Name: Yaneli | @aquariusbookadventures 's review of Zodiac Starforce by Kevin Panetta
Item: Zodiac Starforce
Rating: 4
Author: Yaneli | @aquariusbookadventures

Kevin Panetta

They're an elite group of teenage girls with magical powers who have sworn to protect our planet against dark creatures . . . as long as they can get out of class! Known as the Zodiac Starforce, these high-school girls aren't just combating math tests. They're also battling monsters--not your typical afterschool activity! But when an evil force from another dimension infects team leader Emma, she must work with her team of magically powered friends to save herself--and the world--from the evil Diana and her mean-girl minions! From Kevin Panetta (Bravest Warriors) and Paulina Ganucheau (TMNT: New Animated Adventures, Bravest Warriors), this super-fun and heartfelt story of growing up and friendship--with plenty of magical-girl fighting action--delivers the most exciting new ensemble cast in comics! Collects Zodiac Starforce #1-#4

By the Power of Astra

Zodiac Starforce

Yaneli | @aquariusbookadventures 

Moth

I'd been waiting for these comics to come out for a while now (only to find out they've BEEN out and this is the first volume set) and I admit, it was worth the wait. The art style is really great and the colours are beautiful. They both go so well with the story, which I admit is a tad cheesy, but in the best possible way. All of it together reminded me the magic girl shows I loved to watch and the comics I loved to read growing up. I'm so happy that this comic brought back a lot of those memories and it made me love it instantly. Yes, there were a lot of waterworks from the girls at first and I felt like I was missing something due to how the comics start, but in the end I was in love with them and this story and I can't wait for more. I love that Savi and Lily end up a couple. Being gay and a Pisces myself, it felt really great I'm not alone. After all, I've seen a lot of Pisces being seen as boy crazy and I never really fit into that category myself. I really recommend this comic for people who grew up loving Sailor Moon, Mew Mew Power, and other such magic girl shows. It's a really diverse cast of characters (which I love), which is a big plus in my books when it comes to such things.

Gillian Rose

Such a colorful and wonderful story about magic and friendship! I would gladly read a million stories about these girls.

Raphaëlle

Maggie Gordon

I was obsessed with Sailor Moon as a child, and to this day, I cannot get enough of the magical girl genre. However, my tastes have changed a bit, so I do like seeing something different than just continual repeats of what I've seen before. And that's where Zodiac Starforce comes in!

The Zodiacs are quite obviously inspired by Sailor Moon, and the plot comes right out of the traditional magic girl school, but the book is so damn cute and has enough unique spins to propel it into my list of comic favourites. The art takes a lot of lessons from anime, but is very influenced by modern cartooning as well. The characters all have a unique sense of style, and even different body shapes! The aesthetic is very what is the 1990s was actually happening to day, with some amazing adorable short-based magical girl uniforms.

In terms of story, the narrative takes place two years after the girls were chosen and defeated their big baddie. Now she's coming back and there are a lot of questions about the righteousness of their goddess that they are going to have to address when not desperately trying not to die. 

The extras in this volume are also worth a mention. Usually I don't care about extra covers, but this one included a lot of development art, as well as some of the original independent comics that these characters were used in. Super cool stuff to reprint as it's probably all impossible to find now!

Zodiac Starforce is a pastel force that demands you acknowledge how freaking cute it is, and how much you really want more magical girl adventures!

Alexa Auerbach 

This was super cute and I can't wait for more !

An elite group of teenage girls with magical powers have sworn to protect our planet against dark creatures . . . as long as they can get out of class! These high-school girls aren't just combating math tests. They're also battling monsters! But when an evil force infects leader Emma, she must work with her team to save herselfand the worldfrom the evil Diana and her mean- girl minions! * A brand-new creator-owned series from Kevin Panetta (_Bravest Warriors_) and Paulina Ganucheau (_TMNT: New Animated Adventures_, _Bravest Warriors_). * For fans of _Sailor Moon_, _Buffy_, and _Lumberjanes_! _Zodiac Starforce_ is everything I want in a modern magical girl storyfriendship, diversity, sweet battles and enviable costumes. Kevin and Paulina have crafted a both stunningly beautiful and heartfelt adventure series I honestly can't wait to read.�Kate Leth (_Adventure Time: Seeing Red_, _Edward Scissorhands_)

Zodiac Starforce #1

Sheila

THIS IS SO COLOURFUL!!!1!!!!!111! Also, have got to love a team of magical girl fighters BUT without the lengthy origin story! I like that this starts effectively in the middle, but without using exposition for the background story. Can't wait to read more!

Jessica Williamson

4.75 Stars

Wow! I loved this so, so much! I have been wanting to read this forrrever but I just haven't been able to find room for it in my TBR. This month, I caved and just read it anyway and it was totally worth my time!!!

When I originally purchased this collection I was sad that it was the only one out but I'm super jazzed to learn that there's a new volume out now and It's going to jump its way into a haul REAL soon.

Ok. LGBTQIA+ rep is here FOR SURE. Loved that. It also showed the power of friendship and believing in yourself.

There's a pretty good group of diversity here and I like that some of the girls already have established relationships and it's not 4 different love stories trying to compete with one another.

Let's talk about the artwork! I like a more realistic style in my comics and this definitely delivered. The readability of the panels was great, there was really only one page that I struggled on and I think that's because I was reading so quickly I had actually skipped a panel. 

I enjoyed the plot and the "mystery" aspect of it and I LOVED the little epilogue/cliffhanger that is a lead up for the next volume!

Olivera Mitić

Well this was cutesy. 
2,5 stars. Not enough substance for a higher raiting, but it was nice nonetheless. I'll probably be checking out the next volume once it comes out. 
Also, I'll be basic and say what everyone else is saying about this- it totally is like Sailor Moon.

Zodiac Starforce #4

Sofia Pereira

Okay that was excellent. Witch mixed with Winkx mixed with the zodiac freaking yes!

Zodiac Starforce #3

They saved the world two years ago, but when a new, monstrous threat arises, can they put aside their differences and become a team again? Hopefully they can; otherwise team leader Emma, who’s been infected by an evil magical force, is a goner! Will the Z

Zodiac Starforce #2

This reminding me of my childhood so much!

Super fun short read and after I finish all 4 editions it will count for my Astronomy OWL

celeste

This was just ... meh. I loved the artwork, especially the color palette, but the story? It just wasn't really interesting at all. It picked up a little bit near the end, but overall, it wasn't that great.

Hayley 📖🌈💜🌸

This is seriously such a fun series! So glad I found it.

Ooh I liked this one way more than #1! Looking forward to the rest.

3.5 stars. This was a bit confusing, bc it feels like you’re stepping into the story at the middle, but it will hopefully get better/less confusing.

Jessica Nottingham

Please pardon me while I squeal in delight! I've been waiting for ages for this trade to release, so that I could lovingly devour it. Wait... is it possible to devour something lovingly? No matter. That's what I did. I savored this graphic novel. See, Paulina Ganucheau's art is some of my favorite out there. It's candy colored delight, with a side of massive girl power. It's big hair, Sailor Moon type outfits, and the type of ass kicking that I can definitely get behind. It's friendship incarnate. In other words, Zodiac Starforce is my kind of series.
 
What's interesting about Kevin Panetta's story line, is that this isn't your typical "magical girl squad" lead in. Normally we'd be lead in with the girls getting their powers, learning to use them, and figuring out how to be a team. In this case, all of that has already happened. In fact, Emma and her crew have already saved the world. Or, so they think. What they're really trying to do is just reconcile their lives. What do you do after the dust has cleared, lives have been lost, and suddenly you're back in high school? Biology tests and all.
 
The story suffers just a little bit because of this. I knew going in that the story arc would start here, but I can see a lot of new readers feeling a bit lost at the fact that there's no solid start. Emma's world comes crashing onto the page, quite literally, out of nowhere. Her back story is partially laid out, as the story progresses. Still, there's never that super solid footing that you might normally get with a story like this. That's not to say that the story line, as it stands, isn't brilliant. It is. You just need to be prepared for it.
 
Again, back to the artwork, because I truly believe that's one of the biggest things Zodiac Starforce has going for it. Paulina Ganucheau is talented. Her art makes this magical squad of girls into something both real, and otherwordly at the same time. If you're debating at all about picking this up, let me tell you that the panels themselves are worth it. Watching these girls interact, watching them battle (while of course yelling their special battle powers at the top of their lungs), and watching them grow, are all worth it.
 
I have a soft spot in my heart for stories that feature friendship. For stories that scream GIRL POWER! to the world, and aren't the least bit sorry about it. That's why I love these ladies. If you're a fan of Sailor Moon, of candy colored worlds, and of girl squads who kick some ass, this is your kind of series.

Kate

Although, admittedly, I’m a little hurt by the lack of a Virgo Starforce member, this was a lot of fun. The art work and colour pallet were gorgeous and I may or may not had already ordered the sequel (spoiler, I’ve definitely already ordered the sequel.)

Brook

Fun and silly take on a modern sailor moon-esque team of teen girls. There’s queer characters, and high stakes, and rad action. Loved this

Yaneli | @aquariusbookadventures &
Zodiac Starforce by Kevin Panetta

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Yaneli | @aquariusbookadventures &Zodiac Starforce by Kevin Panetta

Reviews

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Yaneli | @aquariusbookadventures &
Zodiac Starforce by Kevin Panetta