This book is incredible! I love getting to know more about cultures through books and a Manga style book set in Mesoamerica is absolutely my jam! The story and characters as well as the artwork are extremely engaging, I really really want more in this series!

Codex black is a lovely comic featuring the beautiful cultures of South America. Carefully drawn with pleasing art, coupled with an amazing story. This is one you wouldn't want to miss.

I love everything about this book. From the vibrant artwork to the overall story. Seeing a comic based in Mesoamerica is honestly something so precious. I do think readers do need to have a bit of background in Meso mythology and history if not things could get kind a lost to people. However, I do not think that takes away from the overall story!

Thank you Netgalley for the read!

I really struggled to get into this one. While I liked the description, the actual story itself was very confusing. I kept feeling like I missed some important background information. The art style was quite to my tastes, so that made it even harder to enjoy.

While the art style and coloring are gorgeous, I found the story telling (both visually and in text) to be confusing and a bit hard to follow - as if we are being dropped into the middle of a story without any explanation or map.

Codex Black: A Fire Among the Clouds by Camilo Moncada Lozano. IDW Publishing, 2023.
Thank you IDW Publishing for providing an e-book copy through NetGalley.

Rating: 1-5 (5 being a starred review) 5

Genre: Fantasy Graphic Novel

What I Liked: Up on a dense mountain in Mesoamerica, Donaji, a head-strong and stubborn sixteen-year old Zapotec girl, is determined to find her missing father. Wearing a poncho inhabited by Chicahualizteotl, the God of Strength, she is praised as a hero by her village as she heads out to start her search. On the other side of the mountain, Itzcacalotl, a Mexica seventeen-year old warrior, travels with a caravan when he falls into a deep pit and is left behind. Before starving to death, he discovers the power of the Crow that sprouts wings from his back, so he flies to safety. When Donaji and Itzcacalotl cross paths, their meeting sparks a new adventure filled with legendary creatures, dangerous gods, and tribes from all over Cemanahuac. As Donaji hunts for her father and Itzcacalotl figures out his purpose in life, the two learn to grow as warriors, heroes, and friends as war brews on the horizon and ancient dark forces rise up to the surface.

Codex Black: A Fire Among the Clouds is a fantastic adventure to read, especially since you rarely see Mesoamerican history, culture, and folklore in YA media that’s shown in a fun way (aka The Spanish conquistadors are very absent). The overall art is wonderful: The colors are bright and energetic; The line art thick and bold; The pseudo-anime style and Lozano’s unique spin on it enhances character’s expression so readers know when scenes are exciting, tense, or funny. The author, illustrators, & colorist showcases hues, patterns, and imagery used by the ancient Mesoamericans, and everything really pops out of the page, making it one of the most vibrant YA graphic novels out there. Donaji and Itzcacalotl are wonderful protagonists as their differing personalities bounce off each other well, and they lift each other up when it really matters. The side characters, terrifying monsters, and villains of the story add depth to the narrative and are never unnecessary, annoying, or useless. The world building is so well-done that you can tell Lozano did his research in the history, the culture, and the many tribes of Mesoamerican during the 15th century. He even provides a glossary, historical context, and encyclopedia of all the places, characters, and creatures that appear in the story. There is a lot of love put into this graphic novel, and it really shows. Definitely check it out!

What I Didn’t Like: Nothing!

Who Would I Recommend This To: Teens who like mythology and folklore based stories, who want to read about ancient cultures and native peoples, specifically in Mesoamerica, and who want stories with good duo protagonists with charm, vibrancy, and strong personalities.

Review Date: March 28, 2023
Posted to Goodreads of May 3, 2023.

DNF at 12%

I loved the concept for this one but sadly the art style and use of dark magic wasn't for me :( Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC!

Codex Black is the story of two young adventurers - one searching for her missing father, and the other, an orphan searching for a place in the world. Taking place in the 1500s, in Mesoamerica, the story is set in the rolling hills and forests of Mexico. Mixing history with mythology, the readers are introduced to gods and legends as our heroes make their way across the country.

This was a fantastic graphic novel. In this, we follow our two main characters, Donají and Itzcacalotl, as they travel around fifteenth-century Mesoamerica looking for Donaji's father. Along the way, they encounter many different cultures and people. I really can't wait to read the second volume to see if they find Donaji's father! I loved the pacing of this story. It felt really well balanced between action and quiet moments between characters. The artwork was really well done as well.

A girl trying to find her father stumbles across a strange man, hailing from the kingdom that is technically an enemy of her people, just trying to find his way to safety. The pair end up teaming up to get out of the forest, battling strange enemies and opponents as they search for clues. While they’re distracted with their rather unusual problems, an enemy arises from the darkness, goals unknown but surely sinister. A fun adventure based in Mayan history and mythology with a host of fun and lovable characters and just enough mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for this EARC!

Codex Black is a Graphic Novel about the young Donaji. After her dad disapeared severel years ago, she decided to go on an adaventure and trys to find him. On her way she meets Itzcacalotl.

I asked for the book because the description really appealed to me. Fantasy isn't usually my genre, but being a graphic novel I thought I should give it a shot.

Unfortunately, it took me several attempts to get into the story. However, once I got into the story, it was a fairly quick read.

I found it very good that there were asterisks directly on the pages that explained individual terms. Sometimes, however, it got me a little out of the reading flow when I couldn't find the annotation directly.

The drawing style and the selected colors fitted very well with the story and the culture represented.

In the end, however, I didn't like the book as much as I thought it would. The story dragged on at times and I wondered when something would happen again. In the next moment everything felt like it happened at once and I was taken by surprise. At some points I found Donaji a bit exhausting.

Overall, Codex Black was an interesting story and I'm excited to see what happens next.

This is the first book in a new graphic novel series following two mesoamerican teenagers in a historical fantasy adventure inspired by the culture and mythology of the Aztec period. We follow Donaji, a girl whose father mysteriously vanished 11 years ago, on her quest to find out what happened to him with the aid of only her wits and a poncho inhabited by a god of strength. On her journey she meets a young warrior named Itzcacalotl who has developed some mysterious powers of his own. The two of them become fast friends and journey together in an adventure that has them facing thieves, monsters and other dangers.

I loved both of the main characters and their instant friendship seemed genuine since they’re both such guileless people. The world itself features plenty of geopolitical intrigue and strife which was both interesting and educational and I’m sure it will become even more important in the next instalments. There are also mysterious groups of people performing strange rituals and a thief named Citlalmina with an agenda of her own.

I really appreciated reading a story set in a period and culture that isn’t very commonly portrayed in fantasy stories. It’s clear that the author has done their research and is passionate about the period, and that made me enjoy every footnote and historical anecdote even more! I’m definitely invested in continuing the series and I would recommend this to anyone that loves adventure and fantasy stories with historical and mythological elements.

Codex Black is a graphic novel about two extraordinary adventurers who journey across 15th century mesoamerica.

And I love everything about it.

I adore the characters. Donaji is a Zapotec girl in search of her father. She’s a hero in her village but we get the sense she doesn’t believe she deserves the title. And Itzcacalotl is a Mexica warrior who is anything but a hero in his people’s eyes. Their dynamic is adorable and the author doesn’t waste time showing off their chemistry. Citlalmina is a mysterious thief who somehow thinks of the other two as friends, even after robbing and attacking them.

And the world of Cemanahuac is vast. The Triple Alliance grows in power. Forbidden rituals are being performed. And the mystery of Donaji’s father may be part of something bigger than they expected. They’re setting up a lot of things, allowing the reader to anticipate what happens in the next installments. But there’s also enough question marks to draw us in, keep us curious about the lore.

It also took me back to my Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon days. More specifically, watching The Last Airbender. This isn’t to say that the plot is similar but the tone and the humor definitely takes after it. Characters react to things anime-style. There’s even a freeze frame sort of moment each time a new prominent character introduces themselves.

THIS is the mesoamerican adventure I’m sure people would have wanted when they were young. Can’t wait for more.

I want to thank NetGalley for sending me an e-advance readers copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest response.

One of the things that attracted me to request this graphic novel was how I could point out from the cover that this was going to be rich in knowledge and stories of my culture. I think we are still in the era of superheroes and whether you agree or not, these are the kinds of heroes I would’ve loved to seen as a kid. They stem from culture(s) that did exist and it’s not made up. The story was created from inspiration from the cultures but the rich cultures itself are ones inspired by what already existed long ago.

With a graphic novel, I love the attention to detail and there was a lot in this graphic novel. One of the side character, the poncho god, was somewhat of a guide for the main characters. When he is speaking in the novel - the illustrations show that he’s talking by making the word bubble outlined twice. For words or places that a reader might not know, there is an indication to an explanation so that the reader can understand the word. In the back of the graphic novel the creators made it possible to give as much information possible for whoever is new to the subject of Aztec culture. Information that is not overwhelming but enough to get a reader to follow along.

The visuals in this graphic novel can easily seen cinematically. There is movement in the images that show action and character flare that makes each character unique. I appreciate the plot as a way to introduce everyone without giving too much away so easily. This is going to be a series so for it to move forward it did the job of showing you a part of the journey.

I thought this was great! Illustrations were beautiful! Characters were so engaging and the story was impossible to put down! I’m really looking forward to the next installment. The portrayal of Mesoamerican culture was really immersive and unique. Great start to a new series!

Thank you IDW Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this wonderful book. I really enjoyed this wonderful adventure set in the 15th century Mesoamerica. It is a promising start to a new series with well-developed characters, wonderful world-building, and beautifully detailed illustrations. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next volume!

I LOVED this series opener. As a HS librarian serving a majority Latine population, I'm always looking for books that reflect my students' cultures, and this? This story does that, and does it so well. The story is compelling, funny, and accessible. The pronunciation guide at the end is exceedingly helpful, and the end notes that better explain the setting and it's general culture and politics are a fantastic resources since this is part of world history that isn't often well-covered in schools. I'm really excited to add this to the library's collection, and I'm looking forward to the next books, as there is definitely more to this story!

What a lovely adventure it was. "A Fire Among Clouds" is a story heavily inspired by Aztec culture which I absolutely adored. We follow an adventure of two characters: Donaji who is a brave girl trying to find her missing father and Itzcacalotl who is much more mysterious character and his life changed the moment he got wings and met Donaji. Our heroes are travelling together, fighting monsters or just trying to survive. I loved illustrations here. They are vivid and beautiful, making very delicious feast for your eyes. I didn't get bored while reading although the beginning is quite messy and I had a problem catching up what is happening. Anyway reading this comic book was so much fun and I honestly cannot wait for the second part because damn that ending made me wanting more.

I received an electronic ARC from IDW Publishing through NetGalley.
Moncada Lozano sets this book in Mesoamerica in the 15th century. Readers meet two main characters who have set out on their own and connect with each other. Itzacacalotl wanders from his caravan and is left behind; Donaji leaves to search for her father who disappeared eleven years before the story begins. Each is wary of the other but learn to trust and develop a friendship. Both grow in ways they never expected and discover inner strength they thought they lacked. The artwork is incredible and transports readers to this time period. The characters and gods are realistically portrayed and the background is lush with color and details. The Name Glossary at the end provides further information on the characters so readers; this offers readers a chance to do more reading and research on the time period and figures.
As it is Book One, the hardest words are the final ones - "TO BE CONTINUED..." Looking forward to seeing how this series continues to develop the characters' adventures.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher IDW Publishing for an advance copy of this graphic novel that is both an exciting read, but an introduction to the people, culture and myths of Mesoamerica.

Growing up I was blessed with a family who loved to travel to every tag sale, flea market, and book sale that was within a two hour ride on weekends. My mom loved owls, my father loved tools and old records, and my brother and I loved books and comics. We would get anything we could, newspaper strips, magazine, collections, single issues. If it looked cool, and the price was right, back to the car we would go ready to read. I was familiar with comic works from around the world the European collections, some early manga, and a lot of comics from Mexico and Argentina. I never really understood the stories a lot of the time, but I loved the art and got a feeling for the mythology, and some history as I got older and branched out in reading. The style the sense or adventure came off the page, it just seemed fun even if I was filling in the blanks a lot of the time. This is same sense of fun and adventure is what I had while reading this new collection Codex Black (Book One): A Fire Among Clouds written and illustrated by Camilo Moncada Lozano, and colored by Angel De Santiago. This graphic novel, for younger kids features two companions, both lost, their adventures together, learning lessons and having fun.

The story is set in Mesoamerica, the cultural and historical region stretching from Mexico to Costa Rica, and set in the fifteenth century. Readers first meet Itzcacalotl, a 17-year-old Mexica boy who has become separated from his group, do to his fascination with crow feathers. Itzcacaotl falls into a pit that is part of a temple, and is trapped for almost a week before being granted a gift by the gods of wings to fly out to freedom. Upon landing he meets Donaji, a young Zapotec woman of fifteen who is looking for her missing father, accompanied only by a poncho that is the dwelling place of a god. Together these two decide to unite on a quest to find Donaji's missing father, and are challenged by creatures great, small and the gods themselves.

A very fun adventure with a story and mythology that I was unfamiliar with, but that I enjoyed, and learned a lot about, including historical information I was also unaware of. The story is for young people, but older people like me will still enjoy it, as it is a clear story, told well, and with a good sense of adventure. This project started as animated shorts, that were brought together and it shows as the art is clean, clear and very distinctive. I liked the coloring, the way the characters were represented, and the way everything fit together. The story unfolds carefully, never overwhelming in facts or story, with a nice pace that keeps the reader following along willingly.

I enjoyed this story and can't wait to share it with my nephews. A very good mix of story, mythology with lots of information about a time and place that many readers will really enjoy.