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Barb the Brave
Disney’s Brave meets Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man in this side-splitting graphic novel about a young girl who has to rescue her fellow warriors from the evil villain Witch Head before he destroys the world! Perfect for readers aged 6+ and fans of Bunny Vs Monkey.Barb is a Berzerker, one of a group of warriors sworn to protect the land of Bailiwick from monsters. But the fearsome crew soon meet their match in the evil villain Witch Head. Using power from his magical sword, he tricks the Zerks and takes them captive . . . All except Barb, who escapes, taking Witch Head’s sword with her. Together, with her best friend, Porkchop the yeti, Barb must free her fellow warriors so they can stop Witch Head from taking over the land. On the way, she’ll battle vampire goat fiends, snotgoblins and a giant with serious foot odour issues (but please don’t mention that to him – he’s very sensitive about it)! The deeper Barb gets into her quest, the harder it is to keep the blade’s awesome power under control . . . Will she be able to rescue her fellow warriors before it’s too late?
Kindle Edition
Published January 20, 2022
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 14, 2022
I love how vibrant and colourful these spreads are. There’s some lush messages in this about being kind and how we’re not all that different after all. Barb’s quest to get the sword turns into something bigger and the villain in this is delightfully devilish. The epilogue was well cool too - can’t wait to read the next one!
October 7, 2022
Never in a million years would I think I would ever rate a comic like 'Barb the Brave' five glorious, triumphant stars.
It's silly, it's cartoony, and there is grossout humour here and there. But it doesn't go overboard or obnoxious in its parody elements and self-aware humour.
But the biggest selling point of 'Barb the Brave' (or 'Barb the Last Berzerker') is it's a ton of fun and hilariousness from start to finish. It is pure entertainment.
But but but, most significantly, it contains heart and pathos throughout. 'Barb' is surprisingly touching and heartbreaking sometimes.
Basically, the plot is that Barb, a young and small Berzerker - who are like barbarian superheroes - must save her fellow captured Berzerkers from an ancient evil demon called the Witch Head, and on her epic quest she makes friends and companions with a sausage-loving yeti, a tiny farmer girl with a slingshot, a slimy green ogress with a snot launcher, a green giant, and other monsters she's been trained to beat up and eliminate, but is finding they are not all bad. She encounters all sorts of creatures and completes all sorts of tasks. Her new weapon is a She-Ra/He-Man sword that grants her incredible power. However, using too much of that power can corrupt and possibly kill her.
Barb also has a past - it involves her mother, once the greatest Berzerker ever, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. She may be a brave warrior who never gives up and never gives in to bullies, but she is a girl who misses her mum, too.
Indeed, Barb is a great all-ages heroine. Righteous, altruistic, dynamic, determined, unstoppable, almost fearless, clever, funny, friendly, and she always stands up for others, and is always willing to help others out. There is compassion to this fiery little barbarian warrior girl. She doesn't actually want to kill anyone or anything. She is strong in every sense of the word. However, it is her vulnerability when it comes to her missing mother that makes her come full circle as a three-dimensional character. She didn't need to be given that kind of depth in a kids' comic like this one, but there you go; her creators put that much effort into making sure she was a fully rounded protagonist worth caring about.
Barb's relationship with her mum (whose name is Raven, because badass) is so loving, sweet, warm, and tearful and tragic. Whaddaya know: badass warrior women can be good mums. As if there was ever any doubt.
On that note, can I just mention how refreshing and heart-soaring it is to see positive mother-and-daughter relationships portrayed in fiction? Positive as in they're simply nice, and good, and kind, and full of unconditional love, support and understanding. Nothing toxic, abusive, tense, and/or complicated about them. As these types of mother-and-daughter bonds seem to only come once in a blue moon, I'm going to point them out every time I see them.
To conclude: 'Barb the Brave' - what colourful and cartoony fun, and filled with such care and heart. The tolerance message is a welcome touch.
One of the best and most entertaining children's graphic novels I've ever read, and have had the luck to come across in my local bookshop. I will definitely read the sequel.
As Barb would say, it is no total drag - it is so rad, dude!
Final Score: 4.5/5
It's silly, it's cartoony, and there is grossout humour here and there. But it doesn't go overboard or obnoxious in its parody elements and self-aware humour.
But the biggest selling point of 'Barb the Brave' (or 'Barb the Last Berzerker') is it's a ton of fun and hilariousness from start to finish. It is pure entertainment.
But but but, most significantly, it contains heart and pathos throughout. 'Barb' is surprisingly touching and heartbreaking sometimes.
Basically, the plot is that Barb, a young and small Berzerker - who are like barbarian superheroes - must save her fellow captured Berzerkers from an ancient evil demon called the Witch Head, and on her epic quest she makes friends and companions with a sausage-loving yeti, a tiny farmer girl with a slingshot, a slimy green ogress with a snot launcher, a green giant, and other monsters she's been trained to beat up and eliminate, but is finding they are not all bad. She encounters all sorts of creatures and completes all sorts of tasks. Her new weapon is a She-Ra/He-Man sword that grants her incredible power. However, using too much of that power can corrupt and possibly kill her.
Barb also has a past - it involves her mother, once the greatest Berzerker ever, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. She may be a brave warrior who never gives up and never gives in to bullies, but she is a girl who misses her mum, too.
Indeed, Barb is a great all-ages heroine. Righteous, altruistic, dynamic, determined, unstoppable, almost fearless, clever, funny, friendly, and she always stands up for others, and is always willing to help others out. There is compassion to this fiery little barbarian warrior girl. She doesn't actually want to kill anyone or anything. She is strong in every sense of the word. However, it is her vulnerability when it comes to her missing mother that makes her come full circle as a three-dimensional character. She didn't need to be given that kind of depth in a kids' comic like this one, but there you go; her creators put that much effort into making sure she was a fully rounded protagonist worth caring about.
Barb's relationship with her mum (whose name is Raven, because badass) is so loving, sweet, warm, and tearful and tragic. Whaddaya know: badass warrior women can be good mums. As if there was ever any doubt.
On that note, can I just mention how refreshing and heart-soaring it is to see positive mother-and-daughter relationships portrayed in fiction? Positive as in they're simply nice, and good, and kind, and full of unconditional love, support and understanding. Nothing toxic, abusive, tense, and/or complicated about them. As these types of mother-and-daughter bonds seem to only come once in a blue moon, I'm going to point them out every time I see them.
To conclude: 'Barb the Brave' - what colourful and cartoony fun, and filled with such care and heart. The tolerance message is a welcome touch.
One of the best and most entertaining children's graphic novels I've ever read, and have had the luck to come across in my local bookshop. I will definitely read the sequel.
As Barb would say, it is no total drag - it is so rad, dude!
Final Score: 4.5/5
March 22, 2025
Actual rating: 3.5 / 5
I can really seeing this be such a fun cartoon network series! It read like a comedy action cartoon.
I loved the found family and the lord of the rings "you have my hammer" reference".
This was fun, and it got a couple chuckles out of me!
Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy!
I can really seeing this be such a fun cartoon network series! It read like a comedy action cartoon.
I loved the found family and the lord of the rings "you have my hammer" reference".
This was fun, and it got a couple chuckles out of me!
Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy!
September 9, 2022
Love, love, love this book!!
*Mum comment* this book really needs to go back to the library, it's been renewed 7 times already!
*Mum comment* this book really needs to go back to the library, it's been renewed 7 times already!
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December 16, 2022Cute story with a strong female protagonist
July 31, 2023
The book is very cool and so good
December 20, 2023
“What I’m trying to say is… humans and monsters… we aren’t all that different. Ya know?”
May 10, 2024
Your book absolutely made my childhood and I wanted to thank you for doing that.
September 13, 2025
I loved this book when I was younger, it was the first graphic novel I had ever read and it was great fun, I would recommend
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews