Comic Review (ARC): Julie Kagawa's" The Iron King #2

Julie Kagawa's: The Iron King #2 (ARC)

Release date: 10/30
Writer: Julie Kagawa & Sara Gundell
Artist: Lidia Chan
From the New York Times bestselling novel, Meghan Chase's true identity has been revealed. She is the daughter of King Oberon. Half-fey, she is more determined than ever to escape from the Seelie Court to continue her search for her stolen brother, Ethan - even if it means facing off against the handsome and deadly Prince Ash

Meghan meets Queen Tatiana who proceeds to make her life miserable by forcing her to work in the kitchen. She eventually gets rescued by King Oberon and told to dress like the princess she is so she can meet Queen Mab and her son Ash from the Winter Court. The attraction between Ash and Meghan is apparent, but she is focused on finding her brother. At the party there is a Chimera attack and each court accuses the other for the attack. War might be declared against the Winter Court, but Meghan must travel to the Winter Court to find clues about her brother Ethan and the Iron Court.

This issue is just like the first one as far as style and artwork. The story is moving along, but there are still a few gaps in information that I feel like I am supposed to be able to fill in, but I can’t because I haven’t read the books. It hasn’t affected my enjoyment of the story. This is definitely geared towards the younger end of the YA spectrum. 

review: Iron King issue #1

3.5 “Iron” Sheep

Sharon Stogner

Comic Review (ARC): Julie Kagawa's The Iron King #1 (of 4)

print cover

Julie Kagawa's: The Iron King #1 (of 4)
Digital release date: 8/26/13
Print Release date: 10/23/13
writer: Julie Kagawa & Sara Gundell
Artist: Lidia Chan

Blue Water Comics

Julie Kagawa's website

Based off the New York Times best-selling novels. The Iron King is the first book in the Iron Fey series, and follows the adventures of a girl named Meghan Chase. On her sixteenth birthday, Meghan discovers her little brother has been kidnapped by a faery race known as "the Fey" and even worse, replaced with an evil changeling and taken into the "Nevernever." Meghan bravely ventures into the faery realm to rescue him, and that's where an epic plot unfolds.

I haven’t read Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey series, but I have been wanting too. So I was thrilled to find out there would be a graphic novel based on the first book The Iron King. This is a young adult series and I am not a big reader of young adult, but I am a sucker for anything Fae. Not only is this a graphic novel, but it is done in the Japanese Manga style, which I enjoy.

The narrative parts of the story are easy to follow, but I had trouble in a couple of areas figuring out what happened in the action. It felt like there were gaps in the story where it was assumed I could fill in, which I probably could if I had read the novel. The art work is black and white and I don’t think there was a single rectangular panel throughout; staying true to the manga style. 

It is definitely geared towards their young adult audience, but I enjoyed the story and there was a great cliff hanger ending that has me wanting the next issue. This is a good start to a very promising graphic novel series.

Julie Kagawa was able to turn her best-selling book into graphic novel form with the help of Blue Water Production and a very successful Indigo campaign. If you go to the Indigo page you can see many videos and images from the making of the comic. There is a lot of awesome artwork there.

Digital cover

4 “changeling” Sheep

Sharon Stogner