What do you think?
Rate this book
Coming Back
A beautiful graphic novel fantasy romance
that follows two young women who have to go on their own separate adventures to discover the truth about themselves and about each other.
Preet is magic.
Valissa is not.
Everyone in their village has magic in their bones, and Preet is the strongest of them all. Without any power of her own, how can Valissa ever be worthy of Preet's love? When their home is attacked, Valissa has a chance to prove herself, but that means leaving Preet behind. On her own for the first time Preet breaks the village's most sacred laws, and is rejected from the only home she's ever known and sent into a new world.
Divided by different paths, insecurities, and distance, will Valissa and Preet be able to find their way back to each other?
A beautiful story of two young women who are so focused on proving they're meant to be together that they end up hurting each other in the process. This gorgeous graphic novel is an LGTBQ+ romance about young love and how it can grow into something strong no matter what obstacles get in the way.
Preet is magic.
Valissa is not.
Everyone in their village has magic in their bones, and Preet is the strongest of them all. Without any power of her own, how can Valissa ever be worthy of Preet's love? When their home is attacked, Valissa has a chance to prove herself, but that means leaving Preet behind. On her own for the first time Preet breaks the village's most sacred laws, and is rejected from the only home she's ever known and sent into a new world.
Divided by different paths, insecurities, and distance, will Valissa and Preet be able to find their way back to each other?
A beautiful story of two young women who are so focused on proving they're meant to be together that they end up hurting each other in the process. This gorgeous graphic novel is an LGTBQ+ romance about young love and how it can grow into something strong no matter what obstacles get in the way.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published January 18, 2022
About the author
Jessi Zabarsky
8 books103 followersJessi Zabarsky lives in Chicago with her cat and forty three plants. She was raised in the woods and will one day return there. Her first graphic novel, Witchlight, was published by Random House Graphic in 2020. You can find her online at @jessizabarsky.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 730 reviews
![Profile Image for s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1735525095i/6431467._UX200_CR0,11,200,200_.jpg)
January 14, 2022
‘We’re strongest when we can learn from each other…when we can bend and change to help one another.’
Jessi Zabarsky, the author/illustrator of Witchlight, returns with her new graphic novel Coming Back, an adorable tale of magic, love, and learning to not be caught up in the old ways as to miss out on adapting to new and better ones. The art here is the real shining star, brilliantly conveying emotion and crafting an imaginative fantasy world with the tone set by the most pleasing color pallets imaginable. This is a very cute story that plays with Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey, when a young couple is separated when one woman must go on a quest to save the town while the other is banished when she breaks the strict codes of their society. Fast, fun and full of heart, Zabarsky’s new queer graphic novel is a bit light on the mechanics but this is a visual feast that satisfies.
The art here is divine, seriously. It has a wonderfully cozy vibe to it that feels akin to the landscapes of Tillie Walden but more snug and warm as if by way of Kay O'Neill. If you’ve enjoyed either of those graphic novel artists, this will certainly be of interest to you. The colors really pop so peacefully, and the intricate outfits of the characters as well as the creative fantastical village designs are really lovely.
There is a fascinating mythology going on here. The village is very isolated and obdurate, living in strict tradition to the magic that created them and their society. There is a pretty cool magical explanation to how life and (re)birth works which is a clever way to create the all-woman gender utopia of the village. While we learn the basics of the magic, and that there is Shifter magic as well as Shaper magic, it is all told pretty loosely and very much up to your imagination and interpretation. Which I can appreciate, though sometimes it is a bit vague. World building is left mostly to the artwork, though the other village in which Preeta and her daughter briefly stay is pretty excellent and populated by all sorts of whimsical species.
The central message of the book is to learn to say sorry and open your mind to new ways of thinking, doing, and being. ‘Our stories are only good as long as they help our people,’ Valissa teaches the village. While the outside world can be scary and different, we can learn and grow if we open our minds and hearts. It is a beautiful message that really works here, showing that traditions can be important but not to be rigid about them because welcoming, understanding and loving one another are more important. Like the hero’s journey, Preeta and Valissa must come back and share what we have learned so all can benefit and thrive.
‘Sometimes we will lose stories…We can tell the stories we remember, though, and make up new ones.’
This is a quick read and occasionally feels a bit light and moves too fast, but it also covers a lot of ground and the two “quests” intertwined in the narrative take you through a lot of wondrous stories. It is also an adorable story of lesbian couple and how our insecurities can play out in the world. But most of all, the visuals here are fantastic.
3.5/5
Jessi Zabarsky, the author/illustrator of Witchlight, returns with her new graphic novel Coming Back, an adorable tale of magic, love, and learning to not be caught up in the old ways as to miss out on adapting to new and better ones. The art here is the real shining star, brilliantly conveying emotion and crafting an imaginative fantasy world with the tone set by the most pleasing color pallets imaginable. This is a very cute story that plays with Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey, when a young couple is separated when one woman must go on a quest to save the town while the other is banished when she breaks the strict codes of their society. Fast, fun and full of heart, Zabarsky’s new queer graphic novel is a bit light on the mechanics but this is a visual feast that satisfies.
The art here is divine, seriously. It has a wonderfully cozy vibe to it that feels akin to the landscapes of Tillie Walden but more snug and warm as if by way of Kay O'Neill. If you’ve enjoyed either of those graphic novel artists, this will certainly be of interest to you. The colors really pop so peacefully, and the intricate outfits of the characters as well as the creative fantastical village designs are really lovely.
There is a fascinating mythology going on here. The village is very isolated and obdurate, living in strict tradition to the magic that created them and their society. There is a pretty cool magical explanation to how life and (re)birth works which is a clever way to create the all-woman gender utopia of the village. While we learn the basics of the magic, and that there is Shifter magic as well as Shaper magic, it is all told pretty loosely and very much up to your imagination and interpretation. Which I can appreciate, though sometimes it is a bit vague. World building is left mostly to the artwork, though the other village in which Preeta and her daughter briefly stay is pretty excellent and populated by all sorts of whimsical species.
The central message of the book is to learn to say sorry and open your mind to new ways of thinking, doing, and being. ‘Our stories are only good as long as they help our people,’ Valissa teaches the village. While the outside world can be scary and different, we can learn and grow if we open our minds and hearts. It is a beautiful message that really works here, showing that traditions can be important but not to be rigid about them because welcoming, understanding and loving one another are more important. Like the hero’s journey, Preeta and Valissa must come back and share what we have learned so all can benefit and thrive.
‘Sometimes we will lose stories…We can tell the stories we remember, though, and make up new ones.’
This is a quick read and occasionally feels a bit light and moves too fast, but it also covers a lot of ground and the two “quests” intertwined in the narrative take you through a lot of wondrous stories. It is also an adorable story of lesbian couple and how our insecurities can play out in the world. But most of all, the visuals here are fantastic.
3.5/5
February 10, 2022
Really boring and overly ambiguous. Felt like I had to force myself to finish the second half even with it being so short and having so little text. Not enough substance and felt more like an artbook, and that more time was spent making it look nice than having a coherent story.
Also did not like that the one girl decided to just have a kid while the other girl was away questing. Surprise babies aren't cool. Randomly turning yourself and said kid into a tree to escape an argument was also so weird.
The color palette was pretty but the art was too round and bubbly. Just overall wasn't for me.
Also did not like that the one girl decided to just have a kid while the other girl was away questing. Surprise babies aren't cool. Randomly turning yourself and said kid into a tree to escape an argument was also so weird.
The color palette was pretty but the art was too round and bubbly. Just overall wasn't for me.
February 2, 2022
Characters I like go on kinda interesting adventures in a world that is frustratingly vague and ambiguous about its mythology, magic, and passage of time. It seems like there are no men, and the female society reproduces by seeds they find adrift on the sea and plant in the ground. Our main couple, Preet and Valissa get separated as one pursues a dangerous quest and the other makes an unconventional life journey of which her community disapproves.
Everything circles around the opening chant:
From one, two; from two, one.
Go and come back to us.
Go and come back to us.
Frankly, I don't understand the story, even after reading the author's note, but I like the art and had a good time following along, so I'll give it a thumb's up.
Everything circles around the opening chant:
From one, two; from two, one.
Go and come back to us.
Go and come back to us.
Frankly, I don't understand the story, even after reading the author's note, but I like the art and had a good time following along, so I'll give it a thumb's up.
February 15, 2022
In all honesty this might be a great book, I just didn't understand anything that happened. I gave it two stars instead of one only because it seemed cute (still am not sure because I don't understand it.)
January 12, 2022
This was so wonderful. It is intensely queer and filled with a lot of big themes surrounding cultural traditions and challenging them while also remaining respectful and true to ancestors, it also delves into the way society can treat single mothers. As a whole I love this graphic novel. I love the art style I love the color palettes everything was extremely well done.
The whole book is set on this island and is focused around this couple. Preet is one of the best shifters and shapers of magic on the island and her partner Valissa can't do any magic. When something happens and someone must make a sacrifice, Valissa enters into an alternate realm of sorts where she must find a way through even if that means challenging her own perceptions of her abilities. Well Valissa is on her own journey, Preet breaks one of the islands most sacred rules and has to face the consequences of it. She is ostracized and eventually finds a lot of extremely valuable lessons. I wish this book had a more like concrete timeline because honestly this book takes place over years. It feels as though only a little bit of time has passed but based on the art style you know that many years and even decades at times has passed.
Ultimately this book is about cultural traditions and how to find a balance between respecting tradition while also challenging them as times change. This book is set with a matriarchal society is super queer and diverse and I recommend it if graphic novels are your jam.
The whole book is set on this island and is focused around this couple. Preet is one of the best shifters and shapers of magic on the island and her partner Valissa can't do any magic. When something happens and someone must make a sacrifice, Valissa enters into an alternate realm of sorts where she must find a way through even if that means challenging her own perceptions of her abilities. Well Valissa is on her own journey, Preet breaks one of the islands most sacred rules and has to face the consequences of it. She is ostracized and eventually finds a lot of extremely valuable lessons. I wish this book had a more like concrete timeline because honestly this book takes place over years. It feels as though only a little bit of time has passed but based on the art style you know that many years and even decades at times has passed.
Ultimately this book is about cultural traditions and how to find a balance between respecting tradition while also challenging them as times change. This book is set with a matriarchal society is super queer and diverse and I recommend it if graphic novels are your jam.
March 23, 2025
Preet is the most powerful magic user in her island community; her wife Valissa can't use even the most basic powers. But when the island is threatened by a dangerous withering fog, Valissa is the one who volunteers to try and discover its source. In her absence, Preet does a work of magic which is forbidden by the community to do alone; she and her child are exiled from the island and must find a new place to live safely. Will the two women be able to find other another again, and reconcile their believes about tradition, family, and power? This is a very beautiful and ultimately gentle story, mysterious, but compelling.
April 21, 2026
a quiet, tender, and melancholy sapphic graphic novel about journeys & homecomings, painful estrangement & isolation, changing traditions, and the value of collaboration & community care.
i love the art, the use of patterns and botanical details, and the cute creature designs. serious cottagecore vibes, and the pastoral community is enchanting.
and as with zabarsky's witchlight, i love that this fantasy world is populated primarily by women! so incredibly refreshing.
however, i needed more worldbuilding and a better understanding of the book's society and how it functions, as well as the magic system of shapers and shifters. we only get a vague grasp of these things.
i'm left with a similar impression to that i had of witchlight - i love what zabarsky was trying to do here, but it doesn't quite come together for me.
i love the art, the use of patterns and botanical details, and the cute creature designs. serious cottagecore vibes, and the pastoral community is enchanting.
and as with zabarsky's witchlight, i love that this fantasy world is populated primarily by women! so incredibly refreshing.
however, i needed more worldbuilding and a better understanding of the book's society and how it functions, as well as the magic system of shapers and shifters. we only get a vague grasp of these things.
i'm left with a similar impression to that i had of witchlight - i love what zabarsky was trying to do here, but it doesn't quite come together for me.
September 1, 2022
The art was quite pretty but there were a lot of complex emotions that did not seem to be easily conveyed. I suppose if I reread the novel or flipped through it now and again it would be easier to see those emotions, but there was just not enough in the images themselves for me to understand the complexity of the feelings in the 2 seconds my eyes spend on a panel.
The leads were sapphic, the story was decent, and i don't feel like I am worse off for spending the short time reading it.
The leads were sapphic, the story was decent, and i don't feel like I am worse off for spending the short time reading it.
Read
December 29, 2022a gorgeous meditation on growth, and the difference between telling stories and allowing stories to tell us.
it reminded me quite a bit of On A Sunbeam but middle grade. it had gorgeous atmospheric artwork, found family, adventure through unknown and reflective fantastical spaces, and a sapphic love story about two people separated across space and time trying to make their way back to each other.
certainly an ambiguous work, but one that can mold and shape itself to bring different meanings and perspectives to curious and pondering readers.
hot take: we need more graphic novel plots based on metaphor
it reminded me quite a bit of On A Sunbeam but middle grade. it had gorgeous atmospheric artwork, found family, adventure through unknown and reflective fantastical spaces, and a sapphic love story about two people separated across space and time trying to make their way back to each other.
certainly an ambiguous work, but one that can mold and shape itself to bring different meanings and perspectives to curious and pondering readers.
hot take: we need more graphic novel plots based on metaphor
January 12, 2022
Coming Back is a really beautiful standalone graphic novel that follows to women, Preet and Valissa, who live in a small, tight-knit community where everyone has at least one type of magic – shaping or shifting. Preet is one of the best wielders of magic in their community and holds a position of responsibility, but her wife Valissa cannot use any type of magic at all. When a mysterious fog starts attacking the village, Valissa takes the opportunity to prove herself, despite having no magic, and goes on a solitary journey to save them all. Meanwhile, back home Preet breaks one of the most important laws of her people which brings consequences to everyone she knows. So, she is cast out of the place she calls home, but will Valissa be able to find her way back to Preet when all is said and done?
The first thing that I noticed about this graphic novel was the gorgeous art style that has quickly become one of my favourites. All of the illustrations have a distinctly cottagecore feels about them, full of lush plant life, dusty libraries and embroidered dresses, as well as having a pastel colour palette primarily made up of shades of blue and pink. Not only this, but there are next to no male characters in the village in which Preet and Valissa live, and for both of these reasons I really do recommend this graphic novel to lovers of Mooncakes and On a Sunbeam alike.
The gorgeous illustrations really lent themselves to the fantastic worldbuilding that we see inside this book. We get to see the gorgeous, lush, communal village where Preet and Valissa live, packed full of gorgeous magic, but we also get to visit other places, like mysterious caves and a bustling market town with a bakery stuffed full of delicious wares. It was so fun to see all the different inhabitants of these places, too, and I wish that either the graphic novel had been longer or that this was a traditional novel, just so that we could spend more time there to learn more!
I really enjoyed both Preet and Valissa as characters and seeing them grow throughout the story. It was really interesting seeing them fight their own internal battles as well as those that they came up against. And they weren’t inherently good main characters either, they both had their flaws that were put on display throughout, but you could completely understand their reasonings and sympathise, which is definitely the sign of a well-written character! Despite this, near the end there is some conflict between the pair, and without going into any details for fear of giving spoilers, it felt like it came out of the blue and was rather uncharacteristic of the two of them. As such, I felt like I was thrown abruptly out of the story. Furthermore, as I kinda mentioned earlier, I felt like we didn’t get enough time to explore certain parts of the world and the magic system which would have made for a really full and vibrant world. The morals of the story are very sweet, and it’s all about traditions and forging your own path, but at the end in particular I felt like it was like a slap in the face, there was no subtlety to it at all.
But all round, this was a really great graphic novel, with intriguing characters, exciting world building, and truly gorgeous illustrations and I highly recommend that you pick it up in 2022!
Thanks to Random House and TBR and Beyond Tours for an eARC as part of the book tour! All thoughts are my own!
Want more sapphic books? You can find me here: Book Blog | Twitter | Instagram
The first thing that I noticed about this graphic novel was the gorgeous art style that has quickly become one of my favourites. All of the illustrations have a distinctly cottagecore feels about them, full of lush plant life, dusty libraries and embroidered dresses, as well as having a pastel colour palette primarily made up of shades of blue and pink. Not only this, but there are next to no male characters in the village in which Preet and Valissa live, and for both of these reasons I really do recommend this graphic novel to lovers of Mooncakes and On a Sunbeam alike.
The gorgeous illustrations really lent themselves to the fantastic worldbuilding that we see inside this book. We get to see the gorgeous, lush, communal village where Preet and Valissa live, packed full of gorgeous magic, but we also get to visit other places, like mysterious caves and a bustling market town with a bakery stuffed full of delicious wares. It was so fun to see all the different inhabitants of these places, too, and I wish that either the graphic novel had been longer or that this was a traditional novel, just so that we could spend more time there to learn more!
I really enjoyed both Preet and Valissa as characters and seeing them grow throughout the story. It was really interesting seeing them fight their own internal battles as well as those that they came up against. And they weren’t inherently good main characters either, they both had their flaws that were put on display throughout, but you could completely understand their reasonings and sympathise, which is definitely the sign of a well-written character! Despite this, near the end there is some conflict between the pair, and without going into any details for fear of giving spoilers, it felt like it came out of the blue and was rather uncharacteristic of the two of them. As such, I felt like I was thrown abruptly out of the story. Furthermore, as I kinda mentioned earlier, I felt like we didn’t get enough time to explore certain parts of the world and the magic system which would have made for a really full and vibrant world. The morals of the story are very sweet, and it’s all about traditions and forging your own path, but at the end in particular I felt like it was like a slap in the face, there was no subtlety to it at all.
But all round, this was a really great graphic novel, with intriguing characters, exciting world building, and truly gorgeous illustrations and I highly recommend that you pick it up in 2022!
Thanks to Random House and TBR and Beyond Tours for an eARC as part of the book tour! All thoughts are my own!
Want more sapphic books? You can find me here: Book Blog | Twitter | Instagram
February 11, 2022
This made negative sense, the worldbuilding amounted to a rough sketch (but managed to feel consistent, so there's that), and the characters have only a hair more depth than the characters in Witchlight. The plot? Nonsensical. Preet turning herself and her kid into a tree as a "fuck you"? Completely random! There's very little dramatic tension, as all of the bad things are easily resolved with a hug.
But: The art is very pretty (and consistent this time), I enjoyed the all-female world where men apparently don't need to exist because Everyone Is Seeds, and overall, it was a very quick, cozy read. I liked it.
But: The art is very pretty (and consistent this time), I enjoyed the all-female world where men apparently don't need to exist because Everyone Is Seeds, and overall, it was a very quick, cozy read. I liked it.
March 7, 2022
Coming Back had a tender heart but left me wishing for more character development and world-building. A lot of the story is told only through visuals, which has both benefits and drawbacks. There are some very sweet moments conveyed entirely through the power of Zabarsky's art, like . Some more explicit character development of who Valissa and Preet were beyond their magical abilities, or lack of, as well as explanations of some story elements would have made this a more enjoyable reading experience for me.
Read
December 30, 2022This was… very odd and disjointed. I wanted so badly to like it, but I felt like I was plopped into the middle of a very weird, incoherent dream with a world and characters I couldn’t care about.
And then… someone transforms into a tree to avoid an argument with their partner. So… um… yeah.
I don’t rate graphic novels, but this was… not my favorite.
And then… someone transforms into a tree to avoid an argument with their partner. So… um… yeah.
I don’t rate graphic novels, but this was… not my favorite.
September 17, 2021
Beautiful graphic novel about love and examining the importance of tradition in culture, where traditions are rooted, and finding new understanding when examined.
Read via Edelweiss
Read via Edelweiss
April 28, 2023
3.5/5
Gorgeous illustrations! Not sure if I 100% understood the world building but a beautiful Sapphic graphic novel nonetheless!
Gorgeous illustrations! Not sure if I 100% understood the world building but a beautiful Sapphic graphic novel nonetheless!
January 21, 2022
3.5⭐️
Coming back is a lovely sapphic graphic novel set in a world with a magic system connected to nature and cultural ancestry. Our main characters are Valissa and Preet, who are a couple. Preet has great magic and is able to shape shift, and Valissa has struggled to access her magical abilities. The couple is separated at the beginning of the book as they each go on their own journeys.
🤍This graphic novel felt like a celebration of the strength of the divine feminine. The illustrations were saturated in pink and peach, and it was so beautiful. The women were strong and determined and self sufficient. I may have just missed them- but I don’t think there are any men in this story, which was really neat.
🤍I love the final message, and it made me appreciate the story so much more.
The reason I can’t rate this higher is because I was very confused through most of the story. There are many more images than there are words, and it’s difficult to decipher what exactly is happening on the wordless pages. If there had been more text, this could’ve easily been a 5⭐️ for me. I was left wanting much more of this whimsical, magical, matriarchal universe.
Thank you to netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
Coming back is a lovely sapphic graphic novel set in a world with a magic system connected to nature and cultural ancestry. Our main characters are Valissa and Preet, who are a couple. Preet has great magic and is able to shape shift, and Valissa has struggled to access her magical abilities. The couple is separated at the beginning of the book as they each go on their own journeys.
🤍This graphic novel felt like a celebration of the strength of the divine feminine. The illustrations were saturated in pink and peach, and it was so beautiful. The women were strong and determined and self sufficient. I may have just missed them- but I don’t think there are any men in this story, which was really neat.
🤍I love the final message, and it made me appreciate the story so much more.
The reason I can’t rate this higher is because I was very confused through most of the story. There are many more images than there are words, and it’s difficult to decipher what exactly is happening on the wordless pages. If there had been more text, this could’ve easily been a 5⭐️ for me. I was left wanting much more of this whimsical, magical, matriarchal universe.
Thank you to netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2022
This graphic novel wasn't 100% clear all of the time - I had questions about the fantastical world and characters and I think I need to give it another reread before I understand it fully. Two women love each other deeply - one is filled with magic the ability to shape and shift - while the other struggles greatly with it. When a mist takes over the library that stores all the wealth of their ancestors, Valissa volunteers to see what it is. The task takes a long time and in the meantime Preet is lonely - she decides to hatch a seed all on her own (which is forbidden - two need to be present to raise a seedling). Soon she has a precious child that she has to keep hidden because it goes against the customs. What if love can conquer all? Or maybe the rules of magic are bound to get in the way. Beautiful, but hard to follow.
November 26, 2025
De art was prachtig, maar ik snapte gewoon niks van dit verhaal. Te vaag voor mij :(
January 20, 2022
Coming Back is a gorgeously queer graphic novel with a magical quality to it. The magic system is unlike any that I've ever read but quite interesting. I also really liked the the red and blue colour palette.
Valisa and Preet are together from the beginning and then go on in their specific journeys. I love the novel talks about respecting traditions and culture but also evolving to incorporate new ideas. That change is not a bad thing.
I love that it's a queer norm world. It's very whimsical and I really like the whole vibe of the novel. The ability to change forms and create stuff is very interesting. Really beautiful novel and I'd definitely recommend it.
*ARC provided by the author via TBR and Beyond Book Tour in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
Valisa and Preet are together from the beginning and then go on in their specific journeys. I love the novel talks about respecting traditions and culture but also evolving to incorporate new ideas. That change is not a bad thing.
I love that it's a queer norm world. It's very whimsical and I really like the whole vibe of the novel. The ability to change forms and create stuff is very interesting. Really beautiful novel and I'd definitely recommend it.
*ARC provided by the author via TBR and Beyond Book Tour in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
August 6, 2022
*3.25
My rating is partly on me. I think I read this a bit too fast for what it is, because there are a lot of deep metaphors in here that I didn't fully comprehend. I just really thought this book would be different than what the plot was - just from the cover and title and brief synopsis, I thought this would be a romance between a magic user and a non-magic user, but so much more is going on. And that's kind of where my rating slips - this book did the thing in fantasy and sci-fi of making the magic system and worldbuilding far too complicated.
The artwork was very good, though, and I loved the use of different color palettes throughout. 3.25/5 stars.
My rating is partly on me. I think I read this a bit too fast for what it is, because there are a lot of deep metaphors in here that I didn't fully comprehend. I just really thought this book would be different than what the plot was - just from the cover and title and brief synopsis, I thought this would be a romance between a magic user and a non-magic user, but so much more is going on. And that's kind of where my rating slips - this book did the thing in fantasy and sci-fi of making the magic system and worldbuilding far too complicated.
The artwork was very good, though, and I loved the use of different color palettes throughout. 3.25/5 stars.
March 12, 2022
I'm always stoked for more lgbtq+ rep in comics and media and Zabarsky is wonderful at creating very interesting worlds but, like with Witchlight, it just feels like something is missing. Reading this feels like stepping into the shallow end of the pool: I know there's more out there and more that can be done, but I feel like I'm not really allowed to explore or get to know anything beyond the surface level.
March 7, 2024
“Go and come back to us!” My heart is very full. Thank you Shelby, for the rec. On this last day of work together, just wanted to say thank you for how you’ve changed my story and shape for the better by being able to work with you over the past year and a half 💕 trivia and Slice n Dice will just have to do from now on! 😭
October 12, 2022
This was cute! I loved the art style and the overall message of the story. There were a few times where the story got a bit confusing, however it wasn't difficult to fill in the pieces. I don't have much to say on this story, other than it was cute.
April 13, 2023
this story was so cute :)
July 5, 2023
Art is definitely 5 stars, but story is unfortunately more of a 3. The world-building felt flimsy and rushed even though the panels are gorgeous.
February 23, 2022
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
First of all, we need to chat about the gorgeous illustrations from Zabarsky. There are some truly striking panels and the line work is delicate and powerful all at once. If you love magical graphic novel artwork, this is a definite must read. Secondly, Coming Back unexpectedly struck a chord within me. I can't talk about what specifically happens, but I may have teared up! As a whole, Coming Back is a graphic novel that asks, "just because it is this way now, does it always have to be the same?"
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
First of all, we need to chat about the gorgeous illustrations from Zabarsky. There are some truly striking panels and the line work is delicate and powerful all at once. If you love magical graphic novel artwork, this is a definite must read. Secondly, Coming Back unexpectedly struck a chord within me. I can't talk about what specifically happens, but I may have teared up! As a whole, Coming Back is a graphic novel that asks, "just because it is this way now, does it always have to be the same?"
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
February 17, 2022
This book is wonderfully complicated and highlights so many fears I have with leaving and coming back changed. Ahhhh, just the thing to read right now. 😭💕
January 23, 2022
"We're strongest when we can learn from each other, as our ancestors did. We're strongest when we can bend and change to help one another."
-Coming Back, Page 252
This story held such a sense of magic and comfort for me. Though the characters struggle to find acceptance and their place in the world, they never fail to carry their hearts with them. Preet and Valissa were both incredibly compelling characters, fighting for themselves and their love in such a vulnerable way. Artistically, I also loved Jessi Zabarsky's use of color and line in her illustrations, which made the story pop! I would love to read more stories set in the world of Coming Back, with its complex and fascinating magic!
My Recommendation-
If you enjoy reading magical, quirky graphic novels with queer narratives at their core, you need to pick up a copy of Coming Back! I would especially recommend Coming Back to fans of Adventure Time or The Owl House, as the story and world have some wonderful similarities to these two shows!
-Coming Back, Page 252
This story held such a sense of magic and comfort for me. Though the characters struggle to find acceptance and their place in the world, they never fail to carry their hearts with them. Preet and Valissa were both incredibly compelling characters, fighting for themselves and their love in such a vulnerable way. Artistically, I also loved Jessi Zabarsky's use of color and line in her illustrations, which made the story pop! I would love to read more stories set in the world of Coming Back, with its complex and fascinating magic!
My Recommendation-
If you enjoy reading magical, quirky graphic novels with queer narratives at their core, you need to pick up a copy of Coming Back! I would especially recommend Coming Back to fans of Adventure Time or The Owl House, as the story and world have some wonderful similarities to these two shows!
January 27, 2022
The art was super cute and I feel like the story could have been great bit I felt like a struggled to understand exactly what was happening and that the story needed more explanation. I felt lost and honestly rushed the last 2/3rds of it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 730 reviews