Phoebe Moehlman was just trying to skip a rock. Instead, she hit a unicorn in the face.
That’s how it started. Honestly, if you haven’t read Phoebe and Her Unicorn, you might assume it's just another sparkly, glitter-infused kids' comic designed to sell backpacks at Target. It isn't. Dana Simpson, the creator, managed to capture something much weirder and more cynical than your average "girl meets magical creature" trope. It’s actually a sharp, self-aware commentary on narcissism, childhood loneliness, and the absolute absurdity of being a human being.
Marigold Heavenly Nostrils—yes, that is her actual name—isn't a noble, selfless beast. She’s a unicorn who is deeply, hopelessly in love with her own reflection. She stays with Phoebe because Phoebe happened to break the "Shield of Boringness" that usually keeps humans from noticing unicorns. It’s a friendship born of a literal accident.
The Marigold Factor: Narcissism as a Superpower
Most mythical creatures in fiction are mentors. They’re Gandalf or Aslan. Marigold is more like a celebrity who accidentally wandered into a suburban elementary school and decided the lighting was okay enough to stay. She’s vain. She’s obsessed with her "Shield of Boringness." She genuinely believes her presence is a gift to the universe.
Dana Simpson has mentioned in various interviews that Marigold’s vanity is the engine of the strip. It’s funny because it’s so unchecked. While Phoebe is dealing with the crushing social anxiety of the fourth grade—trying to impress a "frenemy" like Dakota or surviving a music recital—Marigold is just there, being magnificent. It creates this bizarre, wonderful contrast.
You see, Phoebe is a bit of an outcast. She’s smart, she’s awkward, and she doesn’t quite fit in. Marigold doesn't fit in because she’s a literal unicorn, but she has the confidence of a thousand suns. That dynamic is the heart of the series. It’s not about Phoebe becoming "cool" because she has a magical friend; it’s about Phoebe realizing that the world’s standards of "cool" are pretty much irrelevant when you’re hanging out with a creature that can teleport and has a mane made of pure starlight.
Why Comparison to Calvin and Hobbes Isn't Hyperbole
People throw the "Calvin and Hobbes" comparison around way too easily. It's usually lazy shorthand for "kid has an imaginary-ish friend." But with Phoebe and Her Unicorn, the comparison actually holds some water, though not for the reasons you think.
It’s the pacing.
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Bill Watterson was a master of the "beat." He knew when to let a character just sit in a panel and look annoyed. Simpson does the same. There are long stretches of the comic where nothing happens except a conversation about the nature of reality or the frustration of homework. It’s a "talky" strip.
- The philosophical depth: Like Calvin, Phoebe ponders big questions, but through the lens of a 21st-century kid dealing with the internet and video games.
- The artwork evolution: If you look at the early days of Heavenly Nostrils (the original title on GoComics), the line work is simpler. As the years progressed, the backgrounds became lusher, and the character designs more expressive.
- The "Adult" appeal: Kids love the unicorn. Adults love the dry, biting wit that Marigold directs at human society.
The strip started as a webcomic called Heavenly Nostrils before being syndicated. That transition is important. It kept its indie soul even when it hit hundreds of newspapers worldwide. It didn't lose its edge. It didn't become a "preachy" comic about being nice to people. Marigold is rarely "nice." She’s magical, which is a very different thing.
Dakota and the Complexity of the "Bully"
Dakota isn't really a villain. She’s more of a foil. She’s the girl who has everything—the popularity, the clothes, the status—but she’s secretly obsessed with the fact that Phoebe has a unicorn.
Actually, the "goblin" arc in the books reveals a lot about the world Simpson built. Goblins are the natural enemies of unicorns, but in this universe, they’re mostly just annoying bureaucrats or tech-savvy pranksters. When Dakota gets involved with the goblins, it adds a layer of lore that most daily comic strips shy away from. It’s not just "gag of the day" writing. There is a persistent, evolving world here.
The Magic is a Meta-Commentary
Marigold’s powers are mostly used for convenience or vanity. She can "beam" messages. She can adjust her "Shield of Boringness." She can give Phoebe "dragon breath" (which turns out to just be really bad breath that smells like smoke).
It’s a subversion of the "Magical Negro" or "Magical Guide" trope. Marigold isn't there to solve Phoebe's problems. Usually, Marigold’s "help" makes things more complicated or just highlights how ridiculous Phoebe's problems are. When Phoebe wants to use magic to win a school contest, Marigold usually points out that human contests are beneath a unicorn’s notice. It’s a subtle way of teaching Phoebe self-reliance by denying her the easy magical way out.
Deep Lore: Things Casual Readers Miss
Did you know Marigold has a sister? Her name is Florence Unneccessary Nostrils.
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The naming convention for unicorns in this world is based on what they think of themselves. Marigold is "Heavenly" because she is. Her sister is "Unnecessary" because... well, that’s unicorn family dynamics for you. These tiny details make the world feel lived-in.
- The "Sparkle" Factor: The books are often sold with glittery covers, but the interior art is often quite moody. Simpson uses a lot of silhouettes and heavy blacks in nighttime scenes.
- The Parents: Phoebe’s parents are actually relatable. They aren't the faceless adults of Peanuts. They’re nerdy, somewhat overwhelmed people who are just kind of rolling with the fact that a unicorn lives in their house. They represent the reader’s POV: "This is weird, but okay."
- The Internet Culture: Phoebe is a gamer. She spends time on "Joe-Cloud," the in-universe version of iCloud/the internet. The strip captures the specific loneliness of being a "chronically online" kid better than almost any other medium.
How to Read the Series (The Right Way)
If you’re just jumping in, don't just grab a random book. Start with the first collection, simply titled Phoebe and Her Unicorn. You need to see the moment they meet. You need to see the rock hit the face.
From there, the series moves into specific themes:
- Unicorn on a Roll focuses on Phoebe's attempt to climb the social ladder.
- Unicorn vs. Goblins expands the mythology significantly.
- Razzle Dazzle Unicorn leans into the sheer absurdity of Marigold's ego.
There are over 15 volumes now. That’s a massive body of work for a strip that started in 2012. The consistency is what’s impressive. Dana Simpson hasn't "sold out" the characters; Phoebe is still Phoebe, and Marigold is still the most beautiful thing Marigold has ever seen.
The Impact on Modern Comics
Before Phoebe, "girl comics" were often relegated to a very specific, soft-focus corner of the bookstore. Simpson broke that. She proved that you can have a female protagonist in a "cute" setting who is also sarcastic, weird, and deeply philosophical.
It paved the way for the graphic novel boom we see now with creators like Raina Telgemeier, but it kept the daily "four-panel" format alive. That’s a dying art form. Keeping a narrative going four panels at a time is like writing a novel one sentence a day. It requires immense discipline.
The series also tackles gender in a way that’s refreshing. Dana Simpson is a trans woman, and while the strip isn't "about" being trans, there’s an underlying theme of "identity" and "seeing yourself as you truly are" that resonates deeply. Marigold sees herself as a goddess; Phoebe sees herself as a dork. The journey is about Phoebe learning to see herself through a lens that’s a little more "Marigold-esque."
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Real-World Takeaways
If you’re looking to get into the series or introduce it to a younger reader, keep these points in mind:
1. Don't skip the "Bonus Material."
The printed collections often include activities or "field guides" to unicorns. Unlike most book filler, these are actually written in the voice of the characters and add to the lore.
2. Look for the subtext.
The strip is often a critique of how we use technology to distract ourselves. There’s a great bit where Marigold points out that humans have tiny glowing rectangles (phones) that they look at instead of the world. Coming from a unicorn, it feels less like a "boomer" complaint and more like an observation from an immortal being.
3. Pay attention to the "Gwen" character.
Gwen is one of the few people who actually "gets" Phoebe. Their friendship is a great example of how to write realistic, non-toxic female friendships in middle-grade fiction.
4. Check out the "Ozy and Millie" connection.
Before Phoebe, Dana Simpson wrote a strip called Ozy and Millie. If you like the philosophical bent of Phoebe, you’ll find the DNA of that strip very familiar. It’s the "spiritual predecessor."
5. Use the "Shield of Boringness" as a life lesson.
It’s a legit great metaphor for how we stop noticing the magic in the world because we’re too busy being "adults." It’s the most profound part of the whole series.
6. Watch the evolution of the humor.
The early strips rely more on "unicorn fish out of water" jokes. The later strips are much more focused on the psychological interplay between the characters. It gets smarter as it goes.
7. Don't be afraid of the "Kid" label.
This is a comic for people who like good writing. If you like The Good Place or Parks and Recreation, you’ll probably like the humor here. It’s snappy, character-driven, and occasionally very dark.
To truly appreciate the series, stop looking for a "moral." The best thing about Phoebe and Her Unicorn is that it doesn't try to teach you a lesson in every strip. Sometimes, the lesson is just that unicorns are very shiny, and humans are very weird, and that’s perfectly fine.
Next Steps for Fans and Newcomers
- Visit GoComics: You can read the entire archive from the beginning for free. It’s the best way to see the art style evolve in real-time.
- Track down the "Graphic Novel" editions: These are different from the daily strip collections. They offer longer, more cohesive stories that allow for bigger world-building.
- Follow Dana Simpson on social media: She often shares behind-the-scenes sketches and thoughts on the characters that provide extra context to Marigold’s origins.
- Analyze the "Shield of Boringness" in your own life: Start looking for the small, "magical" things you’ve trained yourself to ignore. It sounds cheesy, but it’s the core philosophy of the book for a reason.