Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson (review)

The oh-so-lovely unicorn Marigold Heavenly Nostrils is saved from a traditional peril—being stuck staring awestruck at her own reflection—when human girl Phoebe bonks her with a rock. The friendship that emerges between the two is impeccably developed as they circle around each other, deciding how much is bluster and how much is true connection. Marigold helps with Phoebe’s isolation at school, and although the unicorn would never admit it, Phoebe, a kid with boundless imagination and seemingly endless enthusiasm, is pretty great company. This collection of black and white traditional framed comic strips mostly reads like a graphic novel; there are occasional panels that initially seem out of context but they all loop back to a steady narrative arc about the evolution of friendship. Rich humor lies in the illustrations, since Marigold’s wry comments are often taken literally by Phoebe but their slant is present in the unicorn’s epic eyerolls and behind-the-back smirks. There are, of course, overlaps with the exceptional Calvin and his best pal Hobbes, but Marigold and Phoebe hold their own as quirky friends whose bond is obvious even when they are doing their best efforts at throwing shade. While some readers may not recognize Peter S. Beagle as the person introducing the collection, he’s a perfect choice for those in the know, and his unabashed enthusiasm for and knowledge about Phoebe and Marigold make him an ideal spokesperson.