Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Gordon Jack

Plot Summary
Nimona shows up one night at the secret lair of the evil Lord Ballister Blackheart begging to be his new sidekick. She has shape shifting powers, which makes her a valuable ally in his campaign against Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics.

As their campaign against the government proceeds, Blackheart begins to realize his minion is harder to control than he realized.  Her destructive powers puts him in the difficult position of having to protect the society he was so determined to bring down.

Critical Evaluation
I give Nimona an unqualified 10 out of 10.  It's one of the most entertaining graphic novels I have read in a long time.  Nimona is a great character, really funny in her desire to cause chaos and destruction.  Her relationship with Blackheart is the best part of the story.  At first she is a great asset to him, then she's a real pain, then she becomes a loyal friend who Blackheart will do anything he can to protect.  The artwork is imaginative and beautiful and captures the characters shifting alliances really well.