Comics Review: Steven Universe #9

Is this latest issue of Steven Universe a “happy little accident?”

Overview (Spoilers Below)

The story begins when Amethyst brings Steven to Vidalia to help improve his artistic skills and later invites Peridot & Lapis because they don’t have a lot of art hung in the living quarters. Vidalia’s first lesson is having all 3 of them learn about basic figure drawing by using Amethyst as the model but specifically doesn’t want them to directly copy what they see. A lot of the pages within this issue has almost no dialogue when the three proceed to draw their own interpretation until they move on to drawing animals with Amethyst using her shapeshifting powers for reference.

Things go fine at first until a messy paint accident occurs leading to a petty paint-fight between Peridot & Lapis which only upsets Steven who blames himself for inviting the two. Eventually, the two own-up to their mistake and surprise Steven the next day as they managed to fix most of Steven’s Art pad which was caught in the paint fight earning Steven’s forgiveness and the issue ends on a happy note when the three continue their next lesson with Amethyst holding completely still in one position.

Our Take

With the writing of Grace Kraft and Art by Rii Abrego this time, the art style & writing consistently excels as usual with Kaboom entertainment’s current run of Steven Universe stories that could easily pass as “Lost Episodes”. What I felt was some of the best moments in the story are Vidalia’s interactions with Steven, Lapis, and Peridot when she gives each one personal feedback and much needed constructive criticism to the three on what they need to improve art-wise without making them feel restricted to a specific shape or design and just have fun with it.