Sixty years or so ago a mahoosive computer thing appeared in Earth's skies, which was all well and good, as it arrived just in time to save us all from some horrid demon-type aliens. It helped us with our environment and technical advancement as well, while leaving the alien-duffing job to five siblings. But when that task went global, all five split up, went to a relevant corner of the world, and carried on alien-duffing with their new families. It's just that now, sixty years on from that, and as a Los Angeleno of Asian descent, Maise is not so happy about the situation. She, along with her younger twin siblings, and her parents, have the destiny of saving the world – but she would rather do the teenaged rebellion thing against that idea...

This starts as an interesting take on being a young superhero. Forget the fact Maise and her folks have Asian blood, this is a decent read about what it means to have to protect and work with your family, even when it's not what you think you want out of life. Have we had far too many books where kids just accept their world-changing destiny? On this evidence, most definitely. But things aren't great here.

I'll admit, I thought I'd hate this – an opening page itemising every main character's pronouns, fer cryin' out loud. And some of the action artwork is dreadful, which doesn't help. But I didn't hate anything. That said, what knocks this down several pegs is the choices it makes – I am sure we'd have had a better book if the silly baddy hadn't turned up, and if the muck-raking family hadn't been such a part of things, only to wimp out when it really matters. No, things combine to have a really limp ending, one which makes three and a half stars seem generous. But at times I had seriously thought this worth that – it had an easily-read drive to some interesting characterisation, enough to make the third-rate Transformers-styled elements ignorable. The series as a whole cannot be written off yet, but improvements are so easy to make...

Like the Power Rangers? This story is kind of like that—except being a hero is a family secret! Our main character just wants to be a normal teenager, but hiding their identity isn’t easy. Especially when the girl they like is determined to uncover who’s behind the masks. Things get dicey fast. This story is all about finding yourself, dealing with expectations, and trying to maintain some kind of normal life. A fun and heartfelt read with plenty of action and teen drama.

So much fun! I loved this story, the characters, and the little nods to Amphibia. I really like Matt Braly's writing and character creation. Already looking forward to book 2!

Thank you net gallery for the advanced copy of this story. I wound up starting to read it in the comic shop then finished it on the net gallery reader. This was a good, solid coming of age/kaiju story. I would definitely recommend and look forward to more issues

Como niña a la que no le dejaron ver los Power Rangers fue una curita al alma.

Ni idea si es similar al show (porque no lo vi) pero yo quería ver personas usando trajes de colores mientras salvan al mundo y eso me lo dio este libro.

La historia va de Maise, quien es miembro de una familia que trata de salvar al mundo de los constantes ataques de los aliens; mientras ella trata de decidir que hacer con su vida.

Esta el libro. Es entretenido y las ilustraciones son buenísimas.

⭑ I received an advance review copy for free, and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

I can't wait to read the next volume! I saw the twist at the end coming, but I still was shocked when it happened. I am familiar with Matt Braly's Amphibia, so I had to read this book. The story and its characters was what made it shine so well. As well as its art design and funny facial expressions. It was a great homage to the power rangers, and this will be great all ages comic for readers who are interested in action and anime.

I got this from netgalley and while it was fun, I don’t think I’ll pick up any more volumes as I don’t really feel like I want any more of this story.
Secret ‘superheroes’ saving the world from monsters vibe - fun but ultimately not for me.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel! It’s a great coming of age story that feels fresh and doesn’t talk down to its primary audience. Maise is a young girl with a family that has a bizarre secret life. They fight kaiju monsters in Los Angeles and are just one branch of many in the world. Managing school, friends, and extracurricular activities while being responsible for being a hero is hard and Maise isn’t feeling heroic anymore. However, when the monsters start evolving Maise has to step up to be there for her family and navigate her life among a myriad of changes.

An absolute fun time of a story that combines power rangers, Voltron, and the power of family making it a fresh new take on the genre. The driving force of this graphic novel is based in family and friendships, both are important but it is just as important to be yourself! While some might see it as a corny message it is a great one to have intermixed with wonderful bright kaiju fights for the target audience this graphic novel is for. Beautiful and diverse with a cliffhanger that I just can’t wait to see where it goes.

this was a very cool, queer, power rangers esque graphic novel and i enjoyed it a lot! can’t wait to see what happens next with maise and her family and friends!
cw for on page death of parent

A super fun concept that reels you in with its complexity straight away. I'm glad to see that this is just the beginning of a series, because it's ripe for continuation. The vibrant art style and character structure are perfect for fans of Power Rangers and the like. Between the complex family dynamics on and off the clock, as well as public perception and secret identity mishaps, there's so much more nuanced storytelling to explore. I will be tuned in for the next one!

Carrying on the legacy of classics like Power Rangers, Matt Braly has brought on a fresh take into the life of modern day superheroes.

As generations of superheroes all over the world carry the legacy of fighting evil, some struggle to break free from the cycle of pressure and burden of responsibilities they did not choose to be born in while others fight on the line everyday, giving up lot more than safety for the sake of world peace. Battling monsters while running to and from everyday life, Family Force V is about a growing teen who is finding her place in the world, struggling for her dream and navigating the difficult world of superhero life.

Skipping appointments and rushing to battles is what Family Force V has done best and look forward to more of that dynamic in the coming series.

Plus, plus points for the Power Ranger style nostalgic setting. Brought back a smile and so many memories.

Thank you to NetGalley, Skybound, and Image Comics for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Fans of Voltron, Power Rangers, and Big Hero Six are in for an action-packed treat with this new series from Amphibia's Matt Braly and illustrator Ainsworth Lin.

Maise comes from a long line of heroes, tasked with keeping the world safe from space monsters. Of course, she'd rather be a normal teen, hanging with friends, drawing for her school newspaper, or hanging with her crush. But when tragedy strikes her family, her team, Maise has to come to terms with what it means to protect those you love while also not losing sight of yourself in the process.

This first entry in the series was a blast from beginning to end. I am a big fan of Amphibia, so I'm ready to fall in love with Matt Braly's storytelling, character work, and comedy all over again. The family element really helps ground the story and set it apart from its inspirations. Maise's struggle to balance normal teen things with superhero life is one that's been seen again and again, but the way she devotes herself to her family and how she ultimately handles her responsibilities makes it feel fresh.

Ainsworth Lin's art absolutely flows and creates a real sense of tension with its action. I loved the designs of the monsters and the Moon Troopers feel so nostalgic yet unique.

Definitely pick this one up for any teen that is interested in kaiju-fighting fun!

It's official: everything Matt Braly touches turns into gold. He's a master storyteller. Like, I had already known it, because I absolutely love his work at Amphibia and Gravity Falls. However I'm not a big fan of superhero stories, so I did not have much expectations when it comes to this graphic novel. And let me tell you - I was blown away. I expected to like this book, but turns out I loved it.

I absolutely adore this story. It made me laugh out loud only to make me cry in the next chapter. I don't want to say much about the plot because I'm afraid of spoiling something, so I'll just say that despite some very sad moments it's very warm and hopeful story. Maise was a fantastic protagonist, very flawed and thus relatable and leaving much room for character development in next installments. Looking forward to see how she'll change! Other characters were great too. (Ofc Citlalli is my favourite......) I have to say tho, I'm a little disappointed that there wasn't more references to Amphibia, haha!

And let's not ignore the visual aspect of this comic. Ainsworth Lin did an awesome job. The artstyle is georgeous. Character design is TOP TIER 👌 Maise, Citlalli and Ken are my fav characters design-wise, they look so good in every frame they appear in. The emotions are always clearly expressed and really loved how Lin used colors as a storytelling device!

Overall, I'm absolutely in love. I think I'll reread it a couple of times and buy myself a physical copy. I finished the book in 3 days - but only because I have a strong will and paced myself, so it could last longer. I cannot wait for volume 2. Why oh why do comic books take so fast to read and so long to make.............

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC!

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this story.

This reminds me of Power rangers because of the uniform and the fact they are fighting aliens and the Incredibles because of the family dynamic. I liked the art for this and i always enjoy when stories are colored but the story itself didnt connect with me the way I was hoping. I think it leaned to much on cliches and the main story line (someone with a set destiny who doesnt want anything to do with it but then finds their own way to accepting it after a tragic event) is nothing new. I also need more information on what type of training they go through that make children suitable to fight aliens because when Dai had them running drills they acted like it was something brand new. I also didnt really care for Maises character. My main issue was with the final fighting scene. The fight ends rather abruptly and then it and the aftermath are just summarized. I also wish the conversation of Dai taking the blame for the fight and the mother becoming the captain was in the story because while I do think the mother should have been the captain since she was the adult I did understand why Dai was sent so id like to see that transferred over respectfully. I do think this would do well with a younger audience

This was such a fun read. I grew up as a Power Rangers kid and this was just a joy. It feels very appropriate for MG/Junior High.

Family Force V is a Superhero story exploring strong family and self-discovery themes, that leans a bit too much on the Power Rangers troupe.

It follows a teenage girl named Maize, who’s born into a family team of superheroes. She resents her responsibilities and struggles with balancing them with her normal life until she tragically loses someone very dear to her.

The art is just gorgeous, and reminiscent of classic Cartoon Network and Disney XD animated shows, with beautiful Super Suits, splendid character designs, and an awesome-looking giant Mecha robot. I love the paneling, and the action sequences are quite detailed and very well-executed.

The story was very wholesome, and did some things to exemplify itself from the obvious Power Ranger-like setting—a superhero family dynasty with branches of 5 members located in different parts of the world, all with their own powers and suits was very creative. Still, it leans too heavily on too many cliches that make it feel like something you’ve read a bunch of times before. Overall a worthy read for any superhero or Sentai fan, with lots of nostalgia to boot. I’m invested enough to pick up the next volumes.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and Image Comics. I’m voluntarily leaving an honest review and all opinions are my own.

Honestly really impressed with this comic. Bright, colorful, great artwork, exciting, well done framing and the action is easy to follow. Especially impressed by the twists. Really great comic for teens/young adults. Definitely has some relatable feelings around family and responsibility. My only wish is that we had more time with some of the characters.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

TW: parental death, adultification, grief

"Family Force V" is what happens when Power Rangers meets the Shadowhunters universe: cool suits, but the stakes are a lot higher, with losses being a reality of the war and beating evil not being a certain thing.
While Power Rangers are a group of young adults who accept to fight a much more powerful enemy, this book follows a family who, like Shadowhunters, are born into and can't say no to their bigger calling. So they end up being trained and thrust into it as children to protect the entire continent (but luckily, the aliens always attack their city).
No teens will ever have to fight aliens (hopefully). Still, plenty of teens can relate to being a first generation immigrant or losing a parent and being parentified and adultified, having to put a smile on their face and take care of the other adults and younger siblings in their lives, emotionally and physically, having to work at their family business or another to help out their family, dealing with economic problems, having to supress and give up on their interests, having their friendships and school suffer because of what is going on at home and throughout all of that having to keep a smile on their face to not be even another problem. So they take refuge on the internet, where other users might take advantage of their youth and do even more damage.
My problem is that at no point does this story tell its readers, who may identify with Maisie and her family, to find a support system or a trustworthy adult. Instead, it leads the reader to see the main character's failures as proof of her laziness and stubbornness when she is fighting an unwinnable fight and behaving as a kid because she IS a kid.
Plus, every time they put on their suits, all I could think about was that episode of Rick and Morty parodying Power Rangers.
The plot twist at the end was really good, and I really liked Maise's friends and how they cared for her. The family dynamics were complex and wonderfully done, and each character felt completely developed. I'm glad that we'll see more of them.
Thank you NetGalley, Edelweiss, Image Comics and Simon & Schuster for this DRC.

This graphic novel is an absolute blast! Such a fun new take on Power Rangers type characters but instead has them all be a family. While it is clearly Power Rangers inspired the graphic novel has its own twists and differences that make this enjoyable and a great addition for a middle school library. I'm excited to see where the story goes next! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy!

Thank you to netGalley and Skybound for the eARC!

Family Force V is an american comic about power ranger-esque super heroes who decided to make their work a worldwide job, usually by enlisting their families. We follow Maise, a young girl trying to balance her life as a teenager and as a protector of LA.

I found this first volume to be incredibly entertaining and have a lot of the heart that I felt while watching Spiderverse. The characters felt like real people, and the story left no room for any mediocrity. It was all a very fun read and very compelling all the way through, and I'm so excited to read more!