus on a few that I found.... interesting, to say the least.
The biggest ones concern the axolotl, which any fan of Gravity Falls knows is the creature Bill calls out to as he's dying. The first one I found translates to "WHERE'S YOUR AXOLOTL NOW?" in Bill's symbol substitution cipher. I mention it because I was fairly shocked once I had decoded it. Could Bill be mocking Dipper or Ford from the grave? Might he not actually be in a grave? Did he somehow escape his ultimate fate? What are you trying to tell us, Hirsch?
It gets better. Two codes that I found on the bus Stan and Ford take in the third story translate to "I DIDN'T VOTE FOR BILL" and "THE AXOLOTL IS MY COPILOT." Could this bus driver know what really happened to Bill? And what's all this about voting? Is Hirsch making a reference to the 2016 election or something? I know the man hates the current president. Could he be comparing Bill to Donald Trump?
I just want to give a quick mention to the code on the side of the "Table of Contents" page before I wrap this up. I didn't translate it, but I did find the translations online. I will say that the decoded messages are nice little Easter eggs from both the Complete Series DVD set and the graphic novel. Special thanks to the Gravity Falls community on Twitter for bringing this matter to light.
All in all, I really think this book is an absolute must-have for any Gravity Falls fan who is aching for more about the Pines family. It's fun, it's creative, and it really can get you thinking over all the little hints scattered throughout the book, resulting in a really enjoyable experience trying to solve the mysteries it contains. Well done, Hirsch.
I swear, no one in this family uses the front door!
December 9, 2020
An enjoyable enough TV show (which I watched last month for the first time) begets an enjoyable enough graphic novel in this media tie-in. Written by the series creator, it crams in a few last adventures in the closing days of Dipper and Mabel's summer stay at the Mystery Shack and provides a flashback to Stan Pines' childhood. The comic book parodies, the visit to Dimension Mab-3l and the grapple hook gag kept this from being just an okay two-star book.
February 12, 2023
That was funnnn
September 17, 2025
I LOVED the second story so much!! the different grpahic novel styles were done so well. i had many laugh out loud moments throughout the comic.
i adored the show and if you are a fan too, you need to read this!
i adored the show and if you are a fan too, you need to read this!
December 26, 2021
Muito Bom cheio de mistérios
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