In this space opera about doing the right thing, a girl and her adopted father fight back against a system of oppression in a feudal dystopia.

The art is a vibrant, spacy, digital style, which is beautiful. I loved Te’a and her headstrongness and willingness to do the right thing, even when it could cost her everything. This was due, in large part, to the way her adoptive father, Gummy, went against the system to raise her as his own. It’s a fast-pace, quick space adventure that left me satisfied but also wanting more.

This was so good! I immediately downloaded the rest of the series. We follow Te'a and Gummy as they live and work under the Belari Clan rules. Everyone has a different job according to which clan they are in. Overall, this was a pretty awesome start to the series. I can't wait to see where it goes from here!

First off, the art and coloring are really great in this, just stunning. Daniel Maine and Carlos Lopez did an excellent job creating this alien yet human world, and all it's little details. The story is also good, if not terribly original. A couple thousand humans escape a dying Earth in search of a new planet to colonize and create a utopia. Things are going fairly well until a guy finds an old alien weapon stash (the first discover of alien tech), and that utopia goes downhill really fast. Fast forward about a thousand years, and society has become a system of feudal clans and caste systems, complete with an Outcast class used basically as slaves, who are (surprise!) brown-skinned. A pilot delivering an unsavory cargo goes against orders and gets shot down, leaving his entire crew and his cargo (a bunch of Outcast slaves) dead, with the exception of a four year old girl. We see the world through their travels delivering cargo, learning how things work on this planet, until the girl grows up and becomes an ace pilot who wants to tear down the system. Add to this the intrigue of a businessman who runs the neutral zone of the world, a space station not governed by the clans, who plots against the clan leaders to become to sole leader of the world. He finds and and opens a portal gate, unleashing who knows what into their section of space, and pilot girl is the one to save us, the end. If this isn't a continuing series (I'm not sure one way or the other), then that was a fucked-up cliffhanger instead of an ending, I'll tell ya! Overall, it is a good story, but I wish it was longer, given more room to breathe - it starts to feel rushed toward the end, and I'd have liked to get to know the world better. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

#CLANSOFBELARI #NetGalley

This reminds me of Star Wars, despite the fact that I have yet to see those films.

As for the story, I thought it was okay, given how it began and progressed, and how it gradually introduced the plot while also showing different perspectives of the characters.

Overall, I found this to be quite intriguing, and I am eager to see how it progresses.

Life is different for a civilisation derived from the first humans to flee Earth for another planet. They have a life that is stuck under clan rules – in something akin to castes, people can only do their job and none others, and can never switch situation in life, whether they are cargo shippers, mine bosses or whatever. Our hero is shot down when he turns against the fact his latest manifest is a cargo of the casteless, destined for the mines, and ends up adopting one of them as family. This actually sees him go down a level – leaving the girl when she matures angry at the whole system, as pilot is what he was and pilot is what she intends to be.

Oh, and there's a fascistic murderous leader ruling a space station who thinks himself possibly top of the clan rulers, and even has the SS to back him up. OK, they're actually the SSF, but the comparison is so close it has to be made. Not that this need be thought of as unsubtle, for it's better than that, if not great. The future font is unreadable, the contrivance and circumstance too much at times, the pantomime baddie too risible (even if he is unique in keeping the name Nigel alive in this far future), the way an alien dooflidonk gets packed up into a ship a tenth its size is just boggling, and the ending a pure bodge that smacks of "will we be asked back for more? we don't know, so this is something and nothing at once".

But it's not too bad. Perhaps best thought of as a teen comic as opposed to an adult one, it's dynamic enough, its characters are certainly on the clear side, and the show is well-directed, with good art and colours. I have certainly read a lot worse, and for all the feel of deja vu here this was a brisk little bit of entertainment. I don't think it has the potential for a classic, however many further books might possibly arise, but this as low-brow fun is three and a half stars currently.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this story. What stood out the most was the illustrations. Lovely bold rich colors. The second thing that did it for me was the main relationship and how it developed. Te'a and Gummy met after a plane they were in was shot down. They were the only two survivors and despite them being from different places in life they formed an attachment that is easy to see will change the course of this world. The world they live in is brutal and divided but change is coming as they all face an evil who is accumulating more power.

Far from the Earth, humans have taken up habitation in the Belari system, governed by the laws of the Clans. While the Clans originated for equality’s sake, they have since become more feudal, trapping people into poverty and jobs they don’t want. But all it takes is one voice, one rebel, to threaten an entire way of living.

The story of this work wasn’t necessarily anything original, but it was well done. The characters were engaging with varied motives, and I enjoyed the interactions between Te’a and Gummy. Also, I loved having a sci-fi work with a black main character. However, there were a few instances when characters suddenly changed their minds on something with no real explanation. And the work as a whole felt rushed. This probably should have been two or three separate issues so that some more depth could have been included – there were some important instances that just felt glossed over because the authors were trying to fit so much into this one book.

I absolutely loved the art style of this work. It was a joy to look at – the colors were well chosen, and the illustrations of outer space were especially gorgeous. I especially liked how the Clan chieftains were illustrated in ways that uniquely represented their Clan.

This work does need a good editing though. There were several typos and errors throughout. Some examples include missing words, an extra letter at the end of a word, and misspellings.

I enjoyed this read overall and will likely continue the series, though this work felt like a bit of an overview more than anything. I recommend this to anyone interested in science fiction and dystopian societies.

I received a complimentary copy of this work through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It’s not super long but it’s an interesting world set up for someone looking for a space set science fiction series. None of the characters are super in depth as this is a ,pre action oriented comic but they’re fleshed out enough for a comic book. I enjoyed it but I don’t o is that every reader will. Still. If this book’s description appeals to you I think there’s a very good chance you’ll enjoy it. I did.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

CLANS OF BELARI by Rob Blackie, Peter Blackie, and Daniel Maine is an amazing sci-fi adventure featuring a diverse cast. The story revolves around a young woman and her adoptive father, who are doing to their best to rebel against a repressive, dystopian regime. The people are opporessed, and it's up to the pair to bring down the system before it bring them down.

Overall, CLANS OF BELARI is an exciting sci-fi adventure that will appeal to fans of Star Wars or the Saga graphic novel series. One highlight of this book are the main characters. I think it's so refreshing to read a sci-fi story with a black main character. I also think that the dynamic between her and her adoptive white father is so interesting. Another highlight of this book is the art, which is top-notch and looks so realistic. If you're intrigued by the description, or if you're a fan of science fiction, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in May!

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

An amazing epic. The art, storyline and details OMG. Belari could be the next Dune. I can't wait for the next installment! The writers and artists outdid themselves. I hope it becomes a cult classic. The struggle between good and evil. Pushing the status quo of tradition and fighting for equality for all. Representation Matters!

This comic had a lot of intriguing world-building and characters, but as it stands, it really fell flat. I read the last issue and was really excited to see where it was going, but then it just ends. It is essentially four issues of setting up a fantastic fifth issue that seems like it will never come. Rob and Peter Blackie are both first time comics writers, and Clans of Belari felt more like a pilot for a really cool show that they would make. The universe the pair created is a great combination of the Expanse and the YA-style factions of society that control what someone can do. Te'a is an orphan taken in by a pilot, Gummy, and their father-daughter plotline was interesting if underdeveloped. The other main plot involves Cluthian trying to overthrow and gain power in the Clan system. Neither side had enough room to properly grow, even if they were both playing with very cool ideas. As it stands, Clans of Belari is a really interesting first act that leaves you wanting more because it doesn't really give you much.