4 out of 4 stars
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Before majoring in telecommunications, I wanted to be a nurse. Then, I started taking some pre-med courses and quickly changed my mind. To this day, I admire those who are able to buckle down and learn the minute details of the human anatomy. And so it is that I greatly admire Doctor Arc Kade Deya (yes, like "Arcadia") in Melody Peña's graphic novel, The Veligent, book 1 of the Reptangle series. The doctor has taken such courses as phlebotenomics, anarombotics, and algebrains to learn about the "theory, anatomy, and inner processes of our souls," among other things. It is thanks to this knowledge that Kade - as he's casually known - has been promoted to field veligent as a replacement for the former field veligent, Doctor Lark, who is no longer able to perform his duties. It is also in this capacity that Kade accompanies King Serence on a quest to negotiate an agreement in order to prevent war.
Before the story actually begins, there are four or so pages of nothing but scenery, so the reader can fully immerse his or herself from the start. Then we meet the doctor and soon find out that he's flighty and goofy, not one that seems destined for such an esteemed role. However, as the story continues, his love of flora and fauna becomes obvious. It is this very love that saves the day more than once. It is also this love, though, that finds the healer in trouble time and again, whether it's causing the king to fall into a Rosy Dipslang (a giant snakelike creature with spikes and deadly venom) or releasing an imprisoned demon monster (that looks to me like a black horned werewolf). Can such a seemingly inept practitioner safely escort the king to his destination, or will his failings get in the way? You'll have to read this tome to find out.
From the first page, I was enraptured with this tale and the organisms it's filled with. Even though he could be daft, the good doctor was all heart. He didn't shy away from a fight, either, and had no issues standing up for what he thought was right. King Serence, on the other hand, was suitably serious and regal, exactly what I'd have in mind upon hearing the word "king." There were several other peripheral characters, but none of them had enough of a backstory for me to get invested in them. Still, I did come to like Kade's lady guards, and I loved his poad, a medicinal, beaked creature that somewhat resembled a guinea pig. On her [now completed] Kickstarter campaign page, the author referred to Podge as Kade's "medical assistant" and said she's "small but important." Additionally, poads were shown to have a very interesting way of reproducing, but I won't ruin it for you by going into detail. Another very important figure in the book was Lord Ayonah, the deity who created Kade's world and promoted the doctor to veligent. I really liked him, as he seemed quite benevolent and friendly, yet I was still curious if he'd ever enact justice and vengeance if he thought it necessary. Ayonah mostly showed up in human form, but he also took on the physique of a white lion, so I couldn't help but compare him to Aslan from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, even though their leonine figures were the only thing they had in common. Other secondary characters that stood out included Captain Pol and Tannisel, both members of the king's entourage.
This was also one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. The artwork was beyond phenomenal, and I spent more time poring over the pictures than reading the text. There were so many invented animals and plants to see that I was constantly in awe of Ms. Peña's imagination. The text was written well, also, and the word bubbles never got in the way of the illustrations. The story itself held my interest and had a decent ending, though it's clear that there's another book to come. One of my favorite parts of The Veligent was “Notes and Extra Art,” which followed the story. This section included pictures of the featured characters, notes about the creatures, and additional information about various aspects of the yarn, as well as background images. As a big fan of movie extras, this segment was truly a delight for me. I also noticed very few grammatical errors, leading me to believe that it was professionally edited. I will admit, though, that I was a little taken aback reading such slang as "OMG" in this book; even though I wasn't sure of the time period, it just seemed a little odd in this particular story.
It is with great pleasure that I bestow 4 out of 4 stars on this delightful book. I also highly recommend this tale to fans of graphic novels; readers interested in unique zoology, botany, and ecology; and those who like leisurely fantasy stories with minor action scenes. As for me, I'm not quite ready to revisit my medical studies, but I certainly plan to enjoy Kade as he puts his degrees to use in his continuing adventures.
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The Veligent
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