Sugar Ninjas By Philip Schweier Nov 1, 2009 - 5:18:49 AM Pink-Lightning Press Writer(s): edited by Ana May and Z. Ravenel Cover Artist(s): Daria Theodora $11.82, 366 pages

Email this Article  Printer Friendly Page  Mobile Friendly Page

Sugar Ninjas (sweet) features the work of more than 50 up and coming female comics professionals. All creators' contact information – e-mail and Web sites –  is included, almost making it a sampler/directory of sorts.

As publishers continue to struggle to maintain and grow their audiences, it makes sense that they include what is effectively one half of their potential readership by cultivating ideas created by girls for girls. A second volume, Sugar Ninjas (spicey), containing more adult-themed material, is forthcoming.

Many of the stories in Sugar Ninjas are heavily influenced by manga, in both art and subject matter. Nevertheless it is not strictly a manga book. It's common theme throughout is "comics created by women."

While manga's broadest appeal may be to teenage girls, the stories run the gamut, from complete fantasy to what may be semi-autobiographical to simple fairy tales. This variety is the book's greatest strength; variety in art style, variety in narrative style and variety in subject matter.

Some stories are more successful than others, some being perhaps too disjointed to easily follow. In fairness, this may be due to the format of the book, published in a horizontal, "landscape" layout and the stories designed in a traditional vertical orientation. A few appear to be incomplete; they may be excerpts from a longer storyine, in which case I would suggest that could have been made more clear.

Nevertheless, the volume of talent contained in Sugar Ninjas is clear, and no doubt many of the creators involved will soon be rising stars in the comic book world.

Join the discussion:

Name

E-mail (Will not appear online)

Homepage

Title

Comment

Comments

© Copyright 2002-2009, Coolstreak Cartoons Inc. - All rights Reserved. All other texts, images, characters and trademarks are copyright their respective owners. Use of material in this document(including reproduction, modification, distribution, electronic transmission or republication) without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.

Top of Page