UNICORN VS. GOBLINS
From the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series, volume 3
by Dana Simpson ; illustrated by Dana Simpson
In this third installment, Phoebe and her unicorn find themselves encountering yet more whimsical hilarity.
With school giving way to summer, precocious Phoebe and her utterly narcissistic unicorn best friend, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, learn they will be attending music camp. At Camp Wolfgang, Phoebe meets Sue, who may—or may not—be perkily homicidal and who ultimately becomes her new best (human) friend. Phoebe also meets Marigold's sister, Florence Unfortunate Nostrils, so named for her ability to sneeze spiders. In the titular episode, Phoebe must rescue her frenemy, Dakota, when she’s kidnapped by goblins attracted to her enchanted hair. Throughout all their adventures, Phoebe maintains her wide-eyed innocence as a foil to Marigold's snarky arrogance. While the volume covers a specific linear time period, from summer to fall, the vignettes feel loose and disjointed, and they are often punctuated by shorter interstitials; the extended antics aren't enough to provide cohesion. However, the dreamy candy-colored sparkle-filled panels starring a giggle-worthy, pompous unicorn may be too much for some to resist.
Fans of the series may appreciate its untiring comedic banter, but the endless sparkles and running jokes start to lose a bit of their luster, making this feel a bit like a one-trick pony—er, unicorn. (Graphic fantasy. 7-12)
Fans of the series may appreciate its untiring comedic banter, but the endless sparkles and running jokes start to lose a bit of their luster, making this feel a bit like a one-trick pony—er, unicorn(Graphic fantasy. 7-12)