Nico Bravo and the Trial of Vulcan

Nico Bravo #3

by Mike Cavallaro

All our favorite ancient myths and legends get an epic makeover in the third volume of Mike Cavallaro's hilarious graphic novel series!

Got a problem? The seasoned staff at Vulcan's Celestial Supply Shop―a kid named Nico Bravo, a sphinx named Lula, and a unicorn named Buck―have got just the thing in their inventory of magical merchandise.

Vulcan is on trial, accused by the evil Ahriman of breaking the Cosmic Rule―interfering in the plans of a fellow god! His only hope is finding five powerful artifacts scattered across the globe. But is there more to this quest than meets the eye?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Fantasy

192 pages, Paperback

Published August 9, 2022

About the author

Mike Cavallaro is from New Jersey and has worked in comics and animation since the early 1990s. He's made work for most of the major comic book publishers, and has been a designer, background painter, and storyboard artist on numerous animated series for Cartoon Network, Warner Brothers, and MTV Animation. He teaches at the School of Visual Arts in NYC and is a member of the National Cartoonists Society.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Admittedly, I probably should have read the first two books in the series prior to this one...But, I hadn't heard of this graphic novel series until now, so now I have something else to add to my library's collection! It's a fun, wacky adventure series about Gods & Goddesses and unicorns and the Sphynx and other mythical magical creatures and a young boy that has been created to assist them. Middle grade graphic novel fans will love it.

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vulcan has sent Nico, Lula, and Buck to deliver rainbow light to the unicorns in their new home in the center of the earth. Nico and Lula are suspicious that Vulcan sent all three of them on such an easy task. Buck isn’t saying a word about it. But readers quickly learn that Vulcan is on trial for using the aether to create Nico. Ahriman is accusing Vulcan of using the aether purely to fight his doings. The gods on the judge panel decide that Vulcan must find 5 lost artifacts on Earth to clear his name, keep his shop, and save Nico. But Vulcan and his friendly helper Braxa begin to suspect that the artifacts should not be handed over to the gods. Meanwhile Nico, Buck, and Lula arrive at their destination to find the unicorns under some kind of trance being used to power a strange device and Nico and Lula have to follow a warrior yeti to seek answers to what is going on while Buck stays back to protect the unicorns.

Well, that was another wild and zany adventure with Nico, Lula, Buck, and Vulcan that totally comes together in a way that makes perfect sense by the end but starts off feeling incredibly random. Which kinda reminds me of a Dickens’ plot. (For those middle grade readers not yet diving into Dickens, he was the master of introducing all these different characters with their own issues and then tying them all together in one neat ending in the last quarter of the book. Cavallaro does the same thing, but with a bit more out there characters and plot devices.) I really enjoy the way Cavallaro weaves together mythology from all over the globe. The panel of godly judges comes from all over the world. The mythical creatures that pop up are likewise global. The illustrations are astoundingly detailed for a graphic novel. The plot is extremely imaginative, and the dialogue is vastly entertaining and helps keep even the most tense situations humorous. In other words, it is marvelous. Highly recommended to imaginative readers, mythology fans, and graphic novel addicts.

Notes on content [based on the ARC]: No language issues. No sexual content. Planet-ending violence is threatened but just some bumps and bruises and holes shot in flying carpets.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third installment of the Nico Bravo series continues the fun adventures of Nico and friends going up against or alongside figures from mythology. The plot separates Nico and his friends from his boss at the shop, Vulcan and we see alternating parts to a related "crisis" that needs to be solved to save the world. To tell more, would spoil the second book for those that haven't read it. If you have, rest assured that this book picks up where the second one left off. The humor is good and the art is excellent as one who has read this series has come to expect. My twelve year old was eager to continue in this series and it has a following in my library at school as well.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third and final book in the Nico Bravo middle grade graphic novel series. You definitely need to read the prior two books to understand and enjoy this book. The story is fun and exciting, playing off the myths of gods. The art is colorful and detailed. This book concludes the mystery of who Nico is, what the gods are up to, and how everyone can be saved. It was a satisfying ending to this trilogy. Great for fans of adventures, myths, and mysteries. (Read a digital ARC via Netgalley.)

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know, for the right age kid, probably a boy…. This would be a really great series, it has a manic energy and charm with mildly naughty humor. The trilogy has entertained me as an adult. I think a boy of maybe 8 to 10 would really have fun with it! I’d hand this series to a grade school kid that liked fantasy as a solid choice.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[D.T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is still a lot of fun, and I'll never stop loving gritty Buck. It's looks like we're getting a spin off series, y'all.

3.5

[Jessica Lumsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another quick little graphic novel.

[TRISHA · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Flash Gordon & visit all the other false Gods this is the book for you.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like like the book.
do you have the next book out?