“Artie and the Wolf Moon” by Olivia Stephens – Graphic Novel Review

Artie and the Wolf Moon by Olivia Stephens (Book Cover) — Book Cover for *Artie and the Wolf Moon* by Olivia Stephens.

Creative and illustrator Olivia Stephens’s astonishing debut graphic novel Artie and the Wolf Moon breaks the barriers of supernatural stories and intersectionality. It’s a gorgeously told narrative about forgiveness and reconciliation. The graphic novel is available from Graphic Universe (Lerner Books).

I received a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I spotlighted Olivia back in June and reviewed her webcomic Alone. Her skillful storytelling and art style never fail to impress me, and her debut graphic novel is no exception.

Artie, a preteen photographer, learns that she’s descended from a line of werewolves after witnessing her mother shift from wolf to human. Eager to know everything, including her late father, she hones her wolflike skills and gets to know family friends. Being a werewolf excites Artie, but she soon realizes that there are scarier things out there. And those scarier things happen to be vampires.

Artie and the Wolf Moon by Olivia Stephens — From *Artie and the Wolf Moon* by Olivia Stephens

Saying that I enjoyed reading Olivia’s debut graphic novel is an understatement. She’s served an empowering story about Queer Black girls and family. The lore surrounding werewolves and vampires is not only refreshing but provides a new angle to the mythos and Black history as well. The history of forgiveness and freedom seamlessly unravels throughout Artie’s narrative arc. This complex and well structured supernatural graphic novel will draw you in with its themes surrounding grief, self worth, and the courage it takes to move on towards the future.