Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Marvel's Spider-Man Secret Lair promotional image

    Get a Look At the Secret Lair x Marvel’s Spider-Man Superdrop

    09/08/2025
    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions gameplay still

    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions Is All About Adventure (with Friends)

    09/08/2025
    Chord in Persona 5 The Phantom X

    Now Is The Perfect Time To Jump Back In ‘Persona 5: The Phantom X’

    09/05/2025
    Cosmic Spider-Man card details

    [EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

    09/02/2025
    Lee Corso from College Football GameDay in EA Sports games

    EA Sports Always Understood Lee Corso’s Legacy

    09/01/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » BOOM! Studios » REVIEW: ‘Steven Universe,’ Volume 9

REVIEW: ‘Steven Universe,’ Volume 9

Jason FlattBy Jason Flatt12/26/20203 Mins ReadUpdated:06/28/2025
Steven Universe Volume 9 - But Why Tho?
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Steven Universe Volume 9 is a trade paperback edition of BOOM! Studios’ imprint KaBOOM’s comic book series based on the Cartoon Network show of the same name created by Rebecca Sugar. This volume, titled “Cherished Memories,” includes issues 33-36 and is written by Taylor Robin, illustrated by S. M. Mara, colored by Ziyed Y. Ayoub (33-34) and Whitney Cogar (35-36), and lettered by Mike Fiorentino with cover art by Missy Peña. A short “Snap Shops” from the comic book Steven Universe: Welcome to Beach City is also featured, written by Grace Kraft and illustrated by Kelly Turnbul.

Steven Universe Volume 9 offers four self-contained stories that occur roughly during or after season five of the series. They are all original stories but tap into stories from many of the day-in-the-life episodes of the show. Issue 33 finds Peridot introducing Pearl and Amythest to her favorite TV show, “Camp Pining Hearts.” Issue 34 is about Lars and the Off Colors, issue 35 has Greg Universe helping Mr. Fryman with a vehicular debacle, and issue 36 sees Steven and Connie back at the library to read up on Buddy Budwick’s adventures.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Each issue encapsulates the show’s heart and soul exquisitely. Like many a Steven Universe episode, nothing grand or important happens. Rather, they are just opportunities to check in with favorite characters and see them living their wacky lives in Beach City and beyond. The writing captures each characters’ voice perfectly to the point where I can hear them speaking the dialogue in my head and never feel as though somebody says something their character wouldn’t say on the show. The stories are simple, but each satisfying nonetheless.

The illustration is nearly spot-on. The gems all look exactly as they do in the show, as do the backgrounds and settings at large. Steven’s face in Issue 33, however, seems to be just ever slightly misshapen. It took me out just slightly, considering everything else was essentially perfectly replicated. But not enough to cause real concern. The colors similarly match exactly what I would expect from a Steven Universe drawing. They’re bright when things are happy and muted when things are ominous. The jewel-like colors used in Issue 34, in particular, bring the world to life and set it apart from the other earth-bound issues in this collection.

I also greatly appreciate that the issues in Steven Universe Volume 9 are willing to keep dialogue to a minimum when art can better tell the story. There are many full pages that are just time-lapse panels without dialogue, offering a chance for the illustrators and colorist to show off. When dialogue does appear, it is well spaced out and articulated exactly in the manner the characters would speak, especially the slow-speaking Flourite in issue 34.

The short story “Snap Shots” at the end of the volume is okay. While it sweetly illustrates the wonderful relationship between Steven and his dad, it is a bit hard to follow narratively. The art style is also distinctly not the same as the rest of the book, and it’s not bad, but it takes a different artistic approach, and it clashes against the rest of the book. The art style would stand on its own, especially knowing that it is a one-off short. But next to the full issues before it, it falls flat.

Overall, Steven Universe Volume 9 may not add troves of character or plot to the show it is based on, but it does offer great day-in-the-life stories, much like some of the best episodes of Steven Universe.

Steven Universe Volume 9 is available wherever comics are sold.

Steven Universe Volume 9
4.5

TL;DR

Overall, Steven Universe Volume 9 may not add troves of character or plot to the show it is based on, but it does offer great day-in-the-life stories much like some of the best episodes of Steven Universe.

  • Buy now via our ComiXology affiliate link

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Jujutsu Kaisen,’ Episode 13 – “Tomorrow”
Next Article Episode 49: It’s Called Hentai, And It’s Art
Jason Flatt
  • X (Twitter)

Jason is the Sr. Editor at But Why Tho? and producer of the But Why Tho? Podcast. He's usually writing about foreign films, Jewish media, and summer camp.

Related Posts

Ghostlore #1

REVIEW: ‘Ghostlore,’ Issue #1

05/10/2023
MMPRTMNT II #1 - But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II,’ Issue #1

12/28/2022
Nahiri The Lithomancer #1

REVIEW: ‘Nahiri The Lithomancer,’ Issue #1

11/30/2022
Once upon a Time #1

REVIEW: ‘Once Upon A Time At The End Of The World,’ Issue #1

11/23/2022
Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers #101

REVIEW: ‘Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers,’ Issue #101

10/26/2022
Eve: Children of the Moon #1

REVIEW: ‘Eve: Children of the Moon,’ Issue #1

10/18/2022

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
The Long Walk (2025) film review promotional image
9.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘The Long Walk’ Is The Most Heartfelt And Heartbreaking Stephen King Adaptation

By Kate Sánchez09/11/2025Updated:09/11/2025

The Long Walk is a brutal watch. Equally heartfelt and heartbreaking, it’s one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s work.

EA Sports FC Icons Match promotional image from Nexon News

2025 Icons Match Returns With Football Legends Bridging The Pitch And Video Games

By Kate Sánchez09/03/2025Updated:09/03/2025

NEXON has announced the return of the ‘2025 Icons Match,’ a live event that brings a full roster of legendary players to the pitch.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 11
8.5
Anime

REVIEW: ‘DanDaDan’ Season 2 Episode 11 – “Hey, It’s a Kaiju”

By Allyson Johnson09/11/2025

The ragtag group faces down the mysterious kaiju in the thrilling and beautifully animated DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 11.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here