Kanga-U: Tests and Tournaments Review

 

Writer: Sholly Fisch

Artist: Yancey Labat

Colorist: Monica Kubina

Letterer: Wes Abbott

Cover Artist: Yancey Labat & Monica Kubina

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $12.99

Page Count: 128

Release Date: June 10, 2025

 

Jumpa enjoys life with her friends in Ms Hoppa’s class. In her free time, she watches the Amazons train. The warriors have been perfecting their craft for centuries. When her friend Skippa arrives, Jumpa expresses her admiration of the young princess. But as Diana counters attacks from her more experienced kin, Skippa warns her that they are late for class. Will Ms Hoppa punish Jumpa and Skippa for their tardiness? Or will their teacher tell them something that will transform their lives? Let’s leap into Kanga-U: Tests and Tournaments and see!

 

Story

When Jumpa and Skippa arrive, Ms Hoppa doesn't punish them. However, she does select them for more difficult roles during their training session. After reminding her class of Amazonian history and the Kangas' role in Themysciran society, Ms Hoppa makes an announcement. The Amazons will select new steeds at the end of the week.

 

With Bonding Day coming so soon, Ms Hoppa accelerates her students’ training. Each of the young Kangas must do their best. Their performance in the forthcoming tournament will determine which Amazon they partner with for the next twenty years.

 

In Kanga-U: Tests and Tournaments, Jumpa dreams of bonding with Diana. The Amazons will partner with many Kangas throughout their lives. But the young princess is special. She is the first new addition to Themyscira’s Amazon population. Not only will Diana’s Kanga be linked with Queen Hippolyta’s household. But the young princess and her steed will experience everything together for the first time.

 

In addition to Jumpa’s four classmates, Sholly Fisch also introduces the competitive members of another class. Readers also meet Jumpa’s mother and witness Diana training with her instructor, Artemis. As Jumpa prepares for Bonding Day, she becomes more invested in her friends’ lives. Other Kangas assure Jumpa that bonding isn't about social prestige. It's vital to find the Amazon who best shares her interests.

 

Jumpa has her heart set on Diana in Kanga-U: Tests and Tournaments. Observing the princess inspires Jumpa to pursue a controversial strategy. Her friends warn Jumpa that it may inhibit her from doing her best on the most important day of her life.

 

Art

Yancey Labat adorns each member of the intelligent kangaroo species with unique attire. Ms Hoppa and her students each wear different styles of head, chest, shoulder, arm, and waist clothes and armor. The Kangas hop, run, climb hills, and fight with staffs. They use their tails to whap each other during training. They tap tails with their friends to celebrate achievements. But their intended purpose—the result of the training—will be to transport their Amazons into battle, where they will function in concert with their riders.

 

While Monica Kubina gives Jumpa and her friends different colored skin and adornments, gold links them together. Like the verdant land around them, the Kangas shine with bright and attractive colors. They inhabit a land of classic Greek architecture, with pruned trees, trimmed hedges, and temples. Amid the vivid colors of Kanga-U: Tests and Tournaments, Rooth points out the importance of gray when Jumpa urges her friend to see things her way.

 

Wes Abbott denotes time and locations in yellow panels topped by a brown-and-orange wave pattern. Black lowercase dialogue inhabits white dialogue balloons and boxes. Intonation italicizes and emboldens words. The words swell for raised voices and shrink for lowered voices. Giant colored dialogue accentuates jubilant cries. Music notes accompany chanting. Sound effects heighten the students’ training as contests and unexpected dangers threaten their futures on Themyscira. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Aphrodite and Athena granted the Kangas long lives to serve their Amazon partners. Every twenty years or so, the Amazons hold a Bonding Day to choose the Kangas they will defend Themyscira with. While the Amazons cannot understand the Kangas' speech, Sholly Fisch takes us into the animals’ lives to share their hopes, struggles, interests, and triumphs in Kanga-U: Tests and Tournaments.

 

Rating 9.8/10