Nimona is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel by Noelle Stevenson. Nimona was originally published as a webcomic running for multiple years until Stevenson finally published it as a physical book in 2015.

Nimona follows the eponymous main character Nimona, a shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. At the beginning of the story Nimona hoists herself on the notorious villain Lord Ballister Blackheart as his new sidekick. Due to Nimona's shapeshifting abilities Balckheart eventually accepts her and incorporates her into his plans. Nimona begins as a very typical story about the dichotomy between good and evil but in the span of 200+ pages becomes about moral ambiguities.

I found it really to interesting to read a story about an anti-hero, especially one as compelling as Nimona. She flips between exuberant to murderous in a split-second and kept up a sarcastic repartee the entire time. And of course, I'm going to take any queer representation I can get despite how ambigious. In Nimona the relationship between Blackheart and the knight Sir Goldenloin, was only referenced but never confirmed. However, Stevenson has confirmed that the two used to date. So in short, it's the Dumbledore problem but to a lesser extent. At least Stevenson wrote in clear hints, unlike some authors...

Overall, Nimona was a fun adventure story that left me thinking about it even after I put the book down. It stands alone as its own individual story, but i can't help but hope for more books about these characters.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

-Laura