Love and War

Love and War #1-5

by Andrew Wheeler, Killian Ng (Illustrator)

Finding yourself torn between two potential boyfriends is tough. Domo is learning that it’s even tougher when you’re trying to win the captaincy of your school’s tug-of-war team!

His competition is Jocasta, a serious athlete who will stop at nothing to prove she’s the best. Can Domo lead his team to victory while he struggles with his feelings for ambitious Gabriel and flamboyant Emil?

Love and War is a queer sports rom com about how our conflicting passions can pull us in different directions!

Collects Love and War from the ComiXology original digital series in print for the first time.

Genres: Graphic Novels, LGBT, Young Adult, Queer, Comics, Romance, Contemporary

136 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2022

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Andrew Wheeler is a Shuster and Eisner-winning writer and editor. His credits include Another Castle at Oni Press, Love and War at Comixology, the Dungeons & Dragons Young Adventurers Guides, and the Prism-nominated all ages LGBTQ anthology Shout Out.

Reviews

[Ben Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up at a comic book store without knowing anything about it, except that it was gay. And it did not disappoint.

We have a Tug of War team rivalry, a fight for captaincy, and romance. Along with some great artwork fantastic read.

Hopefully I don't have to wait too long for volume 2.

Only one volume out and it already has some actual romance. I'm going to need Fence to start taking some notes...

[Siobhan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since reading and adoring Fence, I’ve been eager to find a graphic novel with the same kind of feel. Love and War seemed to offer a similar kind of read, which left me curious about the story. While there were moments of this where I found myself feeling a bit of a pull, it was never quite as strong as I’d hoped.

I think what stopped me from loving this one to the degree I had hoped is the fact that the characters all feel like cliches. There was nothing that truly stood out, which stopped this book from moving beyond simply being okay. There were many elements that could have taken this strange little story to the next stage, yet it seemed to hold back.

All in all, some will love this, yet it never quite went as far as I’d hoped.

[Margherita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why they divided the volumes by chapters instead of putting them all together in one volume, but anyway... this was cute. I didn't feel too strongly about all the "volumes" but there wasn't anything I really disliked so I guess they all get five stars.

EDIT: turns out there is also an edition of just one volume with all five chapters, I just didn't find it first lol.

[Abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cute story but I really wish that our main character really made his "ex" super jealous for leaving him without warning.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 stars for super-engaging characters that had me hooked right away. I did not expect to get so into tug-of-war. Fans of “Fence” will love this series.

3 stars for both of Domo’s options being terrible… *face palm*

[anna ✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

This was so much fun and I loved the story. The artwork is absolutely incredibly gorgeous as well so all around a very good reading experience.

Can’t wait for the next volume.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Appreciate the representation, but the storytelling in Love and War is kinda dull. It's basically Fences, but with tug-of-war. Are there actually pro tug-of-war leagues? Maybe I need to get that ESPN The Ocho subscription.

The basic outline is that on this high school (?) tug-of-war team, the star player has jetted across town to the school with the best team, leaving everyone in the lurch. Who will be the new team captain? The ambitious one? Or the quiet anchor? And how will either of these characters navigate their feelings for others?

Affairs play out predictably. It's satisfying in a numbing sort of way. There's nothing truly bad about Love and War, it just feels like bland pieces of other, better books.

[Eule Luftschloss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Domo is eager for the new semester, because then he will finally meet his best friend, who kissed him before ghosting him the whole summer, and learn what's up. Or so he thinks.

Boarding school setting, two rivaling schools, two tug-of-war teams, loads of queer romance.
Sadly, neither the plot nor the characters were able to draw me really in, and I had some issues with the drawings. Some panels simply are off, with wonky perspectives, up to a point at which I am unsure if this is set in Denmark or Switzerland since we saw both flags.

I probably won't continue this series.

Would recommend if you're into sport-based stories with queer romance.
The arc was provided by the publisher.

[Augusto Guibone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essa HQ foi TUDO!!! A mistura de esporte e das competições de cabo de guerra + personagens lgbt não-padrões + drama é PERFEITA!

É notável como existe um potencial nessa história, esse primeiro volume é bem preliminar e introdutório, então eu espero que o próximo saia o quanto antes e possamos ter a continuação das histórias desses personagens.

Eu só espero que ela consiga ir além da fofura e aprofundar mais os problemas e os sentimentos que cada um deles carrega.

[Sam - Read & Buried · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love and War is a queer graphic novel focusing on the rivalry (both romantic and athletic!) of two competing schools' tug-of-war teams. I absolutely loved the art style; it's probably in my favorite vein of styles for graphic novels and comics, and the coloring was beautiful. The story itself, while somewhat predictable, makes for a great comfort read when you need one, which makes the reread value pretty high. A whole team worked on this comic, but you wouldn't know it from how cohesive everything feels - a job very well done all around!

Thank you to Dark Horse and Edelweiss for providing a copy for review.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

100% adorable.

[Meliss · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars feels mean but this did not satisfy my Fence cravings.

[Erica ♋️✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

So adorable and gay I loved it 😍

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This needs to be a much longer story/series.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

If the positively glacial pace of Fence has you frustrated, this might be for you. It's also a gay sports romance, with actual romance right here in the very first volume! I'm able to roll with the conceit that, in this fictional country, tug of war is THE sport, but I actually wish there'd been more sport here. And the art and writing just aren't quite as good as Fence. They're fine, but they could be much better. The characters are kind of shallow, and the romances feel surface level. This is meant to be the first volume in a series, I think, but there hasn't been a new issue in awhile.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Domo is aiming to be captain of his school’s tug-of-war team, but going head on against his teammate, the ambitious Jocasta, might be more than he can handle. Especially since his best friend Gabe transferred away after they kissed at the end of last year, and Domo has no idea if they’re even still friends. To complicate matters more, new student Emil is trying his hardest to catch Domo’s eye, and even though he’s infuriating his fun-loving ways and ebullient attitude might be enough to win Domo over.

A pro sports graphic novel about tug-of-war, I love how much the world of storytelling is branching out. Tug-of-war is pretty straightforward but still super interesting in this book, and I enjoyed seeing the variations and trying to learn a little of the strategy behind setting up a strong team and winning the matches. The characters themselves are total chaos. Jocasta is ferocious and focused on victory to the point of almost being too ambitious, but she cares intensely about the fate of the team. Poor Domo is caught between his confusing, hurt feelings for Gabe and his slowly blossoming feelings for Emil, who manages to be annoying at the same time he’s being genuinely sweet and optimistic. Where Domo is serious and a bit shy, Emil is bright and cheery - I’m so glad they are drawn to each other and I hope their relationship continues to get closer. The other characters were a diverse bunch, even among the rival team (with Gabe) there are folks of all different abilities and body types. It was nice to see good body positivity and self-expression in this book, tug-of-war requires strength and stature and the teams all look capable and yet very representative of different body shapes. I wish there had been more time to learn about different characters, or get an intro into the various relationships before the story started going full steam. But hopefully there will be more volumes and we’ll get a chance to spend more time with Domo, Emil, and the incredible athlete’s of the Aster tug-of-war team.

[Melissa Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly, I need to say that I love the play on words with the title. Love and war, tug of war. Absolutely genius if you ask me.

It’s kind of funny how seriously they take tug of war, it’s basically life or death for them, but it’s also very fun. I love the competitiveness added to a childhood game. It’s a bit over the top but that’s why it’s so entertaining. I’m assuming Love and War is meant to be inspired by sports mangas, if so, I love that – despite having never read a sports manga.

The cover is definitely what drew me into this graphic novel and because it was available on Kindle Unlimited I didn’t hesitate before downloading it. Not going to lie, I thought based on the cover this was going to be about gymnastics. I’m not too sad that it wasn’t, but now I really want a graphic novel about competitive gymnastics.

I really love the art style of Love and War, the illustrations were done by Killian Ng and they did such a good job. The character designs were super interesting, the lettering was clean (I’m not sure if they did that, but anyway) and the colouring was really nice. Every page was interesting and I loved the use of foliage to add extra details.

The storyline was actually a little chaotic but in a funny way. The seriousness of the characters when it came to tug of war was very comedic and the romantic plotlines were interesting. I wouldn’t say I was very invested in any of the relationships, but if this were to get a second volume then there is definitely time for that to change.

Volume one of Love and War was a fun, chaotic tug of war masterpiece. I’ve never had any interest in the sport, but this graphic novel definitely made it interesting. I’m excited to see more of the story in the second volume, whenever that may happen.

[Frank Chillura (OhYouRead) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This reminded me so much of CS Pacat’s Fence. Obviously not in subject matter, but in queer character lead sports and vibes. I really enjoyed it.

The fact that I read each issue on KU/Comixology didn’t bother me at all. I’ve been trying to get some kind of use out of my membership this year. The only problem is that when I love a book, I want to also own a physical copy, so now I have to do that!!!😭🤣

Domo hasn’t spoken to his best friend Gabriel since right before summer, but they have a tradition where they meet at the beginning of the school year to walk in together. Only this year, Gabriel doesn’t show. He’s also not in the gymnasium for tug-of-war meeting/practice and that’s when Domo finds out he’s transferred.

So not only do they have some kind of unfinished business (an almost kiss at the end of the year), but his best friend has GHOSTED HIM????

This definitely felt unfinished. While we do end up getting a new adorable love interest in Emil the ballerino, Gabriel is the new team captain for their school’s biggest rival. I’m begging for a love triangle that ends up as a throuple, pleaseeeeee!!! Why do I always want a throuple?🤣🤣🤣🤣

I love that Domo is a thicc boy and he has two athletic and sexy men (one to be exact, the other is just obviously in love with him) vying for his affection. I need more queer stories like this!

[Justice McCray · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you loved Fence or Avant Guards, this one is for you. I still can't get over the creativity of the concept: Competitive Tug-of-War. My mind was blown at the brilliant ways the most basic of games, rope pulling, was expanded in a way that feels real.

Another thing I really appreciate is the positive representation of fat characters. So often in media, fat people are portrayed as nothing more than a punchline, but in this story there are multiple fat characters that are strong, athletic, and the center of romantic affection and pursuit.

If you're looking for a queer graphic novel, this one is flying under the radar and deserves some love.

[mar✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

esta novela gráfica es tan cute y es hermosa a la vista que me da algo. aquí nuestro prota domo está en un equipo de jalar la cuerda y es inicio de ciclo y espera a su mejor amigo gabriel pero ohhh qué pasa? qué gabriel no llega sino que se fue a la escuela rival y allá es el capitán. mientras domo tiene que sobrellevar demasiadas cosas entre ellas el que su amigo (con el cuál pasó algo en la final de la competencia del ciclo pasado) se haya ido con los rivales, en que es co capitán y que acaba de llegar un nuevo alumno que es emil y es una joya de personaje. este es un libro queer y raios, esos uniformes yo los quiero. está muy bonito todo y ya quiero que salga el segundo volumen

thanks to edelweiss and dark house for an arc of this book.

[Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun.
A typical high school drama.
A whole lot of LGBTQ+ characters, actually I don't think there were any straight characters. 🤣
More than enough jealousy for one comic though.
Not much of a story. Two high schools competing for a championship, two people competing for the position of captain on their team, a boy wanting to win the heart of another boy but that boy's heart already belongs to someone else, a girl losing sight of whats important and ends up losing more than she wanted, teenagers who do their parents bidding but forget about their own dreams. You know, high school drama.... ugh..... sooooo.....much.... drama......
It all ends well? For now!
Next Volume please!😂

[Gabriella · Rating 4 out of 5]

a graphic novel with cute art!

I didn’t expect to get get so invested into story mainly centred around tug-of-war. It was a surprisingly enjoyable read, that hooked me from the beginning.

There was team rivalry, a fight for captaincy between two teammates, and romance added into the mix too.

A cute read with diverse characters who all have their own personalities and story; with each of them trying to figure out who they are and what’s important to them.

Volume 1 was fun, looking forward to see what volume 2 has in store!

[Carrie-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read 4 of the 5 issues (the last comes out in just over a week)

This is a simple, cute read about a tug-of-war team at college. I love sports contemporary with a bit of romance for some reason, so this fits the bill perfectly! It's sweet, not a crazy amount of plot, just these characters existing, friendships, relationships, rivalries and tug-of-war!

[Neil Wick · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason, this was published in five separate titles, one chapter in each. Tug of War as a competitive college sport with championships was something new to me. It was interesting to learn more about that. The male-male and female-female romantic ups and down is the main plot, and there's not a lot of depth in the space available but it was enjoyable and the art is good.

[Gabriele | QueerBookdom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Representation: fat queer white protagonist, fat queer Black secondary character, queer Latine secondary character, queer white secondary character, queer Roma secondary character, Black tertiary characters.

Content Warning: none.

Review to come...

[Amy Walker - Trans-Scribe Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love and War has something of a unique flavour to it. It has the feel of a sports manga, where everything is focused around this one game, where everyone’s lives are centred on it, and even the world seems to care about it to a degree that feels unrealistic. In the case of this story, it’s tug of war, with rival schools all competing in huge, televised competitions for championships in huge arenas that seem built purely for tug of war. But it also has a very European setting, with everything taking place in an unspecified country somewhere in Europe that has visual qualities taken from places like Sweden, Austria, and northern Italy.

The story centres on Domo, a member of the Aster Academy tug of war team. We begin at the start of a new school year, where Domo learns that the team captain, his friend Gabe, has left to join one of the rival schools. Worse, he hasn’t spoken to Gabe since they kissed last year. Learning that the boy he loves is gone, Domo tries to focus on tug of war, but faces challenges there when both he and Jocasta have been signed up as co-captains, and he is going to have to compete for the position. And when a new student, dancer Emil, joins the team, Domo finds himself falling in love all over again.

Love and War is a very queer book. All of the romances that take place here are gay ones, the book doesn’t shy away from putting LGBTQ+ relationships at the front and centre of this sports romance series. And as you can imagine, this being a sports competition book focused on teens in love, it does get a bit intense. Everything is high stakes here, with futures, reputations, and dreams constantly on the line. Andrew Wheeler does a good job of capturing that teenage feel of everything being hugely important, and I’m not entirely sure if everything in this world is focused around tug of war, or if we’re just seeing it that way because that’s how our characters see it.

The artwork, by Guillermo Saavedra, Killian Ng, and C.R. Chua, is all nicely presented, with clean line-work and a nice colour palette that draws upon pastel shades a lot. The scenes where we’re outside and we get to see the city and all of the huge buildings and fancy sights are some of the best moments in the book, with everything else being decent. If you’re a fan of sports dramas, teen drama, or romance, this book will probably have some appeal for you.

[Skye · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much I would like to love this like Sins of the Black Flamingo, this felt quite bland to me.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

v. cute! loved the art and diversity of body types! a sports romance about tug of war?? lol.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Ana Lopes · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5