I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young woman facing a destiny that was never hers must learn to accept herself to save those she loves in author Nicole Maines’s “Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story.”
The Synopsis
Dreamer’s origin story has finally arrived, featuring characters from Galaxy: The Prettiest Star in DC’s first YA crossover!!
Nia Nal’s spent her whole life taking a back seat to her older sister, Maeve, who’s expected to inherit their mother’s Naltorian powers—the ability to see the future through dreams. But when Nia starts having visions of the future, she must suppress her powers to protect her relationship with her sister. There’s only one problem: Nia can’t stay awake forever…
From actress, activist, and writer Nicole Maines, who originated the role of Dreamer—the first trans superhero on TV—and artist Rye Hickman comes the highly anticipated origin story of a girl who must accept her destiny to discover she’s more powerful than she could ever dream of.
The Review
Of all the characters that have been introduced into DC Comics in recent years, my two favorites have been Jon Kent’s Superman and Dreamer. Between author and actress Nicole Maines stellar performance on the acclaimed television series Supergirl as the titular hero Dreamer, or the hero’s introduction into mainstream DC Comics, Nia Nal’s rise to heroism and the complexity of her character arc, she is one of the best characters to arrive in the modern DC Comics age and a great representation of the direction comics needs to be taking. Seeing a cosmic, spiritual, and thought-provoking narrative from the actress who brought the character to life and breathed fresh life into the world of DC Comics made this graphic novel so special.
The crossover and connection shared with newcomer Galaxy, another new DC Comics hero, and the balance the author found with both action and storytelling was incredible. The vibrant colors and bright artwork from Rye Hickman were sensational, and the depth of mythos the author explored in Dreamer’s backstory helped elevate what fans knew of the character from her time on Supergirl and took it to a whole new level. The twists and turns in the story also helped elevate the LGBTQ+ themes, providing a much-needed exploration of the power of identity and acceptance, as well as facing the challenges of the ignorance many people have towards the transgender community, especially.
The Verdict
Compelling, entertaining, and brilliantly written, “Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story” by author Nicole Maines and artist Rye Hickman is a must-read DC Comics graphic novel. The twists and turns of the narrative, the beautiful illustrations, and the vital messaging behind this remarkable origin story solidified why Nicole Maines is not only an emerging voice in the comics world but a much-needed voice that is powerful and invokes great emotion and thought in every piece she brings to life, and Dreamer is the perfect hero to represent that. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Nicole Maines is an actress, activist, and writer paving the way for LGBTQ+ youth on and off the screen. Maines’s breakout role came on The CW’s Supergirl, where she starred as Nia Nal, a.k.a. Dreamer, making her TV’s first transgender Super Hero. She wrote Dreamer’s comic book debut in DC’s 2021 Pride anthology and has since gone on to pen numerous other comics for DC, including Superman: Son of Kal-El #13 with Tom Taylor, Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1, Harley Quinn, and DC’s upcoming Dreamer YA graphic novel. Maines has been nominated for a GLAAD Media Award and was a Variety Power of Young Hollywood and Power of Pride honoree. She was also a 2020 Human Rights Campaign Upstander Award honoree for her activism and continues to be a tireless champion for trans rights. Her biography, Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family, was a Stonewall Honor Book in nonfiction, a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award for transgender nonfiction, and a New York Times bestseller.
https://www.instagram.com/nicoleamaines
Rye Hickman (previously published as Jen Hickman) is a visual storyteller based out of Denver. Past work includes The Harrowing, Bad Dream, Buzzing, and more. They get really excited about dystopian fiction, good coffee, and drawing hands.
https://www.instagram.com/ryehickmandraws
