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StarDrop #1
Stardrop
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
25 people want to read
About the author
Mark Oakley
30 books17 followersMark Oakley, born in Montreal in 1970, has lived in cities all over eastern Canada and currently calls Halifax, Nova Scotia, home.
Oakley’s early background was in commercial animation, and he is today best known for his work on the independently published all-ages comic book fantasy adventure series Thieves & Kings, which he spent more than 10 years creating and publishing from his home studio.
Oakley’s early background was in commercial animation, and he is today best known for his work on the independently published all-ages comic book fantasy adventure series Thieves & Kings, which he spent more than 10 years creating and publishing from his home studio.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 3, 2018
I found this volume a little hard to follow, but very cute! There's occasional diversions in the story that point at something bigger being built behind the scenes, but it never manifests in a graspable shape, leaving me only the surface story to judge it on.
August 11, 2010
Ashelle is a Galactic Princess who has dropped out of military school and taken refuge on Earth – the planet her father gave her to conquer. Ashelle is super enthusiastic about her new world, but she’s not quite sure how to fit in. The first thing, obviously, that she needs to do is find a place to live. She’s a little intimidated by the group of people she sees in the park, so she decides to just pick a nice house and ask whoever answers the door if she can live there. As luck would have it, she meets Jen, who invites her in and shows her around (Jen thinks Ashelle is responding to the ‘For Rent’ advertisement her landlady ran). When she learns that Ashelle has no money for rent, Jen invites her to stay as long as she needs. That’s when Ashelle’s Galactic Princess identity comes out (and the fact that her people are probably looking for her, may demand a tribute from the Earthlings, and may also blow up the planet). It’s a lot for Jen to process.
Ashelle is super enthusiastic about everything – whether it’s buying new clothes from a discount store, getting a job at a bed and breakfast, or meeting new people. There are so many things she’s never really done before (apparently Galactic Princesses leave rather sheltered lives in some ways). People from her old life keep finding her, however, and causing problems. First her old boyfriend shows up and tries to take her hostage. Ashelle ends up going back with him and becoming the leader of the rebels who are fighting her father. When she decides she doesn’t want to be embroiled in the bitter conflict anymore, she once again takes refuge on Earth (with Jen), and this time she’s followed by her body guard and the Lady Kytanna (who claims to be her friend, but is really unhappy, bitter, and jealous). Kytanna mellows out after meeting some of Ashelle’s friends, and decides to stay on Earth and give up her bitchy ways. Ashelle, however, is called back to her Galactic Princess duties once again, and must leave her coterie of close friends – bittersweet.
Ashelle is kind of like a sci-fi, futuristic Pippi Longstocking. She’s zany, makes everything into an exciting adventure, and has this contagious enthusiasm for even the most mundane things. She’s also a Force To Be Reckoned With, but she doesn’t seem to want to use her power for evil or for gain. Who knows what she’ll do once she decides to put her mind to it! Mark Oakley, the creator of this strip (which ran in his community paper), says that the cancelation of the strip coincided fortuitously with his decision to publish it, and provided it with a logical ending place. However, after learning how popular it was, the paper offered to keep running it, and Mark will hopefully keep drawing/writing it. I found it funny and quite entertaining (even, occasionally, philosophical). Love.
Ashelle is super enthusiastic about everything – whether it’s buying new clothes from a discount store, getting a job at a bed and breakfast, or meeting new people. There are so many things she’s never really done before (apparently Galactic Princesses leave rather sheltered lives in some ways). People from her old life keep finding her, however, and causing problems. First her old boyfriend shows up and tries to take her hostage. Ashelle ends up going back with him and becoming the leader of the rebels who are fighting her father. When she decides she doesn’t want to be embroiled in the bitter conflict anymore, she once again takes refuge on Earth (with Jen), and this time she’s followed by her body guard and the Lady Kytanna (who claims to be her friend, but is really unhappy, bitter, and jealous). Kytanna mellows out after meeting some of Ashelle’s friends, and decides to stay on Earth and give up her bitchy ways. Ashelle, however, is called back to her Galactic Princess duties once again, and must leave her coterie of close friends – bittersweet.
Ashelle is kind of like a sci-fi, futuristic Pippi Longstocking. She’s zany, makes everything into an exciting adventure, and has this contagious enthusiasm for even the most mundane things. She’s also a Force To Be Reckoned With, but she doesn’t seem to want to use her power for evil or for gain. Who knows what she’ll do once she decides to put her mind to it! Mark Oakley, the creator of this strip (which ran in his community paper), says that the cancelation of the strip coincided fortuitously with his decision to publish it, and provided it with a logical ending place. However, after learning how popular it was, the paper offered to keep running it, and Mark will hopefully keep drawing/writing it. I found it funny and quite entertaining (even, occasionally, philosophical). Love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2013
The galaxy is in turmoil… a state of civil war... a “star war” if you will, and the space princess Ashelle is on the run from galactic authorities. Sound familiar? Good now take everything you know about those “star wars” the space ship battles, super lasers, the incredible action etc… and put it WAAAAAy far away, up in the sky because in the charming comic Stardrop nearly all the blockbuster action takes place “off screen”. “Wait a minute”, you say, “what does a space opera without the action leave me with?” Oh not much, just the entertaining, humorous, and thought provoking story of a young woman trying to fit in to unfamiliar surroundings. The author/artist Mark Oakley uses Ashelle’s situation and his cleverly written dialogue to hilariously expose oddities of modern western culture and other aspects of human society. Oakley draws an energetic line that seems to me an interestingly effective cross of Bill Watterson and Hayao Miyazaki. Stardrop is a wonderful comic that can be enjoyed on a number of levels. A reader can find thoughtful dialogue about complex topics, interesting social interactions, or simply allow themselves to be swept along by the pretty pictures. In short, Stardrop is a wonderful comic that can be enjoyed on a number of levels and I highly recommend it.
April 6, 2014
Mark Oakley definitely knows how to have fun with his characters. His script is the perfect combination of sweet and silly.
Ashelle is very simple and idealistic so it's strange to see her as a fierce militant. She's just so adorable and has absolutely no filter. She takes life by the horns and I enjoyed seeing the way she finds happiness and joy in the most mundane things in life. She's also so fearless. Oh she has her anxieties and her pity parties but she's really not afraid of anything.
I really loved the way she described being in love.
I really enjoyed the dynamic of her relationships and interactions with the Earth people that she comes across.
Ashelle is very simple and idealistic so it's strange to see her as a fierce militant. She's just so adorable and has absolutely no filter. She takes life by the horns and I enjoyed seeing the way she finds happiness and joy in the most mundane things in life. She's also so fearless. Oh she has her anxieties and her pity parties but she's really not afraid of anything.
I really loved the way she described being in love.
I really enjoyed the dynamic of her relationships and interactions with the Earth people that she comes across.
November 27, 2014
Sci-fi graphic novel. Pretty decent artwork, but not emotionally or intellectually engaging. The first volume is available for free on ibooks, which is how I came to try it.
The format is excellent. Lots of comics are annoying to navigate on an e-reader, but this one was designed specifically for electronic viewing, which was a plus.
The format is excellent. Lots of comics are annoying to navigate on an e-reader, but this one was designed specifically for electronic viewing, which was a plus.
February 2, 2012
Mark Oakley's a talented artist & has a definite affinity for covering some serious topics in a manner accessible to young adults. Modern societal mores are examined through the eyes of a young intergalactic princess.
Part of the fun is identifying local landmarks in his art.
Part of the fun is identifying local landmarks in his art.
September 8, 2013
Found this free on iBooks and read it all at once - it's not very long. I thought it was really cute and since I'm trying to get into graphic novels and things, it was perfect.
March 24, 2016
Loved it...
February 5, 2015
Seri pertama Stardrop bisa diunduh gratis lewat iBooks. Mark Oakley menciptakan karakter seorang putri dari angkasa luar yang melarikan diri ke bumi. Lumayan lucu dan memikat.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews