Aesthetically? Love it. The character designs, the detailed settings, it's all awesome. As someone who was drawn to the promise of a nonbinary MC, I love that Hawthorne has both "masculine" and "feminine" features and mannerisms---not that nonbinary folks owe anyone androgyny, but I love when androgyny takes the form of "both." #GenderGoals

What I don't understand is... why is Hawthorne doing any of this? The comic has a sort of Nimona vibe, but I remember Nimona having reasons for thing (though, since I haven't read the comic in a while, maybe I'm wrong?). At any rate, Hawthorne has a lot of anger that seems to come from nowhere. I, too, was an angry emo kid who would have wanted to join the evil recruitment squad, if only because of their costume style. I didn't need an excuse for Hawthorne's behavior, but I would have liked SOMETHING. As it is, I'm not clear why they're doing what they're doing, or why the dramatic turn changes Hawthorne's outlook on life. I found the character motivations and arcs to be a little sloppy and unearned.

Still, this is the kind of aesthetic I'd expect from someone who works at Disney... the art is on point with its whole pastelpunk vibe, and I can see this being made into a short film, though I'd still want to see the plot beefed up. I, however, am a crusty elder millennial, and I suspect that the target audience (teens and tweens, one presumes?) are less likely to complain about plot consistency and character development.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This was a fun time, and I'm pretty sure that younger-me would have made it my whole personality for at least three months. You know, while listening to Evanescence and wearing Hot Topic gear, black lipstick and all.

Oh, and PS: I LOVE that Hawthorne's nonbinariness is acknowledged several times but is NOT a plot point/point of contention/something anyone discusses as though it's a problem. The Mom is supportive and nobody else gives a rip. Kudos.

Evil-ish is a really interesting play on the evil villain brigade expectations. I really liked Hawthorne as a character and liked their journey to realizing what they want and how to be who they want to be. I also liked Maple and would like to have seen more development with her. I liked the art style a lot too, and overall this was an enjoyable graphic novel.

<i>Evil-ish</i> is a feel good whimsical fantasy graphic novel that will leave you feeling joyful and refreshed. I loved this! It was so fun and the art was beautifully done!

We meet Hawthorne, a non-binary teen in a small fantasy town that is home to the Brigade of Shade, a well-known group of villains who live in a castle. All Hawthorne wants is to join the Brigade and have a life different from their current position at their family's Potion's café. After a random incident they somehow get to lead the Brigade which leads to a whole lot of shenanigans. I loved the character development in this story and watching Hawthrone grow into themselves.

If you love graphic novels, queer representation, and happy endings with beautiful art I absolutely recommend this graphic novel! I loved it! Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

honestly i wasn’t a fan of this one. i’m not sure why, i wish maple had a cooler power other than with plants to make it more of a twist aspect.

“It’s not about being evil! It’s about not being here!”

Hawthorne works like a drudge, taking orders — as their mother says, they’re the best potion barista! — cleaning, brewing, putting up with customers, all while wanting desperately to join the Brigade of Shade and be free to be themselves. Somewhere where they aren’t at their mom’s beck and call, aren’t responsible for so much work they didn’t ask for, bearing so much weight on their shoulders they want to shrug off.

Hawthorne’s expressions, the beautiful artwork — the humor! — all of it hits perfectly. The characters are so well done, with humor and personality, like Valencia Sun, one of the Brigade members, who has a tally mark on her arm for each of the dead loves she must avenge … (and a picture of her lost dog). Or Dredimer, an amazing warlock … with an equally amazing shoe line. The talent show auditions with a judge of evil Brigade members, at which Hawthorne bombs terribly. When Maple comes to cheer them up the scenes are adorable, with Maple smiling, teasing, offering Hawthorne her help at getting a second chance … only for things to go so, so badly.

And ti’s perfectly drawn. It’s absolutely understandable each step of the Rube Goldberg of chaos that causes Lady Wrath to, er, die (accidentally of course!), and Maple’s expressions in the background, compared to Hawthorne’s horror, are funny! As is her face when she announces that it’s Hawthorne who killed Lady Wrath, leaving Hawthorne the new leader of the Brigade of Doom.

The story follows the expected plot beats of Hawthorne trying things their way only to get in over their head and lose control of the situation, of having to reach out to those they hurt to clean up their mess, but the art adds so much depth and nuance to it. The colors are bright, the line work is clean, the text is easy to read and the overall vibe is just perfect.

If you like fantasy stories with humor, sweet romances, happy endings and pretty pictures, you should definitely give this book a try. Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for letting me have an ARC to read!

Fans of Nimona will probably enjoy this lighthearted take on a teen wanting to join an infamous rogue's gallery of villains--only to discover they're not quite as villainous as expected. Only when Hawthorne whips them into shape alongside their new friend Maple, they become a little too effective as villains. And Hawthorne realizes they were never really looking to do evil, only to belong. This was a fun take on a teen who feels out of place and a fantasy world where magic and potions baristas exist side by side.

"Evil-ish" is a young adult graphic novel by Kennedy Tarrell. The main character, Hawthorne (they/them) dreams of joining the evil Brigade of Shade and getting away from being a potion barista at their mom's shop. When the tryouts go terribly, Maple (a bright and happy woman with impressive powers for growing plants and trees) convinces Hawthorne to come with them and talk to the Brigade's leader. An unfortunate accident leaves Hawthorn in charge of the Brigade and they get to finally act out their "evilness," but Hawthorne starts to figure out that maybe they aren't really evil. A recommended purchase for YA graphic novel collections, especially where fantasy is popular.

Hawthorne dreams of joining the Brigade of Shade and being evil away from their stifling life as a potions barista at their mom's shop. Unfortunately, they are overshadowed by Maple, a decidedly not evil young woman with plant powers. An accident leads to Hawthorne becoming the leader of the Brigade, but maybe they aren't as evil as they thought they wanted to be... Sometimes, all someone wants is to feel like they belong.

Cute!! A good story. I really liked the development of the characters. The character designs were also nice.