I am a huge fan of Ngozi Ukazu's previous work and was super excited to get an ARC of Barda. As someone who is also a huge fan of DC comics I was interested in seeing her take on Barda's character. I was not disappointed at all. Barda being torn between following what she's known since childhood or breaking free from Granny Goodness's molding. The character work here was really good, as Barda's interactions with all the side characters really helped show Barda's struggles. Granny Goodness was really an excellent villain in this graphic novel. I also loved the ending; Barda might not have left Apokolips yet but it felt very hopeful. She was working towards being ready to leave and find Scott.
As always, I loved Ngozi's distinctive art style, especially the Furies. Each had a distinctive design that I loved.
I definetly think this graphic novel is perfect for people trying to get into DC comics or might not have a lot of experience reading comics. I can't wait to pick up a phyisical copy at my local comic book store when it's out!

Prepare to learn about an entirely NEW side of the DC Fan Favorite Big Barda!

As a long-time DC fan, I have truly loved all of these reimaginings of DC's iconic heroes and antiheroes. Barda is another fantastic glimpse into the story that we have all heard and adored, but in this case we finally get a deeper glimpse into the humanity that develops within Barda. I think that Ngozi Ukazu really captured the soul of Barda in this story. You get to see the relentless soldier fury slowly become more in touch with their inner self. I really enjoyed this different story.

Also, as a fun note, I loved getting to see Granny Goode in this light. The illustrations made me giggle just a bit and I think that gave this a dash of humor, while also telling a fun story.

Check this out!

I knew very little of Barda and Darkseid (I read Tom King’s run of Mister Miracle but that feels like forever ago, so I don’t remember much), but let’s be honest— I picked this one up because of Ngozi. I love her art style and really enjoyed her fresh take on this character. Barda had great character growth and I enjoyed watching her grapple with her conscience. I think one can enjoy this without knowing much about the characters.

Let me first say that I know none of these characters, lore, comics, etc. but I do very much love Ngozi Ukazu's work so of course I had to read this! Coming in with no context, this is a She-ra like story with the main characters growing up in a hellish environment and raised to be merciless warriors. They're on a quest, and if you stand in their way you're gonna be taken out! But not all spirits can be broken, as shown by Barda and her fellow reluctant warrior, Auralie. When tasked to torture Scott Free, a cute boy, Barda struggles. But failure to comply would result in punishment for her -- a return to the terribly prison known as X-Pit. I liked watching Barda grapple with her conscience and decide what to do when faced with impossible choices. This is a story of resistance and love, camaraderie and isolation, and I really liked it. The art is bold and the characters designs are fun, the panels and pages are dynamic. All in all, a great read!

Barda has always been one of my favorite DC characters, big, strong, heart of gold, and loves her friends. So I was really excited to see the announcement of Barda AND it's the creator of Check Please writing and drawing it?! Even better.
This follows Barda navigating her feelings, discovering there is more outside of being part of the Female Furies. Love to hate Granny Goodness. And of course who enters the picture? Scott Free, and this time Barda offers her help to the escape artist.

Barda is an introduction to an already existing DC comics character. This YA take is the beginning of Big Barda’s story. Not quite an origin story, but close to it. We see Barda’s conflict between the life and expectations of Apokolips and the Female Furies vs. her inner desires and dreams.

I think that this book would be a great for anyone who is familiar or unfamiliar with comic books. The artwork is incredible and beautifully done. I found Barda’s story engaging and her struggle between the expectations she’s forced under and the her desires and wants relatable for many readers — young adult and older. I would buy this for my classroom and add it to the main graphic novel recommendations I give to students.

From the Publisher:
Darkseid is…and life on Apokolips is tough—but then, it is hell after all. And no one knows this better than Barda, Granny Goodness’s right hand warrior.

But Barda has a secret…she is in love. Or she is drawn to the idea of it anyway, whether it be the beauty of a flower, her affection for her closest friend, Aurelie, or the mysterious and fierce enemy warrior, Orion, who is the only match for Barda’s strength.

But when Granny decides Barda is becoming too soft, she assigns Barda a task that might be more than she can handle—to break the seemingly unbreakable Scott Free. And as Barda questions why Scott has such hope and what he might have done to promote such hatred from Granny, she finds herself drawn to him in a way she never expected.

The only thing is, we do not speak of love on Apokolips…

My Thoughts:
Author/illustrator Ngozi Ukazu, @ngozi, tweeted out "I am beyond thrilled to announce my very first graphic novel with DC COMICS! Written AND illustrated by yours truly—Buckle up and get ready for BARDA. Over the last two years I've become enamored with Jack Kirby's vision and genius. I CANNOT wait to show you my take on the New Gods!!!! This graphic novel on Big Barda's origins will be a blast for readers old and new—with plenty of that KIRBY KRACKLE!! Special thanks to my editors Jim Chadwick and Courtney Jordan. They are the absolute BEST. And thank you to @1010lilfoot for layout/thumb assistance! Also, @samhumphries —Harley gig was a blast. Thank you."

It seems that the once white, male centric superhero comic systems we call DC and Marvel have been diversifying not just their characters, but their authors/illustrators. I am guessing that the audience coming to comics and graphic novels are shifting, but I wanted to see how this graphic played out with someone like my husband who while not white, is a male who grew up on comics. Some of the things that are different in Ukazu's version of a DC comic is in her illustration style. She also puts a focus on the bad girl fury who just wants to feel love for the first time. She is emotional and empathetic. She appreciates beauty and friendship in a world that does not value either. And "we do not speak of love on Apokolips," much less kiss a boy/prisoner/torture victim.

I asked my husband why he stopped reading DC comics. I thought it would be the story line shifting too much. But no, it had nothing to do with the shift in authors or story lines. What he did not like was the shift in art style, so for him it was about the illustrations. So I showed him Ukazu's art work, and he felt that the gender of the artist was irrelevant, but he did not like the style. The characters were too soft looking. They did not look villain like or super hero like because of the softness of the lines. He felt that it was getting into manga territory and it was not his preference.

I really think he is the expert versus me because I did not purchase comics when I was younger. I was not the intended audience for the comics coming out of in the 70s - 90s like my husband. Still, if I were to look at this as something I could "sell" to my students, I don't know how successful I could be because I am not sure who the intended audience for this graphic novel is supposed to be. That is where the 3 stars comes from. It is a good enough story, with well drawn graphics and a complex story line. I just don't know who I would book talk this to. Perhaps the fact that this particular graphic novel has 3 editors listed is further fact that even the publishers do not know who the audience will be.

Publication Information:
Author: Ngozi Ukazu
Editors: Marie Javins, Courtney Jordan, Jim Chadwick
Publisher: DC Comics (June 4, 2024)
Paperback: 191 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1779511133
Grade Level: 10-12

This is one of the rare characterization of Barda that I've actually enjoyed; she seems more human than in lots of the other stories. The only thing I didn't love was the artwork, the style just wasn't for me.

The writing strikes a perfect balance between grandiose and sentimental. A beautiful, exciting story of a woman torn between two worlds.

I love Ngozi Ukazu’s work! This was a really interesting graphic novel about a warrior on a planet without love. This seems like the start of a long series, and I’m excited to see what happens in the next one!

This is strong and inventive storytelling with a character worth more exploration. The art style is distinctive and I love the idea of how this book could introduce new readers/young readers to the DC universe.

I will admit to grabbing this because I absolutely love Ngozi Ukazu's graphic novels. DC isn't one of my favorite fandoms, so I went into this knowing almost nothing about any of the characters. I feel like you can go into this without knowing much, but that if you know more than you might be able to get more out of the story than I did.

AHHHHH!!!!! Okay so I didn't know DC was releasing this until this weekend at Free Comic Book Day. All I saw was Ngozi Ukzau's name and grabbed a copy since I loved her graphic novel Bunt! that was released a few months ago. When I sat down to read, it hit me that this was about Barda, one of my favorite underrated DC characters! The story is perfect. It's perfect for new readers. It's perfect for old readers. It's the best.

Barda is DC's newest standalone story following Barda, a young warrior on planet Apokolips who is subjected to cruelty in an attempt to train out her compassion. I thought the art was really well done in this one. Apokolips is a horrifying world, but it was brought to life clearly in the illustrations. For me, the story felt a little lackluster. There were many characters and a central romance, but it felt like most characters other than Barda were not fleshed out well enough to keep my interest.

Thanks to NetGalley, Ngozi Ukazu, and DC Entertainment for the chance read this review copy!

I knew nothing about the DC franchise it's associated with, but it's written in such a way that you really don't need any prior knowledge to follow the story, as it's more of an introduction to the setting than a continuation of what's come before. The story follows Barda, a warrior trained to be strong, ruthless, and villainous, and she has a secret: she's in love. Which is, unfortunately, basically outlawed on her home planet, but she thinks she's hiding her feelings well until their commander, Granny Goodness, tests her, thinking Barda is becoming too soft. The story focuses on Barda's struggles with how she's been raised and what she feels, while trying to Stay on Granny's good side. The story was alright, but the art was stellar and my favorite part of the book.

This was action packed with a morally gray protagonist learning how to break from the oppressive regime she’s always served. There was a central romance, but I found her friendships and personal introspection and growth much more captivating elements. I’d definitely be interested in reading more of Barda’s story.

I was unfamiliar with this side of the DCverse before starting this graphic novel. I think it serves as a good introductory to these characters and this realm, as well as caters to a younger age beginning the reading of comics process.

Super interesting take on DC for a YA graphic novel! Ngozi's recent novel BUNT! was a joy to read, and this one was a joy to read too. The art was gorgeous and flowed throughout the pages, and the characterization of Apokolips and its inhabitants was really cool to see in YA.

"Barda" is another release of DC's young adult imprint. Taken from Jack Kirby's sprawling Fourth World, this is a stand alone graphic novel that follows Big Barda as she longs for a world that could be more than survival of the fittest. Ngozi Ukazu of "Check Please!" renown both writes and illustrates the story, and her familiarity with longing gazes and romance is fitting when Barda initially fantasizes about flirt fighting with her enemy, Prince Orion, in a first crush that seems natural for someone who only knows violence. When she is introduced to Scott Free that her real emotions get to grow and develop for the prisoner she is tasked with torturing, and this is actually the part where I wished the fast pace of the graphic novel would slow a little for more time with them. Ukazu frames the chapters with stories from a fairy tale that is from a forbidden book, which works well to direct where things are going. And there is a particularly well thought out sequence where Granny Goodness constricts Scott into a box as they talk about Barda's conviction to torturing him, where his diminishment into the white space continues as Granny explains Barda's purpose, and Scott's presence suddenly filling the page mirrors Barda's rekindled compassion as she cries for Granny not to kill him.

So it's not Ukazu's lack of artistic experience, but I still found her art style to be a mismatch with the story. Darkseid's world is unrelentingly grim and despair filled, so the lighter palate and cartoony style felt somewhat at odds with the tone. There are some cases where it may be intentional, as it allows something as unpleasant as a friend being tortured by dancing herself to death to be displayed in a way that isn't viscerally disturbing. However, it does feel like Ukazu's writing is being held back by the art. Fans of "Check Please!" may find the subject matter drastically different. On its own merits, it is a great coming of age story that is focused on the redeeming power of love and a dystopian backdrop that many YA fans would like, but may need some guidance finding.

I am a newcomer to the Darkseid/Apokolips cannon and the characters that populate that world, but I am definitely intrigued and will be reading more!

Ngozi Ukazu's distinct artistic style brings Barda and the horrific world of Apokolips to life! The characters are vibrantly rendered. The Furies are a little sisterhood of tortured psychos, and I want to learn more about their backgrounds. Granny Goodness creeps me out, she is absolute, pure evil. Barda is that character who's redemption is something you can get behind and root for.

I will be purchasing for my HS library & recommending to my students looking for super hero stories.

#NetGalley #Barda