"Martian Ghost Centaur" by Mat Heagerty throws humor, heart, and a touch of the bizarre into a graphic novel adventure. Our protagonist, Louie, isn't your average teen. When her small town faces a tech takeover, she hatches a wild plan to save it - all involving a legendary Martian Ghost Centaur. Expect wacky antics, quirky characters (including some very supportive dads!), and a dash of 90s nostalgia. While some might find the plot a bit over-the-top, the energetic art style and themes of perseverance and following your dreams make "Martian Ghost Centaur" a fun and heartwarming read.

"Martian Ghost Centaur" by Mat Heagerty is a delightful and imaginative graphic novel that combines elements of science fiction, fantasy, and humor. Set on the red planet of Mars, the story follows protagonist Gideon, a young boy who discovers an unlikely friend in the form of a ghostly centaur. Together, they embark on a whimsical adventure to uncover the secrets of Mars and save their home from a sinister threat. Heagerty's writing is witty and engaging, while the vibrant illustrations by Stephanie Mided capture the otherworldly charm of Mars with vivid detail. With its endearing characters, quirky premise, and imaginative world-building, "Martian Ghost Centaur" is a fun and enjoyable read for readers of all ages.

Embarking on the pages of "Martian Ghost Centaur" by Mat Heagerty felt like a peculiar journey through a town filled with whimsy, heart, and a dash of the supernatural. As I navigated through the story, I found myself torn between moments of endearing charm and a sense of unfulfilled expectations.

The narrative unfolds in the town of Southborough, once a bustling tourism destination famous for Sasquatch sightings. The arrival of Start-up.com, a tech company on the prowl for property, shakes the town's foundation. Louie O'Connor, an avid Sasquatch believer, takes center stage, determined to save her father's restaurant, Squatch Burger, from the encroaching tech invasion. Louie's plan to revive tourism involves an elaborate Sasquatch hoax, but the narrative also delves into deeper questions about identity, future plans, and the bittersweet nature of hometown ties.

The characters, particularly Louie and her best friend Felix, carry the weight of the story with their quirky personalities and genuine friendship. Louie's passion for Sasquatch and her determination to save her town add layers to her character, making her relatable and endearing. The dialogue is infused with humor, providing moments of levity amid the looming threat of change.

Heagerty's illustrations contribute to the book's overall charm. The visual style captures the essence of the story, blending the ordinary with the fantastical. The depiction of the Sasquatch hoax and other supernatural elements adds a touch of whimsy to the narrative.

However, despite these positive aspects, the narrative progression left me with mixed emotions. While the blend of humor, heart, and high jinks is evident, the execution of certain plot elements felt uneven. The incorporation of Martian and ghostly themes, while imaginative, occasionally overshadowed the central plot about preserving the town's identity.

The emotional depth explored through Louie's internal struggles and her friendship with Felix is a highlight, but the pacing and resolution left me longing for a more cohesive and impactful narrative arc. The book touches on profound themes but doesn't fully realize their potential impact on the characters and the town.

I appreciated the imaginative premise, quirky characters, and the exploration of themes like identity and the fear of change. "Martian Ghost Centaur" is a peculiar blend of humor and heart, but the execution left me yearning for a more harmonious fusion of its supernatural and emotional elements.

This was an easy quick read for me. I think the reason i only gave it 3 stars is because it’s a graphic novel. I’m still struggling to find my grove with those. They always end up as just ok for me.

This is such an adorable optimistic graphic novel, I really enjoyed it. Perfect for fans of Lumberjanes and Misfit City.

This has a fantastic art style and fun story. I can see lots of different kinds of patrons enjoying this title, and I'll definitely recommend it as a quick and fun read.

How much do I love this book? I love the art in this book, I love the message in this book, I love the fact that it's about cryptids and family and finding your passion and being yourself and loving where you come from and being happy with who you are. It's a GREAT graphic novel!

Louie O'Connor lives in a town where tourism is everything. Eighteen years ago, her dad was terrorised by a sasquatch in the woods, and ever since, her town has been populated by the weird and wonderful.

Now, a start-up is buying up property in town, shutting down businesses and buying up houses, and Louie will have to rely on her dedication to cryptids to keep things from ending altogether. But there's a lot standing in her way: people she loves are lying to her, or leaving, and she doesn't know how to deal.

Martian Ghost Centaur is perfect for all cryptid fans. It has a wonderful cast of characters, all coming together to fight against the evils of dot.com takeover. It exposes the cynicism that has come with the internet, an insistence on debunking things even if those things bring others--and ourselves--joy, purely because we're in an age of all-knowing power where we're not quite as omniscient as we think we are. We've fooled ourselves.

A lighthearted, character-driver story like this one is exactly what people (especially young people) need to see that it's not all doom and gloom. There's joy in everything, big or little, real or fake, and we should encourage the weird instead of trying to destroy it.

The simple town Southborough have nothing to offer now that the hype over the town's infamous Sasquatch is dying. Once upon a time, the chance to spot the Sasquatch attracted tourists from all over but it's been years since anyone spotted the ape like creature and no one comes to the simple town anymore, drying up the tourism business and driving out the locals now that Start-up.com (a start-up that helps people start their own start-ups) has begun buying up places all over town in order to build their techie headquarters.

However, Louie O’Connor, proud southbourough resident and mega sasquatch fan still believes in the existence of the town's legendary creature. And, When her dad's restaurant, Squatch Burger also falls prey to the start up, Louie and her best friend Felix decide to restore people's faith in the town's folk tale to save their town and its people by convince the people that the Saquatch is real. But when Felix starts talking about college and moving out of the town, Louie has no choice but to face the reality of her situation where she will have to make tough decisions about her life, career and her beloved town.

Let me tell you that I absolutely love urban legends and the fact that this book showed how these tales effect the economy of a place is something that I really loved reading about.

The story is charming and makes me want to visit Southbourough myself. It makes me want to go on an adventure with Louie and Felix. The book is so wholesome and yet it shows how teenagers have to make tough life choices when they are in the transitioning phase and how sometimes, in order to move forward, you have to leave things you love, behind.

The illustrations were beautiful as well. I'd definitely recommend it to everyone.

Just a really fun, well drawn and colorful graphic novel that is sure to be a hit with graphic novel enthusiasts and those who enjoy stories about family and friendship.

This was an adorable graphic novel that was every bit sweet as it was funny!
The main character was adorable and fun and the supporting characters were even better!
Also! The art was delightful! I was swept away on this adventure with just the art alone!

There are so many great elements to this book. First, I love that the main character is so feisty and passionate and really has a loving family with her two dads. The story is a classic, "do what you have to to help the town", but the characters are really unique and lovable. The art is also amazing and there is a wonderful diversity of body shapes and outfits used which I loved. I would recommend this to my friends and cannot wait for another title by this team in the future.

Oh my god, this was hilarious, catchy, and absolutely fantastic.
Friendship, love, and trust are always important things to rely on in life.
This story depicts what happens when a lie is exposed, or when everything goes wrong.
But if you really want something and put forth the effort, the sky is the limit.
It was a pleasure to read.

Fun & quick paced! I loved the art.
I did think that it would have more of a “real” fantasy theme though, so that was a bit of a bummer.

The art was well done. There were some good visual gags and well-written jokes. However, I found that I didn’t really connect with any of the characters. I think there is some interesting social commentary about gentrification, the obscene amount of wealth held by billionaires, and young people moving out of small towns for better job prospects.

For those that enjoy campy hijinks, there is much to enjoy here.

This was an interesting story. I was not sure I liked the main character at the beginning, but as the story progressed I really started to like and understand her. The other characters were great foils and really helped to develop the story. I really like the idea of creating a myth to support the town. The coming of age/growing up aspect of the story was great and not overwhelming, but showed how hard and surprising it can sometimes be.

Martian Ghost Centaur, written by Mat Heagerty and illustrated by Steph Mided, is a young adult graphic novel. The town of Southborough used to be a major tourism destination, drawing folks from all over in the hopes they’d spot the famous Sasquatch, reportedly seen in the town many times over the years. But it’s been ages since anyone’s spotted the ‘squatch, and tourism is starting to dry up. A tech company called Start-up.com (a start-up that helps people start their own start-ups) decides to begin buying up places all over town in order to build their techie headquarters, driving out all the local townspeople. Luckily, Southborough is also home to Louie O’Connor, firm believer in the Sasquatch’s existence and all-around, mega ’squatch fan. When Louie’s dads’ restaurant, Squatch Burger, starts to go under and fall prey to the techie start-up, Louie and her best friend Felix decide they’ll do whatever it takes to save the town from losing all the people and places that make it special. In hopes that convincing people the Sasquatch is real and to drive back tourism, Louie and Felix plan an elaborate hoax in hopes of saving the town from the dot-com takeover. But when Felix starts talking about leaving their hometown for college in LA, Louie will have to face some tough questions about herself, her future career, and her place in her beloved hometown.

Martian Ghost Centaur is not quite what I went in expecting, but it was exactly what it needed to be. Louie is a teenager with a love of a good story, and her hometown. She wants the stories she has believed in since childhood, and the town she loves, to survive the incoming technology and has plenty of plans to do so. I loved her determination and willingness to do anything for the people and places that she loves. She also has to deal with the upcoming transition to adulthood- and all that goes with it. None of the things she faces are easy, but when coming at her all at once it is no wonder she becomes overwhelmed. I thought the relationships ad reactions were realistic and well written, making the more unrealistic aspects of the story seem that much more likely. I loved the art style and think it lent itself perfectly to the quirkiness of the characters and the town. I liked some of the details that were added to the story via the artwork, and thought that moods, expression, and motion were very well conveyed. I can think of one or two little things I would have liked to see a little different, but they are more things that would have just made me smile rather than anything that would be important to the story. I enjoyed this read, and think that this book can be enjoyed by a much bigger reading market than young adults, as those both older and younger that the target audience can get enjoyment and more from the read.

Martian Ghost Centaur is a graphic novel that is an enjoyable read, with a nice balance of feels and fun.

Okay, so, this was really cute. And sweet. And the art is gorgeous. And y'all should just read it, because it's got all kinds of feels and warm fuzzies and coming-of-age goodness and character growth, and it pokes techie start-up jerks and youtube celebrities with a snark stick, and there's some nice rep going on, and oh hey! is that a female MC and her best friend who's a guy NOT ending up in a big ol' troped up romance by the end of the story? Wowzers! Seriously, though, this story does touch on some important subjects, like being true to yourself, the importance of community, gentrification of small towns, plus there's lot of positive rep. The story's pacing is a little uneven, but I didn't want to put it down. This was fun!

#MartianGhostCentaur #NetGalley

Louie lives in a small Northern California town once known for its sasquatch sightings. But businesses are folding and a tech magnate is buying up real estate to locate a new headquarters there. It's her last summer after high school and she's trying to figure out what to do with her life while working at a job she hates in order to help bring in money for her family. It's a story about growing up and finding your passion in life.

A fun graphic novel about staying true to your hometown and believing in yourself and the special things in the mundane.