These comics are such a sarcastic delight. Some might think it hard to imagine the plights of birds mirroring our own, but in Ew, It's Beautiful, that is exactly what happens. Set in the seasons in the great outdoors, cackle, laugh, and maybe cry a little at the commentary of the angriest birds.

**ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**

Ew, It's Beautiful by Joshua Barkman was very similar to the previous False Knees collection. It follows the random thoughts of forest creatures, mainly birds, as they go about life trying to survive. I had really enjoyed the first collection when I read it, but for some reason, this one fell a little flat for me. I didn't think it was as funny as its predecessor. Definitely at least check out the first one if you enjoy animal humor, then go from there.

One of my favourite books of the year so far, wonderful art, a fun time, it made me chuckle a lot! I found the humour endearing and charming.

Finished Reading:
Ew, It's Beautiful by Joshua Barkman
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⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Pages: 148
Format: e-book
Genre: Comic, Humour
Part of "A False Knees" comic collection
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First of all, thanks to @netgalley for granting me this edition of the book, in exchange for an honest review.

I came across this comic, when roaming around and checking out some reads and the title immediately gripped my attention, because it is exactly what I think sometimes 😂

This is a very fun and short comic, where we follow birds and other animals throughout the seasons. A lot of the comics are very relatable, others are super funny, then there are some thoughtful comics sprinkled in and some utter ridiculous ones too.

All in all, it is a very enjoyable read. The art is also very beautiful and the book is entirely in colour too!

I recommend this book when you have a "nope" day or just a day where you are feeling down. This book really gives you a small boost of dopamine with all the funny and witty jokes. You'll feel a little better after reading it!

This is my first comic of this collection, and I am sure going to check out other ones from it!

The perfect mix of irreverence, bird nerdery, and silly illustrations. This would make a great gift for the birders in your life.

This was a fun collection of comics. I enjoyed the variety of topics, from whimsy to serious, and how they were mixed together. The art is wonderful and really brings each of the birds to life. Will be checking out more collections by this author.

Forever grateful to NetGalley for an advance reader's copy of this amazing graphic novel on just about everything hilarious, smart, funny and sexy in the world of birds (and the occasional cat).

Are animals really that much different than humans?
This new addition to the False Knees comic collection is a very amusing continuation. The panels with animal characters are relatable, comforting, and thought-provoking all at once. Comedy with animals speaking in a language we can understand is a classic.
The animal art was adorable, and the seasonal/landscape art was beautiful. There were a couple of panels where the comedy went over my head; I just didn’t understand them. That’s just a risk with comedy-focused books. I got this as an eARC through Netgalley, but I would buy both the first book in the series, “False Knees”, and this continuation. Pick up this comic and flip through the pages to bring some laughter into your life.

The art is beyond beautiful and I find it impressive how well they manage to capture the likeness of all the different animals in the book as well as the different species of birds. I also really like the use of different techniques to illustrate different situations (especially funny when the birds get high af lol)

Sadly, the little comics are more miss than hit for me. Most of them weren't really funny, and some of them I even had trouble pointing out what was trying to be said or represented.

A cute collection of great, short comics with a nice variety of type of joke: some puns, some slice of life (but birbs), and some actually touching pieces. Beautifully drawn.

4.5 STARS FOR SURE
I'm in love with this comic collection!! It truly encapsulates the personality of birds and other wild creatures. If you need a book of laughs and incredible and breathtaking art, I would highly recommend this, especially if you love birds. I cannot emphasize how much I love the art style. :)

I will be 100% recommending that we order this in to our store and purchasing a physical copy!! <3

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

ps. my favourite comics include the following pages: 79, 81, 84, 87, 104, 139 and 141 ;) enjoy when you buy the book!

Hilarious, smart, and sneakily wholesome.

This comic strip collection is wonderful. Equal parts sarcastic and charming, it’s the kind of humor that sneaks up on you, especially if you’re into science, a nature lover, or both. The jokes are sharp without being mean, and the observational humor hits just right.

The crow comics are my favorite. There’s something about their chaotic personalities that feels relatable in the best way. Whether you’re into biology, birds, or just need a laugh that isn’t trying too hard, this book delivers.

Five stars for brainy humor and clever illustrations.

Barkman's False Knees comics are all over social media, with the most popular being the junco and the crow which became a meme. Ew, It's Beautiful is a fun comic collection centered on the lives of birds. The collection is organized by seasons, but not every comic felt like it fit the time of year as thematically as others. I really enjoyed the comics that experimented with mixed media and other animals like cats. This is a fun and clever selection of comics to enjoy with friends and family (if your family is okay with some not-safe-for-work content like swearing).

I've been a big fan of Joshua Barkman's bird comics ever since seeing them posted on social media. I think that the artwork and humor in his comics are both masterfully done, and play off of each other very well.
The mix of artistic styles in this collection, of full color, two tone, and black and white colors all work very well. The contrast between the realistic style birds and the goofy tone is also very funny. In addition to the funny comics, there are also several that feel very profound, reflecting on the nature of life, friendship, and other deeper topics. I could definitely see myself framing some of the comics in this book for my walls, or purchasing a copy for a friend or for my coffee table.

Thank you to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me access to a digital review copy.

El estilo de ilustración es magnífico y muy acorde con el tipo de libro. Me gustó mucho el tipo de humor, muy ingenioso. Me reí un montón mientras lo leía. Ofrece pequeños momentos de la vida y es perfecto para tenerlo siempre a mano e ir disfrutando de a poco.

An interesting quick read that I though I would enjoy more. Not bad, just not my type of humour as I did not get the jokes most of the time; however, I love the idea of connecting the readers with different birds and animals through these type of comics, and I admire the art style!

Birds, bugs, raccoons all caught mid-existential spiral, and somehow it’s hilarious. Barkman’s comics aren’t just funny, they’re quietly brilliant, sharp, awkward, and oddly comforting.

Ew, It’s Beautiful is a fun collection of comics that celebrates the charm of nature! This comic is divided into four fun seasons, each showcasing a variety of adorable birds, cats, insects, and raccoons. Enjoy the whimsical adventures that unfold in each season!

This comic is absolutely hilarious! The bird characters show such funny human-like behaviours, and it’s all presented in a really witty way.

The comic is vibrant, and some panels are in black and white. The artwork is really nice with great details.

This comic is a delightful read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I struggled to review this collection because even though it's obvious that Ew, It's Beautiful creator, Joshua Bankman, intended to bring together comics that observe the shared experiences that life throws at us, I found myself not getting the joke about 30% of the time which frankly was too often. Fortunately there are enough enjoyable strips that I didn't feel like I completely wasted my time reading through the book but overall Ew, It's Beautiful is just okay.

A bird-themed comics collection with more misses than hits for me. The only thing I loved was the beautiful art, colours and blend of different styles. So gorgeous!!! However, the humour was not up my alley at all and I found most of the jokes terribly 'lame'.