I’m completely on board with the theme of striving for kindness and love in an oppressive atmosphere of violence, but somehow the actual page to page execution of this story missed its mark for me. It’s unfortunate - I am a huge fan of the author - and I wonder if part of it is not coming in blind into DC universe.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this graphic novel, but the TLDR; this graphic novel is probably right for a reader who is younger and more familiar with the DC characters this story centers than I am.

On the one hand, I could see it being a lot of fun for a middle schooler getting in to DC comics, which is a plus, and I can acknowledge I may not be the target audience for this work if it's intended for younger readers. However, as an adult who frequently does enjoy middle grade stories and who loves Ngozi Ukazu's other works (bunt!, check please!), I feel like this story misses the mark in a few ways.

I've seen a few reviews say that this is a good entry point for DC comics/these characters, and I disagree. As someone not as familiar with Big Barda and Scott Free there wasn't enough context for me to ever really get my bearings. We also don't spend enough with either Barda, Scott Free, or the other furies to really get significant characterization for them, and it makes the significant emotional beats of the story fall flat. But I think if you were a reader who was already attached to these characters and knew more about their backstory than I do then it could be a really successful story.

Two of my favorite things came together in this book- Ngozi Ukazu's iconic art style and DC Comics (yes, I know it's redundant but I use the vernacular of the people).

I only knew enough about Barda and Apokolips to be aware that the story I was in for was not going to be anywhere near as cheery as Ukazu's seminal Check, Please! Book 1: #Hockey. Barda is one of Granny Goodness's warriors but she doesn't have the heart of a warrior, just the build of one. She's softer than her fellow soldiers and she knows it. However, when she meets one of Granny's prisoners, Scott Free, she realizes that she's not just different than her sister soldiers but she's no longer willing to play soldier at all. Barda is going to free Scott at any cost.

DC storylines aren't known for slight of hand or shocking plot twists. Neither are Ukazu's graphic novels. Both are iconic because of their self-aware genre pandering (I mean this in the best possible way) and their full-of-heart characters. This story is about a strong woman discovering that vulnerability is it's own strength. It's about two archetypical characters denying their plot-given destinies and saying "eh, I'm going to do my own thing" without a care for gender stereotypes or societal pressures. It's the best sort of rebel story.

This was an absolute gem and I cannot wait for the release date to roll around so more people can experience the product of a one-in-a-lifetime partnership. I hope DC and Ukazu work together again.

💬: "Be wary what you read, Big Barda. Knowledge without scrutiny is poison."

Ukazu, Ngozi. Barda (pg. 111) DC Comics. NetGalley Advanced Reader's Copy Edition.

📖Genres: comics, graphic novels, super heroes, DC Comics, romance

📚Page Count: 191

🎧Audiobook Length: 00h 00min

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4/5
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TW - <spoiler>Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, and Torture</spoiler>

Barda by Ngozi Ukazu is a comic published by DC Comics about the anti-hero, Big Barda. The story takes place on Apokolips and it's about the leader of the Female Furies on Apokolips, Big Barda. Barda has secretly thinking about the ideal of love, something that isn't talking about, accepted, or allowed on Apokolips. Granny Goodness the boss of the furies thinks that Barda is becoming too soft, so she's given Barda the task of torturing their new prisoner, Scott Free. Somehow, Barda finds herself allured by Scott Free. Will Barda be able to help Scott or will she stomp out this new ideal of love?

I think this graphic novel was entertaining and exciting. I loved that we get a backstory on Big Barda (even though it wasn't extensive) and that we get to see what it's like for her being the leader of the furies. Speaking of the furies, I really loved that each one of them had their own personalities. That was so pleasant. I also enjoyed the art style throughout the entire graphic novel.

Overall I really enjoyed what this graphic novel had to offer. I love the art and I love that we get a Big Barda comic that shows the different sides to her as a character. This was an emotional story and it was told very well. I'm giving this 4 out of 5 stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4/5 Stars

Thank you [NetGalley.com], Ngozi Ukazu (the author), and DC Comics/Entertainment (publisher) for the arc (advanced reader's copy) of the audiobook.

Barda, oh how I love you so. It's been far too long since the last time I read something with Barda in it, and I'm so glad I finally remedied that. She's been a favorite DC character of mine since I first read her back in Formerly Known as the Justice League, and this was such a fresh take on her character without feeling like it was rewriting her as somebody new. Not only was the writing excellent, but it was so special to see these characters I've grown up loving without a male lens over them. Okazu had deconstructed toxic masculinity well in OMG Check Please! so I had expected this to avoid it as well, but this graphic novel just really hit different because of her creative decisions. This was the perfect take on not only Barda and Scott, but Granny Goodness and all of the Furies. The art was beautiful and expressed emotion well, and despite the gravity of the situations, it had some fun humor in it too. Okazu's knowledge and love of Fourth World/Apokolips/DC really stood out to me (and not just because I had been obsessed with her fanart before this) because you could tell that it was worked on by someone who was passionate about every aspect of the world and characters. I'm really hoping that we'll get a sequel to it, and hopefully some other collabs between Okazu and DC (Boostle or JLI anyone?).

If you're curious about this, definitely pick up a copy from your local comic shop or bookstore! I think this is a really great starting point for those unfamiliar with the characters and Apokolips, as well as for younger readers looking for an age appropriate superhero graphic novel.

I went into this with minimal familiarity with Big Barda, a DC Comics character that I rarely cross paths with in my usual reads. However, I was captivated by the cover's art. It definitely feels beginner-friendly, which is a fantastic solution for those who may be deterred from reading comics due to difficulty following continuity. I liked the use of existing DC characters within the plot.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Picked this up because it's Ngozi, had never heard of Big Barda or the Apokolips/New Gods group before. This was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed Ngozi's signature art style applied to a superhero story (psst, btw, did y'all know that Ngozi is the first Black woman to write and illustrate a comic for DC?). Idk if I felt the romance was developed enough to really sell me on it, but it was still cute! The Female Furies were a cool, dynamic group.

TW: torture, brainwashing, kidnapping

This was a fun book to devour. It truly is a fast read. I love the focus on Big Barda and the beginning of her relationship with Mister Miracle. Great addition to JH and up Graphic Novel sections.

I have been a big fan of Ngozi Ukazu, ever since Check, Please was posted on tumblr, so I was happy to support any subsequent projects.

On a planet where love is forbidden, Barda believes herself to be in love. When she shows mercy to one of her teammates, she must prove her loyalty to the Darkseid by breaking a prisoner.

I love Ukazu‘s style! The settings are so clear, and the diversity in characters‘ shapes and style was amazing. I wasn‘t lost, even though these all appear to be well established DC characters.

The manipulation and gaslighting of Granny was perfectly malicious and chilling, even while it was in the service of a genocidal galactic leader, it's the type of behavior that can be seen in the real world. And I loved how it‘s ultimately a story of hope, even with such an open ending. The romance was a little unbelievable to me, I would have liked seeing more of that, but I understand that that's probably more of a limitation on how short the story was.

Thank you to both NetGalley and DC Comics for this ARC.

Barda’s story is a dark one. Life on the planet Apokolips is harsh and unforgiving. There is no place in the furies hearts for anything but torture and violence. What happens when Barda begins to understand and feel compassion and even love? How do you break away from the ways that were broken into you and stand up for something new and what finally feels right to you?

This is a story of harsh realities and triumph in the face of impossible odds. I very much enjoyed this and I hope that I get to read more of Barda’s story in the future. This comic is well worth the read.

I am not a huge reader of graphic novels, however, I did read and loved Ngozi Ukazu's Check Please series, which drew me to Barda. Barda is a graphic novel following the character Big Barda and introducing life on Apokolips.

Ukazu explores themes of love and duty through this story. As with other Ukazu pieces, I enjoyed the artwork and the storytelling style.

Thank you to Ngozi Ukazu and DC Entertainment for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The artstyle was cute, it was a fun read.
I haven't read much about Big Barda, so it was interesting to get to know this character.

I was not familiar with this character at all prior to reading this graphic novel and I still really enjoyed it. While it took me a little bit to understand all that was going on and how this world worked once I got into it I ended up liking it. I loved this authors previous graphic novel series and while this one is completely different I can still see her style in here. I liked the art style and the story of love in a place that tries to deter any kindness.

Thank you to Netgalley and DC Comics for granting me access to an Advance Readers Copy in exchange for an honest mistake.

Like I have continued to say about these DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults (I wish they'd kept calling it DC Ink), I am not the target demographic but they are so incredibly entertaining and fun I just don't care. Ngozi Ukazu both writes and illustrates a beautiful story that lives delightfully in Jack Kirby territory and makes you feel all the feels. I desperately hope that she gets to tell another story soon. I'll be there on Day One.

Special Thanks to DC Comics and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.

Very cool dip into DC for Ngozi! Giving this a 4 out of 5. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I am a hardcore fan of Ngozi Ukazu's storytelling and art style so I jumped at the chance to read Barda. I am not familiar with the DC origins of the character, so some references may have been lost to me, but overall it was an interesting story about a seed of love (aka empathy and human emotion) in Barda and how it grows as she questions the society she was raised in.

The romance subplot fell a bit flat for me, but I enjoyed Scott Free as a foil to Barda who helps guide her on her journey of self discovery.

Ngozi's art style is as always very distinct and bold, and I love seeing it applied to the DC comic universe. I look forward to future installments of Barda's story as told my Ngozi.

Barda is an enforcer on a dystopian planet. She is the leader of the Furies, a female band of warriors sent to crush any opposition to Darkseid. But Barda is secretly learning about forbidden ideas, such as art, love and compassion. Will she be found out and punished? Can she change a nature that has been beaten into her since she was a child? Maybe love will save Barda after all.

I was very excited to see another graphic novel written by Ukazu and she once again did not disappoint. Barda is an excellent addition to the DC universe while also working for anyone not familiar with it as well. It's a complex story with character's you just fall in love with. And of course the art is beautifully done. It's colorful and exciting. I had to go back and reread it just to appreciate the images.

This graphic novel is a delicious morsel of DC that kept expanding past my expectations, giving more and more depth to these characters and this world that I was being introduced to for the first time. I have peripheral knowledge of DC comics, I've read a few runs, but my problem has always been finding a starting place in what is an overwhelming amount of comics in a seemingly endless universe of superheroes and lore. With Barda, Ngozi Ukazu provides a wonderful point for new and returning readers of DC comics to be introduced to characters that are not part of the typically mainstream (i.e. Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman), but are delightful and complex characters that are a joy to get to know.

Readers need not know anything about DC at all to crack open this book and become enamored with the story inside. Barda is loveable, a character pulled in different directions, learning what it's like to be a person, and a friend, and someone who feels love in a world where that is forbidden.

Ngozi Ukazu's art work was full of life. She is a master at using color to evoke emotion, adding and removing the level of details in her art from panel to panel to both dramatic and comedic effect, and creating character designs that are unique and creative. Also Barda's expression the first time someone tells her she's pretty is hilarious, and endearing.

This was my first time meeting Barda and the rest of this wonderful cast of characters, and by the end I was a huge fan of all of them (except Granny and Darkseid, because they're jerks). I want to read this book of growth and love and fighting for what is right over and over (and I definitely will, as soon as I pick up my own copy of the book).

I don't know much about this DC character but I love Ngozi Ukazu's work, especially art style, so I had to check it out. I really enjoyed it! Our main character Barda is stuck between what she knows and the things she yearns for, it's very beautiful and emotional in turn. The ending is very hopeful and I love the idea that you can always change and what more for yourself despite where you come from.

Thank you to NetGalley and DC Comics for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

My allegiance has always been to DC and I can point out their characters far easier than I can their competitors. I was familiar with Big Barda through the Justice League cartoons and her appearances in the Lego video games. The primary reason I picked up this comic was due to the author, Ngozi Ukazu. I've loved her previous works in Check Please! and Bunt! I'm honestly surprised this title didn't have an exclamation point as that seems to be the author's calling card. I love her art style and trademark slow burn romance. The story was hard to follow and I often got lost in the various plot lines, but at least the illustrations were pretty? Luckily I had some brief knowledge on the characters beforehand, but I don't recommend this for readers going in blind. I definitely plan to continue following Ukazu's work in the future, but I'll leave Barda back on Apokolips with Granny Goodness.