The Flying Ship is a graphic novel filled with magic and adventure. It’s the story of Dobrinia, a grumpy girl with a prosthetic leg and no time for friendship, who gives an old wanderer half a pastry—all she has left. In exchange, the wanderer creates a flying ship with which Dobrinia must assemble an impossible crew, complete an impossible quest, defy impossible odds… and win the hand of the princess.
This review only covers Volume 1. This was originally a webcomic and it retains its serial feel. In Volume 1, readers follow Dobrinia through her home world; into a magic-averse, pro-science academy where she meets magic-fascinated Tem; and on to a seaside market town, where they meet up with Margo. It feels like the book is establishing characters for the journey to come, which it achieves admirably.
As they journey, queerness goes unquestioned. The tzar offers a quest to win the hand of the princess? Great, there’s no reason a girl can’t enter. Awkward, blushy interactions between two girls in the marketplace? Yep, been there. Magic ability to swap into the body of another gender… never experienced that one, but color me envious of it. I liked how the story both engaged casually with queerness and expanded on queer experiences within the magic of the story.
Colorwork sets the tone through different parts of the adventure. We meet Dobrinia in a town of dark, sedated colors. Tem would rather study sparkling magics and bright, half-pastel creatures than engage with his drab and repetitive surroundings. As adventure grows, the palette becomes more varied and vibrant. The artwork underscores the theme of the story.
The Flying Ship has a distinctive tone. It walks a fine line between embodying and satirizing the genre. For me, it was not an enjoyable read; I prefer a more grounded approach with a firm sense of place. The characters felt shallow and one-note, which isn’t a dealbreaker for all readers, but it was for me. I don’t expect every protagonist to be someone I would like as a person. I do, however, want to like them as protagonists. I found Dobrinia deeply tiresome—a character who does nothing but lash out and a protagonist who accidentallies her way into adventures, she didn’t serve much function.
That’s just my opinion. Others may enjoy the humor and the direct characterization. Personally, while I appreciated the casually inclusive setting, I won’t be reaching for Volume 2.
