Supermutant Magic Academy is a graphic novel written by Jillian Tamaki. The book was first published in 2015 and is a collection of webcomic strips that were created over a period of several years. The story is set in a boarding school for teenagers with magical abilities. However, the school is not your typical magical academy. It is filled with eccentric characters and strange occurrences. The students at Supermutant Magic Academy deal with the same issues that teenagers in any high school face – romance, friendship, identity, and the struggles of growing up.
“This collection is a great read for comic fans and genre newbies alike.” —Bust Magazine
This volume combines the most popular content from the webcomic with a selection of all-new, never-before-seen strips that conclude Tamaki s account of life at the academy. Though Tamaki s black and white panels shift from detailed and realistic to dreamy and atmospheric and back again, she consistently and expertly captures subtle emotion and subtext with only a few strokes of the pen.
The students at Supermutant Magic Academy deal with the same issues that teenagers in any high school face – romance, friendship, identity, and the struggles of growing up. What sets this graphic novel apart is its unique blend of humor and fantasy. The author uses witty dialogue and clever illustrations to create a world that is both hilarious and thought-provoking.
SuperMutant Magic Academy (Paperback)
The New York Times and New Yorker illustrator Jillian Tamaki is best known for co-creating the award-winning young adult graphic novels Skim and This One Summer—moody and atmospheric bestsellers. SuperMutant Magic Academy, which she has been serializing online for the past four years, paints a teenaged world filled with just as much ennui and uncertainty, but also with a sharp dose of humor and irreverence. Tamaki deftly plays superhero and high-school Hollywood tropes against what adolescence is really like: The SuperMutant Magic Academy is a prep school for mutants and witches, but their paranormal abilities take a backseat to everyday teen concerns.
Science experiments go awry, bake sales are upstaged, and the new kid at school is a cat who will determine the course of human destiny. In one strip, lizard-headed Trixie frets about her nonexistent modeling career; in another, the immortal Everlasting Boy tries to escape this mortal coil to no avail. Throughout it all, closeted Marsha obsesses about her unrequited crush, the cat-eared Wendy. Whether the magic is mundane or miraculous, Tamaki's jokes are precise and devastating.
SuperMutant Magic Academy has won two Ignatz Awards. This volume combines the most popular content from the webcomic with a selection of all-new, never-before-seen strips that conclude Tamaki's account of life at the academy.
About the Author
Jillian Tamaki is a Canadian illustrator and cartoonist living in Brooklyn, New York. Her illustrations have won gold medals from the Society of Illustrators and the Society of Publication Designers. Tamaki is the co-creator of the graphic novel Skim, which was listed as a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2008 and was nominated for four Eisner Awards and a Governor General's Literary Award. This One Summer, her second co-authored work with Mariko Tamaki, was published in mid-2014 and spent more than a month on the New York Times bestseller list. Her two books of personal work are Gilded Lilies and Indoor Voice.
Praise For…
“Tamaki's sense of comedy and pacing owes a lot to Charles Schulz's "Peanuts," although her subject matter is decidedly less innocent. And she delights in breaking her own rules: Her artwork is black-and-white except when she throws in impish splashes of color, drawn with broad, rough brush strokes except when it's composed of felt-tip scribbles or shimmering digital gray.” —New York Times
“SuperMutant Magic Academy... exudes an irresistible wit.” —The Guardian
“This collection is a great read for comic fans and genre newbies alike.” —Bust Magazine
“[SuperMutant Magic Academy] is smart, thoughtful, and too hilarious to gobble down in just one sitting.” —Bitch Magazine
“When it comes down to it, this is one of the best books. of any kind to come out in a long time.” —Autostraddle
“The humor [in SuperMutant Magic Academy] is sometimes slapstick, but more often it offers ultra-dry observations on modern disengagement. Tamaki is playful and loose with her art, unafraid to be experimental as she draws us into a world where true feelings are the greatest danger.” —Publishers Weekly Starred Review
“Though Tamaki's black and white panels shift from detailed and realistic to dreamy and atmospheric and back again, she consistently and expertly captures subtle emotion and subtext with only a few strokes of the pen. [SuperMutant Magic Academy is] simultaneously heartbreaking and hilarious.” —Booklist Starred Review
“SuperMutant Magic Academy will reassure teenagers that high school is a weird place, even for humans, and will remind adults that it is an experience we never really outgrow.” —Winnipeg Free Press
- Comics & Graphic Novels / Literary
- Prebound (April 28th, 2015): $36.65
The main characters in the book are diverse and relatable, each with their own quirks and struggles. Told through a series of vignettes, the story does not follow a linear plot but instead focuses on the everyday lives of the students. The artwork in Supermutant Magic Academy is highly stylized and varies in format, from full-page illustrations to comic strips. Tamaki’s use of bold colors and dynamic layouts adds to the overall surreal and whimsical atmosphere of the book. While Supermutant Magic Academy is marketed as a graphic novel, it also incorporates elements of other media, such as poetry, prose, and even a choose-your-own-adventure story. This blending of genres makes for a unique reading experience. Though the book’s target audience is young adults, readers of all ages can find something to enjoy in its pages. At its core, Supermutant Magic Academy is a coming-of-age story that explores universal themes like loneliness, love, and the search for self-identity. The book encourages readers to embrace their individuality and question the world around them. It’s a testament to the power of imagination and the importance of finding one’s own path in life. Supermutant Magic Academy is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant graphic novel that will leave readers thinking long after they have finished reading it..
Reviews for "Supermutant Magic Academy: A journey through its captivating world"
- Karen - 2 stars - I usually enjoy graphic novels, but "Supermutant magic academy" just didn't do it for me. I found the storyline to be confusing and disjointed, with too many characters and subplots to keep track of. The art style was also not to my taste, with its simplicity lacking the detail and vibrancy I usually look for in a graphic novel. Overall, I was left underwhelmed and uninterested in the story.
- John - 1 star - I regretted picking up "Supermutant magic academy" almost immediately. The humor felt forced and juvenile, lacking any real wit or cleverness. The characters were one-dimensional and uninteresting, making it difficult for me to connect or care about them. The artwork was also uninspiring, with a lack of detail and depth that made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. I ended up abandoning the book halfway through, feeling like I had wasted my time.
- Sarah - 2 stars - I had high expectations for "Supermutant magic academy" based on the positive reviews, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The pacing was slow and meandering, making it difficult for me to stay engaged in the story. Additionally, the humor often felt crude and forced, lacking the cleverness and wit I enjoy in graphic novels. While the artwork was decent, it didn't make up for the lackluster storytelling and character development. Overall, I was left feeling disappointed and unenthusiastic about the book.