I first read Nimona by N.D Stevenson in 2019 (but my version had their dead name). My main takeaway from this recent read was how the theme itself has not changed, but our perceptions of it might have. I know mine did. I didn’t even know what a dead name was four years ago. It would never have occurred to me that it is harmful to misgender or dead-name someone. In those few years, a lot has happened, and I hope I have grown past my original thoughts on this graphic novel to a better understanding of it.. My original Goodreads review was not very well written. I said it was an “Odd, but interesting story arc. Modern mixed with fantasy and surreal and supernatural. Not for all readers. Due to violence not for under 13.”
I still do not think it is for the very young or sensitive reader. But I have looked past the surface story. Which honestly, is not the wrong way to read anything. There are always at least two ways to read a book: The Surface story and the Deeper Meaning story. And sure you can look at this story as a girl who wants to fight the system by being a “bad guy” and hooking up with the number one super villain of the city. You can ignore the overtones of GLBTQ+ themes, even the love story between the two main male characters. You can enjoy the extras (two holiday comics; gallery, etc.), and you can say, “Yes! The real good guys win! Nimona rules! The Institution drools!” And that is fine, but of course you can look at the transgender issues, the non-binary approach Stevenson takes Nimona. The “treat someone like a monster-they’ll act like a monster” or the “villainizing” other is the real theme.
My second reading was due to having seen the movie version. I was thinking “this isn’t right” or “wait, did that happen?” (Spoiler, while it is not “happy happy joy joy” and is a bit more politically correct, the movie is a bit lighter than the book, with more comic moments). Reading this book now and due to current events, this book hits on different levels. Now, we have the additional information of Stevenson’s own journey (as said, their dead name was on the version I read). Nimona might have been ahead of its time in 2019, but it is perfect for now. I do want to find a more recent edition to see if things have changed with the text such as she pronouns used to describe Nimona in the book I had. And now Stevenson has transitioned with different pronouns, and since I assume Nimona themselves is Stevenon (look closely at the art to the type of things/people Nimona shifts into, they seem to be more masculine presenting or males) I wonder if Nimona has been changed at all.
And no matter how much I like the book, I still find the art a bit awkward. I never disliked it, but it was never really “fleshed out” to a style I like. However, it fits the story well and allows the tone to come out. The illustrations support and can be a bit of a character without taking away from the main people or events of the story.
