Inkblot, Vol. 1
by Emma Kubert, Rusty Gladd
4 out of 5 stars

A librarian sorceress knocks over some bottles of ink and accidentally creates a powerful cat that has magical properties. Like all cats, this inky feline does whatever it wants whenever it wants, and it seems unbound by the laws of time and space. The sorceress begins to realize that the cat could cause the unravelling of the universe, or could save her family and bring the realms together.

The plot is excellent, full of adventure and magic! I really loved the mixture of action and funny scenes. The writing is so clever and hilarious, but also touches on some more somber and serious subjects.

I loved the world-building in this graphic novel/comic! There are various dimensions or realms where magical creatures roam, and there is a long history of wars and oppression. The cat visits the different realms, meeting elves and dragons and giants, and changing the course of history. I feel like there is so much more to explore and learn about these magical worlds!

The cat is hilarious! He gets into the most insane situations, and then opens a portal to another world, and escapes in the nick of time. Right when the humans and elves are all in the middle of the action, about to be eaten by some horrific monster, the cat just sits there wide-eyed and says “Mow” in the funniest way.

I loved the colorful art style. It’s so vibrant! The panels show the action really clearly, so that it was easy to follow the story. I especially loved the cute design of the cat. It looks so innocent and adorable, but it is hiding infinite cosmic power.

I was intrigued by the librarian sorceress’s family. She has a whole bunch of brothers and sisters, and they have learned how to extend their lives, and are now thousands of years old. They are scattered across the realms, most of them ruling kingdoms of their own, some lost in the wastelands, some long dead. Little by little, we learn more about their history and how they conquered different realms, and how they came to be so estranged from one another.

It’s very interesting to see this sibling dynamic; they love each other, but get on each other’s nerves, and eventually there is a rift in their relationships and most of them go their separate ways.
I can’t to read more of the volumes in this series, and find out more about this interesting family!

Warning: There is some violence in this book. A guy is beheaded, and it is a little gory. It didn’t gross me out too bad though.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.