Meesh the Bad Demon

Meesh the demon can’t breathe fire and hates moulding lava. She’d rather watch Princess Nouna the problem-fixing fairy princess on TV. Even though she’s bullied by the other demons, Meesh can’t help but admire flowers when she sees them. It seems she’ll never fit in.

When some strange lava turns all the other demons to stone, including her beloved grandma, Meesh travels to the fairy realm to ask Princess Nouna for help. Only it turns out Nouna isn’t as powerful as she seems on TV, and fairies aren’t that keen on demons. Can Meesh and Nouna find a way past their differences to save the demons of Mount Magma? It will take the help of some unexpected friends, and perhaps a little bit of magic . . .

Michelle Lam has written and illustrated this magical graphic novel, which draws on some of her experiences as a Chinese American. The themes of identity and bullying are central to the plot, but not overwhelmingly so, as the emphasis is on the quest to save her fellow demons. This first story in a fantasy graphic novel series is fun, fast-paced and full of peril.