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I Am Not Starfire
From New York Times bestselling author Mariko Tamaki (Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass) and artist Yoshi Yoshitani (Zatanna and the House of Secrets) comes a story about Mandy, the daughter of super-famous superhero Starfire, and her desperate attempts to get out from under her shadow.
Seventeen-year-old Mandy Koriand’r is not her mother. Daughter of Starfire and high school outcast, Mandy is constantly trying to get out from under the shadow of her bright, bubbly, scantily clad, and famous mother. Dyeing her bright orange hair black and sticking close to her best friend, Lincoln, Mandy spends her days at school avoiding Teen Titans superfans and trying to hide her feelings for the gorgeous, popular, and perfect Claire. And while Mandy usually avoids spending too much time with her alien mother, she’s been particularly quiet as she’s keeping one major secret from her: Mandy walked out of her S.A.T.
While Mandy continues to tell Lincoln her plans of moving to France to escape the family spotlight and not go to college, she secretly hides a fear of not knowing her identity outside of just being the daughter of a superhero and who she will become. But when she is partnered with Claire to work on a school project, their friendship develops into something more and a self-confidence unknown to Mandy begins to bloom. Claire seems to like Mandy for being Mandy, not the daughter of Starfire.
But when someone from Starfire’s past comes to disrupt Mandy’s future, Mandy must finally make a choice: give up before the battle has even begun, or step into the unknown and risk everything. I Am Not Starfire is a story about mother-daughter relationships, embracing where you come from while finding your own identity, and learning to be unafraid of failing, if it was even failing in the first place.
Seventeen-year-old Mandy Koriand’r is not her mother. Daughter of Starfire and high school outcast, Mandy is constantly trying to get out from under the shadow of her bright, bubbly, scantily clad, and famous mother. Dyeing her bright orange hair black and sticking close to her best friend, Lincoln, Mandy spends her days at school avoiding Teen Titans superfans and trying to hide her feelings for the gorgeous, popular, and perfect Claire. And while Mandy usually avoids spending too much time with her alien mother, she’s been particularly quiet as she’s keeping one major secret from her: Mandy walked out of her S.A.T.
While Mandy continues to tell Lincoln her plans of moving to France to escape the family spotlight and not go to college, she secretly hides a fear of not knowing her identity outside of just being the daughter of a superhero and who she will become. But when she is partnered with Claire to work on a school project, their friendship develops into something more and a self-confidence unknown to Mandy begins to bloom. Claire seems to like Mandy for being Mandy, not the daughter of Starfire.
But when someone from Starfire’s past comes to disrupt Mandy’s future, Mandy must finally make a choice: give up before the battle has even begun, or step into the unknown and risk everything. I Am Not Starfire is a story about mother-daughter relationships, embracing where you come from while finding your own identity, and learning to be unafraid of failing, if it was even failing in the first place.
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 27, 2021
48 people are currently reading
2842 people want to read
About the author
Mariko Tamaki
377 books2,227 followersMariko Tamaki is a Toronto writer, playwright, activist and performer. She works and performs with fat activists Pretty Porky and Pissed Off and the theatre troupe TOA, whose recent play, A vs. B, was staged at the 2004 Rhubarb Festival at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Her well-received novel, Cover Me (McGilligan Books) was followed by a short fiction collection, True Lies: The Book of Bad Advice (Women's Press). Mariko's third book, FAKE ID, is due out in spring 2005.
Mariko Tamaki has performed her work across Canada and through the States, recently appearing at the Calgary Folkfest 2004, Vancouver Writer's Festival 2003, Spatial III, and the Perpetual Motion/Girls Bite Back Tour, which circled though Ottawa, Montreal, Brooklyn and Chicago. She has appeared widely on radio and television including First Person Singular on CBC radio and Imprint on TVO. Mariko Tamaki is currently attending York University working a master's degree in women's studies.
[MacMIllan Books]
Mariko Tamaki has performed her work across Canada and through the States, recently appearing at the Calgary Folkfest 2004, Vancouver Writer's Festival 2003, Spatial III, and the Perpetual Motion/Girls Bite Back Tour, which circled though Ottawa, Montreal, Brooklyn and Chicago. She has appeared widely on radio and television including First Person Singular on CBC radio and Imprint on TVO. Mariko Tamaki is currently attending York University working a master's degree in women's studies.
[MacMIllan Books]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 927 reviews
July 22, 2021
This is getting review bombed :( Dear adult men angrily 1 star reviewing this YA graphic novel: have you considered... it's not for you?
June 20, 2021
Thanks to DC & NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Now, I will concede I have been a long-time Teen Titans fan so it's fair to see my review as biased, but hear me out! I have a ton of qualms about this book, unfortunately. I love Kami Garcia's Raven & Beast Boy series as well as the other Young Adult-geared Graphic Novels that DC has been pumping out lately, but this one is the worst I've read by far for a multitude of reasons.
The art: It kept flip-flopping at some points. Kory was perfectly drawn in every panel and the eventual villain (no spoilers) was drawn very well too! Everyone else was kinda...off. Especially Mandy, but it might just be I don't like her hairstyle at all, ha. Sometimes she looked outright terrifying in the art, not sure why.
Mandy: Uh...I'm going to be as nice as I can but Mandy is an outright mean person. Now, I can understand her being frustrated by idiot kids always harping on about Starfire's popularity, but except for one kid, everyone was pretty chill. They were usually saying stuff like "Hey, please tell your mom thanks for saving Chicago!" As a result of people asking her about her mom, she decided to be mean to every single person she meets. I know she's a teen and all but...like...why be mean to everyone? There's a reason she only has one friend in this entire book...she's nasty to everyone else. It's not fun to read about a really mean protagonist that thinks it's cool to hate everyone. I really haven't read such an awful protagonist in a while, so this was hard to get through...
Starfire: Really sweet much like her cartoon counterpart, I didn't really have any complaints about her. I absolutely loathed how mean Mandy was toward Starfire, she was a pretty decent mom throughout the book but Mandy acted like she was terrible. Not to mention, Starfire is dating since she's a single mom and Mandy is really mad at her for that but it doesn't get expanded on and her own daughter slut-shames her as a result. So lovely to read about for one of my favorite superheroes....I say, dripping with sarcasm.
The writing: Mandy's frustrations are understandable but never really...expanded on throughout the book. She doesn't want to go to college. She tries taking the SATs but gets so nervous she leaves. It seems like she has anxiety about testing in general, not necessarily the SATs specifically? So, toward the end, she ends up studying for an SAT retake anyway.....I thought she didn't want to go to college? The core point of her conversations with her girlfriend and best friend involves her choice to not go to college but it seems like she does a heel face turn and decides to study anyway? There were decisions throughout the book that really confused me logically because of how it was presented earlier in the book.
The romance: It was sweet at some points but it was really hard for me to believe because like I said before, Mandy's a total jerkwad. Mandy's only likeable with the girlfriend which is sweet but it's hard to appreciate the LGBTQ+ elements when Mandy is an extremely unlikable protagonist. The girlfriend didn't have much depth either, so that didn't help.
In conclusion, I would just recommend reading DC"s other graphic novels such as Kami Garcia's "Raven" & "Beast Boy" series for the Teen Titans crumbs and "Poison Ivy: Thorns" for the better LGBTQ+ rep, not to mention, all three of these titles have a more likeable protagonist that is far more fleshed out compared to Mandy.
This book was absolutely disappointing and it's a shame considering Starfire/Koriand'r is a fantastic hero and Teen Titan, how in the name of X'hal is Mandy related to her?
The art: It kept flip-flopping at some points. Kory was perfectly drawn in every panel and the eventual villain (no spoilers) was drawn very well too! Everyone else was kinda...off. Especially Mandy, but it might just be I don't like her hairstyle at all, ha. Sometimes she looked outright terrifying in the art, not sure why.
Mandy: Uh...I'm going to be as nice as I can but Mandy is an outright mean person. Now, I can understand her being frustrated by idiot kids always harping on about Starfire's popularity, but except for one kid, everyone was pretty chill. They were usually saying stuff like "Hey, please tell your mom thanks for saving Chicago!" As a result of people asking her about her mom, she decided to be mean to every single person she meets. I know she's a teen and all but...like...why be mean to everyone? There's a reason she only has one friend in this entire book...she's nasty to everyone else. It's not fun to read about a really mean protagonist that thinks it's cool to hate everyone. I really haven't read such an awful protagonist in a while, so this was hard to get through...
Starfire: Really sweet much like her cartoon counterpart, I didn't really have any complaints about her. I absolutely loathed how mean Mandy was toward Starfire, she was a pretty decent mom throughout the book but Mandy acted like she was terrible. Not to mention, Starfire is dating since she's a single mom and Mandy is really mad at her for that but it doesn't get expanded on and her own daughter slut-shames her as a result. So lovely to read about for one of my favorite superheroes....I say, dripping with sarcasm.
The writing: Mandy's frustrations are understandable but never really...expanded on throughout the book. She doesn't want to go to college. She tries taking the SATs but gets so nervous she leaves. It seems like she has anxiety about testing in general, not necessarily the SATs specifically? So, toward the end, she ends up studying for an SAT retake anyway.....I thought she didn't want to go to college? The core point of her conversations with her girlfriend and best friend involves her choice to not go to college but it seems like she does a heel face turn and decides to study anyway? There were decisions throughout the book that really confused me logically because of how it was presented earlier in the book.
The romance: It was sweet at some points but it was really hard for me to believe because like I said before, Mandy's a total jerkwad. Mandy's only likeable with the girlfriend which is sweet but it's hard to appreciate the LGBTQ+ elements when Mandy is an extremely unlikable protagonist. The girlfriend didn't have much depth either, so that didn't help.
In conclusion, I would just recommend reading DC"s other graphic novels such as Kami Garcia's "Raven" & "Beast Boy" series for the Teen Titans crumbs and "Poison Ivy: Thorns" for the better LGBTQ+ rep, not to mention, all three of these titles have a more likeable protagonist that is far more fleshed out compared to Mandy.
This book was absolutely disappointing and it's a shame considering Starfire/Koriand'r is a fantastic hero and Teen Titan, how in the name of X'hal is Mandy related to her?
July 16, 2021
Why does DC keep hiring these untalented hacks? Are we gonna forget starfire and nightwing had a daughter named nightstar in Kingdom come? Who is the father? The daughter sounds like a wrist cutter who hates her parents for no reason. She hates Starfire but is in love with a popular girl?
I remember when comics used to be fun and had adventures. Idk how Jim Lee could sign off on this. He lacks the managing skills his Image brother Todd Mcfarlene has.
I remember when comics used to be fun and had adventures. Idk how Jim Lee could sign off on this. He lacks the managing skills his Image brother Todd Mcfarlene has.
September 7, 2021
Update now that I've finally gotten a chance to read it:
*3.5 stars (rounded up, as usual)
This was pretty fun! Angsty and humorous in the right places. Not my favorite of the new DC ya graphic novels, but still enjoyable.
I also really liked Yoshi Yoshitani's illustrations; I think this was my first book of Yoshi's, so I'm pleased!
Original post:
Want to read mainly because I love Mariko Tamaki and superhero comics, but also because fuck toxic, AnGeRy comic fanboys.
*3.5 stars (rounded up, as usual)
This was pretty fun! Angsty and humorous in the right places. Not my favorite of the new DC ya graphic novels, but still enjoyable.
I also really liked Yoshi Yoshitani's illustrations; I think this was my first book of Yoshi's, so I'm pleased!
Original post:
Want to read mainly because I love Mariko Tamaki and superhero comics, but also because fuck toxic, AnGeRy comic fanboys.
January 9, 2021
no literally what the hell is this
Why was this made
I miss the days I didn't know this thing exists
Why was this made
I miss the days I didn't know this thing exists
January 3, 2021
Seems super pander-y self-insert-y etc., This is definitely not Nightstar.
July 1, 2022
i find it mind-boggling that in year 2021 there are still adult men who get satisfaction out of shitting on media about teenage girls!!! wow!! the negative reviews on this one are so nasty and shallow.
but anyway. this is a cute and heartwarming coming-of-age graphic novel. the sapphic romance is tentative and sweet, and mandy's mix of jaded indifference and unhappy self-doubt is spot-on.
i do wish her complicated relationship with her mom was more fleshed out, and it all feels a bit rushed. it's not as emotionally raw as some of tamaki's other work. but it's still a fun read, and something i would have adored as a teenager!
but anyway. this is a cute and heartwarming coming-of-age graphic novel. the sapphic romance is tentative and sweet, and mandy's mix of jaded indifference and unhappy self-doubt is spot-on.
i do wish her complicated relationship with her mom was more fleshed out, and it all feels a bit rushed. it's not as emotionally raw as some of tamaki's other work. but it's still a fun read, and something i would have adored as a teenager!
fuck-no
April 3, 2022WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS??!!
WHO THE FUCK IS THIS FOR?!/?
It's like DC is telling us they WANT to die.
WHO THE FUCK IS THIS FOR?!/?
It's like DC is telling us they WANT to die.
July 28, 2021
After Reading:
I mean this is not without its flaws but holy shit the hate for this was so overblown. I might write a full review because I do have a lot of thoughts, but this seriously is not as bad as everyone thinks or is making it out to be.
Before reading:
All the hate for this is so annoying. If you aren't interested in this title just don't read it. I've personally been a big fan of Tamaki's work and I loved her Harley book so I'm interested to see how this one turns out. Could be good or could be awful, it has been a gamble with these DC Ink books but lets just wait and find out when its released. Alright? Alright.
I mean this is not without its flaws but holy shit the hate for this was so overblown. I might write a full review because I do have a lot of thoughts, but this seriously is not as bad as everyone thinks or is making it out to be.
Before reading:
All the hate for this is so annoying. If you aren't interested in this title just don't read it. I've personally been a big fan of Tamaki's work and I loved her Harley book so I'm interested to see how this one turns out. Could be good or could be awful, it has been a gamble with these DC Ink books but lets just wait and find out when its released. Alright? Alright.
September 5, 2022
So, I only knew this existed until recently because of all the hooplah over it. I thought the artwork looked nice so I wanted to give it a try. What I found was an alright graphic novel that has some flaws in it's structures that made me scratch my head a little. All in all I think it's a 3/5.
I Am Not Starfire is about Mandy, the daughter of the famous alien warrior princess Starfire from Teen Titans. Much like in real life, Starfire is beloved by many and considered beautiful. However, over the years, Mandy who looks and acts very differently to Starfire, hated being in her mother's shadow. Soon those differences drove a wedge between them that her mother tries to bridge.
After reading this, I still like the art. I think it's cute and some of the action pages could be pretty dynamic, not anything blockbustery but still nice. There are a few times where some background characters look flat, but it's just a few times. I actually really like how Yoshi Yoshitani drew Starfire and Mandy each time and how their looks contrasted with each other. Seriously, Starfire's fashion was impeccable. Everyone else was good too, but the two central characters here shined the most.
However, I felt conflicted about Mandy. I understand that she hated being in her mother's shadow, but her treatment of her mother and her decision to not go to college felt a little forced. Starfire never acted cruel to Mandy, she just wanted her to have a good future, but Mandy just kept being utterly bitter toward her. Also, Mandy just kept reminding us that she was the "anti-Starfire". We don't need to be told this in a graphic novel, we already see it. Mandy, along with her "anarchist" friend Lincoln, is also sometimes unnecessarily rude and mean to some of her classmates. Sometimes it's justified because they're being jerks and fat-shaming her, like Claire's two friends; but other times, like when Titans and Starfire fans just want to ask her a few questions and to tell her they love her mom, it's just unnecessary.
On the more positive side, I did enjoy Mandy's crush and romance with Claire. It was genuinely cute and when they finally kiss toward the end the page is beautifully drawn. Although, I question what the initial attraction was about since Claire was kind of like Starfire and Mandy clearly disliked Starfire's persona. Additionally, when Mandy lashes out at Claire for taking a selfie with the Titans it felt a bit forced as well and as if she was being unnecessarily mean to her. Still, I'm glad they resolved things and hit it off.
Eventually, Blackfire, Starfire's sister, shows up and wants to fight Starfire and Mandy both because she believes their mere existences challenge her claim to the Tamaran throne, a plotline that has been explored with Starfire solely in the traditional comics before. And here's where the story gets a bit messy. I'm going to the rest of this part of the review under spoilers. In the end, Mandy realizes she can still be who she is, but can also change in other ways.
I overall felt that this was a very okay graphic novel. It's fine. I felt it would have been stronger if it wasn't attached to Teen Titans or any other established super hero team and was it's own thing. It could've been like another version of Faith, Volume 1: Hollywood & Vine.
This is neither the most terrible thing DC Comics has put out, nor is it the greatest thing.
I Am Not Starfire is about Mandy, the daughter of the famous alien warrior princess Starfire from Teen Titans. Much like in real life, Starfire is beloved by many and considered beautiful. However, over the years, Mandy who looks and acts very differently to Starfire, hated being in her mother's shadow. Soon those differences drove a wedge between them that her mother tries to bridge.
After reading this, I still like the art. I think it's cute and some of the action pages could be pretty dynamic, not anything blockbustery but still nice. There are a few times where some background characters look flat, but it's just a few times. I actually really like how Yoshi Yoshitani drew Starfire and Mandy each time and how their looks contrasted with each other. Seriously, Starfire's fashion was impeccable. Everyone else was good too, but the two central characters here shined the most.
However, I felt conflicted about Mandy. I understand that she hated being in her mother's shadow, but her treatment of her mother and her decision to not go to college felt a little forced. Starfire never acted cruel to Mandy, she just wanted her to have a good future, but Mandy just kept being utterly bitter toward her. Also, Mandy just kept reminding us that she was the "anti-Starfire". We don't need to be told this in a graphic novel, we already see it. Mandy, along with her "anarchist" friend Lincoln, is also sometimes unnecessarily rude and mean to some of her classmates. Sometimes it's justified because they're being jerks and fat-shaming her, like Claire's two friends; but other times, like when Titans and Starfire fans just want to ask her a few questions and to tell her they love her mom, it's just unnecessary.
On the more positive side, I did enjoy Mandy's crush and romance with Claire. It was genuinely cute and when they finally kiss toward the end the page is beautifully drawn. Although, I question what the initial attraction was about since Claire was kind of like Starfire and Mandy clearly disliked Starfire's persona. Additionally, when Mandy lashes out at Claire for taking a selfie with the Titans it felt a bit forced as well and as if she was being unnecessarily mean to her. Still, I'm glad they resolved things and hit it off.
Eventually, Blackfire, Starfire's sister, shows up and wants to fight Starfire and Mandy both because she believes their mere existences challenge her claim to the Tamaran throne, a plotline that has been explored with Starfire solely in the traditional comics before. And here's where the story gets a bit messy. I'm going to the rest of this part of the review under spoilers. In the end, Mandy realizes she can still be who she is, but can also change in other ways.
I overall felt that this was a very okay graphic novel. It's fine. I felt it would have been stronger if it wasn't attached to Teen Titans or any other established super hero team and was it's own thing. It could've been like another version of Faith, Volume 1: Hollywood & Vine.
This is neither the most terrible thing DC Comics has put out, nor is it the greatest thing.
May 18, 2021
Manga Graphic novels are OUTSELLING anything DC/Marvel in the United States, i wonder why..... Smh people here are literally dropping dc/marvel in favor of Japanese comics. I'm not sure why these companies keep investing in crap like this that nobody wants, its perplexing. Top 20 best selling adult graphic novels according to NPD bookscan were ALL Manga for April 2021. DC/Marvel should be extremely concerned, hopefully they can wake up before they completely ruin themselves.
Read
December 1, 2020Ah yes, another superhero self-insert.
Uhg DC really is dead huh
Uhg DC really is dead huh
July 20, 2021
There’s been a lot of hate directed towards this book, and I think it’s unreasonable. I just finished an advance copy, and I was pleasantly surprised! This is definitely a book for teens that are familiar with the Teen Titans cartoons— and that’s okay! If you’re not the target audience and this doesn’t look like your thing, you can ignore it and move on. And if you’re mad because it’s not the canon you’re used to: this book is an AU, like so many other recent titles, specifically the YA ones. But so many younger people are going to love this! And I really enjoyed it too. Surprisingly, I think it’s easily the best YA DC stand-alone they’ve put out. The tone was fun and meta, the art was beautiful and colorful, and the themes of exploring generational differences between immigrants through a literal alien were handled well; all the while, this felt like a genuine teen voice too. The queer representation was also very casual, and I liked that; it wasn’t made out to be a big deal. If you grew up on the Teen Titans cartoon, this is a spiritual successor I think you should check out, especially if you like YA. 4.5/5 stars.
July 10, 2021
Who is this pandering too? The fact the people who don’t give a fuck about these characters but are supporting the book just to spite “Angry toxic comic fans” should be a wake up call to everyone. You’re not infested, you want forced inclusion for the SAKE of inclusion, and then you’ll go back to the things you actually like. These people look down on us for being passionate fans of these characters, let’s not take this quietly. Star fire is not chubby, and making her daughter obese and edgy is absolute cringe. Watch this book fail on its substance alone, while these online warriors sing it praises. 1 star for being an absolute joke, except no ones laughing.
May 13, 2021
The book isn't hasn't even released yet but it's been review bombed by gatekeepers claiming to have hated reading it before it's even been published. Ouch
If I can cringe at The Batman Who Laughs without gatekeeping fans of 'dark nights: metal' then y'all should learn to be respectful too
I'm gonna balance this out with a 5 star. It certainly deserves more of a chance with what little info we have.
Comics can have broad target audiences and it's not like there aren't decades of more macho comics still available to read, Starfire included
If I can cringe at The Batman Who Laughs without gatekeeping fans of 'dark nights: metal' then y'all should learn to be respectful too
I'm gonna balance this out with a 5 star. It certainly deserves more of a chance with what little info we have.
Comics can have broad target audiences and it's not like there aren't decades of more macho comics still available to read, Starfire included
August 17, 2021
*Pre-reading thoughts included below.*
Right out the bag I must state that I’m triply qualified to review this. Why? You might ask...
1. I’ve read numerous DC graphic novels aimed at teens and children (in fact, I plan on reading them all).
2. I’m actually within the age demographic!
3. Well, I’ve actually read this. (You’d think that’d be a given but my gosh, there are a lot of harsh and angry reviews here from people who haven’t even read this graphic novel!)
This was a solid and well-done graphic novel. The real issue everyone has with it is that it’s not intended for your average comic reader. It’s target audience are angsty teens and that’s evident from Mandy’s characterisation as troubled and insecure and also the deadpan humour sprinkled throughout.
Within this graphic novel was a very realistic take on what it means to be an insecure teen. Even with the whole “my mum has superpowers and I don’t” aspect, this was a pretty relatable graphic novel. Just imagine any teen who feels overshadowed by their high-achieving parent. That’s bound to make a teen feel depressed and insecure leading them to have anger issues or problems socialising just like Mandy did in this graphic novel.
I really appreciated the inclusion of different body types shown through Mandy, Claire, and many other characters. I think it was a very apt and fitting decision from Tamaki considering the name “Starfire” has always been associated with a beautifully skinny yet curvaceous model of a woman.
I actually really loved the art. The style suited the story and the colours were aesthetically pleasing. I still stand by what I said about the cover art though. It’s all wrong and gives the wrong idea about the graphic novel. I think the choice in cover art led to a lot of the hate and that’s sad because it doesn’t portray Mandy in a positive light or really in any light that is accurate towards how she actually is within the graphic novel.
The only thing you could really fault this graphic novel with was how easily it dismissed all of Mandy’s problems using the classic comic solution of the appearance of sudden miraculous superpowers. It was cliché but not done terribly, still I would’ve liked to see Starfire and Mandy really discuss their issues outside of a sudden life-or-death setting.
So all in all, this was actually good! That’s doubly surprising because 1. Everyone hated on this prematurely and 2. DC does have a track record for really awful “woke” and try-hard graphic novels for teens.
Pre-reading thoughts: (3/5/2021)
That cover design is awful. Whoever signed off on that needs to be fired or at the very least take a pay cut. It really didn’t bode well for the content of this graphic novel.
I did not enjoy Tamaki’s Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass (see my review for why: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) but it did have a lot of potential. I feel as though this graphic novel will probably take the same route of attempting to address important societal issues but fall short of doing it well because of limited pages and lack of character depth. I hope that’s not the case and I’m not going to pre-judge. I’ll go into this with an open mind, but this is my prediction for it.
Right out the bag I must state that I’m triply qualified to review this. Why? You might ask...
1. I’ve read numerous DC graphic novels aimed at teens and children (in fact, I plan on reading them all).
2. I’m actually within the age demographic!
3. Well, I’ve actually read this. (You’d think that’d be a given but my gosh, there are a lot of harsh and angry reviews here from people who haven’t even read this graphic novel!)
This was a solid and well-done graphic novel. The real issue everyone has with it is that it’s not intended for your average comic reader. It’s target audience are angsty teens and that’s evident from Mandy’s characterisation as troubled and insecure and also the deadpan humour sprinkled throughout.
Within this graphic novel was a very realistic take on what it means to be an insecure teen. Even with the whole “my mum has superpowers and I don’t” aspect, this was a pretty relatable graphic novel. Just imagine any teen who feels overshadowed by their high-achieving parent. That’s bound to make a teen feel depressed and insecure leading them to have anger issues or problems socialising just like Mandy did in this graphic novel.
I really appreciated the inclusion of different body types shown through Mandy, Claire, and many other characters. I think it was a very apt and fitting decision from Tamaki considering the name “Starfire” has always been associated with a beautifully skinny yet curvaceous model of a woman.
I actually really loved the art. The style suited the story and the colours were aesthetically pleasing. I still stand by what I said about the cover art though. It’s all wrong and gives the wrong idea about the graphic novel. I think the choice in cover art led to a lot of the hate and that’s sad because it doesn’t portray Mandy in a positive light or really in any light that is accurate towards how she actually is within the graphic novel.
The only thing you could really fault this graphic novel with was how easily it dismissed all of Mandy’s problems using the classic comic solution of the appearance of sudden miraculous superpowers. It was cliché but not done terribly, still I would’ve liked to see Starfire and Mandy really discuss their issues outside of a sudden life-or-death setting.
So all in all, this was actually good! That’s doubly surprising because 1. Everyone hated on this prematurely and 2. DC does have a track record for really awful “woke” and try-hard graphic novels for teens.
Pre-reading thoughts: (3/5/2021)
That cover design is awful. Whoever signed off on that needs to be fired or at the very least take a pay cut. It really didn’t bode well for the content of this graphic novel.
I did not enjoy Tamaki’s Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass (see my review for why: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) but it did have a lot of potential. I feel as though this graphic novel will probably take the same route of attempting to address important societal issues but fall short of doing it well because of limited pages and lack of character depth. I hope that’s not the case and I’m not going to pre-judge. I’ll go into this with an open mind, but this is my prediction for it.
July 29, 2021
genuinely stunning how little this connects to any sort of canon, cartoon or comics, but my main problem is the actual content, which sucks. every dark-skinned character is antagonistic to the white-passing (apparently the author confirmed her as mixed on twitter) main mandy, her love interest is a one-dimensional selfie taker who's character arc is 'i didn't realize taking a selfie with your mom's friends would offend you, because you never told me not to', and koriand'r's character is so badly butchered and constantly slut-shamed that it makes you wonder who this was written for; starfire fans? new to comics fans? cartoon teen titans fans? it swings a bat in a million directions and never once hits.
edit (7/29/2021): i should clarify that i'm reading this book as a mixed arab lesbian, and i find the content terrible from that perspective, not like i'm trying to tank a young adult graphic novel just for the sake of it
edit (7/29/2021): i should clarify that i'm reading this book as a mixed arab lesbian, and i find the content terrible from that perspective, not like i'm trying to tank a young adult graphic novel just for the sake of it
May 24, 2021
DC comics are basically dead with that trash
March 2, 2022
This. was. fine. Mandy calls herself the anti-Starfire because she's the polar opposite of her mother. On the plus side, the book has more than just one body type, Mandy being a plus-sized Goth. My problem is Mandy is extremely unlikable. She's awful to everyone and probably the real reason she doesn't have a lot of friends. I get that she has a chip on her shoulder due to people trying to get close to her due to her mother's fame. It doesn't mean you need to be a bitch to everyone you talk to, including your own friends. The ending seems very trite and out of place as everything is solved by Mandy gaining powers at the last second and instantly knowing how to use them. Still, it's a decent, angsty YA story about finding your own identity.
May 13, 2021
The book isn't even out yet but it appears to have been review bombed. Ouch
I'm gonna balance this out with a 5 star. It certainly deserves more of a chance if it hasn't even been released yet
I'm gonna balance this out with a 5 star. It certainly deserves more of a chance if it hasn't even been released yet
July 1, 2021
A pure rejection of an already established character in the background of already existing story arcs who we have died to see and hear from for ages in some form. A character coming from one of the most beloved super heroines to ever grace comic media with an understood character and track record.
An unusual twist to use her specifically as a descriptor of a bad parent, which not only is odd considering her history and background, is alienating to fan perception and understanding.
Why is Starfire such a cruddy parent?
Who the hell is this NightFire, and why does she look so different than her few appearances, and not only that, why is her appearance so drastically different?
There really isn't any explanation.
The self insert is too obvious.
Using a popular and beloved media figure to insert one's one troubles is usually fine but this comes on the heels of desperate love for StarFire for the past 50 years and many many fan head cannons about the relationship with NightFire and NightWing.
Mariko really failed at using any of the resources here to their full potential and simultaneously rejects the reality and faith that fans have of a character out of the blue to justify a shallow personal desire to be popular.
It is disgusting.
An unusual twist to use her specifically as a descriptor of a bad parent, which not only is odd considering her history and background, is alienating to fan perception and understanding.
Why is Starfire such a cruddy parent?
Who the hell is this NightFire, and why does she look so different than her few appearances, and not only that, why is her appearance so drastically different?
There really isn't any explanation.
The self insert is too obvious.
Using a popular and beloved media figure to insert one's one troubles is usually fine but this comes on the heels of desperate love for StarFire for the past 50 years and many many fan head cannons about the relationship with NightFire and NightWing.
Mariko really failed at using any of the resources here to their full potential and simultaneously rejects the reality and faith that fans have of a character out of the blue to justify a shallow personal desire to be popular.
It is disgusting.
July 14, 2021
Woke garbage
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2025
Utterly delightful! I Am Not Starfire is a YA graphic novel about the daughter of a superhero who feels like she is the antithesis of her mother. She's a queer, plus-size goth girl who's prickly as hell, but in a charming way? It's a coming of age story that uses an alien superhero parent as a way of getting at generational differences and expectations of immigrant parents, which is really smart. It's snarky and funny and has a lot of heart. And an adorable little sapphic first love story! Highly recommend.
August 26, 2022
First off, teenage angst can only be taken so far in a narrative before it just because abnoxious and tedious to read. I'll be straight with you, Mandy is a very unlikeable protagonist. Okay, she lives in her mother's shadow, and that must be hard, but it doesn't give her the right to treat everyone badly, even those who have stood by her. It gets genuinely tiring to watch Mandy be rude at every chance she gets. Pacing is also a really big problem here. Blackfire randomly appearing to be the antagonist ⅔ of the way through comes about so fast that you'll get whiplash; at least it puts Mandy's other problems into perspective for her. The whole thing being solved by the acquisition of unearned powers also feels like a cop-out and very undeserved. Futhermore, the art is something that can't be overlooked. Whilst the Microsoft Paint aesthetic can be excused (it still looks bad) for the majority of the book, there are some panels which have massively oversimplified the character models, to the point where they just look like a bunch of colours slapped together willy-nilly. I feel like it's hard to be in-between on this book; you'll either like it, or you won't. Unfortunately, I fall in the latter category.
August 16, 2021
Mandy is a sullen teen, resentful and distanced emotionally from her mother, the beautiful and famous superhero Starfire, who doesn't seem to know what to make of her own daughter. Gentle and generic teen drama is boosted by stellar art and a character who you're pulling for to have just one thing go her way.
I'm sad to see all the one-star haters lurking here who can't seem to tolerate books written by authors who aren't fanboy approved and starring characters who don't seem to meet their physical standards of beauty for sad fanboy masturbation. Hey, guys, the logo's not there but it's just Elseworlds, not canon; unclench and move on.
I'm sad to see all the one-star haters lurking here who can't seem to tolerate books written by authors who aren't fanboy approved and starring characters who don't seem to meet their physical standards of beauty for sad fanboy masturbation. Hey, guys, the logo's not there but it's just Elseworlds, not canon; unclench and move on.
July 22, 2025
CW// fatphobia, mentions of murder (including parents)
I Am Not Starfire started a little rocky with lots of unlikeable characters, but luckily the characters had a lot of growth and by the end of the graphic novel, I was really enjoying the story. You get to see a lot of the Titans in a new light in this graphic novel, especially Starfire with how she handles being a parent to a rebellious teenager.
The romance in this graphic novel was really sweet and well written. I would love a sequel to this graphic novel some day that explores the romance more. It would also be fun to see how Mandy copes with becoming a full fledged superhero in a sequel.
I Am Not Starfire started a little rocky with lots of unlikeable characters, but luckily the characters had a lot of growth and by the end of the graphic novel, I was really enjoying the story. You get to see a lot of the Titans in a new light in this graphic novel, especially Starfire with how she handles being a parent to a rebellious teenager.
The romance in this graphic novel was really sweet and well written. I would love a sequel to this graphic novel some day that explores the romance more. It would also be fun to see how Mandy copes with becoming a full fledged superhero in a sequel.
October 5, 2025
Remember how in your teens, everyone else felt like alien life forms? What if they really were?
Mandy is sixteen, and her mother is literally not of this world: She’s actually a superhero from a distant planet. Which is anything but easy because Starfire is extremely beautiful, has superpowers and saves millions of lives throughout the universe on a daily basis, whereas Mandy is a normal, imperfect and insecure high schooler with no powers whatsoever, but an attitude of refusal instead. To make matters worse, she also has a crush on Claire, the most popular girl in school. Then events come thick and fast …
This graphic novel is wonderfully written and beautifully drawn, as well as brightly colored. It’s a very special coming-of-age story with heart, humor, a strong message – and a lot of (naturally queer) girl power! I could have used this powerful story as a teenager myself, but I also love it now.
5 stars.
Mandy is sixteen, and her mother is literally not of this world: She’s actually a superhero from a distant planet. Which is anything but easy because Starfire is extremely beautiful, has superpowers and saves millions of lives throughout the universe on a daily basis, whereas Mandy is a normal, imperfect and insecure high schooler with no powers whatsoever, but an attitude of refusal instead. To make matters worse, she also has a crush on Claire, the most popular girl in school. Then events come thick and fast …
This graphic novel is wonderfully written and beautifully drawn, as well as brightly colored. It’s a very special coming-of-age story with heart, humor, a strong message – and a lot of (naturally queer) girl power! I could have used this powerful story as a teenager myself, but I also love it now.
5 stars.
July 14, 2021
Horrible artstyle, comic book insert and not even an interesting story! If this is the path comic books are heading, manga are jsut going to overtook them.
This is the best example of woke becoming the main elements of the story rather than the story being fun. I do not know who the hell asked for this but all I know is that the author should have uploaded this as an fan fiction and not a official DC comic. I hope that no one even buy this and that the book flops horribly so that DC and other USA comic book industries realize people are tired of woke stories and that the talent that has been show can come back and not this big book of garbage. Also, this author really should go to a therapist. Every page seemed to incline that she has either encouring being fat- which by the way is one of the worst advices that you can give to someone do how it causes diseases from heart attacks, diabetes and so many other problems. Also, just a sidenote for the author, no one cared about your weight and seuality until you started shoving into everybody's face and being lesbian or being fat is also not a personality, which if it was then your character would still be missing everything. Also, to those people saying to people who have negativelly reviewed the book and fatphobics and xenophobics, I would like to add that if that was the case, I wouldn't even have given an oppurtunity to this book in the first place and would have harressed the author herself for having these views. Also, just to add a bit more salt to this, if starfire is a star, then her daughter is a gas planet.
Also, don't worry, I didn't pay for it and instead read the pirated version and I also recommend to anyone who wants to tread this trash as well but does not want to give money in order to make them think that
I hope that nobody wstes their money on this piece of crap and we can actually have competent writers and drawer's
This is the best example of woke becoming the main elements of the story rather than the story being fun. I do not know who the hell asked for this but all I know is that the author should have uploaded this as an fan fiction and not a official DC comic. I hope that no one even buy this and that the book flops horribly so that DC and other USA comic book industries realize people are tired of woke stories and that the talent that has been show can come back and not this big book of garbage. Also, this author really should go to a therapist. Every page seemed to incline that she has either encouring being fat- which by the way is one of the worst advices that you can give to someone do how it causes diseases from heart attacks, diabetes and so many other problems. Also, just a sidenote for the author, no one cared about your weight and seuality until you started shoving into everybody's face and being lesbian or being fat is also not a personality, which if it was then your character would still be missing everything. Also, to those people saying to people who have negativelly reviewed the book and fatphobics and xenophobics, I would like to add that if that was the case, I wouldn't even have given an oppurtunity to this book in the first place and would have harressed the author herself for having these views. Also, just to add a bit more salt to this, if starfire is a star, then her daughter is a gas planet.
Also, don't worry, I didn't pay for it and instead read the pirated version and I also recommend to anyone who wants to tread this trash as well but does not want to give money in order to make them think that
I hope that nobody wstes their money on this piece of crap and we can actually have competent writers and drawer's
April 18, 2021
A good read with a few problems. Captured alienation of many of my students.
August 14, 2021
I now have read it. Haven't changed my opinion the book sucks, gives the wrong idea. She hated heroes, but when she becomes one, she suddenly loves them. Claire took a picture with the titans and Mandy got mad coz she took a picture. Bro, I take pictures with my bff's family and is not like she'll hate me and call my a dick. SHE HAS TO TALK, NOT IGNORE. I hated that the most. She wanted her mom to understand her, but she didn't tell her what was the problem. And also, why on the last fight Star was bad, then good, then weak, then good. When I first read the book, it made me laugh (mostly coz I was sick and I saw everything good) so that's a point for the book.
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