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My Review:Title: Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection (Volume 2)
Published by: Avani
Release Date: June 1, 2020
Format: Paperback
Pages: 165
Genres: Graphic Novel
Potential Triggers: View Spoiler »
Source: Library
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2021 COYER Fall, Lenoreo's 2021 Diversity Reading Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Book Depository
My rating:
Blurb:MOONSHOT: The Indigenous Comics Collection brings together dozens of creators from North America to contribute comic book stories showcasing the rich heritage and identity of indigenous storytelling. From traditional stories to exciting new visions of the future, this collection presents some of the finest comic book and graphic novel work on the continent.
OVERALL:
4 stars — There wasn’t a single art style that didn’t wow me, I loved how different they all were…though I will admit that I was drawn to some more than others. Some stories were harder for me to get into, and I’m still not used to this medium I suppose. But there were also some stories that with just a few pages conveyed so much. Solid anthology.
FOREWORD by James Leask
This really connected me to how much these collections mean to indigenous communities, and there were a few sentences that just *hit* me.
INTRODUCTION by Michael Sheyahshe
Loved getting a glimpse at each artist
THEY WHO WALK AS LIGHTNING by Elizabeth LaPensée, Ph. D., illustrated by Richard Pace
3 stars — Short. Hard to connect with the characters or story. Thought the story of the Thunderbirds and the Protectors was really cool, and I did get broad strokes of what the story was trying to convey.
WINTER’S SHELL by Sean and Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis
3.5 stars — I got a bit lost in the narrative style of this one, which is a bummer. I might try reading it again. It was an interesting depiction of how little parents can know their children and vice versa…how we get wrapped up in our own stuff and fail to notice the strides of others. LOVED the art style in this one, just gorgeous.
WORST BARGAIN IN TOWN by Darcie Little Badger, illustrated by Rossi Gifford
4.5 stars — This one had everything for me: some snarky humour, sassy characters, an easy to understand narrative and lesson. Kickass girls saving the day. And super fun art style.
KA’TEPWA: WHO CALLS by Alina Pete, illustrated by Trudi Castle
3.5 stars — Super unique art styles in this one as well, I really enjoyed that. The narrative was harder to follow though. And yet I still felt things.
BOOKMARK by David Alexander Robertson, illustrated by Natasha Alterici
4.5 stars — Oh look, Mr. Robertson made me cry again. Very affecting. It took me a hot second to figure out the switches between past and present, but then I was all emotionally wrecked. I will admit that I didn’t get the bookmark though…maybe I’m just dense.
THE AWAKENING by Armand Garnet Ruffo, illustrated by David Cutler
4 stars — I really enjoyed the lessons in this one. They were presented in an interesting manner, with the little boy as a juxtaposition in some ways. I believed in Jake’s journey.
THE MAGIC OF WOLVERINES by Richard Van Camp, illustrated by Scott Henderson
4.5 stars — I kind of loved that this one felt very much like hearing a story around the fire from an elder. It had a magical quality to it. It was very different in so many ways.
9 MILE LAKE by Tanya Tagaq, illustrated by Stephen Gladue
4 stars — What a fascinating way to catch a glimpse of life way up north. I loved the imagery the story evoked, and I could feel how torn the narrator was between being a little girl and a big girl.
THE BOYS WHO BECAME THE HUMMINGBIRDS by Daniel Heath Justice, illustrated by Weshoyot Alvitre
4.5 stars — Wow. Another affecting story. I love the way it was told, and how the art style suited it…I mean, you can’t go wrong with rainbow. It was a really interesting portrayal of the power of fear, but that being true to yourself is powerful as well.
WATER SPIRITS by Richard Van Camp, illustrated by Haiwei Hou
3.5 stars — I enjoyed that we got to learn about things that have happened up in Yellowknife (that I personally don’t remember learning about), and having that tied into Indigenous beliefs with the water spirits.
THE CREATOR TAMOSI by Gerard and Peta-Gay Roberts, illustrated by Nicholas Burns
3 stars — I found this one a bit all over the place, and I guess it again felt short for the lesson it was trying to teach. I did enjoy the little creation story interstitial in the middle though.
WHERE WE LEFT OFF by Steve Keewatin Sanderson
4 stars — This one was surprising, and in some ways hit close to home because it’s a path that I can see open to us. I enjoyed the way things played out, how our hero changed as time went on — in bad ways and good.
DO WILD TURKEYS DREAM OF ELECTRIC DRUMS by Michael Sheyahshe, illustrated by Kim Hunter
4.5 stars — This was just amusing as shit. It was fun, I loved the art style, I loved that it brought human elements onto the animals…yeah, just fun.
JOURNEYS by Jeffrey Veregge
5 stars — Hands down my favourite. I mean, the art style is unbelievable, I ADORE it! It has a kind of retro vibe in some ways. I loved the way the ship was drawn, and later the canoe parts with the ancestors, and the musical notes… And there were small elements of humour in it, and it was just easy to connect with.
AFTERWORD by Elizabeth LaPensée, Ph. D.
This focused a lot on how someone could get into this medium, which I wasn’t expecting and isn’t exactly relevant for me personally. But I enjoyed yet another perspective of how wonderful it is to have self-representation.
COYER Scavenger Hunt #10: Read a Graphic novel or Manga.
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