Easily the best thing Christopher Sebela has done. It's about a deaf sister and her mute brother. They are sent to a special needs school after their mother passes away. There they make some friends and start committing heists since no one would consider a group of deaf kids committing robberies. However, they quickly rob the wrong person and have to "earn" back what they owe him. It's a fun story full of double crosses.

I like how almost all of the word balloons are drawn from deaf people's hands and if the person doesn't know ASL, they just talk in squiggles like Charlie Brown's teacher. The entire scenario just gives the book a unique perspective.

This was an entertaining read, it had some dark and a few cute moments. I liked that the main characters are deaf and diverse, they have unique personalities and the world-building was fantastic. I loved the way the ASL was incorporated into the story as well.

Since the protagonists are young, some scenes are a little bit over the top but in general, is a good book. I wouldn't recommend it to a very young audience based on the dark scenes, so keep that in mind.

Art-wise; I loved the design of the characters, the colors, and the way the story flows. Especially how it doesn't make ASL hard to understand.

My thanks to the author Christopher Sebela, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley for the opportunity to get this ARC for an unbiased review.

Pantomime is like Ocean’s but with kids (at first) who use ASL to communicate.

A group of kids at a “special needs” academy (they hate it’s called that) become friends and pull off a job to keep one of their own in school, but when a bad criminal finds out they stole from him, they become his crew.

Years after they thought they were rid of him, he comes back, and they’ll have to pull the ultimate job to get rid of him completely.

This 6 part graphic novel was a fast roller coaster ride full of heists, queer and deaf kids. I loved it. The art was super cool. There was enbee rep, queer relationships, and very strong friendships. Def recommend and more graphic novels with deaf chatacters plz and thank you.

It’s out now, wherever you get your comcs.

This one was interesting. Parts of it were slightly predictable - mostly the heist - so that was a tad disappointing. But I loved the way the ASL was incorporated into the story, that was nice. Overall, it was a pretty decent read. Not horrible but not the best either.

'Pantomime' by Christopher Sebela with art by David Stoll is a graphic novel about a group of students who commit burglaries.

After Haley and Max's mother dies, they are sent to Wayfair Academy, a school for the deaf. They make friends there and find a common interest: planning and committing burglaries. This works until they fall into the clutches of a local gangster who makes them work for him. Now they just want out.

I really liked this group of characters and the suspenseful story. I liked the word bubbles emanating from the characters palms. The art is good too.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Mad Cave Studios, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

Pantomime was such a unique story and I was excited to read a graphic novel with this kind of disability rep! I never imagined ASL as a story-telling technique in a printed medium, but I think it worked out well and added to the reading experience. The way the narrative gives the students agency and power as they go on their heist adventure was really refreshing, as I haven't read much with deaf/mute main characters, let alone an adventure story! I also enjoyed the art style, which meshed well with the tone of the story.

After Haley and Max’s mother died, they were sent to Wayfair Academy, a boarding school for deaf students. One night, after Max’s devices are taken by a teacher, they decide to steal everything the teacher has taken from students. Since that crime was a success, they decide to do some more thefts with their friends. However, they soon rob the wrong man, and end up spending years paying back for those crimes.

I love boarding school stories. This was a special boarding school for deaf children. It was the perfect setting for these kids to plan their crimes, since they all lived together without parental supervision.

This is the first book I’ve read where all of the characters are deaf. It worked well in graphic novel format because the movement of their hands was illustrated. Their speech bubbles led away from their hands, instead of their mouths. The children were underestimated because of their deafness. They were able to use the perception that others had of them being weak to their advantage.

Pantomime is a great crime graphic novel!

Thank you Mad Cave Studios for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If anybody should talk about physical disability representation, it's here. Maybe not aspirational but power fantasies about taking advantage of being underestimated is always a plus. The kids path to burglary just feels so organic with how it starts small and eventually becomes bigger. There's a thrill to what they do, with no one the wiser. Of course, there's a genuine sense of addiction that can come in hobbies readers themselves find in, one where it becomes a lifestyle on adrenaline dependence. But more than that, Pantomime uses the tropes of heist genres including double-crossing in a big way. First it's to establish villains in an organic fashion and later at the final chapter when readers expectations are at their highest. I dare not say without spoilers.

I love the concept but didn't really enjoy the execution. I think it' would have worked better if it were a group of grownups (in a different setting, obviously) and not a group of children.

Full review to be posted soonish.

I would like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pantomime is a truly interesting idea. We have a story revolving around a group of kids who need to rely on sign language to communicate (as in they're deaf or unable to speak) and they just happen to be very skilled at being thieves.

This graphic novel captivated me because it's a truly unique idea. It gave off vibes of Robert Kirkman's Thief of Thieves while still being it's own thing.

This felt like a one off graphic novel but I would much rather have a slightly longer one told in two or three parts to get a more fleshed out story. This wasn't bad at all, it just felt rushed. The third act seemed to move at lightning speed especially compared to the first act which moved much slower.

TLDR: Interesting and unique but has pacing issues.

Six boarding school students are angry when a teacher confiscates one of their cell phones. Max and his sister Haley, the newest students at the school, organize their friends to break into the teacher’s office to get it back. What starts as a kid’s heist for revenge turns into a hobby - then a job. They cross a brutal criminal during one of their heists and are forced to work for him. They find themselves, after many years, trying to figure out how to break free.

In this interesting take on a heist story, all of the kids are D/deaf or unable to speak. They communicate with sign language, which the artist portrays well given the limits of a static image. The narrative delivers plenty of drama and tension. The relationships between the gang members (and the refinement of their criminal skills) evolve realistically as they grow into young adults.

The story is clear about the protagonists’ deafness without centering it. The fact that the story gives them full agency and avoids portraying them as either suffering or as heroic inspirations to us all is a plus.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for a review.


Started reading the comic and was halfway through it but since I didn't download it to my phone or laptop, I couldn't finish it because it was archived. Not sure of the season.

Anyway, half of what I read was a little dry but readable. The school was quite strange but the diverse kids were fantastic. I wish I could have finish it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this arc.

The first graphic novel I read includes ASL and crime. I really enjoyed this graphic novel and the story it tells, I liked the various representations this book includes, the art style, and the story. The only thing I would say I was expecting it was for it to be a little bit longer, at least at the different heists.

What happens when the Mafia meets a group of deaf teenagers? a lot of nefarious crime and adventure. Pantomime is a terrific tale of loss, family and the bonds that hold us together and tear us apart.

First of all, I really liked the story, I love found-family and this group connected so well, the crime part was interesting even though their interactions were my favorite thing, second: the art is so beautiful! it really adds so much to the book because it's so perfectly done! And the representation of the deaf/mute community was so well integrated.

Pantomime by Christopher Sebela is an interesting read!

I will say, I do like the fact that one of our main (and opening!) characters is deaf. I found it unique and super cool that ASL was used in the book (even if you can't see/tell exactly how they're using it - so accuracy isn't there). I haven't found many books that had characters who are hard of hearing, so I was impressed and glad I picked this book up and can share it. Add in characters who are mute and don't/can't talk and it's even more interesting! We need more books with leads showcasing real and relatable conditions.

I was amused that one of the adults basically had the "Charlie Brown" effect of the dialogue just being random squiggles instead of actual words. That made me smile!

The crime aspect was okay. The heist is fun and engaging! It kept me entertained and pulled into the book. Throw in the awesome art style and you've got yourself a fun time.

This book didn't stand out as my favourite, but I don't quite have any way it could have done better. It seems like a great start that could have had a little more editing perhaps? Overall, it's a great read and I do recommend it!

Three out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors and Mad Cave Studios for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

The short version: A well-crafted, taut heist tale with a group of special needs kids that keeps the pages turning.

The long version: Pantomime is hit for sure. There are a lot of heist stories out there, but this one definitely adds a few new wrinkles by making the crew a group of children with disabilities (deaf, selective mutism). The pacing in this graphic novel is excellent and the story keeps you turning the pages. The characters are well developed and for the most part their arcs both make sense and are told in an engaging way.

The art in the novel is crisp and clean and the action is easy to follow. Additionally the comic is well laid out so that your attention is drawn where it should be.

The biggest drawback here is the ending which I’m torn about. It’s not all butterflies and rainbows, which I like, however, there seems to be a step missed in the relationship between the two main characters, like a simple conversation might have changed things. Still, I get why the story goes where it does so I can’t hate on it too much

Overall a solid 4 out of 5 and a graphic novel I’d recommend to anyone who asks.

Component Ratings
Concept/Idea: 4.5 out of 5
Artwork: 5 out of 5
Layout: 4.5 out of 5
Dialogue: 4 out of 5
Characters: 4 out of 5
Character development: 3.5 out of 5
Plot: 4 out of 5
Ending: 4 out of 5

I will be posting the review publicly on 4-28-21

This was definitely a graphic novel like any other that I've read before! I really loved almost everything about it. The fact that this was a graphic novel that included signing was something that I never really thought could've existed and I love the way it was presented. Plus, I've always loved books and movies that have to do with heists and tricks, which was definitely right up my alley in terms of the premise. I just ate up this book in less than a day because of how immersive it was.

As someone who's been studying ASL and Deaf culture for a couple of years now, I was INCREDIBLY impressed to see some representation of the Deaf/mute community in a graphic novel. I've just never seen it done and it was just awesome. This is honestly what drew me to this book in the first place because I wanted to see how they drew characters signing and everything. The fact that the book's whole premise revolved around my favorite type of story was just the most amazing bonus!

As I said before, I've always loved heist movies or movies that have to do with deception and trickery to get away with something. Movies like Ocean's 11 (and all the other Ocean's movies) are movies that I could watch constantly and never get tired of them. I even like the Now You See Me movies because that kind of has the same vibe. Anyway, this book just thoroughly had that vibe of an amazing heist movie and I hope to read WAY more books and graphic novels like this. It was just so refreshing to take a break from all my fantasy books and have this intense (but amazing) story.

3/5

Pantomime tells the story of two silblings, Max and Haley, are sent to a boarding school and make friends who, just like them, are deaf or mute. They plan and succesfully execute a heist, but as usually with heist stories, bigger problems soon follow.

I didn't particularly love this, but I also didn't dislike it either. The heist story part was admittedly nothing really new, you have probably read a few books with a storyline like that. I did like the art style and the way ASL was integrated in the story.

I also enjoyed seeing a character that uses they/them pronouns without it being made into a big deal. I like the art style too so that's a plus. All in all I don't really have anything to say, I liked it but tbh it's not something memorable.