What do you think?
Rate this book
Princeless (Single Issues) #1.1
PrinceLess #1
Still waiting for your prince to come? Tired of spending night after night locked in a secluded tower? Ready for your own adventure? So are we.Princeless is the story of Princess Adrienne, one princess who’s tired of waiting to be rescued. Join Adrienne and her guardian dragon, Sparky, as they begin their own quest in an all-ages action adventure designed specifically for those who are tired of waiting to be rescued… and who are ready to save themselves.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
9 people are currently reading
1231 people want to read
About the author
Jeremy Whitley
410 books336 followersJeremy Whitley is the son of two teachers and the husband of a third.
Born in La Mesa, CA, Jeremy went to high school in Lenoir, NC and college at The University of North Carolina. He graduated with a Bachelors in English, and a minor in Creative Writing.
Jeremy lives in Durham, North Carolina with his wife Alicia and his two daughters Zuri and Amara.
Jeremy is the writer/creator of the comic series Princeless, Raven the Pirate Princess, School for Extraterrestrial Girls, and The Dog Knight. He is also the writer of the acclaimed Marvel series "The Unstoppable Wasp". His other works include extensive work for Marvel, the "Sea of Thieves" comics, and over sixty issues of My Little Pony comics.
Awards and Nominations:
3 time Glyph Winner
5 time Glyph Nominee
2 time Eisner Nominee
2 time Cyblis Nominee
2 time Bloomer Nominee
1 time Most Likely to Succeed Winner
Born in La Mesa, CA, Jeremy went to high school in Lenoir, NC and college at The University of North Carolina. He graduated with a Bachelors in English, and a minor in Creative Writing.
Jeremy lives in Durham, North Carolina with his wife Alicia and his two daughters Zuri and Amara.
Jeremy is the writer/creator of the comic series Princeless, Raven the Pirate Princess, School for Extraterrestrial Girls, and The Dog Knight. He is also the writer of the acclaimed Marvel series "The Unstoppable Wasp". His other works include extensive work for Marvel, the "Sea of Thieves" comics, and over sixty issues of My Little Pony comics.
Awards and Nominations:
3 time Glyph Winner
5 time Glyph Nominee
2 time Eisner Nominee
2 time Cyblis Nominee
2 time Bloomer Nominee
1 time Most Likely to Succeed Winner
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
September 5, 2016
READ THIS NOW!
A black princess who fights her own battles and flys on a dragon? Yes, please!
The graphics are very reminiscent of a Cartoon Network special with dialogue that's just as witty. These comics are a godsend for any woman of color who wants to see herself in the role of heroine and isn't afraid to laugh at double standards of male dominated superhero comics.
My only gripe is that I wish they could make the male characters more balanced. There's no need to build up females while making male characters caricatures. Other than that, bring on the television adaptations!!!
A black princess who fights her own battles and flys on a dragon? Yes, please!
The graphics are very reminiscent of a Cartoon Network special with dialogue that's just as witty. These comics are a godsend for any woman of color who wants to see herself in the role of heroine and isn't afraid to laugh at double standards of male dominated superhero comics.
My only gripe is that I wish they could make the male characters more balanced. There's no need to build up females while making male characters caricatures. Other than that, bring on the television adaptations!!!
April 26, 2015
Thank You Chris!
This comic book series is an absolute gem! I can't believe I'd never heard of it, but you can best believe I am making up for lost time. This series hits all of my happy buttons: lead characters of color in a non-stereotypical setting, strong-willed and feisty heroines who take charge, lots of snarky humor and wonderful artwork.
If you're like me, the woman who loathes weak-willed, simpering heroines, PrinceLess #1 is all kinds of awesome. Princess Adrienne has no time for that being stuck in a tower, waiting for some "brave" dragon-slaying Prince to save her and make her a wife stuff. No thanks! Unfortunately, her parents have done just that, to her and her sisters. But spunky Adrienne isn't going to succumb to that fate quietly, especially after discovering a magical sword under her bed. With her guardian dragon Sparky (who likes dining on wayward knights, reminding me of that t-shirt that says "Beware of Dragons, For You Are Crunchy And Taste Good With Ketchup"), Adrienne is setting out on a bunch of awesome adventures.
I love how the comic utterly skewers the whole blonde-haired, blue-eyed princess trope, something that has annoyed me for-EVER! Especially with Disney (and no, one or two Princesses of color does not make up for the continuing racefail).
The artwork is amazing, and OMG considering all the depressing colorism/hair/eye color fail in far too many IR books, actually seeing a dark-skinned, natural-haired young Black girl princess getting her hair brushed and a hair wrap for sleeping was like "hell yeah!"
So, off to spend more money on this awesome series.
This comic book series is an absolute gem! I can't believe I'd never heard of it, but you can best believe I am making up for lost time. This series hits all of my happy buttons: lead characters of color in a non-stereotypical setting, strong-willed and feisty heroines who take charge, lots of snarky humor and wonderful artwork.
If you're like me, the woman who loathes weak-willed, simpering heroines, PrinceLess #1 is all kinds of awesome. Princess Adrienne has no time for that being stuck in a tower, waiting for some "brave" dragon-slaying Prince to save her and make her a wife stuff. No thanks! Unfortunately, her parents have done just that, to her and her sisters. But spunky Adrienne isn't going to succumb to that fate quietly, especially after discovering a magical sword under her bed. With her guardian dragon Sparky (who likes dining on wayward knights, reminding me of that t-shirt that says "Beware of Dragons, For You Are Crunchy And Taste Good With Ketchup"), Adrienne is setting out on a bunch of awesome adventures.
I love how the comic utterly skewers the whole blonde-haired, blue-eyed princess trope, something that has annoyed me for-EVER! Especially with Disney (and no, one or two Princesses of color does not make up for the continuing racefail).
The artwork is amazing, and OMG considering all the depressing colorism/hair/eye color fail in far too many IR books, actually seeing a dark-skinned, natural-haired young Black girl princess getting her hair brushed and a hair wrap for sleeping was like "hell yeah!"
So, off to spend more money on this awesome series.
July 13, 2017
Okay, I enjoyed this enough that I'm going to pick up the next volume - Adrienne is a great character, and I'm interested in the story; I enjoy that they show a wide variety of girls and women rather than sticking to the good ol' "strong female character" stereotype. (Apollina seems like a darling, for instance, even though we only saw her on two pages.)
However... this comic is outstandingly amateur. Panel layout is clunky and occasionally confusing or jarring, and while the action is always clear, it isn't always necessary. Comics have such a short page length that you really need to make sure you aren't wasting space.
Also. I'm incredibly feminist. Read any of my other reviews. But there's feminist comics and then there's this, a ham-handed FEMINIST COMIC, where each panel in some scenes screams "THIS! THIS IS A FEMINIST COMIC! IT'S FEMINIST! FEMINISM!" - and not in a tongue-in-cheek way. My god, the scene where the armorsmith has the revelation that she can make realistic armor for women? Legitimately cringe-worthy, and horribly out of place. As a fan of the Dealing with Dragons series (which another reviewer here mentioned), and as a fan of feminist works in general, I literally cringed as I read that bit. We know it's a feminist comic, Whitley. We know. Yes, you're very progressive with your black girl protagonist, you are indeed filling a much-needed gap in the industry... I just feel like a more skilled author may have been more, shall we say, subtle in presenting the feminist message.
Still! I had fun. I'm going to read the rest of them. I sincerely enjoy reading about a girl of color saving herself, and I have hopes that the artist will get a better handle on panel layout. Definitely worth a read.
However... this comic is outstandingly amateur. Panel layout is clunky and occasionally confusing or jarring, and while the action is always clear, it isn't always necessary. Comics have such a short page length that you really need to make sure you aren't wasting space.
Also. I'm incredibly feminist. Read any of my other reviews. But there's feminist comics and then there's this, a ham-handed FEMINIST COMIC, where each panel in some scenes screams "THIS! THIS IS A FEMINIST COMIC! IT'S FEMINIST! FEMINISM!" - and not in a tongue-in-cheek way. My god, the scene where the armorsmith has the revelation that she can make realistic armor for women? Legitimately cringe-worthy, and horribly out of place. As a fan of the Dealing with Dragons series (which another reviewer here mentioned), and as a fan of feminist works in general, I literally cringed as I read that bit. We know it's a feminist comic, Whitley. We know. Yes, you're very progressive with your black girl protagonist, you are indeed filling a much-needed gap in the industry... I just feel like a more skilled author may have been more, shall we say, subtle in presenting the feminist message.
Still! I had fun. I'm going to read the rest of them. I sincerely enjoy reading about a girl of color saving herself, and I have hopes that the artist will get a better handle on panel layout. Definitely worth a read.
March 6, 2012
I have two daughters, ages 7 and 11, and they LOVE this comic book series. They both read it over and over again, and ask me to read it to them at bedtime. Not only is it a great story, but I think they enjoy the fact that it's a young, female comic book hero (and not one who looks like a high-priced call girl, but one they can relate to). They are eagerly awaiting more to come.
June 30, 2014
EVERYONE. NO MATTER YOUR AGE, WHAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY READING, WHETHER YOU LIKE COMICS, NO MATTER WHAT. THROW WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING TO THE GROUND AND IMMEDIATELY READ THIS BOOK. DO IT. DO IT NOW. SHH JUST GO. NO QUESTIONS.
October 28, 2017
woohooo this is so cute
March 17, 2024
Let me first say, I am not a huge comic-book reader. Not that I have anything against them, I just don't really read them.
BUT THIS ONE WAS FANTASTIC!! It really made me laugh, with the witty jokes, and the subtle sarcasm.
Princeless follows a young princess named Adrienne, who gets locked in a tower which is guarded by a dragon. After many knights attempt to rescue her, she decides she is sick of waiting and after discovering a hidden sword, decides to take matters into her own hands to leave her tower behind, and rescue her 6 sisters from their towers.
This first collection will have 4 issues, is set for release in April and will be the lead up to the main journey. I must say, I cannot wait for the rest of the issues to be released!!
For all fans of comics, or just for some quick and light reading, I highly suggest this!
BUT THIS ONE WAS FANTASTIC!! It really made me laugh, with the witty jokes, and the subtle sarcasm.
Princeless follows a young princess named Adrienne, who gets locked in a tower which is guarded by a dragon. After many knights attempt to rescue her, she decides she is sick of waiting and after discovering a hidden sword, decides to take matters into her own hands to leave her tower behind, and rescue her 6 sisters from their towers.
This first collection will have 4 issues, is set for release in April and will be the lead up to the main journey. I must say, I cannot wait for the rest of the issues to be released!!
For all fans of comics, or just for some quick and light reading, I highly suggest this!
June 26, 2014
LOVE! Looking for a graphic novel adventure to share with your elementary schoolers and up? This was totally adorable, funny, and smart.
February 5, 2016
This was so much fun! It's funny, exciting and involves a whole lotta girl power. I can't believe I'm saying this, but sometimes even a little too much. The message is clear: girls, don't be dependent on a guy, save yourself! Feminism all the way. Which is great, yet it was a bit overdone and redundant at certain points. That said, a female blacksmith, a female dragon and a female warrior who are all outsmarting the men in the story (who are all really made to look like fools, another point when it comes to overdoing things); that's just awesome.
Would I want to read more of this series?: Definitely, it's just a lovely colourful and funny way to spend your time. Especially if you're in the middle and/or just finished some heavy literature. Then Princeless will perk you right back up! It's a little clunky at times but I'm sure those little mistakes are fixed in volume 2.
The characters: Princess Adrienne is the main character. She's cool and all, but I have to admit I didn't really 'feel' her as much as I would've liked to. I think she kind of blew it with me when she was being a total jerk towards her twin brother... Bedelia, the female blacksmith, was a lot more likable for me. She's a typical tomboy with a very fierce kind of enthusiasm, you just can't help but liking her (that is, I couldn't). The most lovable character for me would be Sparky, the dragon, though. A giant pink dragon with a nose ring who is as cuddly as a puppy, yet deadly when you want her to be: fantastic!
The artwork: Great! I love the use of colours and the particular drawing style. And the pages are so soft and shiny, I couldn't stop stroking them while reading. During some scenes, I had to look a few times to see what was actually going on, but that didn't take away the general pleasantness of the artwork.
Would I want to read more of this series?: Definitely, it's just a lovely colourful and funny way to spend your time. Especially if you're in the middle and/or just finished some heavy literature. Then Princeless will perk you right back up! It's a little clunky at times but I'm sure those little mistakes are fixed in volume 2.
I don't think there's any swearing in this book. Nor was there any explicit content when it comes to sex or violence. In fact, this is a comic which I would give to any 9+-year-old kid without a doubt since it's very child-friendly. With an appropriate amount of humour to keep it interesting for adults as well.
![Princeless-Vol.1-Interior5_thumb[2]](https://inkedbrownies.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/princeless-vol-1-interior5_thumb2.png)
I'm giving it 3.5 stars!
May 5, 2014
This storyline is full of the adventure, humor, and fantasy that is typical of most medieval themed stories, only it has the typical twist of princess turned knight which is generally a cool thing to see, except that this story ups the ante even more. It plays on the humor of parodying the genre in a fun, simple way (with a few nest eggs for those of the older subset who know and love the genre well). I really enjoyed Adrienne's character and the play on the "damsel in distress"/princess-needing-to-be-rescued-by-worthy-knight trope.
If you're looking for a fresh take on the princess/knight genre, this is certainly a good place to start. Plus, the graphics are beautiful - it's like reading a Disney princess comic, only much more awesome. And there are dragons, so, enough said!
If you're looking for a fresh take on the princess/knight genre, this is certainly a good place to start. Plus, the graphics are beautiful - it's like reading a Disney princess comic, only much more awesome. And there are dragons, so, enough said!
January 3, 2015
Much to Princess Adrienne's horror, her father has her locked up in a tower guarded by a dragon to await rescue by a prince. Who will also get to be her husband. Not content to sit and await her fate, Adrienne tames her dragon and trains herself in the arts of war. She then sets out to rescue her youngest sister.
This is a refreshing take on the princess in a tower fairy tale. Funny, full of real characters, it also isn't afraid to poke fun at the fairy tale/fantasy tropes. It also helps that the main character is not white with blonde hair, something she is not hesitant to point out to the hapless princes who come to rescue/woo her. A great graphic novel for kids and teens.
This is a refreshing take on the princess in a tower fairy tale. Funny, full of real characters, it also isn't afraid to poke fun at the fairy tale/fantasy tropes. It also helps that the main character is not white with blonde hair, something she is not hesitant to point out to the hapless princes who come to rescue/woo her. A great graphic novel for kids and teens.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2012
This book is incredibly fun! The princess is smart, self-assured and bold. The supporting cast is varied and enjoyable to read about. The pace is fairly quick, but never feels rushed and the art is incredible. Best yet, I think anyone who doesn't take themselves too seriously can enjoy this, adult or child.
February 3, 2013
I enjoyed this because it's different and because this girl is a badass and doesn't want or need some guy to some rescue her. It reminds me of a web comic I found recently called Princess Princess (which I recommend. Seriously, Google it. It updates weekly.) where, again, the ladies are rescuing each other and don't need some guy coming to their rescue. I can't wait to read the rest.
Read
February 19, 2013Audience: Girls in grades 4-5
Appeal: This appeals to females who like to stand up for themselves or who "march to their own beat."
Application: I would use this as a small group lesson. It would be used for girls to show them that girls can be powerful all by themselves and do not need the help of others. This can also be used with males to explain the same point.
Award: 2012 Will Eisner
Appeal: This appeals to females who like to stand up for themselves or who "march to their own beat."
Application: I would use this as a small group lesson. It would be used for girls to show them that girls can be powerful all by themselves and do not need the help of others. This can also be used with males to explain the same point.
Award: 2012 Will Eisner
August 6, 2016
fun! Especially liked the extra short story at the end. I think I'll collect the whole set and send them to my niece for her 4th birthday. Her older brothers might enjoy them too, perhaps they can read them to her.
November 24, 2012
This comic is great. A funny and memorable deviance from your average princess story or comic with a girl of color main character who is as tough as she is whip smart. I love it. The political satire in many of the funnier parts is also perfect.
March 11, 2016
A young princess, locked in a tower and guarded by a dragon, decides she will not wait for some prince to rescue her. She will make her own fate and rescue her other sisters also locked in towers throughout their kingdom. Girl power!
October 4, 2015
I am incoherent with love of this book. So smart. So funny. Dragon adventure hijinks one page, scathing critique of the dragon industrial complex the next. Awesome, well-rounded characters on a quest that is just the right balance of familiar and twisted. Just... read it. Now.
November 6, 2013
OMG i love this! it's funny, feminist, diverse, and entertaining!
June 21, 2012
Every girl should read this
March 29, 2014
Fantastically fun! I want a Sparky of my very own!
May 29, 2014
Another WisCon score for us- our 4-year-old girl has declared it her favorite book!
September 8, 2016
LOVE LOVE LOVED this comic. Fantastic twist on the classic fairy tale, in so many ways.
July 17, 2014
This is the princess story I have always wanted to exist. Can't wait to read more!
October 9, 2016
I was excited to get this and it was even better than I was hoping for! Definitely a great one for kids, with bonus points for sections exploring how patriarchy fucks up boys.
April 13, 2015
Awesomely fun and a good take on girl power!
December 19, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic novel. The illustrations are gorgeous, the plot is riveting, and the characters are so easy to fall in love with. Comics Alliance describes "PrinceLess" as "the story Disney should've been telling for the past twenty years" and the reason is more clear than ever: women don't need to fantasize about being princesses in need of being rescued. On the other hand, I have noticed a trend where men are being based. Moreover, that doesn't need to be the case. Can't we live in a world where men and women are BOTH equally respected SIMULTANEOUSLY? Of course we can. :) Other than that, I won't mind reading the next installment.
February 1, 2019
I laughed so frigging hard through this whole thing! It was great! I love how starkly they portray archaic ideas as bad! Like women are weak.
I love the part where Smith realizes she can make FUNCTIONAL armor for women. But hands down. Best line is that whole "Fair means WHITE!" exchange. I laughed so hard.
Anyway. This book is amazing. I need more! I read this book in my car over lunch hour rather than writing mine.😁 The #warandchess fandom will be oh so very pleased.😋
I love the part where Smith realizes she can make FUNCTIONAL armor for women. But hands down. Best line is that whole "Fair means WHITE!" exchange. I laughed so hard.
Anyway. This book is amazing. I need more! I read this book in my car over lunch hour rather than writing mine.😁 The #warandchess fandom will be oh so very pleased.😋
December 4, 2018
The transitions between events and storylines are a little shaky, and the ending is a bit abrupt. But I LOVE this story. Adrienne is the heroine I needed growing up. Her commitment to saving herself, fighting for the women in her life, and challenging gender roles is inspiring. I cannot wait to pass this along to my nieces and my sister!
February 4, 2019
I absolutely love this comic book, which surprised me over and over again as it openly flouts traditional fairy tale and princess story structures. I love Adrienne and her spirit and determination, and I also love how Whitley very openly discusses race, gender bias, and disabilities. I've only read two of the series but I can't wait to read more!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews