Review by Woodrow Phoenix

In Dana Simpson’s daily newspaper feature Phoebe and Her Unicorn, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils is a legendary creature who is now resident in the human world thanks to being rescued by nine-year-old Phoebe Howell. She saved Marigold from a unique problem of being so bewitchingly beautiful: unicorns can become trapped into staring at their own reflections forever. The two have become best friends and as this is Volume 16 of collected  Phoebe and Her Unicorn strips they have been hanging out together for quite some time.

Phoebe is now used to magical creatures appearing randomly in her life, so when she sees a pixie in her house, she doesn’t think anything of it. But Marigold does: “Oh No! My frequent presence has turned your yard into a… a… Magical Sylvan Glen! When a unicorn is long enough in one place, the place will take on some of her magic. Legend tells of a unicorn called Orange Stardust, who lingered too long at a gas station convenience store. Eventually, the place was overrun by gallivanting fauns, and had to be abandoned!” This promises to develop into a hilarious comedy situation that could really upend everything, what with music drifting in from other realms (“That sounds like smooth jazz,” says Phoebe. “That one is not my favourite realm,” Marigold replies) and a sphinx refusing to allow Phoebe, her parents or any visitors to enter or exit from the house without answering riddles. But that’s as far as the idea goes and eight strips later it’s completely forgotten and onto the next thing.

The level of wit applied to this series has stepped up in this volume with much funnier conversations and an increased wackiness overall. However, that’s tempered by the way Unicornado is filled with amusing situations that barely get started before they are over, from Phoebe discovering the Shield of Boringness even affects her writing about unicorns, and the secrets to winning at chess, to a self-help book about how to be more wonderful. But children won’t notice this, so it’s just something for older readers to sigh at. Hallowe’en occupies us for a couple of weeks, and to solve the mystery of Dakota’s issues with the Goblin Queen, Phoebe has to go undercover as a goblin, which is fun. The complications around the school dance are good too.

Next in the series is Punk Rock Unicorn.