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Cosplay
Abel is a cosplayer. His parents don’t get it. His brother’s a big, dumb jock. Still, the geek heaven of Comic-Kon is just around the corner, and this year, Abel plans to win the cosplay contest as his hero, Batman. But the convention has other surprises in store. When an intelligence team invades the floor in hot pursuit of a rogue agent, Abel and his friends have a chance to be the heroes they only dress up as. A series of chases and double-crosses ensues that will teach these eager kids what being a true hero really means.
88 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2022
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35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
May 19, 2022
Should've been a fun little adventure, but it feels too long and isn't as thrilling as it seems to think it is. There are a ton of characters, and it probably would've been better if the book had focused on a few.
The art is pretty good, and the references to pop culture characters are fun, although I kind of thought it was a letdown that there is a full list of all the references in the back.
(Picked up a review copy through NetGalley)
The art is pretty good, and the references to pop culture characters are fun, although I kind of thought it was a letdown that there is a full list of all the references in the back.
(Picked up a review copy through NetGalley)
April 5, 2022
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
What was supposed to be the day of these kids lives, Comic-con, ends with danger, bombs, shooting, and finding your inner-real-superhero. Because something dangerous is happening and these kids know too much. But who is speaking the truth and who isn't? It was an exciting read for sure and I loved the varied casts of kids. All seemingly outcasts, but during this con united as one. There are lots of moments I was gasping! Gasping that people would go so far and that they would even take down kids to get something they need. Don't care about lives at all.
This was a ride! And the ending was maybe a tad underwhelming (or at least how the kids were treated after everything they went through), but the actual ending made up for it. But I am guessing maybe a second volume? Or something else?
I loved all the references, the costumes, characters who are not cosplaying but look very much like x character. At the end we even get a list of all the references, didn't read that, but I do appreciate it was added.
Love the search/find picture at the end, that was totally fun!
And the art was great~
What was supposed to be the day of these kids lives, Comic-con, ends with danger, bombs, shooting, and finding your inner-real-superhero. Because something dangerous is happening and these kids know too much. But who is speaking the truth and who isn't? It was an exciting read for sure and I loved the varied casts of kids. All seemingly outcasts, but during this con united as one. There are lots of moments I was gasping! Gasping that people would go so far and that they would even take down kids to get something they need. Don't care about lives at all.
This was a ride! And the ending was maybe a tad underwhelming (or at least how the kids were treated after everything they went through), but the actual ending made up for it. But I am guessing maybe a second volume? Or something else?
I loved all the references, the costumes, characters who are not cosplaying but look very much like x character. At the end we even get a list of all the references, didn't read that, but I do appreciate it was added.
Love the search/find picture at the end, that was totally fun!
And the art was great~
April 18, 2022
*Thank you to netgalley for an arc*
hmm I wasn't a huge fan of this one. Maybe it was the size? it was so short, like 88 pages. As much as I do prefer long graphic novels, I can get behind a shorter one if it's done well. However this book felt very much like a bad self insert fanfiction. also the plot felt very lacklustre and rushed. I also thought the book had some pacing issues.
Also the friend group felt very unrealistic, and at times it felt like they were barely friends.
However the art style was very well done, so that's a bonus.
overall I think the book was very nice in terms of art, but lacked substance and solid writing.
hmm I wasn't a huge fan of this one. Maybe it was the size? it was so short, like 88 pages. As much as I do prefer long graphic novels, I can get behind a shorter one if it's done well. However this book felt very much like a bad self insert fanfiction. also the plot felt very lacklustre and rushed. I also thought the book had some pacing issues.
Also the friend group felt very unrealistic, and at times it felt like they were barely friends.
However the art style was very well done, so that's a bonus.
overall I think the book was very nice in terms of art, but lacked substance and solid writing.
May 11, 2022
Great coming of age story amid the trappings of a comic convention beset by terrorists. Definitely a book to share with kids seeking creative outlets or ways to boost their self-esteem and confidence (as well as showing the counterpoints to unrealistic daydreams about costumed heroics).
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher Europe Comics for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher Europe Comics for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and Europe Comics for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
CW: violence, sexism, fat shaming, bullying, gun violence.
I have to admit, I really didn't like this comic.
While the concept sounded cool and the art style was pleasent to look at, the story lacked depth and was at times quite inconsiderate.
I am myself a big fan of comic cons and visited the one in my country already mutiple times. Now, said comic con has been cancelled for the third year in a row, due to the on-going pandemic. I picked up this comic in the hope of finding comfort and escape at least in a fictional experience.
I love the atmosphere and the passion of comic cons, being surrounded by hundreds of geeks and nerds who understand and respect each other, even when differing opinions occur. It's like a huge friend group, always nice and supportive even if you're total strangers.
Sadly, exactly that is the weakest point of the story. There is not a single likeable character in this book. Everyone is easily aggravated, insecure and constantly picking at each other. Even the supposed best friends I woundn't have known as friends, hadn't the synopsis told me so.
And while there were a few inside jokes that made me smile or even laugh out loud (like the Spartans passionately correcting Abel's brother that Cosplay is not dress-up or everyone miss-placing the agents in a different fandom), these were balanced by some strong no-gos of comic con behavior: fat shaming the Thor cosplayer thta he should rather go as Obelix, sexist comments that a woman couldn't be Logan and more. It was truly baffling.
Another component I found to be quite inconsiderate was the supposed death of one of the main characters. He gets shot during the middle part of the book and no one even checks his pulse or seemed truly sad - after a short time they just moved on... and later were oh so surprised that he did in fact never die but wore a self-made bullet-proof west underneath.
The portrayel of female characters was, oh wonder, also something I disliked.
Those were either objectified, desciminated, or displayed as trophies for the main characters, and of course all of them had the idealized slim-curvey silhuette and low neckline that comic women often have.
There were a few tries to redeem this situation at the end, but for me it was a bit too little too late.
Aside from these biggest critiques, the rest was rather mediocre. The plot wasn't that original and a big too fast-paced for my taste. The only things I enjoyed were the setting and the atmosphere created by the art style, which was very colorful and cartoonesque - and hence perfectely suited for the story told. It filled me with a good portion of nostalgia and longing for whenever the next comic con will finally take place.
But even that couldn't make up for a comic that was at best mediocre and at worst very dissapointing.
PS: since this is a translated work, I think the translator (Edward Gauvin) should be mentioned, at least on Goodreads, if not on the cover.
CW: violence, sexism, fat shaming, bullying, gun violence.
I have to admit, I really didn't like this comic.
While the concept sounded cool and the art style was pleasent to look at, the story lacked depth and was at times quite inconsiderate.
I am myself a big fan of comic cons and visited the one in my country already mutiple times. Now, said comic con has been cancelled for the third year in a row, due to the on-going pandemic. I picked up this comic in the hope of finding comfort and escape at least in a fictional experience.
I love the atmosphere and the passion of comic cons, being surrounded by hundreds of geeks and nerds who understand and respect each other, even when differing opinions occur. It's like a huge friend group, always nice and supportive even if you're total strangers.
Sadly, exactly that is the weakest point of the story. There is not a single likeable character in this book. Everyone is easily aggravated, insecure and constantly picking at each other. Even the supposed best friends I woundn't have known as friends, hadn't the synopsis told me so.
And while there were a few inside jokes that made me smile or even laugh out loud (like the Spartans passionately correcting Abel's brother that Cosplay is not dress-up or everyone miss-placing the agents in a different fandom), these were balanced by some strong no-gos of comic con behavior: fat shaming the Thor cosplayer thta he should rather go as Obelix, sexist comments that a woman couldn't be Logan and more. It was truly baffling.
Another component I found to be quite inconsiderate was the supposed death of one of the main characters. He gets shot during the middle part of the book and no one even checks his pulse or seemed truly sad - after a short time they just moved on... and later were oh so surprised that he did in fact never die but wore a self-made bullet-proof west underneath.
The portrayel of female characters was, oh wonder, also something I disliked.
Those were either objectified, desciminated, or displayed as trophies for the main characters, and of course all of them had the idealized slim-curvey silhuette and low neckline that comic women often have.
There were a few tries to redeem this situation at the end, but for me it was a bit too little too late.
Aside from these biggest critiques, the rest was rather mediocre. The plot wasn't that original and a big too fast-paced for my taste. The only things I enjoyed were the setting and the atmosphere created by the art style, which was very colorful and cartoonesque - and hence perfectely suited for the story told. It filled me with a good portion of nostalgia and longing for whenever the next comic con will finally take place.
But even that couldn't make up for a comic that was at best mediocre and at worst very dissapointing.
PS: since this is a translated work, I think the translator (Edward Gauvin) should be mentioned, at least on Goodreads, if not on the cover.
April 27, 2022
Provided by NetGalley free of charge in exchange for a honest review!
Cute and fast comic to read!
I didn't catch all the comic/pop-culture references, but I appreciate that the author took the time to point them all out at the end of the comic - I was, however, able to catch a lot of characters in this comic cosplay as well known pop-culture characters, and I have to say, slightly inaccurate Thor was my favorite (I don't remember him wearing a helmet like that, is what I'm trying to get at).
I enjoyed the fact that the style in which this comic was drawn mirrors classic comics such as Marvel or DC and that the setting speaks to the target audience.
My only point of negative criticism is concerning the format: this was extremely hard to read as a digital ebook sorta thing, (I couldn't really zoom in to read the speech bubbles and when I could, it would jump around in the comic whenever I zoomed out). It would definitely translate better into something that's published in a "traditional" comic format.
Overall, though, I would recommend this to comic and/or cosplay enthusiasts!
Cute and fast comic to read!
I didn't catch all the comic/pop-culture references, but I appreciate that the author took the time to point them all out at the end of the comic - I was, however, able to catch a lot of characters in this comic cosplay as well known pop-culture characters, and I have to say, slightly inaccurate Thor was my favorite (I don't remember him wearing a helmet like that, is what I'm trying to get at).
I enjoyed the fact that the style in which this comic was drawn mirrors classic comics such as Marvel or DC and that the setting speaks to the target audience.
My only point of negative criticism is concerning the format: this was extremely hard to read as a digital ebook sorta thing, (I couldn't really zoom in to read the speech bubbles and when I could, it would jump around in the comic whenever I zoomed out). It would definitely translate better into something that's published in a "traditional" comic format.
Overall, though, I would recommend this to comic and/or cosplay enthusiasts!
April 12, 2022
[RATE: 4.5/5]
|| Thank you to NetGalley and Europe Comics for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review ! ||
It was a super fun and light read! I honestly loved all the references (they said there are over 150 different ones !) and I had fun trying to spot every references in all the illustrations, even tho I was way far from getting all the 150+ ones, as it goes from the talks but also background, and even someone's totebag haha
The story is really fun and great for middle grade! Even if kids would never help DGIS in real life, it was just a nice touch to give the true meaning behind all of this : there's a hero in every one of us, you just need to be brave enough to do it!
It had a very good action and between spotting the references, the action from the story, and the great illustrations, you can't be bored reading it. This comics honestly made me want to go to a Comic Con this year!
It was a super fun and light read! I honestly loved all the references (they said there are over 150 different ones !) and I had fun trying to spot every references in all the illustrations, even tho I was way far from getting all the 150+ ones, as it goes from the talks but also background, and even someone's totebag haha
The story is really fun and great for middle grade! Even if kids would never help DGIS in real life, it was just a nice touch to give the true meaning behind all of this : there's a hero in every one of us, you just need to be brave enough to do it!
It had a very good action and between spotting the references, the action from the story, and the great illustrations, you can't be bored reading it. This comics honestly made me want to go to a Comic Con this year!
May 2, 2022
A mixed bag for me...
Pros:
I loved the artwork, I thought it was colourful, fun and suited the story perfectly. I enjoyed all the inside jokes, pop culture references and spotting the background character cosplays. And as a comic con fan I loved the setting and the feeling of nostalgia and belonging it evoked. However....
Cons:
The plot was rushed and confusing at times, probably because so much was being packed into such a short book. Nearly all of the characters are pretty unlikeable and extremely under developed. There's also quite alot of sexist comments and fat shaming that made me feel a bit icky.
Overall I'd say it wasn't for me personally but will definetely appeal to lots of people so I'd still encourage giving it a chance!
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Pros:
I loved the artwork, I thought it was colourful, fun and suited the story perfectly. I enjoyed all the inside jokes, pop culture references and spotting the background character cosplays. And as a comic con fan I loved the setting and the feeling of nostalgia and belonging it evoked. However....
Cons:
The plot was rushed and confusing at times, probably because so much was being packed into such a short book. Nearly all of the characters are pretty unlikeable and extremely under developed. There's also quite alot of sexist comments and fat shaming that made me feel a bit icky.
Overall I'd say it wasn't for me personally but will definetely appeal to lots of people so I'd still encourage giving it a chance!
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 7, 2022
The length of this comic really hindered the story. The plot felt derivative and underwhelming, whilst the characters were extremely shallow. I get 88 pages isn't a lot to work with but this was not good. This felt very much like a bad fanfic or a self insert narrative that flopped. The friend group had no banter or hint of camaraderie between them, simply a group of dudes who share one similarity and repeat movie lines to each other instead of actually talking. Despite likely being in the group that this comic was supposed to cater to (comic-obsessed, superhero-watching, pop culture consumer), I found myself mostly cringing while reading this.
Thank you Netgalley and Europe Comics for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you Netgalley and Europe Comics for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
April 14, 2022
3.5☆
This was a fun read, I'd highly recommend this for anyone who wants to read any middle grade (kids in middle school or not).
I loved the pop culture references, from cosplayers to characters that look like others (Gordon, Two-Face, Men-in-Black...), I really liked the Commissioner Gordon part, made me laugh. I especially loved the sort of Where's Wally? aspect to this, with looking in the background at all the references and the picture at the end. Speaking of the end, I enjoyed the end a lot, it was funny and cute and a perfect ending.
The characters were enjoyable, my favourite might be Formica. The rest were fun characters but not really developed enough for me to really love them.
I didn't particularly enjoy about this was the misogyny. I didn't like that mainly Pikachu (Oscar?) kept objectifying women at the start of the comic and then saying that "Wolverine just isn't a girl thing!". However, there was some character growth (and his friends also disagreed with him).
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun read, I'd highly recommend this for anyone who wants to read any middle grade (kids in middle school or not).
I loved the pop culture references, from cosplayers to characters that look like others (Gordon, Two-Face, Men-in-Black...), I really liked the Commissioner Gordon part, made me laugh. I especially loved the sort of Where's Wally? aspect to this, with looking in the background at all the references and the picture at the end. Speaking of the end, I enjoyed the end a lot, it was funny and cute and a perfect ending.
The characters were enjoyable, my favourite might be Formica. The rest were fun characters but not really developed enough for me to really love them.
I didn't particularly enjoy about this was the misogyny. I didn't like that mainly Pikachu (Oscar?) kept objectifying women at the start of the comic and then saying that "Wolverine just isn't a girl thing!". However, there was some character growth (and his friends also disagreed with him).
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2022
* Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC*
I really wanted to enjoy this graphic novels as 1: I love graphic novels and 2: I love all things related to cosplaying and events such as those related to (movies, comics, book characters etc). Unfortunately I wasn't a massive fan of the art work, and the dialogue seemed strange at times. I didn't find any of the characters that likeable, so I couldn't really connect with them. The idea of this novel was a cool and unique one, but I don't think it was executed that well. Some positive points: the diversity of the characters, the idea of the plot and some funny moments!
I really wanted to enjoy this graphic novels as 1: I love graphic novels and 2: I love all things related to cosplaying and events such as those related to (movies, comics, book characters etc). Unfortunately I wasn't a massive fan of the art work, and the dialogue seemed strange at times. I didn't find any of the characters that likeable, so I couldn't really connect with them. The idea of this novel was a cool and unique one, but I don't think it was executed that well. Some positive points: the diversity of the characters, the idea of the plot and some funny moments!
May 28, 2022
If you have ever been part of any or many pop culture fandom(s), there is a lot of fun to be had while reading this book. There were many delightful easter eggs throughout the story - from the obvious DC/Marvel references to the less expected Die Hard reference. I quite enjoyed the experience as a pop culture nerd. Even though the protagonists are Gen Z-ers, I think this book is more entertaining for a millennial audience (like me) because some of the references are a little old. I also liked a lot of the jokes. My only gripe is that the subject matter becomes a tad heavy by the end. The crime(s) at the centre of the story could have been a little less violent to maintain the fun quotient.
April 5, 2022
Thank you Netgalley for my ARC! A super cute graphic novel about friendship, good guys, bad guys, and what it really means to be a hero. I knocked off a star because I wanted more character building—I think this easily could have expanded about 35 pages for character background and it would have been even better!
April 29, 2022
Pure fun!
September 10, 2022
This was a cute graphic novel. I really enjoyed the artwork and the references were fun too. I overall enjoyed this but wasn't wowed by it.
June 20, 2022
Thank you so much Netgalley for the advanced copy!
It was an okayish read. The characters were relatable, highly similar to the nerds, bullies, dorks we encounter in our day to day life. Bits and pieces of it was hilarious and their passion for cosplay was cute but I couldn't find myself caring much. The plot didn't seem very exciting. Though the beginning and ending was pretty good. Great choice if you want to pass time or read something light.
It was an okayish read. The characters were relatable, highly similar to the nerds, bullies, dorks we encounter in our day to day life. Bits and pieces of it was hilarious and their passion for cosplay was cute but I couldn't find myself caring much. The plot didn't seem very exciting. Though the beginning and ending was pretty good. Great choice if you want to pass time or read something light.
June 3, 2022
Well, five stars for the legal work on this. Some kids enter a cosplay contest at the Paris Comic-Con 2022 (albeit with one spelling change, for said legal reasons), and find all hell breaks loose when some nasty types of the criminal kind inveigle their way in. What is most impressive is how everything has been checked and let through – a lovely pyknic Poison Ivy, a Pikachu, a Thor, a cameo from a teacher looking like him out of Up – there are no end of references to well-known and established creations from across the world of genre fiction and super-hero fandom. That alone makes this fun, on some level at least, with the chutzpah of the creators getting everything in there and letting us spot them all.
And in a way it might be a necessary, or at least redeeming, feature, for once the proverbial hits the fan some of the story-telling is quite poor, meaning the multiple strands of the action take too much effort to follow. The action scenes are nowhere near as good as needed, and leave us puzzled too often as to who is where and with whom and doing what. But at least the creators didn't just use all their riffs to cover over a thin little story, for this is a full-on action comic, with multiple sides and teams and locales all within the convention site and all trying to do their thing. A light-hearted touch, as shown by the running joke about Thor looking like a certain more French character, definitely boosts this to three and a half stars – but I think the potential with greater art would have been way higher.
And in a way it might be a necessary, or at least redeeming, feature, for once the proverbial hits the fan some of the story-telling is quite poor, meaning the multiple strands of the action take too much effort to follow. The action scenes are nowhere near as good as needed, and leave us puzzled too often as to who is where and with whom and doing what. But at least the creators didn't just use all their riffs to cover over a thin little story, for this is a full-on action comic, with multiple sides and teams and locales all within the convention site and all trying to do their thing. A light-hearted touch, as shown by the running joke about Thor looking like a certain more French character, definitely boosts this to three and a half stars – but I think the potential with greater art would have been way higher.
April 20, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the book.
I became interested in the book by the theme of superheroes and the group of friends helping to solve a crime, and although I received it, it didn't met my expectations.
While reading a graphic novel I don't expect an extremely well-developed story, by the limit available to explore this, but I found this very little developed compared to the others I have read.
There were many scenes with several things happening simultaneously, and little room to delve into them, leaving the narrative weak and the rhythm inconsistent.
And, the characters were just representations of the stereotypes found in several films with the same premise.
Also, there was no balance between the funny parts and the serious parts, and maybe could have had a transition between them to make the story more concise. I was confused by the end of the book, the facts seemed disjointed, and the solution was very hasty.
Overall, it was a quick and pleasant reading, ignoring the misogynistic lines.
Cons:
There were unnecessary comments from one of the characters in which he objectified women or said that such a thing is not for girls, which made me uncomfortable.
Pros:
The references to pop culture and the game that is in the end were cool and made the story more interesting, even if I could not recognize all the references.
I became interested in the book by the theme of superheroes and the group of friends helping to solve a crime, and although I received it, it didn't met my expectations.
While reading a graphic novel I don't expect an extremely well-developed story, by the limit available to explore this, but I found this very little developed compared to the others I have read.
There were many scenes with several things happening simultaneously, and little room to delve into them, leaving the narrative weak and the rhythm inconsistent.
And, the characters were just representations of the stereotypes found in several films with the same premise.
Also, there was no balance between the funny parts and the serious parts, and maybe could have had a transition between them to make the story more concise. I was confused by the end of the book, the facts seemed disjointed, and the solution was very hasty.
Overall, it was a quick and pleasant reading, ignoring the misogynistic lines.
Cons:
There were unnecessary comments from one of the characters in which he objectified women or said that such a thing is not for girls, which made me uncomfortable.
Pros:
The references to pop culture and the game that is in the end were cool and made the story more interesting, even if I could not recognize all the references.
April 28, 2022
Thank you Netgalley & Europe Comics for the chance to review this heroic and coming of age comic, Cosplay.
The elements and focus points regarding young teens like Abel who love to embody their favorite characters reminds me of my friends and I attending out first Comic-Cons together. While true enough the activity and practice of making a cosplay, attending or buying the costume might seem off putting to those outside the community, it does take a lot of courage and confidence to step out into an unfamiliar area. This comic spoke well on the issues of accepting someone's differences, how bullying affects others, and the act of doing something brave minus the superpowers.
While the situation that Abel and his friends find themselves in while attending the Con is completely ridiculous, I did enjoy the story and the fact the each of them were willing to over come their fear and come up with a game plan to assist others in need; in essence making them true heroes.
The artwork and storytelling is rich, fast paced, and gives just enough insight into the characters' personalities, making them pop off the page.
Be sure to check this comic out on Kindle or your local bookstore.
4/5 stars!
The elements and focus points regarding young teens like Abel who love to embody their favorite characters reminds me of my friends and I attending out first Comic-Cons together. While true enough the activity and practice of making a cosplay, attending or buying the costume might seem off putting to those outside the community, it does take a lot of courage and confidence to step out into an unfamiliar area. This comic spoke well on the issues of accepting someone's differences, how bullying affects others, and the act of doing something brave minus the superpowers.
While the situation that Abel and his friends find themselves in while attending the Con is completely ridiculous, I did enjoy the story and the fact the each of them were willing to over come their fear and come up with a game plan to assist others in need; in essence making them true heroes.
The artwork and storytelling is rich, fast paced, and gives just enough insight into the characters' personalities, making them pop off the page.
Be sure to check this comic out on Kindle or your local bookstore.
4/5 stars!
June 15, 2022
A graphic novel about/involving cosplay is something I hadn't yet come across in my reading career, so I was excited when this appeared on my radar!
It was really neat to see all of the character/pop culture references throughout the book, and there's a list in the back that tells how many there were, including page numbers which was neat. Unfortunately the references and campiness was about the extent of the things I enjoyed.
The length and lack of likeable (and fleshed out) characters were the main things I disliked, along with there being a couple of inappropriate/gross comments said throughout. If the book either cut some of the unnecessary pages or replaced them with character building it could've been improved. The dialog was also a bit off at times and the plot itself was a bit "meh". I did enjoy that the cosplay kids were the ones to be the true heroes, and it seems that the book is set up for another volume so there is time for improvement if that happens.
Overall I didn't really love this one and won't be picking up any additional volumes. Of course, everyone is different so if the blurb appeals to you I'd still give it a go!
*I was given a copy of this title via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
It was really neat to see all of the character/pop culture references throughout the book, and there's a list in the back that tells how many there were, including page numbers which was neat. Unfortunately the references and campiness was about the extent of the things I enjoyed.
The length and lack of likeable (and fleshed out) characters were the main things I disliked, along with there being a couple of inappropriate/gross comments said throughout. If the book either cut some of the unnecessary pages or replaced them with character building it could've been improved. The dialog was also a bit off at times and the plot itself was a bit "meh". I did enjoy that the cosplay kids were the ones to be the true heroes, and it seems that the book is set up for another volume so there is time for improvement if that happens.
Overall I didn't really love this one and won't be picking up any additional volumes. Of course, everyone is different so if the blurb appeals to you I'd still give it a go!
*I was given a copy of this title via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
April 5, 2022
This is probably the best comic I'm going to read all year, and that's not an exaggeration. I absolutely loved this and have never felt to seen.
This book does an AMAZING job of capturing convention life. As a long time participant of anime conventions, it literally made me feel like I was there. I spent a lot of time looking in the backgrounds for characters, getting excited to see some of my favourites, and the little hide and seek in the front of the book was a super fun addition for me because of that.
The book itself is also so accurate. It covers all kinds of convention people from amateur cosplayers to pros, vloggers to every day people. I LOVED that it has different ethnicities, and didn't shy away from crossplay at all, it was wonderful.
The characters are all well written, they all have distinct personalities and their priorities are very clear to see even from the beginning of the comic. Even the character arcs are pretty good for it being so short, especially the main characters.
I have never read a comic about people who love comics, and this is probably the most fun I've ever had reading a comic. Extremely well done!
This book does an AMAZING job of capturing convention life. As a long time participant of anime conventions, it literally made me feel like I was there. I spent a lot of time looking in the backgrounds for characters, getting excited to see some of my favourites, and the little hide and seek in the front of the book was a super fun addition for me because of that.
The book itself is also so accurate. It covers all kinds of convention people from amateur cosplayers to pros, vloggers to every day people. I LOVED that it has different ethnicities, and didn't shy away from crossplay at all, it was wonderful.
The characters are all well written, they all have distinct personalities and their priorities are very clear to see even from the beginning of the comic. Even the character arcs are pretty good for it being so short, especially the main characters.
I have never read a comic about people who love comics, and this is probably the most fun I've ever had reading a comic. Extremely well done!
April 10, 2022
As a person who grew up competing in costume contests and now helps run a larger one, I REALLY wanted to like this but it just did not do cosplay and the convention scene justice.
The basic idea of cosplayers being creative and quick thinking with tools felt like a good portrayal as well as the dedication to being in character. However, that’s really where I feel the accurate portrayal of cosplay ends. The extremely exclusionary actions from the one dimensional pretty boy bully, to the main trio ostracizing the nerd and objectifying women this felt like an outsiders stereotype of cosplay and convention goers rolled up into one mildly offensive package.
I can say I loved the art style and the main character was at times very charming. For me this doesn’t make up for the tired tropes and stereotypes I found all over this story.
It’s possible I could look past this if the narrative was engaging and felt connected to convention life but even that felt forced and poorly executed.
I truly wish I liked this, I love cosplay and have been going to conventions since I was a baby, but this just wasn’t it.
The basic idea of cosplayers being creative and quick thinking with tools felt like a good portrayal as well as the dedication to being in character. However, that’s really where I feel the accurate portrayal of cosplay ends. The extremely exclusionary actions from the one dimensional pretty boy bully, to the main trio ostracizing the nerd and objectifying women this felt like an outsiders stereotype of cosplay and convention goers rolled up into one mildly offensive package.
I can say I loved the art style and the main character was at times very charming. For me this doesn’t make up for the tired tropes and stereotypes I found all over this story.
It’s possible I could look past this if the narrative was engaging and felt connected to convention life but even that felt forced and poorly executed.
I truly wish I liked this, I love cosplay and have been going to conventions since I was a baby, but this just wasn’t it.
April 10, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Europe Comics for the digital galley of this comic book.
Abel is a French cosplayer, and Comic-Kon is around the corner. His parents don’t get his obsession, and his brother is a jerk, but he and his friends have spent so long on their coxtumes, and they’re ready to have a great time, maybe even winning the costume contest. That is, until a man claiming to have plans for a secret disaster is chased through the con by men in black. Abe and his friends will stand up to the be the heroes they dress as to stop terrorism.
I read this over the course of two nights, and it was the perfect bedtime read. It was exciting enough that I didn’t immediately fall asleep, but not super challenging or deep as to keep me up reading too long. The kids were a lot of fun, and what young person doesn’t want the opportunity to be a hero, even if they can never tell anyone what really happened? Plus, I’m a nerd who has been to a few cons myself, and it’s a good vibe. The art was great, and it was just a fun read.
It’s out now wherever you get your comics if you’re looking for a fun one-shot between issues of longer series.
Abel is a French cosplayer, and Comic-Kon is around the corner. His parents don’t get his obsession, and his brother is a jerk, but he and his friends have spent so long on their coxtumes, and they’re ready to have a great time, maybe even winning the costume contest. That is, until a man claiming to have plans for a secret disaster is chased through the con by men in black. Abe and his friends will stand up to the be the heroes they dress as to stop terrorism.
I read this over the course of two nights, and it was the perfect bedtime read. It was exciting enough that I didn’t immediately fall asleep, but not super challenging or deep as to keep me up reading too long. The kids were a lot of fun, and what young person doesn’t want the opportunity to be a hero, even if they can never tell anyone what really happened? Plus, I’m a nerd who has been to a few cons myself, and it’s a good vibe. The art was great, and it was just a fun read.
It’s out now wherever you get your comics if you’re looking for a fun one-shot between issues of longer series.
April 13, 2022
Cosplay is really about what it means to be a hero and really plays on the fact that we can all be heroes in our own way even if we don't aways feel or like one. The begging of this graphic novel I feel will be very relatable for anyone that had 'nerdy' interests growing up, especially if no one else in their family shared similar interests.
The Illustrator and Author did a really good job of portraying what its like to be at a large comic-con from my own experiences, especially considering how few pages they had to build the setting and atmosphere. The characters were a little stereotypical but I actually really liked that because it really added to the message of the story and I definitely know people that are exactly like the characters so I guess stereotypes are there for a reason!
To wrap this story arc up in just 88 pages I thought was very impressive and the art style was very attractive and really suite the story. I really loved all the pop culture references throughout I felt like it really added to the atmosphere of it all.
I would definitely recommend this to any comic-con or superhero fans, or anyone looking for a short but action packed read!
The Illustrator and Author did a really good job of portraying what its like to be at a large comic-con from my own experiences, especially considering how few pages they had to build the setting and atmosphere. The characters were a little stereotypical but I actually really liked that because it really added to the message of the story and I definitely know people that are exactly like the characters so I guess stereotypes are there for a reason!
To wrap this story arc up in just 88 pages I thought was very impressive and the art style was very attractive and really suite the story. I really loved all the pop culture references throughout I felt like it really added to the atmosphere of it all.
I would definitely recommend this to any comic-con or superhero fans, or anyone looking for a short but action packed read!
April 13, 2022
I've been doing cosplay for fifteen years now, so of course I had to try this! It was great to spot different fandoms and the game at the back was a nice add-on. Abel is a cosplayer and going to Comic-Kon held in France. He wants to win the costume contest with his Batman outfit. During the event these secret service guys invade the place trying to locate a rogue agent and Abel and his friends are now part of it. But, becoming a real life hero isn't that easy though and it's hard to know who to trust and you actually get hurt or even worse. The story is quite realistic, which also makes in slightly boring. The whole secret files setting isn't really explained well enough for the reader to understand what is even happening. Basically 100 pages isn't enough to pull this through. The idea is great though.
The art looks nice and it works extremely well with the story line. The colors and details are great and you can actually recognize many things, since they look as they should, like a Naruto cosplayer. Cosplay is a nice comic about a topic we don't get to see that often and that is deemed childish, and this comic makes it actually serious in a good way, so points for that!
The art looks nice and it works extremely well with the story line. The colors and details are great and you can actually recognize many things, since they look as they should, like a Naruto cosplayer. Cosplay is a nice comic about a topic we don't get to see that often and that is deemed childish, and this comic makes it actually serious in a good way, so points for that!
April 14, 2022
Thank you to Europe Comics and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Cosplay by Script by Mikko and Maribel Conejero is a nostalgic look at comic book conventions that will appeal to fans of Tokyopop's Dramacon and Pixar's Turning Red. The story revolves around Abel, a cosplayer. Along with her crew of best friends, they decide to cosplay and attend the huge comic-book convention in their neck of the woods. But when real-life supervillains interrupt the peaceful day, it's up to Abel and friends to save the day. Will they live up to the superheroes whose costumes they're wearing?
Overall, Cosplay is a nod to geek culture that will appeal to comic book fans everywhere. One highlight of this book is how this book appreciates and celebrates geek culture. I love how Abel and his friends' hobby aren't seen as a "loser" thing, but as something that empowers them and enables to them to save the day. Another highlight of this book is the artwork. The art is colorful and vibrant, which drew me into the story. If you're intrigued by the description, or if you're a fan of graphic novels, I highly recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!
Cosplay by Script by Mikko and Maribel Conejero is a nostalgic look at comic book conventions that will appeal to fans of Tokyopop's Dramacon and Pixar's Turning Red. The story revolves around Abel, a cosplayer. Along with her crew of best friends, they decide to cosplay and attend the huge comic-book convention in their neck of the woods. But when real-life supervillains interrupt the peaceful day, it's up to Abel and friends to save the day. Will they live up to the superheroes whose costumes they're wearing?
Overall, Cosplay is a nod to geek culture that will appeal to comic book fans everywhere. One highlight of this book is how this book appreciates and celebrates geek culture. I love how Abel and his friends' hobby aren't seen as a "loser" thing, but as something that empowers them and enables to them to save the day. Another highlight of this book is the artwork. The art is colorful and vibrant, which drew me into the story. If you're intrigued by the description, or if you're a fan of graphic novels, I highly recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!
April 7, 2022
Thanks to Europe Comics and Netgalley for the ARC of this in return for an honest review.
The best I can say for this book is that I loved the art, which was very charming and delightful, and if it had just been a cute iSpy type book of pop culture references, I would have genuinely had a field day with this.
However... the plot for this is wildly lacking. The pacing is off, the narrative is a tired story of geeks being looked down on, and misogyny runs rampant across the whole of the book. The whole thing is confusing, and the characters aren't given enough space for you to really like them or the plots that they have, which is unfortunate for a story that is quite focused on wanting to make you cheer for various characters. The whole thing feels contrived, and in a way that's really not fun.
While I loved the focus on the importance of crafting in cosplay, that entire element quickly fell to the wayside, and instead was subsumed by an action plot that neither tread new ground nor had a deep emotional heart.
So yeah, pretty book! But the writing is def lacking.
The best I can say for this book is that I loved the art, which was very charming and delightful, and if it had just been a cute iSpy type book of pop culture references, I would have genuinely had a field day with this.
However... the plot for this is wildly lacking. The pacing is off, the narrative is a tired story of geeks being looked down on, and misogyny runs rampant across the whole of the book. The whole thing is confusing, and the characters aren't given enough space for you to really like them or the plots that they have, which is unfortunate for a story that is quite focused on wanting to make you cheer for various characters. The whole thing feels contrived, and in a way that's really not fun.
While I loved the focus on the importance of crafting in cosplay, that entire element quickly fell to the wayside, and instead was subsumed by an action plot that neither tread new ground nor had a deep emotional heart.
So yeah, pretty book! But the writing is def lacking.
August 16, 2022
I love getting out of my preferred genres while reading and this seemed like a great graphic novel to break my reading up. I saw it on NetGalley while I was preparing for San Diego Comic Con and I just couldn’t help myself.
What I loved:
- Location, as someone who has only gone to cons in the states it was fun to see how cons work internationally.
- Characters, I really enjoyed how some of the characters were drawn to make them look like well known other characters (Gordon) and celebrities (Keanu)
- Underdog story, it is always hard to not root for the underdog and this story was all about the underdogs stepping up when needed
- Pop-culture references, as this is set at a con I loved all of the references especially the ones in the background that you really had to look for to notice
Overall this was a real fun graphic novel with all the aspects that I wanted for a story based in a con. If you want a quick read that is hard to put down please give this story a try and let your nerd flag fly!
What I loved:
- Location, as someone who has only gone to cons in the states it was fun to see how cons work internationally.
- Characters, I really enjoyed how some of the characters were drawn to make them look like well known other characters (Gordon) and celebrities (Keanu)
- Underdog story, it is always hard to not root for the underdog and this story was all about the underdogs stepping up when needed
- Pop-culture references, as this is set at a con I loved all of the references especially the ones in the background that you really had to look for to notice
Overall this was a real fun graphic novel with all the aspects that I wanted for a story based in a con. If you want a quick read that is hard to put down please give this story a try and let your nerd flag fly!
April 6, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Europe Comics for allowing me early access to review this eARC.
I loved the art style in this graphic novel. I thought it was really well done as it felt unique, but also borrowed classic comic book elements. It naturally features a lot of colors, but was done in a nice way that didn’t feel over saturated. Also, all the pop culture references were awesome that it borrowed from so many fandoms.
However, I thought the pacing was a bit weird at times and it was hard to gauge (at times) what exactly was going on. I don’t know if I liked the “present” vs. “past” that is only like twice and flows a bit awkwardly. I also wasn’t a fan that one of the main characters started pretty gross and misogynistic, but it went away cause a hot (and very badass) girl kicked a bad guys butt…? I mean I guess that’s character growth.
I still had a lot of fun reading it and would definitely recommend for any nerd out there.
I loved the art style in this graphic novel. I thought it was really well done as it felt unique, but also borrowed classic comic book elements. It naturally features a lot of colors, but was done in a nice way that didn’t feel over saturated. Also, all the pop culture references were awesome that it borrowed from so many fandoms.
However, I thought the pacing was a bit weird at times and it was hard to gauge (at times) what exactly was going on. I don’t know if I liked the “present” vs. “past” that is only like twice and flows a bit awkwardly. I also wasn’t a fan that one of the main characters started pretty gross and misogynistic, but it went away cause a hot (and very badass) girl kicked a bad guys butt…? I mean I guess that’s character growth.
I still had a lot of fun reading it and would definitely recommend for any nerd out there.
April 17, 2022
Plein d'action
Mots clés: bande-dessinée, cosplay, action, violence
En ce moment, j’ai l’impression de lire pas mal d’œuvres mettant en scènes des personnages qui pratiquent le cosplay. Et j’aime beaucoup.
Ici, on suit Abel, qui se cosplay en Batman pour une grande convention mais tout ne va pas très bien se passer. En effet, il va y avoir une sorte d’attaque terroriste et Abel et ses amis vont finalement devenir les super-héros qu’ils ont toujours voulu incarner. Il y a des moments ou j’étais un peu confuse, je ne savais pas trop ce qu’il se passait et c’est pour ça que je n’ai pas autant accroché à l’histoire. Sinon, j’ai bien aimé les personnages et le fait qu’ils donnent tout ce qu’ils ont pour protéger les gens autour d’eux.
Je recommande à ceux qui cherchent une BD pleine d’actions
3.5/5
Mots clés: bande-dessinée, cosplay, action, violence
En ce moment, j’ai l’impression de lire pas mal d’œuvres mettant en scènes des personnages qui pratiquent le cosplay. Et j’aime beaucoup.
Ici, on suit Abel, qui se cosplay en Batman pour une grande convention mais tout ne va pas très bien se passer. En effet, il va y avoir une sorte d’attaque terroriste et Abel et ses amis vont finalement devenir les super-héros qu’ils ont toujours voulu incarner. Il y a des moments ou j’étais un peu confuse, je ne savais pas trop ce qu’il se passait et c’est pour ça que je n’ai pas autant accroché à l’histoire. Sinon, j’ai bien aimé les personnages et le fait qu’ils donnent tout ce qu’ils ont pour protéger les gens autour d’eux.
Je recommande à ceux qui cherchent une BD pleine d’actions
3.5/5
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