Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this Graphic Novel! I really enjoyed the illustrations and coloring. The plot and characters were amazing a and really well flushed out for something so short! Very unique!

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this eBook.

Such a fast read though the art did get a little confusing for me to follow sometimes.

Incredible art and a page turner!
The detail in the art creates a world that readers both know and don't know. Comic style reminds me of Tillie Walden's art style and the excitement of reading through this did not stop!

This is my second time reading this masterpiece; it was just as good as the first time! I love everything about this book, and I CANNOT wait for more from the author!!

It was lovely, intriguing, creative. Absolutely stunning artwork. I don’t think I’m capable of coming up with a cohesive and well thought out review. There is so much to love in this book.

Diving into the found family I find myself incapable of putting feelings into words. I wanted nothing to happen to all the characters because they are all so near, dear, and precious to my heart.

I have so many more thoughts but it’s hard to put everything into words. This book was perfect in so many ways and I will greedily snatch up multiple copies!!!

I didn’t have time for this book when I was approved. I plan to read it in the future though. Looks fun!

This was a lot. Unfortunately it was too much for me to follow and enjoy. Aside from the artwork and color scheme, which I really enjoyed.
The story felt lacking. I could see what it was reaching for, but it just didn't hit those important topics and character development I would have liked.

**Thank you to Oni Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

If you promise me a graphic novel that is a merger between roller derby and coming-of-age, you better believe I will read it! And that is exactly what Wild: Or So I Was Born To Be promises readers.

Wild Rodriguez and her friends always have cherished roller derby, and this year marks a highlight in their obsession – they're finally trying out for the Rocket Rollers. Will they have what it takes to enter the roller derby world?

Anyone who understands roller derby knows exactly what sacrifices will need to be made, including accepting pain and punishment. Not to mention the risk of joining a feud...or two.

There's something about the combination of roller derby and coming-of-age that feels so...right. Perhaps it's because both roller derby and life can beat the shit out of you. Or perhaps it's just me wanting to like this graphic novel! Either way.

Overall, I would have to say that Wild is a pretty interesting graphic novel. I think I liked the artwork more than the plot itself, but that isn't a bad thing. To be honest, the monochromatic art style probably would have stolen the show, regardless.

There's a lot of potential peaking through the pages, though I think the plot could have used a bit of tightening up. Even though I didn't love every moment of this read, something about it made me wish it was a series. I think that's the potential (and the artwork) speaking.

I read this manga/comic and I absolutely adore the colours on the colour palette. The art style was beautiful. I love the character arc and the progression in this book and the pacing was dead on. I would highly highly recommend and I will be looking into more artwork from this artist and author in the future as I felt a connection to the art and the colour palette and will be recommending to my friends.

I was intrigued by the cover artwork and premise of this graphic novel, and I’m always looking to try to try new and different comics, but unfortunately I didn’t love this one.

The artwork and the colour scheme was the only part that appealed to me, and even on some occasions this wasn’t a strength of the book - the limited colours made it sometimes unclear who was who, or what was happening (especially in the busier roller derby action scenes) and the story was so surreal at times that it became no longer appealing to look at, or was too exaggerated for me. On top of this, there were some pages where the art style changed for no reason, then change back, that meant I got confused about who characters were. The actual roller derby scenes were so exaggerated and had so little background artwork that as someone who is unfamiliar with the sport I had no idea what was going on or even how the game is played.

The story was really difficult to follow - I could only tell you the name of one character, Wild, because her name is the title of the book. There were far too many characters and barely any time spent on their development, so I didn’t know or care about anyone. The other teams were just strange over-the-top villains, and Wild’s team mates weren’t memorable in the slightest. There was no sense of friendship or team spirit that I would expect from a sports story. Conversations didn’t flow naturally or realistically, so page to page I wasn’t sure what they were talking about. Settings and plot threads are picked up and dropped or switched without making it clear, so it’s confusing to follow.

There were also a few spelling and / or grammar mistakes that I hope don’t make it into the final graphic novel.

One star feels harsh, because the artwork was great at times, but overall I didn’t really enjoy this at all, and think I will forget about having read this pretty soon.

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Netgalley. Trigger warning for ableist language.)

Fourteen-year-old Wild Rodriguez made a pact with her besties years ago: train like hell so that they could all score a spot on the Rocket Rollers, one of several roller derby teams at Westhoff HS. Now that freshman year has finally arrived, Wild is having second thoughts: not because she doesn't love roller derby, but because she's afraid she'll prove no good at her only passion. It doesn't help that her mom - a roller derby aficionado who idolizes the mysterious icon Rosie - thinks that Wild is too fragile for such a rough and tumble sport. Or that the members of the opposing teams want to reduce her to a blood smear on the rink.

I love roller derby (as a spectator only, lol), and wanted to love WILD, but ... not so much. This feels less like roller derby and more like MMA fighting. The violence and trash talk is over the top; the word 'gonzo' comes to mind. Granted, what we're treated to is Wild's exaggerated POV, but the result is bizarre and hard to follow. Several of the girls look very similar, and when you throw in the sometimes distorted facial expressions and many demonic faces, it becomes nearly impossible to tell everyone apart. Other reviewers used the term 'experimental' and compared it to CUPHEAD, both of which seem apt. If this is your thing, you might enjoy WILD - otherwise skip this one.

i love the visuals, the color palette, the illustrations, the character design...the story left me a wee bit uninterested. i'm not sure why exactly, maybe the dialogues and character interactions could have had more depth...

The art style and the colours were absolutely beautiful, such a gorgeous colour palette !!! The only downside was the jumping between the two narratives, it made it a little hard to follow and keep track of what was actually happening. Regardless, I very much enjoyed it

Various high school girls are in a super violent roller derby league where only the strongest survive. Castelo has created a tale right out of the 1970s. The style is very cool and retro, and the story is humorous and violent. A fun ride (but not for kids.)

Wild is a story focusing on teenage girls competing at roller derby in the 70s. It's frenetic and alternates between reality and fantasy at a fast clip.

I wanted to like this better than I did. The art is engaging and the subject matter is very cool, but the story jumps around and is hard to follow at time. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't the experience I hoped for.

Still, it's good.

Miigweetch to NetGalley and Oni Press for the DRC.

"Wild" is a graphic novel about a teenage girl who loves roller derby. Set in 1975, the narrative bounces between the main character's real life and her internal fantasy world. I enjoyed the unique art style; visually it's a joy to take in, if a bit chaotic at times. The monochromatic color scheme worked for me!

I recommend this to roller derby enthusiasts as well as readers who enjoy coming of age stories, and comics that are not about superheros.

This book was a roller derby fever dream. I had a bit of a hard time following the plot, as it went back and forth between reality and dreams. This made it hard for me to connect with the story, but it was still entertaining enough to read. The art is also GORGEOUS. That was a huge factor towards my interest in this book.

This graphic novel wasn't for me - and that's okay! The colors made my sensory issues flare up (I'm autistic) and it was too difficult to try to read it even when giving myself time away from it. However, I know A LOT of people will really appreciate the art and the story and I think you should rea it.

Wild has a unique visual aesthetic, eye-catching color design, and is an engaging story. Recommended for comics readers.

Wild: Or So I Was Born To Be by Cristian Castelo is a frenetic coming of age story that reads like a fever dream. The story is a combination of real life and the imaginary fantasy world of Wild Rodriguez, sometimes changing so quickly you are unsure what is what. This energy perfectly defines what Wild must be feeling on her quest to become a roller derby queen her freshman year in high school.
All illustrations are done in an orangey monochromatic scheme which exudes the atmosphere of the 70's where the story takes place. I love how Wild's idol, a roller derby queen named Rosie comes to her in her dreams to help guide on the path to greatness. I'm looking forward to read more about Wild's journey. I give this 3.5 stars out of 5.

I was Blown Away by Not Only the Story but Also the Art in the Comic itself, I Wish this was Part of a Series of Comics.
(Thanks to Net Galley for this Book).