I would like to express my gratitude for the Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book, generously provided by the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

"The Incredible Nellie Bly" by Luciana Cimino is a captivating and vivid graphic novel that brings to life the remarkable story of the pioneering journalist Nellie Bly. Cimino's narrative is both informative and engaging, offering readers a glimpse into the life of this trailblazing woman who defied societal norms and broke barriers in the field of investigative journalism.

The art in the graphic novel is visually striking, complementing the narrative with expressive illustrations that capture the energy and determination of Nellie Bly. Cimino skillfully combines historical accuracy with a dynamic storytelling style, making the graphic novel an immersive and educational experience.

"The Incredible Nellie Bly" is a celebration of courage, tenacity, and the power of journalism to effect change. Luciana Cimino's work is a fitting tribute to the legacy of Nellie Bly, making this graphic novel a compelling read for those interested in history, feminism, and the impact of journalism on society.

What an incredibly well-drawn and inspiring graphic memoir! Definitely front of the line for inspiring feminist fans everywhere!

** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Copy received through Netgalley

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The Incredible Nellie Bly: Journalist, Investigator, Feminist, and Philanthropist
by Luciana Cimino, Sergio Algozzino, David Randall, and Laura Garofalo
★★★★☆
144 Pages


Disclaimer: while I was given a copy of this through Netgalley, I was unable to read it comfortably. Instead of struggling, I went and bought the published version, and my review will be of *that* version.

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For me, this is a hard one to write a review for, because while I feel it did it's job to tell Nellie's story well, I also felt it was quite choppy and flitted back and forth far more than it needed to.

For a start, the Introduction tells us ALL of Nellie's important accomplishments before we even get to the story, and this makes what follows far less engaging and surprising, having less impact than it should have had. I was disappointed by that, as it really wasn't needed in the Introduction, and could have easily been kept for the end of the book.

As for the artwork, it was very colourful, but styled appropriately for each era it was covering. From the palette to the design, everything felt appropriate and well done. The artwork was nice, but simple and sometimes a little exaggerated and awkward.

The story itself is told through a “modern” character, Miriam in the 1920's, just before Nellie dies. She interviews Nellie about her life, for a journalistic paper for college, to protest the fact women still aren't widely accepted into a journalist college. This means that most of Nellie's life and accomplishments are told in flashbacks, which aren't always easily discernible from the modern story. While the historic text panels have a different colour, the art style of both women make it sometimes hard to tell which timeline we're in, especially when they're not shown in full but only at the side of a panel etc.

Sadly, though Nellie's story is covered well, though it only showcases her most historically renowned cases, Miriam's story is left floundering. At the end, she's struggling with a decision of whether to accept an engagement or remain as a journalist, as she's been made aware there is no choice of having both. While Nellie notes she's wearing a ring, Miriam's POV shows she hasn't made her choice yet. However, the story ends without any indication of what choice was made, and what he fate was. All we see is Miriam rejoicing at a future date (1999) as Women's History Month is announced.

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While the overall story was well done – both in writing and artwork – it felt disproportionate and sometimes too choppy and awkward for a comfortable read. I've seen reviews saying the Netgalley copy wasn't in colour and was hard to read. I'm very glad I waited for the published copy, but it really shouldn't be necessary.
Nellie's story was well done, and respected by both the authors and illustrators. I also loved the final panels of women journalists from throughout history.

I enjoyed this book and especially the graphic novel format. I had briefly heard about Nellie before, but I loved learning more about her and all she accomplished.
I was a little thrown off by how this story was Nellie being interviewed and looking back on her career because I hadn't expected that. I had thought that we would be following Nellie and not looking back on her career, but this format eventually grew on me.
I came to like Miriam and the part she played in the story. One of my favorite spreads in the story was when she called Nellie out.
I loved having the opportunity to review this book and learn about this amazing woman.
I also loved how it ended with a spread on famous women journalists that came after Nellie.

RATING: 4 STARS
2021; Abrams ComicArts

I have always been fascinated with Nellie Bly since I heard about her expose on an asylum. That is so crazy to think she went in voluntarily to get the truth. This graphic novel, was really interesting as it's not just about Nellie, but also women in the next generation wanting to be journalist. The art was amazing in this as well. I recommend this one to anyone interested in Nellie and journalism.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

Honestly don't have an interest in reading this anymore but I do appreciate being approved for the arc.

I enjoyed this book as it was beautifully illustrated, the story was interesting and it is kind of also a biography. I like reading about inspirational women who pushed boundaries of society years ago.

This book did a really great job of showing the work and struggles of Nellie Bly. The framing device really helped to set up Bly as laying a foundation of women in journalism.
Her charming and confident voice came through strongly. I love the artwork. The bright colors and textured, watercolor like effects made it very appealing. I especially enjoyed the extreme shifts in shading and line thickness when she was investigating Blackwell’s Island. My only negative is that the book felt a bit fast paced. It makes sense as Bly’s story is set up as a newspaper interview, but I could see how that would feel rushed to some readers.

Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC of The Incredible Nellie Bly from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, I had many issues getting this copy to work, and I ended up checking a physical copy out of the library when it was made available.

The Incredible Nellie Bly by Luciana Cimino, art by Sergio Algozzino, translated from Italian to English by Laura Garofalo, is a really solid introduction to the life of Nellie Bly. The story is almost entirely biographical, with the exception of a framing device of a 1920s woman journalist interviewing the aging and ailing Bly. This framing actually helps put some of the events into context, showing how especially radical some of Bly's life and work was. It covers the events in her life that are usually first thought of when discussing her (her trip around the world and her infiltration of an asylum to expose the cruelties inflicted on patients), but it also delves deeper into areas that modern readers might not be familiar with (such as her time in Mexico) and touches upon more (like her wartime reporting). It also highlights her importance as a journalist, especially as a woman in journalism. The art was also pretty great. I feel like the artist captured the characters and emotions, and the colours really added to the feel of it all.

Overall, it's a solid introduction to the life of Nellie Bly, providing information and context in a stylish and enjoyable way. It's basically everything I expect from a graphic biography, and I would recommend it to others who enjoy graphic biographies and to those looking for a primer on Bly's life and work.

I previously wasn't going to submit feedback on this title, but have changed my mind. The egalley that was sent to me was completely unreadable. None of the text or speech bubbles were in focus and the art was pixelated. I reached out to the publisher via email multiple times prior to the publishing date and received no response. I absolutely love the premise and history to this title and wish I could have read the materials sent to me to provide a real review.

I thought the Incredible Nellie Bly is a great way to introduce historical topics to young adult readers. The text is easy to follow and the illustrations are well done. I liked the vivid use of color, and I think that there is a great balance between text and picture. I would recommend this to younger readers who are interested in feminism, social studies, and history. Very well done!

I originally was introduced to this book via NetGalley. Unfortunately, trying to enjoy a graphic novel via the kindle app was too difficult, however, I was already hooked on the story so I purchased my very own copy. I really enjoyed learning more about Nellie Bly and how she affected such positive journalistic and societal change. I would have loved to get a better look into her thinking but enjoyed the story all the same.

This is such a great book that will help introduce children to a historical character that we can all learn so much. I even enjoyed reading it as an adult.

I was eager to read this, and I even read Nellie Bly's Ten Days in a Madhouse in preparation for this title. But unfortunately the formatting of the ARC made it unreadable for me. I resolved to wait until publication and get a copy from my library to review. But I have been unable to find a library copy. I would be happy to read and review this book if I was provided with a properly-formatted digital version.

Fascinating character and story.

I was so excited for this title however as many of the other reviewers have stated, the font was too small and low resolution to read properly.

I really liked what I could read of this. Unfortunately, the review copy was of so low resolution that it was really difficult to read, especially the text. After 50 pages of straining my eyes to the point of tearing, I had to give up.

Yes! Absolutely loved this graphic novel. This format makes it more accessible for a wider range of young learners. Adding this to my office for students!

A fascinating collage of information and narrative that portrays a true pioneer for women in all her feisty glory.

2 stars. Wasn't a big fan of the art and it hindered my enjoyment experience. Review to come.

As a high school teacher, writing full reviews has fallen to the wayside. Here are my initial thoughts until I can write a full review.

Nellie Bly's story is well suited to the graphic novel format. Plenty of action and conflict. And the historic setting allows for some cool imagery. Cimino uses these elements to full effect. The illustrations are black and white, allowing skillful use of shadow.