If you are not a big Marvel graphic novel-stories fan, a few pieces of information are missing from the story of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (Volume 1 BFF). Yet, at the same time, it is not needed. It is a standalone story where most information is self-explanatory. If not, Google is our friend (also my geek friends are well…. my friends who can fill in blanks). Plus, there is a note on one page that directs you to another story if you wish to learn more about Devil Dinosaur (DD).
Some of Amy Reeder’s plot points are a bit simplistic, but this is not necessarily a turn off. We know the “big dumb loveable dinosaur” and the “plucky heroine” and yes, we know the other superhero that comes to the superhero-save-the day party will not necessarily be “on the plucky heroine’s side,” but it is all “okay.” Reeder and her crackpot team of artists (such as Natacha Bustos), colorists (such as Tamra Bonvillain), letterers (such as VC’s Travis Lanham) and editors (such as Mark Paniccia and Emily Shaw) take the traditional graphic novel format and makes it accessible for a modern-day reader. Even if you are not a graphic novel reader, you can easily get into this.
The publisher information says this book is good for all ages, but I would say probably best for ages 10 to adult. The younger reader could read it, with few big issues, but the more subtle moral issues might not be grasped easily. Yet, due to the fact the heroine of our story Lunella Lafayette is nine, that younger reader can see themselves represented. Also, girls who are smart (especially within the sciences) are represented. And girls of color see themselves, too.
The actual illustrations of the book are bold. Colors really hop off the pages in places. It does have a more “comic book” than “graphic novel” leaning. Which just means that the art is literally brighter than what the classics show us. And even the “scary parts” (and there are scary parts: there is a group that practices human-sacrifices, Devil Dinosaur is a dinosaur and is scary-looking, and when the Hulk comes into the story, he is a bit rough with DD) or the “grittier parts” (there is a fire in the school, people with the Inhuman gene do change/might change) have “sunnier aspects” to them. Even nighttime is not dark just, no light.
This collection has #1 to #6 but I will be ordering the #1 to #12 set.