What do you think?
Rate this book
DPS Only!
This captivating coming-of-age story set in the world of e-sports will have readers cheering for girl gamer Vicky Tan as she overcomes social anxiety, self-doubt, and an overprotective big brother to pursue her dream of becoming a competitive gamer. From the Tapas webcomic, a 2021 Eisner Award nominee.
High school student Vicky lives a secret life. To most, she is a meek pushover, often in the shadow of her e-sports superstar of a brother, Virgil. Unknown to anyone, however, she dons a secret identity when she logs on to play Xenith Orion, the multiplayer game dominating the e-sports scene. She knows firsthand the harassment female gamers often experience, but when an opportunity arises in a local tournament, Vicky—mask in hand—cannot resist the challenge. Sneaking around and hiding only works for so long, and once the truth comes out, what will it mean for Vicky and those who trusted her?
High school student Vicky lives a secret life. To most, she is a meek pushover, often in the shadow of her e-sports superstar of a brother, Virgil. Unknown to anyone, however, she dons a secret identity when she logs on to play Xenith Orion, the multiplayer game dominating the e-sports scene. She knows firsthand the harassment female gamers often experience, but when an opportunity arises in a local tournament, Vicky—mask in hand—cannot resist the challenge. Sneaking around and hiding only works for so long, and once the truth comes out, what will it mean for Vicky and those who trusted her?
432 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2022
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
March 11, 2023
4.5⭐️
*proceeds to Google everything about Velinxi*
I was not prepared for how good this graphic novel would be and inhaled it in one sitting. How does it have less than 300 ratings? Everyone needs to pick this up pronto!
All the different subplots are engaging and well-developed, from the sibling bond to Vicky and Opal's fractured friendship. The characters are delightful and I was pleasantly surprised by how well-done Virgil's arc was. I also loved how the book explored sibling dynamics while highlighting issues such as misogyny, sexism and harassment.
I didn't always understand all of the gaming scenes and lingo, but was completely absorbed and had fun reading this anyway. DPS Only! is an immersive read that takes you into the fascinating world of esports, with an excellent cast and #girlboss vibes to boot. Enjoy the ride!
*proceeds to Google everything about Velinxi*
I was not prepared for how good this graphic novel would be and inhaled it in one sitting. How does it have less than 300 ratings? Everyone needs to pick this up pronto!
All the different subplots are engaging and well-developed, from the sibling bond to Vicky and Opal's fractured friendship. The characters are delightful and I was pleasantly surprised by how well-done Virgil's arc was. I also loved how the book explored sibling dynamics while highlighting issues such as misogyny, sexism and harassment.
I didn't always understand all of the gaming scenes and lingo, but was completely absorbed and had fun reading this anyway. DPS Only! is an immersive read that takes you into the fascinating world of esports, with an excellent cast and #girlboss vibes to boot. Enjoy the ride!
June 9, 2023
Very good! I like all of Velinxi's works, especially their Tapa's Daughter of a Thousand Faces. Illustrations are always on point!
Read
October 31, 2022[Content warnings: misogyny/sexism, harassment, referenced child abuse.]
I’ve been on a webcomic kick the last several months, so I was excited to get my hands on an eARC of DPS ONLY! I’d never read the original comic (on Tapas), but the publishing team did a great job of converting the (vertical, long-scroll) episodes to traditional pages/spreads for printing. There were only a handful of places where I was uncertain about where I should be looking first—not bad at all for having to reformat everything in a different orientation!
Creator Xiao Tong Kong (aka, Velinxi) put together an engaging, one-volume story. I really enjoyed Velinxi’s art style, especially the character design and color palettes. The “in game” views of Xenith Orion were interesting, though I was occasionally confused by what was going on when the action got complicated. Part of that is certainly due to my inexperience with games like Xenith Orion; DPS ONLY! does include some definitions/explanations of various terminology throughout, which were very useful.
So far as the story goes, our heroine Vicky has been hiding her interest in Xenith Orion from her brother—and with the strangers she plays online with as well. The (real-world) sexism/misogyny in e-sports is never far away from the center of the story, from Virgil’s well-meaning but patronizing attitude to Vicky getting hit on at tournaments to the harassment female players experience from both players and fans. I really appreciated that Velinxi included other female players in addition to Vicky—such as Opal, one of Vicky’s teammates, and Fangs, part of the Hunting Howls team—as it was nice to see that even in a story where Vicky feels like she has to hide her identity, there are other female players competing and thriving at a high level.
The one plotline I really didn’t enjoy was Virgil being hostile to Opal and Eric, and especially how Virgil kept hounding Eric about hanging around Vicky. The age difference between Eric and Vicky is Virgil’s concern, but it gets uncomfortable fast since Eric is the only Black character in the main cast and Virgil is pretty convinced Eric has nefarious designs on Vicky. This very much soured my opinion of Virgil, and I almost wished DPS ONLY! had been longer just so I could see more of Virgil repairing his relationship with Vicky and actually building relationships with Opal and Eric. As it is, I was a little miffed by how quickly all of that was resolved.
Recommendation: Pre-order it if you’re interested in e-sports. Xiao Tong Kong created a solid one-volume work about a teenage girl who feels like she has to hide herself to succeed at what she loves. It’s an interesting peek into the uphill battle female players face, and I’ll be checking out the creator’s latest project.
I’ve been on a webcomic kick the last several months, so I was excited to get my hands on an eARC of DPS ONLY! I’d never read the original comic (on Tapas), but the publishing team did a great job of converting the (vertical, long-scroll) episodes to traditional pages/spreads for printing. There were only a handful of places where I was uncertain about where I should be looking first—not bad at all for having to reformat everything in a different orientation!
Creator Xiao Tong Kong (aka, Velinxi) put together an engaging, one-volume story. I really enjoyed Velinxi’s art style, especially the character design and color palettes. The “in game” views of Xenith Orion were interesting, though I was occasionally confused by what was going on when the action got complicated. Part of that is certainly due to my inexperience with games like Xenith Orion; DPS ONLY! does include some definitions/explanations of various terminology throughout, which were very useful.
So far as the story goes, our heroine Vicky has been hiding her interest in Xenith Orion from her brother—and with the strangers she plays online with as well. The (real-world) sexism/misogyny in e-sports is never far away from the center of the story, from Virgil’s well-meaning but patronizing attitude to Vicky getting hit on at tournaments to the harassment female players experience from both players and fans. I really appreciated that Velinxi included other female players in addition to Vicky—such as Opal, one of Vicky’s teammates, and Fangs, part of the Hunting Howls team—as it was nice to see that even in a story where Vicky feels like she has to hide her identity, there are other female players competing and thriving at a high level.
The one plotline I really didn’t enjoy was Virgil being hostile to Opal and Eric, and especially how Virgil kept hounding Eric about hanging around Vicky. The age difference between Eric and Vicky is Virgil’s concern, but it gets uncomfortable fast since Eric is the only Black character in the main cast and Virgil is pretty convinced Eric has nefarious designs on Vicky. This very much soured my opinion of Virgil, and I almost wished DPS ONLY! had been longer just so I could see more of Virgil repairing his relationship with Vicky and actually building relationships with Opal and Eric. As it is, I was a little miffed by how quickly all of that was resolved.
Recommendation: Pre-order it if you’re interested in e-sports. Xiao Tong Kong created a solid one-volume work about a teenage girl who feels like she has to hide herself to succeed at what she loves. It’s an interesting peek into the uphill battle female players face, and I’ll be checking out the creator’s latest project.
November 24, 2020
This comic follows Vicky, a shy 17-year-old gamer who hides her talent from Virgil, her guardian and older brother who is (justifiably) concerned about his sister being around the toxic and misogynistic gamer culture. Virgil worked as a teen so he would have enough money to get an apartment for himself and Vicky away from their abusive father. I found this sibling dynamic very interesting and hopped back and forth between thinking Virgil has great protective instincts and thinking he is far too prescriptive of what Vicky can and can't do. While I know basically nothing about gaming, the characters are what kept me engaged throughout the story.
August 12, 2024
zacznę może od tego, że nigdy bym nie pomyślała, że tak mnie wciągnie komiks internetowy o turniejach gier komputerowych! a tu proszę, 'połknęłam' to w jeden dzień, haha. i było warto!
muszę przyznać, że sięgnęłam po to tylko ze względu na autorkę, velinxi (xiao tong kong), nie przeczytawszy nawet opisu😅
absolutnie uwielbiam jej styl rysowania, przez co zdecydowanie musiałam przeczytać jej prace (inne też zaczęłam, ale przyznaję, że ta wciągnęła mnie najbardziej🤭🤭)
zupełnie zakochałam się w głównej bohaterce, vicky, a także jej przyjaciółce, opal🫶🫶🫶
historia była naprawdę ciekawa i dobrze przemyślana, świetne przedstawienie skomplikowanej realcji vicky z bratem, a także sytuacji rodzinnych innych bohaterów
no i fajnie też od czasu do czasu przeczytać coś, w czym nie ma romansu😇😇
zdecydowanie polecam!!!
muszę przyznać, że sięgnęłam po to tylko ze względu na autorkę, velinxi (xiao tong kong), nie przeczytawszy nawet opisu😅
absolutnie uwielbiam jej styl rysowania, przez co zdecydowanie musiałam przeczytać jej prace (inne też zaczęłam, ale przyznaję, że ta wciągnęła mnie najbardziej🤭🤭)
zupełnie zakochałam się w głównej bohaterce, vicky, a także jej przyjaciółce, opal🫶🫶🫶
historia była naprawdę ciekawa i dobrze przemyślana, świetne przedstawienie skomplikowanej realcji vicky z bratem, a także sytuacji rodzinnych innych bohaterów
no i fajnie też od czasu do czasu przeczytać coś, w czym nie ma romansu😇😇
zdecydowanie polecam!!!
January 14, 2023
SO COOL!!! I love the character designs and art! I know nothing about esports but that didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying the story. There's so much depth to the characters and plot, from difficult family situations to misogyny in gaming, broken friendships and second chances. The final game had me on the edge of my seat! I'm riding the best type of sports anime high 🤣
February 3, 2023
If you like gaming and character development, please please please read this. It kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Also, I very much relate to Eric being a cry baby about everything because, same.
December 7, 2022
Largely fun. The basic plotline is kind of classic, about a girl learning how to be herself and be more assertive in her life. But she's also an extreme doormat to her brother, to the point where she can't even bring himself to tell him what kind of food she likes. And he's so self-absorbed that he's never caught on that his sister is unable to express any preferences in his presence at all, nor to figure out on his own what she does and doesn't like. He also has a long running and totally unexplained animus towards a character who happens to be the only black character in the main cast. I'm not sure that the author intends to imply that he's racist as well as sexist, but it is kind of suspicious that he's set against this character since long before the story in this book begins. I ended up hating the brother and being occasionally frustrated with the sister and her passiveness. Which doesn't make seeing her growth any less satisfying. As this is basically a sports story, I'll also say that I found the progression of skill to be satisfying. It isn't rushed, and it's clear that all characters involved have put in a lot of work before and during the course of the book to improve their skills. The ending is also satisfying, without being a total fairy tale ending. I think a lot of folks who like e sports and sports manga will really like this, and I think the issue of gender in gaming is handled well overall.
December 17, 2023
I love DPS Only. Vicky is such a cool character and I love how fleshed out everyone is. It’s such a wholesome read and watching the characters grow and develop throughout the story is so fulfilling.
Not to mention the art is absolutely gorgeous. Thank you sm for the gorgeous comic Xiao, it’s such a feel good experience.
Vicky’s making me wanna become an esports player.
Not to mention the art is absolutely gorgeous. Thank you sm for the gorgeous comic Xiao, it’s such a feel good experience.
Vicky’s making me wanna become an esports player.
August 10, 2020
maybe some gamers deserve rights
February 24, 2024
This was a pretty solid graphic novel. I enjoyed all of the characters and was happy with how everything in the plot resolved. I am personally not that into competitive e-sports but I figured I'd give it a try in book form. It definitely hasn't turned me onto the concept, I prefer other kind of gaming content, but it was definitely an interesting backdrop for a story.
February 7, 2023
DPS speaks to my inner child
I saw myself so much in pieces of these characters in this book. I don't have words for a review that won't spoil the ending, unfortunately. I'm so happy it ended the way it did. Such a good book. Highly recommend. 10/10
I saw myself so much in pieces of these characters in this book. I don't have words for a review that won't spoil the ending, unfortunately. I'm so happy it ended the way it did. Such a good book. Highly recommend. 10/10
July 5, 2024
wtf this was so good!!!!! i immediately got a copy of this when i saw velinxi, one of my favorite artists, made this, but i wasn't expecting it to be this good. it's already a given that the art is amazing. the characters are well-written with backstories that made me cry several times. definitely one of my new favorite graphic novels ever.
Want to read
August 8, 2022Sorry, ignore my rating earlier... tried to add this on my to-read and my fingers got the wrong stuff. 😭😭😭
Read
April 9, 2023i will read ANYTHING velinxi writes.
June 29, 2023
Velinxi could draw the instruction manual to an airfryer and I'd still read it.
February 1, 2023
It was really good.
December 20, 2022
Loved it!
I'm in love with everything Velinxi creates, having been reading Ctc and the translated svsss novels, and following her progress on social media (♡ω♡ ) ~♪ I hadn't read DPS only, and when I found out it was being published as a book, I pre-ordered immediately. The characters are well developed and realistic and the problems they're facing are very relatable. I can't wait for her other stories to be officially published! (人*´∀｀)｡*ﾟ+
I'm in love with everything Velinxi creates, having been reading Ctc and the translated svsss novels, and following her progress on social media (♡ω♡ ) ~♪ I hadn't read DPS only, and when I found out it was being published as a book, I pre-ordered immediately. The characters are well developed and realistic and the problems they're facing are very relatable. I can't wait for her other stories to be officially published! (人*´∀｀)｡*ﾟ+
July 9, 2022
3.5 stars/5 stars
I really liked DPS Only! I was in awe of the illustrations and the illustrator's style. The protagonist was possibly my favorite character out of all and the overall story was pleasant to read but the pacing at times was not consistent and dragged a bit at times.
I really liked DPS Only! I was in awe of the illustrations and the illustrator's style. The protagonist was possibly my favorite character out of all and the overall story was pleasant to read but the pacing at times was not consistent and dragged a bit at times.
January 16, 2021
4.5/5⭐
Sin duda una de mis webcomics favoritos, había visto muy pocas historias que tratasen some competiciones de esports. Sin duda para aquellos a los que les guste ver competiciones online, es un comic ideal.
Las ilustraciones son PRECIOSAS y acompañan a una historia muy buena sobre como esta chica comienza a hacerse un nombre en el mundo de los videojuegos sin que nadie sepa quién es de verdad.
Sin duda una de mis webcomics favoritos, había visto muy pocas historias que tratasen some competiciones de esports. Sin duda para aquellos a los que les guste ver competiciones online, es un comic ideal.
Las ilustraciones son PRECIOSAS y acompañan a una historia muy buena sobre como esta chica comienza a hacerse un nombre en el mundo de los videojuegos sin que nadie sepa quién es de verdad.
December 1, 2022
I’m going to be real, I don’t understand why this is a graphic novel as opposed to a traditional one. There’s really no benefit. The art is mediocre at best and only really gets good (haha gamer pun) during the scenes when they’re in game.
Also Virgil sucks as a character and I don’t like him. BUT…. I love that his gamer tag is Aeneid. That is hilarious.
Also Virgil sucks as a character and I don’t like him. BUT…. I love that his gamer tag is Aeneid. That is hilarious.
January 26, 2023
A good story with fun characters! But the end felt a little rushed in its wrap-up.
October 14, 2023
A glimpse of the FPS MOBA e-sports scene and the lives behind its aspiring champions.
Full Review can also read here!
Synopsis: Vicky Tan has always watched from the shadows and looked up to her older brother, Virgil, as he enjoyed the spotlight as a professional competitive player for the game “Xenith Orion.” Secretly harboring her own aspirations and love for the game as DPS main, she takes on the persona of ‘Aegis’ for a chance to participate in an open tournament. Just how far can she go, and will she ever eclipse her older brother?
Status: Completed, 30 Chapters
Where to Read: Tapas (https://tapas.io/series/dpsonly/info)
Review: To be honest, when I saw the title I inwardly laughed and thought this would be cringe-y and gimmicky based on the title and premise. Oh boy, was I ever so glad to have my expectations completely flipped. Instead, I got a heartfelt glimpse of various portraits of the characters who love a game so much that comes from a place of genuine heart, drive, and passion at the finest competitive level. What drives someone to achieve their dreams, to chase that feeling of having reached the apex of their success in an environment with razor-thin margins?
While there are a lot of gaming references seasoned players of FPS MOBA games would enjoy, the true spirit of the story are the deeply heartfelt character interactions. As Vicky learns to share more of her inner world and experience of what it’s like to scrim as a team, what it’s like to take home a high, and even sometimes take home the lows. All the supporting characters are real gems, with the standout highlight of the female friendship between Vicky and Opal -- I’m really glad the author took the time to integrate positive and complex female interactions within the story. Eric is the best support character (quite literally, as he’s a support main!).
There are a lot of layers to unpack in the dynamics between Virgil and Vicky. In a sense, Virgil is both the antagonist of the story and a supporting figure for Vicky. It would have been the easy route to create a caricature of a misogynistic antagonist that snubbed at Vicky’s gaming ambitions because she was a female -- and while yes, there may have been unconscious gendered influences in Virgil’s remarks, there are a lot of heartfelt brother-sister dynamics between Virgil and Vicky that are real heart-jerkers that both create added complexity and serve as the central core driver of the story. Even though Virgil has certain blindspots throughout, his intentions are from a place of care for his younger sister so it isn’t as simple as him versus me, etc. I have to say, the resolution of the arc of how the events concluded were so tense and was so symbolically meaningful and the bittersweetness was almost palpable -- open-ended, but satisfying at the same time for closure -- perfectly balanced.
Another aspect I greatly appreciated was how it delved into the female space, especially for the unique obstacles that females have to overcome in order to be seen as a respectable gamer/content creator in the space that has so much ingrained misogyny in its culture. Major kudos for spotlighting and exploring this unique perspective.
One criticism I would say is that because there were several characters introduced within only thirty short chapters, certain character interactions and conflicts are introduced and resolved rather quickly. I think the story could have benefited from a few more chapters to let the emotional magnitude of resolutions to resonate more deeply, as well as explore certain themes that were introduced beyond just a concept. On the other side of the coin, there’s little/none filler or wasted paneltime and each moment incrementally builds up to something more and nothing gets dragged out.
Summary: This was an extremely solid read. I personally loved this so much and related to even though I play only one FPS MOBA game and have no aspirations to go professional. Finally, a webtoon about that's actually gaming from the female perspective! I would strongly recommend this read. It’s free to read on Tapas and is relatively short, completed at 30 chapters --- there’s no reason not to!
Rating: 8.5/10
Full Review can also read here!
Synopsis: Vicky Tan has always watched from the shadows and looked up to her older brother, Virgil, as he enjoyed the spotlight as a professional competitive player for the game “Xenith Orion.” Secretly harboring her own aspirations and love for the game as DPS main, she takes on the persona of ‘Aegis’ for a chance to participate in an open tournament. Just how far can she go, and will she ever eclipse her older brother?
Status: Completed, 30 Chapters
Where to Read: Tapas (https://tapas.io/series/dpsonly/info)
Review: To be honest, when I saw the title I inwardly laughed and thought this would be cringe-y and gimmicky based on the title and premise. Oh boy, was I ever so glad to have my expectations completely flipped. Instead, I got a heartfelt glimpse of various portraits of the characters who love a game so much that comes from a place of genuine heart, drive, and passion at the finest competitive level. What drives someone to achieve their dreams, to chase that feeling of having reached the apex of their success in an environment with razor-thin margins?
While there are a lot of gaming references seasoned players of FPS MOBA games would enjoy, the true spirit of the story are the deeply heartfelt character interactions. As Vicky learns to share more of her inner world and experience of what it’s like to scrim as a team, what it’s like to take home a high, and even sometimes take home the lows. All the supporting characters are real gems, with the standout highlight of the female friendship between Vicky and Opal -- I’m really glad the author took the time to integrate positive and complex female interactions within the story. Eric is the best support character (quite literally, as he’s a support main!).
There are a lot of layers to unpack in the dynamics between Virgil and Vicky. In a sense, Virgil is both the antagonist of the story and a supporting figure for Vicky. It would have been the easy route to create a caricature of a misogynistic antagonist that snubbed at Vicky’s gaming ambitions because she was a female -- and while yes, there may have been unconscious gendered influences in Virgil’s remarks, there are a lot of heartfelt brother-sister dynamics between Virgil and Vicky that are real heart-jerkers that both create added complexity and serve as the central core driver of the story. Even though Virgil has certain blindspots throughout, his intentions are from a place of care for his younger sister so it isn’t as simple as him versus me, etc. I have to say, the resolution of the arc of how the events concluded were so tense and was so symbolically meaningful and the bittersweetness was almost palpable -- open-ended, but satisfying at the same time for closure -- perfectly balanced.
Another aspect I greatly appreciated was how it delved into the female space, especially for the unique obstacles that females have to overcome in order to be seen as a respectable gamer/content creator in the space that has so much ingrained misogyny in its culture. Major kudos for spotlighting and exploring this unique perspective.
One criticism I would say is that because there were several characters introduced within only thirty short chapters, certain character interactions and conflicts are introduced and resolved rather quickly. I think the story could have benefited from a few more chapters to let the emotional magnitude of resolutions to resonate more deeply, as well as explore certain themes that were introduced beyond just a concept. On the other side of the coin, there’s little/none filler or wasted paneltime and each moment incrementally builds up to something more and nothing gets dragged out.
Summary: This was an extremely solid read. I personally loved this so much and related to even though I play only one FPS MOBA game and have no aspirations to go professional. Finally, a webtoon about that's actually gaming from the female perspective! I would strongly recommend this read. It’s free to read on Tapas and is relatively short, completed at 30 chapters --- there’s no reason not to!
Rating: 8.5/10
June 9, 2024
I had no clue what the title meant when I picked up this book, but the art style intrigued me. I know a little bit about video games, which is to say that I know a lot about the video games I like but very little about the competitive scenes in any game. Still, I found the plot and competition mechanics easy to follow. The artist Velinxi is fantastic at drawing dynamic poses, and I love the way she illustrates the fictional game's play style.
Beautiful art aside, I enjoyed the story, as well. Vicky's friends are wonderful, nuanced characters, and I love their designs! Even her brother Virgil is a great character, because although his actions often grate against my nerves, Velinxi takes the time to explore his relationship with Vicky in such a way that his behavior feels poignant and authentic. We learn why Virgil feels so protective of Vicky, and we get to see his behavior unintentionally loop back to the very parenting styles he was trying to save his sister from. That's fascinating to me, and I love how the heart of this story is friendship and siblings, with no complicating love interests.
I also like how concerned the plot is with misogyny and sexism in video games. I understand why Vicky is reluctant to play as herself online, and it makes sense that she envy's Virgil's ease and lack of concern for himself in male-dominated spaces. We get to see Virgil's accidentally misogynistic side when he tells Vicky to stay away from such spaces without working to make those spaces safer for women and young girls in the first place. Fowl Play's match against the Hunting Howls is a perfect culmination of this theme, and it broke my heart in the best of ways, as I grew to sympathize with and love both teams.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Last but not least, I love the way that this story concludes. It would have felt too easy if Vicky's team had won the tournament their first time competing, but having them lose by a hair's length to her brother is both satisfying and realistic. I like how Virgil learns his sister's identity just before the match begins. (I had been jokingly thinking that Vicky should remove her mask during the match to unsettle her brother at just the right moment.) And I like how his speech at the end gives readers hope for their relationship going forward. Everything is tied up rather nicely, and though there is much we do not know, it seems like there are many good things ahead for these lovable characters.
Beautiful art aside, I enjoyed the story, as well. Vicky's friends are wonderful, nuanced characters, and I love their designs! Even her brother Virgil is a great character, because although his actions often grate against my nerves, Velinxi takes the time to explore his relationship with Vicky in such a way that his behavior feels poignant and authentic. We learn why Virgil feels so protective of Vicky, and we get to see his behavior unintentionally loop back to the very parenting styles he was trying to save his sister from. That's fascinating to me, and I love how the heart of this story is friendship and siblings, with no complicating love interests.
I also like how concerned the plot is with misogyny and sexism in video games. I understand why Vicky is reluctant to play as herself online, and it makes sense that she envy's Virgil's ease and lack of concern for himself in male-dominated spaces. We get to see Virgil's accidentally misogynistic side when he tells Vicky to stay away from such spaces without working to make those spaces safer for women and young girls in the first place. Fowl Play's match against the Hunting Howls is a perfect culmination of this theme, and it broke my heart in the best of ways, as I grew to sympathize with and love both teams.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Last but not least, I love the way that this story concludes. It would have felt too easy if Vicky's team had won the tournament their first time competing, but having them lose by a hair's length to her brother is both satisfying and realistic. I like how Virgil learns his sister's identity just before the match begins. (I had been jokingly thinking that Vicky should remove her mask during the match to unsettle her brother at just the right moment.) And I like how his speech at the end gives readers hope for their relationship going forward. Everything is tied up rather nicely, and though there is much we do not know, it seems like there are many good things ahead for these lovable characters.
January 29, 2023
Vicky lives with her brother, Vergil, who is a renowned e-sports player of the game "Xenith Orion." Though Vicky loves to play video games too, she is too shy and self deprecating to tell him.
When an opportunity arises for Vicky to join an e-sports team of her own, she takes it, and uses a mask to conceal her identity. But she knows, it is only a matter of time until her secret comes out.
What will she do then?
I very much enjoyed this coming-of-age graphic novel. Readers get to see Vicky really coming into her own in the video game scene, while handling her personal relationships, particularly the one with her brother.
This story touched on the potential sexism of e-sports. So few young women play, and when they do, they can draw all sorts of negative or toxic attention. Vicky avoids some of this with her costume, but other parts of it she can't escape- like when one of the members of her brother's team presses her for her phone number, though she doesn't want to give it.
Or the negative comments arising from spectators to the tournament which are specifically directed to a female member of another team who isn't hiding her gender behind a mask.
I experienced this type of thing first-hand in some of my gaming days. I was big into EverQuest in the early 2000's. Luckily for me, that was before head-set communication during gaming was a thing, so, even though I played female avatars, most of the people I gamed with just assumed I was a guy.
It was easy for me to hide. I never felt like I had to, like Vicky, but looking back on it all now, it saved me from negative attention for years.
News articles about e-sports have reported women comprise about half of casual gamers but only a handful of professional gamers. Here's hoping more young women find the courage to follow their dreams!
The video game portions of this book were the most difficult to follow. It cut quickly from one character to the next with little explanation of what is going on except the kill.
Other than that, I thought this book was well done.
Highly recommended for reluctant readers, fans of video games, and readers who enjoy graphic novels.
When an opportunity arises for Vicky to join an e-sports team of her own, she takes it, and uses a mask to conceal her identity. But she knows, it is only a matter of time until her secret comes out.
What will she do then?
I very much enjoyed this coming-of-age graphic novel. Readers get to see Vicky really coming into her own in the video game scene, while handling her personal relationships, particularly the one with her brother.
This story touched on the potential sexism of e-sports. So few young women play, and when they do, they can draw all sorts of negative or toxic attention. Vicky avoids some of this with her costume, but other parts of it she can't escape- like when one of the members of her brother's team presses her for her phone number, though she doesn't want to give it.
Or the negative comments arising from spectators to the tournament which are specifically directed to a female member of another team who isn't hiding her gender behind a mask.
I experienced this type of thing first-hand in some of my gaming days. I was big into EverQuest in the early 2000's. Luckily for me, that was before head-set communication during gaming was a thing, so, even though I played female avatars, most of the people I gamed with just assumed I was a guy.
It was easy for me to hide. I never felt like I had to, like Vicky, but looking back on it all now, it saved me from negative attention for years.
News articles about e-sports have reported women comprise about half of casual gamers but only a handful of professional gamers. Here's hoping more young women find the courage to follow their dreams!
The video game portions of this book were the most difficult to follow. It cut quickly from one character to the next with little explanation of what is going on except the kill.
Other than that, I thought this book was well done.
Highly recommended for reluctant readers, fans of video games, and readers who enjoy graphic novels.
February 2, 2024
Wow did I like this!!
Vicky's brother Virgil is an e-sports superstar for the game Xenith Orion. Vicky attends his tournaments and manages his social media, and Virgil believes that is all the time that Vicky spends in his world. Virgil has no idea that Vicky secretly also plays XO. There is a lack of communication in Vicky and Virgil's relationship that is troubling for this otherwise incredibly close set of siblings. I won't spoil the backstory for the characters because it is a good reveal.
Because of this Vicky plays XO under the codename Aegis at an E-Cafe but when Vicky plays XO at the cafe she always plays in disguise, partially to hide her identity so her brother won't know, but also because for the most part being a girl in the gaming world sucks. This exploration of the role harassment both verbal and sexual plays in the gaming world affects a lot of the characters in the story including Vicky, Opal, and Fangs. It's interesting to see the different paths each of the characters take to deal with it in their own way.
Vicky chooses to hide behind Aegis to protect herself in the gaming world and this works, for awhile. But the more attention Vicky garners for her incredible play as Aegis both at the cafe and in the XO tournament she joins with Opal and Eric, the more scrutiny she is under and all shields have to fall at some point.
The art is just as amazing as the story. I enjoyed it so much and I would love to revisit the world at some point if Velinxi came back to these characters. I love the relationships that Vicky forms with Eric and reforms with Opal. And the way the creator jumps back and forth between the main characters and their game characters when they are playing works so well.
If you have any interest in gaming or complicated family and friend relationships then I think you will enjoy it. Well worth the read.
Vicky's brother Virgil is an e-sports superstar for the game Xenith Orion. Vicky attends his tournaments and manages his social media, and Virgil believes that is all the time that Vicky spends in his world. Virgil has no idea that Vicky secretly also plays XO. There is a lack of communication in Vicky and Virgil's relationship that is troubling for this otherwise incredibly close set of siblings. I won't spoil the backstory for the characters because it is a good reveal.
Because of this Vicky plays XO under the codename Aegis at an E-Cafe but when Vicky plays XO at the cafe she always plays in disguise, partially to hide her identity so her brother won't know, but also because for the most part being a girl in the gaming world sucks. This exploration of the role harassment both verbal and sexual plays in the gaming world affects a lot of the characters in the story including Vicky, Opal, and Fangs. It's interesting to see the different paths each of the characters take to deal with it in their own way.
Vicky chooses to hide behind Aegis to protect herself in the gaming world and this works, for awhile. But the more attention Vicky garners for her incredible play as Aegis both at the cafe and in the XO tournament she joins with Opal and Eric, the more scrutiny she is under and all shields have to fall at some point.
The art is just as amazing as the story. I enjoyed it so much and I would love to revisit the world at some point if Velinxi came back to these characters. I love the relationships that Vicky forms with Eric and reforms with Opal. And the way the creator jumps back and forth between the main characters and their game characters when they are playing works so well.
If you have any interest in gaming or complicated family and friend relationships then I think you will enjoy it. Well worth the read.
December 21, 2022
The only thing I wanted was some kind of epilogue because I wasn't ready to leave this world!
SPOILERS below:
I fully understand and support the fact that this was more about the sibling relationship than it was a treatise on misogyny in the online gaming scene, but I am curious to see how the characters would react to the inevitable comments that Vicky was just coasting on her brothers success and he taught her everything she knew. It was very negative about online reaction to female esports players what with Fangs' focus on the asshole comments and feeling like she was failing the girls who looked up to her when she lost. (Which is entirely valid, I can see how someone in that position could get in their head about that.) But I would have liked to have seen a female character focusing on the good comments, on the fans who do support them and are happy to see them thrive. Someone who is able to brush off the assholes because their opinions don't matter. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to make light of the danger considering gamergate etc. but other than "I'm doing this because I find it fun but I wish it didn't make me famous" we didn't really get any positive reasoning for why these women were willing to put up with the shit that comes from being a woman online. I just think it would have given the story overall a slightly more balanced and possibly even hopeful view.
Anyway, this graphic novel is great and Velinxi continues to be one of my favourite artists. Please check out her comic Countdown to Countdown too! It's so good!
SPOILERS below:
I fully understand and support the fact that this was more about the sibling relationship than it was a treatise on misogyny in the online gaming scene, but I am curious to see how the characters would react to the inevitable comments that Vicky was just coasting on her brothers success and he taught her everything she knew. It was very negative about online reaction to female esports players what with Fangs' focus on the asshole comments and feeling like she was failing the girls who looked up to her when she lost. (Which is entirely valid, I can see how someone in that position could get in their head about that.) But I would have liked to have seen a female character focusing on the good comments, on the fans who do support them and are happy to see them thrive. Someone who is able to brush off the assholes because their opinions don't matter. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to make light of the danger considering gamergate etc. but other than "I'm doing this because I find it fun but I wish it didn't make me famous" we didn't really get any positive reasoning for why these women were willing to put up with the shit that comes from being a woman online. I just think it would have given the story overall a slightly more balanced and possibly even hopeful view.
Anyway, this graphic novel is great and Velinxi continues to be one of my favourite artists. Please check out her comic Countdown to Countdown too! It's so good!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Shelved as 'dnf-try-again'
December 30, 2023DNF ~50% of the way through
It’s super cute, and I may get back to it sometime down the line (shelving it also as a try again later). It’s a little rough reading DPS Only! as someone somewhat familiar with a couple of esports scenes and general gaming culture/fandom on the internet.
I noticed a lot of people in the reviews noted that they may have “missed something” due to not being super aware of what competitive esports looks like, and I can assure you that you’re not! :) This is a fairly accessible graphic novel for people who aren’t really into gaming, or into it extremely extremely casually. The only problem with that though is that this is absolutely not how top level players communicate with each other or talk about their games. Basing my awareness of top 500 Overwatch streamers, DPS Only’s “Top 1000” players speak very similarly to much lower level players in learning deeper mechanics and general counterplay. While this makes for an accessible read, it becomes increasingly more distracting and clunky for someone more familiar with the PvP genre.
The only other thing I could see someone missing or misinterpreting is that the esports bubble is about to pop, and in some cases already has depending on the game. Unfortunately I don’t think something “#whoisaegis” would become a trending hashtag in twitter’s video game topic
Otherwise, pretty cute and standard storyline that I’ll probably try again later
It’s super cute, and I may get back to it sometime down the line (shelving it also as a try again later). It’s a little rough reading DPS Only! as someone somewhat familiar with a couple of esports scenes and general gaming culture/fandom on the internet.
I noticed a lot of people in the reviews noted that they may have “missed something” due to not being super aware of what competitive esports looks like, and I can assure you that you’re not! :) This is a fairly accessible graphic novel for people who aren’t really into gaming, or into it extremely extremely casually. The only problem with that though is that this is absolutely not how top level players communicate with each other or talk about their games. Basing my awareness of top 500 Overwatch streamers, DPS Only’s “Top 1000” players speak very similarly to much lower level players in learning deeper mechanics and general counterplay. While this makes for an accessible read, it becomes increasingly more distracting and clunky for someone more familiar with the PvP genre.
The only other thing I could see someone missing or misinterpreting is that the esports bubble is about to pop, and in some cases already has depending on the game. Unfortunately I don’t think something “#whoisaegis” would become a trending hashtag in twitter’s video game topic
Otherwise, pretty cute and standard storyline that I’ll probably try again later
July 26, 2023
Velinxi is one of my favourite artists and I adore all of her work, the only thing between me and keeping up with her comics is an apparent inability to read webcomics (I try, I just can't keep up with them for very long at a time and then it gets too intimidating to come back...) so you can imagine my excitement when they announced a physical copy of this comic!! And I utterly loved it!
Familial bonds and their complications being a centre theme is always an interesting thing to explore and she manages to such a great job with how they keep hurting each other despite how much they love each other.
Vicky coming out of her shell and building her confidence was also really natural in it's progression and it was easy to feel proud of her even for the baby steps at the very beginning. I was invested in every character as they were introduced which is not something I find myself doing very often.
Obviously the art was amazing, and the designs for the XO characters were also really awesome. Seeing the different skin designs was also really cool, the game itself felt quite real.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this comic and I definitely recommend for any fans of Velinxi, fans of esports, gaming and stories about family relationships. Will definitely be reading Velinxi's other comics too :D
Familial bonds and their complications being a centre theme is always an interesting thing to explore and she manages to such a great job with how they keep hurting each other despite how much they love each other.
Vicky coming out of her shell and building her confidence was also really natural in it's progression and it was easy to feel proud of her even for the baby steps at the very beginning. I was invested in every character as they were introduced which is not something I find myself doing very often.
Obviously the art was amazing, and the designs for the XO characters were also really awesome. Seeing the different skin designs was also really cool, the game itself felt quite real.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this comic and I definitely recommend for any fans of Velinxi, fans of esports, gaming and stories about family relationships. Will definitely be reading Velinxi's other comics too :D
November 2, 2022
MAYBE i'm a little biased in my rating but Velinxi is like one of my favorite artists and I got this book signed by her at NYCC SO-
But! I did actually think it was a very good story. Xiao Tong is obviously a fantastic artist and I cannot even imagine how much work all these illustrations took--there are, like, a lot of them, it's a big and heavy book! But I think she is pretty good at storytelling, too. Her characters are all different, fleshed out, and it's so easy to pick faves and little meowmeows, which to me is a HUGE element of a good story. Characters are the heart of the story. The structure was pretty straightforward, which also made the pacing pretty tight to me, I truly found no issues with it. She also clearly knows her stuff esports wise, I'm not an esports person at all, but I am playing one (1) online video game which made me more or less familiar with the terms, but I think it's nice and easy to follow even if you're not into esports at all. Honestly, this was just about everything I needed from a graphic novel and that might be the only graphic novel apart from Nimona that I'd like a sequel to (or maybe like the whole series). I don't wanna part with those characters!
But! I did actually think it was a very good story. Xiao Tong is obviously a fantastic artist and I cannot even imagine how much work all these illustrations took--there are, like, a lot of them, it's a big and heavy book! But I think she is pretty good at storytelling, too. Her characters are all different, fleshed out, and it's so easy to pick faves and little meowmeows, which to me is a HUGE element of a good story. Characters are the heart of the story. The structure was pretty straightforward, which also made the pacing pretty tight to me, I truly found no issues with it. She also clearly knows her stuff esports wise, I'm not an esports person at all, but I am playing one (1) online video game which made me more or less familiar with the terms, but I think it's nice and easy to follow even if you're not into esports at all. Honestly, this was just about everything I needed from a graphic novel and that might be the only graphic novel apart from Nimona that I'd like a sequel to (or maybe like the whole series). I don't wanna part with those characters!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews