Cosmoknights, Vol. 2

Cosmoknights #2

by Hannah Templer

Escape was just the beginning. The sensational "gays in space" webcomic/graphic novel returns, with new faces, long-awaited reunions, higher stakes, and more thrilling action!

Pan has finally escaped her dead-end planet, piecing together a new sort of family with the rebel gladiators Bee and Cass and the mysterious hacktivist Kate. They've even rescued a princess... But what if this princess has her own ideas? Whatever happened to Pan's childhood friend Tara? And if Pan and the others become galactic fugitives, will the immense pressure of life on the run threaten to tear them apart just in time for the biggest heist of their lives?

With equal parts personal drama, political resonance, and brilliantly colorful sci-fi action, Hannah Templer's Cosmoknights follows a ragtag group of queer outer-space gladiators as they fight to escape--and possibly overthrow--the neo-medieval patriarchy that rules their universe.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Comics, LGBT, Queer, Young Adult, Fantasy

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 13, 2023

Reviews

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Now available in print!*
‘But the family we chose molds who we are.’

Cosmoknights is BACK with bigger thrills, higher stakes and what is honestly an even better volume than the already amazing first one. Incredibly fun and also incredibly queer, Cosmoknights will have you cheering for these plucky heroines through the breathtaking visual spectacle that is Hannah Templer’s artwork. Volume 2 picks up mere days after the first with the crew heading into greater and greater dangers with each twist and turn of the plot. This volume feels rather expansive, bringing in more players to this complex political plot of disrupting empires and rescuing princesses. But do the princesses want to be rescued? And is there a more productive way to punch up that might not be with giant mech fists in an arena? Cosmoknights Volume 2 is a graphic novel you do NOT want to miss.

This series just got even more badass than I thought possible

Templer does an excellent job of portraying the difficulties of group dynamics when everyone has a different idea of what is the right thing to do and also how to accomplish that. Bess and Cass have been fighting in the ring for years, but now Kate has bigger plans and believes the cosmoknights are merely pawns in a game of resources that always manages to stay in the wealthy families and wants to tear them down and expose the games for being a sham. But has anyone ever asked the princesses what they want, and could they do more by resisting from on the throne? It’s a delightfully tangled web with a lot of strong opinions and hard feelings. But there are so many other wonderful moments, from space battles, lots of flashbacks to childhoods, Pan getting bluntly hit on and being oblivious to the whole thing and even a good old fashion bar brawl. This is all brought to life in gorgeous artwork with bright bold colors that portrays the galaxy in diverse aesthetics. What Templer seems best at, however, is noir vibes and I LOVE that.

Volume 2 will be out in June so I don’t want to say too much, but get ready! This is a fantastic series and I’m already eager for the inevitable next volume. Things get a LOT larger here and the stakes are becoming astronomically high, but this group has a lot of fight left in them. This series is adorable and gripping and I just love it so much.

5/5

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite graphic novel of 2022 was Cosmoknights. I just couldn’t get over the gorgeous art, incredible world building, and phenomenal representation. Cosmoknights is 100% the best graphic novel I have ever read. I wasn’t worried about book 2 being a disappoint, because I trusted the author to continue delivering this sapphic serve. Thank you to the universe for providing me with an ARC. If I had to wait another minute I probably would have cried.

The drama! These characters are so fun and dramatic. Cass just cannot help herself, she has to pick the most dramatic option every single time, and we love her for it. Bee is the mother they all need, I loved getting to know her more in this book. Together they all form a wonderful found family. Chef’s kiss.

The questions I had after book one have now been answered! The twists and the turns were sensational. I now have even more questions and cannot wait to see how the gang move on from that incredible ending.

UGH! The beautiful blend of queerness AND normalisation. No graphic novel does it better. Send me to this version of space. NOW!

Kate sat on that throne - I will never forget that image. I am entirely obsessed with her. The chaos antihero of my dreams. I would love to see Kate enter her villain era in book three and completely destroy everything and everyone. Kate deserves to be empress of the entire universe. Crown her now.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED volume one of this series so couldn't have been more excited to start my ARC of this one! We get some answers in volume two (no spoilers here) and it was so much fun to return to this world. I will never be over how beautiful the art and character design of Cosmoknights is and there are so many pages that truly deserve to be framed. This instalment focuses heavily on the importance of found family and I'm in love with the ever-growing one at the heart of this story. It is unbelievably touching to see a whole cast of wonderful sapphic characters as they show up for each other, (sometimes begrudgingly) work together, fall in love, AND go on adventures! In space! With pirates! This series genuinely feels like a gift and I never want it to end.

[sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*deeeeeeep breath* WOMENNNNNNNNNNNNNN

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid middle chapter of a bigger story, with plenty of action -- space battles, pirates, bar fights, daring rescues -- and lots of sparks -- romantic and antagonistic -- between the characters.

I hope the next chapter doesn't take four years also, but I know it will be worth the wait if it does.

[alyssa✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I NEED A THIRD ONE ASAPPPP

[Sarah ♡ (let’s interact!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found myself completely engrossed in this tale of ”space lesbians” (yes the originator of that meme which was going around a few years back!).
Cosmoknights is a series that gets more addictive the more you read it. The main character, Pan, now lives aboard a spaceship with two strong gladiator knights called Cass and Bee. The mysterious Kate has also joined them and, between them, they have managed to save a Princess. But this Princess seems to be strong-willed and have her own ideas? Love this promoting of independent women after defeating the patriarchy at their own game! The butch, Cass, is honestly my fave 😍
Pan cannot stop thinking of her childhood friend/first love, Tara, who she helped escape across the stars. Now that Pan is travelling out there herself, will she be reunited with this runaway Princess?

I really hope there ends up being a third book of this released! It most definitely leaves you wanting more tales with these space-adventuring gays! 💖🪐🚀

5 stars

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love book 2!

It picks up immediately where book 1 left off, and focuses on the importance of found family and community, with the running theme that it's great to go off and do things on your own, but to really make something last you need help.

Plus, we finally discover what happened to Tara all those years (five years) ago, and the results are exciting!

Space knights! Space pirates! Sexy sapphics!

[sol · Rating 4 out of 5]

aaahhh so excited for the next update!!! (☆▽☆)

[nikki | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ . · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5★

and it just gets better!

i need book 3!!!!

[michelle (travelingbooknerds) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cosmoknights are back with stunning art and even more cinematic queer space hijinks in the second installment of Hannah Templer's exemplary series. While book one gave me A Knight's Tale, The Hunger Games, Battle Royale, My Hero Academia, Thor: Ragnarok, Killjoys, The Expanse/Leviathan Wakes vibes, this volume has Thunderdome, Star Wars, Shang-Chi, Ocean's trilogy, Marvel's Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D, Gladiator, Mazerunner vibes in that it really deepens its exploration into the deeper lore of the Cosmoknights universe, the political underpinnings behind how the Cosmokinght matches work, what messing with existing ecosystems look like for everyone involved, and we get to know more about our amazing cast of characters and watch their interpersonal relationships form, deepen, and progress. As always, the art is absolutely stunning, breathtaking, bar none some of the most beautiful art in the graphic novel scene bar none. I truly could not rave about this art more. I did feel that this volume had a little bit of a slow burn at the beginning but more than made up for the slow pacing by the end and after having sat with the story for a few days to let it marinate I agree that the pacing Templer chose to tell the story in was needed for the story to have the most effective and impactful emotional hit and resonance. I really love reading about the characters and stories in this universe and sincerely hope that IDW Publishing and Top Shelf Productions keeps publishing volumes of Cosmoknights as long as Templer chooses to create them. The importance of showing how beautiful, safe, loving, nurturing, affirming, encompassing, and comforting found family is and showing beautifully poignant, affirming portrayals of sapphic found family at that is just so meaningful to me. I feel so blessed and grateful to be alive.

Thanks to Netgalley, IDW Publishing, Top Shelf Productions, Hannah Templer for providing me with a beautiful e-ARC to read in advance in exchange for my honest review.

[Nev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gays in space fighting the patriarchy, what more do you need?

I absolutely loved the first volume of Cosmoknights and was eagerly awaiting a new installment. I’m just so enamored with everything about this series. The characters, the story, the art, THE COLORS!!! I seriously can’t get over how much I love the colors in this book. They’re so vibrant and it adds so much to all the different scenes.

Something that I especially appreciated in this volume was getting more characters and their opinions about what the best way to make change would be. I loved seeing the different perspectives and how they clashed with each other at times.

This is a stunning graphic novel. Definitely check it out, or pick up the first volume if you haven’t yet.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Anniek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reread volume 1 before reading this one, and I enjoyed it maybe even more the second time around. Volume 2 was also really fun, and a great extension of all the things I loved in volume 1, like the use of colour and the found family trope. But it also gave more depth to the story, and most importantly, it reunited us with Tara, which I was so excited about. I was very happy to see at the end of the book that the story will be continued, and I'm very much looking forward to the next installment.

[Chantaal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish I loved this as much as I did volume 1, but it was still a good time. Good art, decent character work, shoddy world building, found family and queer joy.

[Starr ❇✌❇ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as the first one! I loved the pirate reveal, and am also glad things seemed to be on the right track and get resolved sooner rather than dragging everything out. Book Three looks like it's going to be exciting! I love how this little family of space fugitives is coming together!

[elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

YEAHHRGRHRHR WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FUCK YEAHHHHHHH

[Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second volume of Cosmoknights delivered all I wanted and then some from the series continuation. The worldbuilding exploded into fascinating directions, new and returning characters got a great amount of depth and exploration, and the queer found family in space vibes persist - all in a gorgeously drawn, riotously colourful package. Cosmoknights remains one of my personal favourite graphic novel series and I recommend it enthusiastically at every opportunity. Patriarchy continuing to be smashed, Kate continues to have my number, 12/10 loved every moment.

Thank you to Top Shelf Productions and NetGalley for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but never gets great. Some of the story is waaaay too easy and implausible, and nothing ever gets messy. But it's fun and the characters seem to be enjoying it. Reads like a YA show. Interesting enough to pick up the next volume.

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this so much! Absolutely can’t wait for the next volume.

[Anne-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was everything I wanted in a sequel!!!

The art is just as gorgeous and there's plenty more character development, world building, and plot that we only got a taste of in Book 1.

I particularly appreciated seeing Cass and Bee's relationship on page - while Pan is ostensible our MC, having two older badass ladies complement Pan's youth and relative inexperience was refreshing. And just seeing them communicate issues and rely on each other as a team was so important.

I loved each of our rag-tag group of found family - they all felt unique with their own strengths and flaws that both complemented and frustrated each other as they worked towards a common goal (with differing approaches).

Also Scottie's cat, Percy, was so adorable and badass (iykyk).

And yes, we do get answers about Tara!

Overall, highly recommend if you enjoyed Book 1 and I'm so excited for future installments to see what happens next with the resistance against the games/empire. I'm even willing to wait another few years for the next one to be published.

[Christina Close · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay more space pirates and trying to take down the patriarchy.

I love that Pan and Tara meet each other again, and enjoyed the few flashbacks that happened throughout the book. I like that each other the characters is vastly different and you have females of all shapes and ethnicity. I also like that Scottie and Kate finally realize that they have feelings for each other.

I do want another volume because there still is so much that needs to be discovered and solved. Please give us another volume.

[Solly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this as much as the first one!

[Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow even better than the first one??

[Mikey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Space lesbians part 2! It's kinda like voltron meets the Princess Protection Program. Has anyone seen that movie?

[Stevie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"...No one's gonna tell us what to do."

Jump back in the ring, the Cosmoknights are at it again! They've rescued the princess and are off to save another. But not everyone is on board with that plane. Actually only Cass is. Kate wants to go bigger. Pan is worrying over a newly found message from Tara. Bee doesn't think they're ready for another match. And the Princess... she wants to go back home.

Plot: 5/5
The story that Templer crafted is just fantastic, there is just the right amount of plot squeezed into those panels. The flashbacks and parallel perspectives gave me chills!

Characters: 5/5
All the characters were forced to grow in this story. I love how much we got to see of Kate, I think she really came into her own as a character. Also Scottie?! I loved the addition of her and her relationship with Kate.
Bee and Cass had incredible moments. Pan became some much more of a force to be reckoned with. And TARA?! HELLO! Her character design is flaawwwlleesssssss.

Writing/Art: 5/5
Perfection, what else is there to say?

Overall: 5/5

[Vuokko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annan tälle (ainakin nyt) 4.5 tähteä. Tää oli silti yks parhaimmista ja mahtavammista sarjakuvista koskaan!! En vaa raaski antaa viittä tähteä niin usein ja tässä en samaistunut niiiin paljoa henkilökohtasella levelillä jonka takia siitä pieni "miinus". Täähän oli siis muuten aivan upea, mahtava kokonaisuus. Kaikki hahmot on niin karismaattisia, söpöjä ja kiehtovia, enkä saanu niistä tarpeekseni. Myös koko visuaalisuus on niin herkullinen, varsinkin värien käyttö ja hahmo- sekä maailmadesign . Joka aukeama on periaatteessa oma pieni taideteoksensa!

Toivon että tästä tulis kolmososa, mieluiten HETI!!☆ Ps. Tuunkohan nostaa tätä arvosanaa myöhemmin, katotaan..

[Emily Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another awesome sapphic read from this series, I’m waiting on the edge of my seat for volume three.

The art? 10/10. The story? Everything. The sapphics? Pining.

Rep/ Sapphic MCs, Non binary SC (briefly featured), butch & femme rep. Central relationships are sapphic.


TW’s listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.





TW// battles, fighting, minor gore, patriarchal society, monarchies.

[Jace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection

[Kemunto Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for some great butch representation, this is it! Cass is pretty amazing. I mean, everyone is. I enjoyed reading this, though some things were not great great. Like, the faces they made when they were surprised... uh. But overall, it's a great graphic novel! I'm sure it was a labour of love, so hats off to the author. Great work.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

More! More! More! More!