Warriors Graphic Novel #2: Claws Out!

The much anticipated Warriors Graphic Novel: The Prophecies Begin #2 released this week on Tuesday, April 8th. As with the first, this adaption covers two books: numbers three and four of TPB, Forest of Secrets and Rising Storm. With a prologue to start, #2 is divided into three parts, Part One: Forest of Secrets (pages 1-88), Part Two: Brokentail (pages 89-182), and Part Three: Rising Storm (pages 183-256). It is jam-packed with big and small plots, character development, character deaths and betrayal, and tons of battles.

Adapted and illustrated by duo Natalie Riess and Sara Goetter, the art continues to be my favorite aspect. I want to thank them again for bringing this story to life with their expressions and clever changes. I definitely loved the full-color map at the end and the character sketches! Though I may spend time picking apart their choices, I am grateful for their creative vision.

After the first graphic novel, which I reviewed extensively in an article last July, I was anxious to see how plot points would be squeezed into this one. It was ironic, really, to see how many from the second book, Fire and Ice, were wrapped up before they could move on to Forest of Secrets. Though that article went in-depth with the “good, bad, and worrisome,” this will be a more straight-forward review jumping from different points. Some of the points made about The Prophecies Begin #1 still stand, so it’s worth a refresher read.

This review contains major spoilers for The Prophecies Begin arc and the graphic novel adaptions. Read at your own risk!

I’d be remiss not to dive into some of my compliments to the art, encompassing all backgrounds, characters, and expressions. As my favorite part about Reiss and Goetter’s adaption, I’m happy to see them expand the world of Warriors. From intense emotion shown in electrifying solid colors across the characters to beautiful environments to a wide range of emotions on their faces, I eat up every illustration. The colors and lighting shift to reflect different scenes, with soft light for bittersweet to dark colors for anger or intensity. I want to shout out the stunning visuals of Spottedleaf’s warning to Fireheart about the fire. Her burning eyes coupled with the soft blue and black of traveling in StarClan’s hunting grounds was a perfect combination.

This is especially prevalent as they revealed more devastating plots dealing with despair and grief. My heart stung with the pain, shock, and heartbreak in Fireheart, Graystripe, and Bluestar’s faces during pivotal moments. Seeing the forest destroyed after the fire, how barren and decimated everything was, crushed me. Though tears aren’t mentioned in the novels, they are the perfect illustration for grief in this graphic novel. Combine that with empty, dark backgrounds or dialogue bubbles in wobbly, vicious, or fiery shapes, and it’s a brutal but beautiful duo.

Intense emotion is treated very well in this adaption in general. Bluestar’s growing paranoia and the breaking of her psyche mirrors how I pictured it in the original books. In particular, her expression of disbelief was perfect when she crouches at the end of her den, while Fireheart desperately stops Tigerclaw from killing her. From then on it’s rare to see a positive face on her character, her brows are always low and mouth always turned down or curved aggressively.

Characterization in general is much better in this second adaption over the first. Alongside Bluestar’s character changes, we also dive into Cinderpaw/pelt’s and Cloudpaw’s characterization. Cinderpaw, despite her injury, is helpful and kind, but serious when necessary. Each small scene we see her in reaffirmed her character from the books. Cloudpaw is similar to his book-self too, except his happy-fluffy-self is amped up to eleven. His disobedience and sass is a hilarious comedic break and they captured his brattiness perfectly in his blushing face and dramatics.

On the other hand (or paw), somehow, this graphic novel is making me dislike Graystripe even more. I’m not sure if they were aiming to show how annoying and self-centered he is in this part of the series or continue with him being a comedic relief, but I see the former more. The slight changes they made to his and Silverstream’s relationship with the oogey-gooey heart-eyes stuff was more irritating than anything. Seeing him disregard Fireheart, something that annoyed me in the original books, was worse when drawn.

Other changes were made, too. An interesting one I didn’t mind too much was the slight change to Cloudpaw’s story. In Rising Storm, a whole subplot explores how Cloudpaw is taken by Twolegs and disappears from ThunderClan. Fireheart and Sandstorm have to travel with Ravenpaw to find him at another location for rescuing. With more important plots taking precedent, the authors/illustrators changed the story to Cloudpaw merely being stuck in a Twoleg trap for a few minutes. It was a much quicker scene and less impactful, but I’m happy they included something at all. Plus, it gave another reason to include Princess in the story, showing how kittypets can be capable in their own way.

As for cuts—or at least plots pushed off to the third graphic novel—with the inclusion of Fire and Ice, at least three major points were not in this novel from Rising Storm. The entire plotline with the ShadowClan sickness, including Cinderpelt helping Littlecloud and Whitethroat with a cure, was excluded. Tigerclaw’s attacks with his rogues was also not included, as well as Nightstar’s death and Tigerclaw’s rise to power in ShadowClan.

The BEST change, however, comes with Cinderpaw. In the original story after her injury, she’s told she will never be a warrior again. Her only option is to become a medicine cat, which she ends up loving, but that’s after being forced to change her future. In the graphic novel, Cinderpaw is given a choice on whether she wants to continue training to be a warrior or become a medicine cat apprentice under Yellowfang. Rightfully so, Fireheart mentions the deputy of WindClan, Deadfoot, who has a similar disability and is a great warrior. Since the original plot has heavy ableist tones, I love that Cinderpaw got to choose the medicine cat path herself.

Before I wrap this up, I want to mention one more aspect I adored in this graphic novel: iconic verbatim lines from the books. It’s a magical experience to see my favorite books illustrated, but it’s even better when direct dialogue is used. Those scenes included Silverstream’s death, Tigerclaw’s betrayal and message to Fireheart, and Yellowfang’s confession and death.

Speaking of Tigerclaw, the ending of this graphic novel was interesting to say the least. When I mentioned earlier that Tigerclaw’s rise to power wasn’t included, it was mostly true. Yet, on the last page, they foreshadow his leadership by showing an image of him in front of the Moonstone. I’m withholding judgement for now on how they’ll incorporate his rise to power without showing the splintering of ShadowClan through sickness (though I’m guessing they’ll heavily summarize it instead of showing, which is an unfortunate aspect to cut).

The last three pages are haunting though, as they hint at the pack of dogs that show up in book five, A Dangerous Path. With their slathering jaws, crazy eyes, and the striking red-pink of the pages, Warriors fans can expect the terror of the final two novels to be represented well in #3.

As much as I still believe each book of The Prophecies Begin arc should’ve been their own graphic novels, I’ll say that this second one was much better with the pacing and including huge plots in a tasteful way. It was still a bit choppy, which I find is my biggest gripe with most graphic novels, but I’m happier with it than the first. The changes don’t feel as shocking.

I am curious how the graphic novels read to somebody entirely new to the Warriors universe. I feel I can understand these so well because I know the context that isn’t built in. I know intimately how Bluestar’s choice happened and affected her, plus I’m noticing the background characters more since I know what happens to them in the future. Also, when Fireheart and Sandstorm ask Princess if she’s seen Cloudpaw, I know in the original books that he visited her. In the graphic novel, we see none of that. While I spend a majority of the graphic novel looking for things I know happen, completely new readers are taken for a ride. Just how much of that ride is a confusing one?

Warriors Graphic Novel: The Prophecies Begin #2 can be purchased on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other major retailers.

Warriors Graphic Novel: The Prophecies Begin #3 can be pre-ordered on Amazon and releases September 30, 2025.

Look out for a review on the Warriors Graphic Novel event happening this weekend! For a list of participating stores, follow the link (always call and double check with your local Barnes & Noble to confirm).