Steven Universe and the Crystal Gems
Writer: Josceline Fenton
Artist: Chrystin Garland
Colourist: Leigh Luna
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Cover Artist: Kat Leyh
Creator: Rebecca Sugar
Publisher: KaBOOM! Studios
A review by Insha Fitzpatrick
Steven Universe and the Crystal Gems starts with Steven and the Gems going into the great outdoors for an overnight adventure. Steven introduces the Gems to the wonderful activity known as camping, which they’ve never experienced before. Steven decided to show them the ropes, complete with marshmallows, campfires, and everyone’s favorite part of a camping trip – spooky stories. After setting up camp, they tell these stories, which come as urban legends, to one another and one story in particular spooks Steven and Amethyst to the core. Garnet and Pearl tell a story from their world of a monster who turns Gems into glass if they’ve been bad. The gems quickly tell Steven that this isn’t a true story, but that of just legend. However, the story of this glass gem may be way too real when Steven and the Crystal Gems follow a trail of glass to the people of Beach City who are trapped inside of glass.
I loved everything about Steven Universe and the Crystal Gems. That’s probably super bias of me because I love the show so much, but the short comic stories really give another layer of richness to the already perfect show. Josceline Fenton brings a whole new cuteness to the already adorable series and writes it as if it was an actual episode. I think that’s important to point out and emphasis for a minute. It FELT like an episode. Most of the Steven Universe comics now are written amazingly that they can be episodes, but this is the first comic of Steven Universe that really could be an episode. If this wasn’t a comic book, this would probably be one of my top ten favorite episodes of the show because of how creative it is.
Another thing I loved about Steven Universe and the Crystal Gems is that it revolves around legends of sorts. Things that people don’t believe in until it happens and then when it happens, you finally believe. Before the Glass Gem legends, the first urban legend Steven tells is that of “Have You Checked The Children.” This story tells the tale of a babysitter who gets a phone call that asks her if she’s checked the children. She does, two or three times, but when she checks them one last time, they’re gone. The way that they play with this with Garnet and Onion in the comic is brilliant. The entire scope of the story got to me because I’m a sucker for urban legends, don’t judge me.
Chrystin Garland and Leigh Luna are a match made in heaven for Steven Universe and the Crystal Gems. Chrystin draws the characters perfectly, but what I really want to talk about are her backgrounds. This is probably the first comic book in a long time that I wish I had a print of some of the panels because everything about the details presented are so sharp and playful. I loved looking at every detail when the forest was involved. Her art with Leigh Luna’s colors work so well as a pair. Leigh’s another one of my favorite colorists and her work in this comic is out of this world. She plays upon bright pastels to make everything pop and make you pay attention to what she’s serving you. It’s vibrant, bold, beautiful, and you can’t turn away.
The Verdict
Buy it! If you love Steven and The Gems, you’re gonna be in for a spectacular and fun ride that’s complete with a little lesson at the end. Steven Universe and The Crystal Gems is super fun and feels so natural for anyone who is already in love with the show.
