Reading: BLACK CANARY: IGNITE - Meg Cabot (writer), Cara McGee (illustrator)

Bestselling author Meg Cabot (The Princess Diaries) offers up her first graphic novel via DC Zoom, telling the story of thirteen-year student Dinah Lance whose interests are as diverse as winning the battle of the bands contest at school and following her Gotham City cop father into the business of taking down bad guys. Dinah's dad forbids the latter and - based on Dinah's voice - even seriously questions her playing in the all-girl band with her best friends. But when Dinah finds her voice - her true voice, which can shatter glass and bend steel and short out electricity - she soon discovers a legacy and power she never knew she had; one that could potentially set her long-term career goal of being a crime fighter into motion, even as the young girl finds herself in trouble at school when she finds herself unable to control her talent ... and is stalked by a figure in black with ties to her mother and "the family secret". This origin story for Black Canary, well-illustrated (if a little "cartoon-y" for me) by the super-talented Cara McGee, paints a realistic portrait of a typical thirteen-year-old full of drama and big dreams and bullheaded determination. Dinah is likable, funny, loyal to her friends - even funny, in her initial reaction to having what she thinks is the most boring superpower ever. The relationship with Dinah and her friends feels right as well, and especially good is the bond between Dinah and her mother, the original Black Canary who ultimately will or will not "pass the mantle" down to her daughter. But while I enjoyed Black Canary: Ignite and it's characters, plot and art, the book always felt very "DC Lite" for me; I never felt bonded with any of the characters on a level that drew me fully into the story. And having had that very experience in a number of graphic novels, this was just the tiniest bit of a letdown for me.  3.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.