Barda

Illustrated by Ngozi Ukazu
Darkseid is…and life on Apokolips is tough—but then, it is hell after all. And no one knows this better than Barda, Granny Goodness’s right hand warrior.

But Barda has a secret…she is in love. Or she is drawn to the idea of it anyway, whether it be the beauty of a flower, her affection for her closest friend, Aurelie, or the mysterious and fierce enemy warrior, Orion, who is the only match for Barda’s strength.

But when Granny decides Barda is becoming too soft, she assigns Barda a task that might be more than she can handle—to break the seemingly unbreakable Scott Free. And as Barda questions why Scott has such hope and what he might have done to promote such hatred from Granny, she finds herself drawn to him in a way she never expected.

The only thing is, we do not speak of love on Apokolips…

Join New York Times bestselling author-illustrator NGOZI UKAZU (Check, Please) as she takes readers on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery, deep friendships, and first loves!
Ngozi Ukazu is a New York Times bestselling author and the creator of Check, Please!, an online graphic novel whose printing campaign remains one of the most funded webcomics Kickstarter ever. She graduated from Yale University with a degree in Computing and The Arts, and later received a masters in Sequential Arts. Since 2020, her cartoons have appeared in The New Yorker.

Ngozi Ukazu is a New York Times bestselling author and the creator of Check, Please!, an online graphic novel whose printing campaign remains one of the most funded webcomics Kickstarter ever. She graduated from Yale University with a degree in Computing and The Arts, and later received a masters in Sequential Arts. Since 2020, her cartoons have appeared in The New Yorker.
“Gorgeous, sharp-edged writing, pitch-perfect characterizations, and miles and miles of heart...This one’s a keeper!” –Diane Duane, New York Times bestselling author of So You Want to Be a Wizard
 
“Bold, brash, and beyond tough—that’s Ngozi’s beautifully rendered Barda, in all her glory. A can’t-miss from a once-in-a-generation comics talent.” —Sam Maggs, bestselling author of Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars

“The only thing stronger than Barda’s fists is her heart. Fans will be rooting for her as she becomes the warrior she’s meant to be!” —Varian Johnson, writer of Mister Miracle: The Great Escape
 
“I loved this book! Ngozi Ukazu’s work strikes the perfect balance of epic fights, gorgeous worlds, and a hero trying her best to navigate the complexities of love and warriorhood. Be prepared for a genuinely fun read that will take you to the darkest corners of Apokolips and leave you wanting even more adventures with Big Barda.”
—Jarrett Williams, writer and artist of Hip-Hop: The Beat of America& Super Pro K.O.!

“…a fantastic balance between action and introspection. A visually arresting account of a Fury’s promising beginning.” –Kirkus Reviews 

"A love story set on a world without love, with a sort of cosmic Romeo and Juliet (with a far happier ending) at its plot’s center, Barda is a magnificent superhero comic that reads like YA sci-fi, and it finds a rich, fascinating inner life in a character who’se spent decades in the shadow of her husband or her teammates." –School Library Journal

About

Darkseid is…and life on Apokolips is tough—but then, it is hell after all. And no one knows this better than Barda, Granny Goodness’s right hand warrior.

But Barda has a secret…she is in love. Or she is drawn to the idea of it anyway, whether it be the beauty of a flower, her affection for her closest friend, Aurelie, or the mysterious and fierce enemy warrior, Orion, who is the only match for Barda’s strength.

But when Granny decides Barda is becoming too soft, she assigns Barda a task that might be more than she can handle—to break the seemingly unbreakable Scott Free. And as Barda questions why Scott has such hope and what he might have done to promote such hatred from Granny, she finds herself drawn to him in a way she never expected.

The only thing is, we do not speak of love on Apokolips…

Join New York Times bestselling author-illustrator NGOZI UKAZU (Check, Please) as she takes readers on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery, deep friendships, and first loves!

Author

Ngozi Ukazu is a New York Times bestselling author and the creator of Check, Please!, an online graphic novel whose printing campaign remains one of the most funded webcomics Kickstarter ever. She graduated from Yale University with a degree in Computing and The Arts, and later received a masters in Sequential Arts. Since 2020, her cartoons have appeared in The New Yorker.

Ngozi Ukazu is a New York Times bestselling author and the creator of Check, Please!, an online graphic novel whose printing campaign remains one of the most funded webcomics Kickstarter ever. She graduated from Yale University with a degree in Computing and The Arts, and later received a masters in Sequential Arts. Since 2020, her cartoons have appeared in The New Yorker.

Praise

“Gorgeous, sharp-edged writing, pitch-perfect characterizations, and miles and miles of heart...This one’s a keeper!” –Diane Duane, New York Times bestselling author of So You Want to Be a Wizard
 
“Bold, brash, and beyond tough—that’s Ngozi’s beautifully rendered Barda, in all her glory. A can’t-miss from a once-in-a-generation comics talent.” —Sam Maggs, bestselling author of Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars

“The only thing stronger than Barda’s fists is her heart. Fans will be rooting for her as she becomes the warrior she’s meant to be!” —Varian Johnson, writer of Mister Miracle: The Great Escape
 
“I loved this book! Ngozi Ukazu’s work strikes the perfect balance of epic fights, gorgeous worlds, and a hero trying her best to navigate the complexities of love and warriorhood. Be prepared for a genuinely fun read that will take you to the darkest corners of Apokolips and leave you wanting even more adventures with Big Barda.”
—Jarrett Williams, writer and artist of Hip-Hop: The Beat of America& Super Pro K.O.!

“…a fantastic balance between action and introspection. A visually arresting account of a Fury’s promising beginning.” –Kirkus Reviews 

"A love story set on a world without love, with a sort of cosmic Romeo and Juliet (with a far happier ending) at its plot’s center, Barda is a magnificent superhero comic that reads like YA sci-fi, and it finds a rich, fascinating inner life in a character who’se spent decades in the shadow of her husband or her teammates." –School Library Journal

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