Angelic: Vol. 1; Heirs and Graces

Gr 8 Up-In a postapocalyptic world devoid of humans, genetically modified animals are left to inhabit the ruins, in conflict with one another and maintaining the status quo. Qora, a winged monkey, is disinterested in praising and rituals, the jobs all girlmonks (female monkeys) do, and unwilling to accept a future as only a mother and wife. Desperate for adventure, stubborn and rebellious Qora is always asking why, much to the frustration of the other monks. She is told, "Lore says what it says" or that the makers deemed it so. When the dolts (flying robot dolphins) show up, looking for a piece of God, who is known as Ay, a surprisingly friendly mans (manatee) asks Qora to help him find the relic. Their discovery of humans suspended in pods, a holographic military leader's summary of what happened to civilization, and the realization that Ay is actually AI (artificial intelligence) change everything. Rich world-building will pull readers into this complicated and thoughtful look at questioning authority. The busy panels are dense with wordplay-filled text and dramatic, pastel-tone illustrations that greatly enhance the narrative. This collection of the first six comics in the ongoing series wraps up the story satisfyingly, though there are more installments to come.