Werewolf Double Feature: "Moonstruck (Vol 1)" and "Squad"

“Moonstruck (Vol 1)” by Grace Elise and Shae Beagle (illustrator)

First, a blurb from the publisher: “Werewolf barista Julie and her new girlfriend go on a date to a close-up magic show, but all heck breaks loose when the magician casts a horrible spell on their friend Chet. Now it’s up to the team of mythical pals to stop the illicit illusionist before it’s too late.” With the stage set, what are my thoughts on the work? Read on to find out.

What Worked For Me:

The work includes positive LGBTQ representation.
I enjoyed the consistent, cute art style.
The work includes interesting world-building. Said world-building was never prioritized or overwhelming; instead, it added to the verisimilitude of the setting and the proceedings.
Moonstruck is a quick, easy, all-ages read.

What didn’t Work For Me:

The broad strokes of the plot are easy to follow, but some of the details didn’t quite make sense. For instance: What was Julie’s relationship to the magician? Between the interstitial “Pleasant Mountain Sister,” segments and their dialogue at the end of the story, it’s more-or-less implied that they’re working together? Also, what’s the deal with the spirit / ghost? Why did they agree to work with the magician in the first place, especially if they knew what said magician was up to? Also, Chet and Julie’s plan to catch the ghost / spirit was not especially well-explained.
With regards to Julie, why is she so adamant about hiding her werewolf form? It’d be different if she lived in a non-magical town, but as it stands (ie in the context of the broader world-building where there’s no obvious reason for her to feel this way) I wouldn’t have minded a deeper dive into past to explain that particular quirk. This is doubly true given how a lot of the story turns around her feelings about her “magic” / wolf form.

Conclusion:

It’s a fun, if imperfect, romp. It’s not a particularly earth-shattering story, but the characters are fun and the art is cute. Ultimately, if the premise interests you, this one is worth a look.

Check it out here.

“Squad,” by Maggie Takuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle (illustrator)

I stumbled on this work while browsing some of the graphic novels available at my local library. I was intrigued by the premise (described by the publisher as “Pretty Little Liars meets Teen Wolf“) and drawn in by the art style. The idea of a feminist werewolf story piqued my interest; I was especially curious to see how it would compare to Lunatic Fringe by Allison Moon. Though one is a novel and the other is a graphic novel, they were both pitched as “feminist werewolf stories.” What’re my thoughts on the work? Read on to find out.

What Worked For Me:

The work has a great premise, and offers an interesting power fantasy to the reader
The art style is crisp, clear, and enjoyable. Basically, if you like the look of the cover, you will probably enjoy the art contained in the work.
The work includes LGBTQ representation (even if it only really comes into play toward the end of the work).

What Didn’t Work For Me:

The Goodreads blurb summarizes about 75% of the story! Yikes!
I don’t love the ending. The protagonist, Becca, is able to return to a human more-or-less consequence free despite the fact that she’s consumed human flesh and killed people (both on purpose and accidentally). I can appreciate the fact that this is supposed to be a power fantasy, but it also caused the story to feel more hollow as a result. Also, if the supposedly “older and wiser” werewolf who gave the girls their powers is still around, wouldn’t she, I don’t know, continue to provide mentorship? Given that her continued ability to survive depends on everyone’s ability to feed undetected, you’d think she’d be at least a little bit more involved. Instead, she only shows up after a member of the squad specifically brings the group to her hunting grounds in the climax of the work.
The story is specifically billed as a feminist story, but it glosses over issues of class. While the work explicitly states that the squad only targets “the worst kind of man,” it’s just glossed over that they predominantly target people of lower socioeconomic status. Needless to say, this definitely muddles the message.
(nit-pick) Towards the end of the story, the girls go to a party together. Given that this is both after the death of Arianna’s boyfriend, and. “the FBI getting involved,” I’m surprised no one recognized her. I get that the party is “an hour and a half away,” and “a college party,” but still.

Conclusion:

If the premise of this work interests you, it’s probably worth a look. Its wires definitely get crossed with regards to intersectionality and the ending may leave you wanting, but if you don’t think too hard about it you’ll likely have a good time.

Check it out here.