Galaxy the prettiest star by Jadzia Axelrod

Illustrated by Jess Taylor

​Taylor and her associates are posing as a makeshift family in a small town outside Metropolis, but they’re actually refugees from another planet, hiding from a cruel enemy called The Vane who destroyed their world. For an extra measure of protection, Taylor’s general and pretend father made Taylor’s disguise a human boy, even though Taylor’s true identity is The Galaxy Crowned, Princess of Cyandii, and she feels out of place in her male body. She also has a guard "robot", an adorable sentient corgi who follows her and records what happens daily. When a girl named Kat movea to their small town, Taylor’s facade starts to really distress her, and she breaks her cover to reveal her true self to Kat. The community, however, isn't as accepting of having an alien in their midst. 

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My favorite thing about this story is the art. Jess Taylor's illustrations are so fluid and beautifully colored that it's easy to get lost in the pages. Taylor's true self is a wonderful balance of sweetness and complimentary colors that it's absolutely understandable why she wouldn't feel comfortable as a boy. The pacing of the story is also extremely well done by Axelrod. The characters are fully fleshed-out with compelling backstories and motivations, including the supporting characters, who are often dumped in these one-off stories. I also enjoyed the play between Kat and Taylor, and how supportive Kat is of Taylor's discoveries. Axelrod strikes an enjoyable balance between this being a journey of self-discovery as well as a love story.

This story would be best suited for high school audiences. There is one scene where it is implied that Kat and Taylor engage in some sexual activity, but no naked bits are shown.

Sara's Rating: 10/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12

Publisher: DC Comics
Publication Date: May 17th 2022
ISBN: 9781401298531​ (Paperback)

​Tags: Rating: 10/10, Suitability: High School, Graphic Fiction, LGBTQ+, Romance, Family, DC Comics