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georgesc's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
adamcagey's review against another edition
5.0
You are required to love a comic that features a rogue geologist as a villain. Yes.
Street Angel is the story of a homeless 13-year old world-class skateboarder and ninja fighter. She lives in a world of (the aforementioned) ninjas and scientists, but her world is also chock full of Aztec gods, Conquistadores, Irish astronauts, Satanists, and the headaches that come with being homeless. This volume collects the five issues of the series as well as short stories, covers, and a wealth of pinups and sketches. And it is a thing of beauty.
The stories in Street Angel happen free of context and, blessedly, continuity. Each story seems to happen in its own little universe of fun. I suspect that Rugg (artist and co-writer) and Maruca (co-writer) weren't so interested in telling a grand, linear story; they were mostly concerned with figuring out how comics work. They needed to figure out the rules, and then they needed to break them completely.
The collection I own is called "volume one" in the indicia. I pray that there will be a second some day.
Street Angel is the story of a homeless 13-year old world-class skateboarder and ninja fighter. She lives in a world of (the aforementioned) ninjas and scientists, but her world is also chock full of Aztec gods, Conquistadores, Irish astronauts, Satanists, and the headaches that come with being homeless. This volume collects the five issues of the series as well as short stories, covers, and a wealth of pinups and sketches. And it is a thing of beauty.
The stories in Street Angel happen free of context and, blessedly, continuity. Each story seems to happen in its own little universe of fun. I suspect that Rugg (artist and co-writer) and Maruca (co-writer) weren't so interested in telling a grand, linear story; they were mostly concerned with figuring out how comics work. They needed to figure out the rules, and then they needed to break them completely.
The collection I own is called "volume one" in the indicia. I pray that there will be a second some day.
mschlat's review against another edition
4.0
"Orphaned by the world... raised by the streets... Jesse Sanchez is a kung fu master... and the world's greatest homeless skateboarder. In Wilkesborough, Angel City's deadliest ghetto... she fights ninjas, drugs, nepotism, and pre-algebra as... STREET ANGEL."
Rugg and Maruca's creation is basically the Chuck Norris of her world --- nothing can defeat her. She's a middle schooler with a huge appetite, a bad attitude, and insane skills. And her stories are fairly gonzo. In one of my favorites from this volume, not only do the baddies come introduced with trading cards ("Throws, Bats, Knifes, Shoots: Right"), but Jesse brings a tiger from a rival gang into their lair and it has its own trading card ("Saved from a poacher's bullet as a kitten..."). Added to all this are day-glo graphics and full page spreads from Maruca, who mixes up art styles from gritty urban landscapes to super simplistic supersuits to corporate advertising for robot ninjas. (There's a remarkably effective Christmas story told --- much to my astonishment --- in thickly inked black and white.)
Still, at their heart, these are stories about a middle school girl, and they work on that level. Jesse spends time with her friends, ending up fighting a creepy boy at her school, befriends a lost dog, and sneaks into a "take your daughter to work" event. It's just that the somewhat normal appears in the midst of the absolute crazy.
[A more capitalistic note: these are reprints of short stories that were (mostly) published by Image separately as hardcovers that never seemed worth the price. This is a much more economical package.]
If you like [a:Jim Mahfood|61339|Jim Mahfood|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s stuff, like what [a:Paul Pope|61230|Paul Pope|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1394339449p2/61230.jpg] has done with his YA graphic novels, or are interested in kickass girl comics, pick this up.
Rugg and Maruca's creation is basically the Chuck Norris of her world --- nothing can defeat her. She's a middle schooler with a huge appetite, a bad attitude, and insane skills. And her stories are fairly gonzo. In one of my favorites from this volume, not only do the baddies come introduced with trading cards ("Throws, Bats, Knifes, Shoots: Right"), but Jesse brings a tiger from a rival gang into their lair and it has its own trading card ("Saved from a poacher's bullet as a kitten..."). Added to all this are day-glo graphics and full page spreads from Maruca, who mixes up art styles from gritty urban landscapes to super simplistic supersuits to corporate advertising for robot ninjas. (There's a remarkably effective Christmas story told --- much to my astonishment --- in thickly inked black and white.)
Still, at their heart, these are stories about a middle school girl, and they work on that level. Jesse spends time with her friends, ending up fighting a creepy boy at her school, befriends a lost dog, and sneaks into a "take your daughter to work" event. It's just that the somewhat normal appears in the midst of the absolute crazy.
[A more capitalistic note: these are reprints of short stories that were (mostly) published by Image separately as hardcovers that never seemed worth the price. This is a much more economical package.]
If you like [a:Jim Mahfood|61339|Jim Mahfood|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s stuff, like what [a:Paul Pope|61230|Paul Pope|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1394339449p2/61230.jpg] has done with his YA graphic novels, or are interested in kickass girl comics, pick this up.
katepowellshine's review against another edition
5.0
Street Angel is the best. Only I wish it were written and drawn by women. You hear that, ladies? We have work to do!
devinr's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, first things first: this book is about a 12-year-old girl who is a martial arts expert and the world’s greatest homeless skateboarder who has to fight ninjas, crime, time-traveling pirates, and nepotism deep in the heart of the city. That sentence alone made me want to read it, and it is just as awesome as it sounds, if not more. Plus, the supporting cast includes a one-armed, no-legged skateboarder named Bald Eagle, an old Blaxploitation hero named the Afrodesiac, and an Irish astronaut named CosMick. Seriously. The book just walks right up to you, slaps you in the face, and then DARES you not to read it.
Okay, aside from the high-concept comicky goodness, what else is to like? Well, the art, particularly in the first issue, is incredibly dynamic. At times, it felt like the images were actually moving. And yes, the whole thing is extremely silly, but there are a couple of more serious moments that come out of nowhere and yet don’t seem out of place. However, it’s not all ninjas and chocolate. Because there’s no ongoing storyline, it had a hard time holding my attention. And as the book went on, I felt that the stories started falling a little flat. It didn’t help that the first issue was so awesome, the rest of the book suffered by comparison. So overall, a great concept that might fall a little flat at times, but the first issue embodies what great comics can be.
Okay, aside from the high-concept comicky goodness, what else is to like? Well, the art, particularly in the first issue, is incredibly dynamic. At times, it felt like the images were actually moving. And yes, the whole thing is extremely silly, but there are a couple of more serious moments that come out of nowhere and yet don’t seem out of place. However, it’s not all ninjas and chocolate. Because there’s no ongoing storyline, it had a hard time holding my attention. And as the book went on, I felt that the stories started falling a little flat. It didn’t help that the first issue was so awesome, the rest of the book suffered by comparison. So overall, a great concept that might fall a little flat at times, but the first issue embodies what great comics can be.
slooperstar's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
3.0
This is an odd collection of reprinted comic book stories about a street girl, who is also a bad-ass ninja. She solves mysteries. She beats up bad guys, and she likes to eat.
She is probably helps Santa, and a ghost at Halloween. She goes to Juvie, and breaks out all the girls, not just the one she was supposed to. She is very much her own self.
All very strange. I think it is an acquired taste.
Thanks to Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.
She is probably helps Santa, and a ghost at Halloween. She goes to Juvie, and breaks out all the girls, not just the one she was supposed to. She is very much her own self.
All very strange. I think it is an acquired taste.
Thanks to Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.
plaidbrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Jesse Sanchez is the Street Angel, urban superhero, martial artist, and world's greatest homeless skateboarder. She deals with ninjas, mad geologists, Incan gods, time lost conquistadors, Blaxploitation heroes, Satanists, Irish spacemen, and one apparently determined giant squid. She also has to endure her harsh life on the sreets, constant hunger, and the embarassment of having classmates see her dumpster diving. Part wacky superhero send-up, part serious drama... you wouldn't think the two could balance so well, but that they do speaks volumes about the talents of Misters Rugg and Maruca.
acrunchwrap's review against another edition
2.0
2.5. Fun, but only on the surface. Saved from a lower rating bc I did laugh out loud a few times