Saskia de Schutter (VRT’s LangZullenWeLezen): “He made it conscious to give the LGTBQ+ community a place in the Dutch-language comic strip, but shows that this certainly does not have to be restrictive.“
Moors Magazine: “Salto and Ubba – two lives with ups and downs, friends, love and betrayal, new friendships, unexpected alliances and much more.” “An absolute must for every comic lover with a broad worldview who loves feel-good comics with a little friction every now and then.”
Cutting Edge: “A lot of attention to lifelike emotions, warm drawings in pastel colors and fun characters in an (to me) unknown world of bearlesque ensure that everyone will like this, even outside the world of LBTQIA+.”
Enola: “In everything they do, we as readers get a front-row view of their doubts, disappointments and successes.” “We always sympathized with everything that crossed Salto and Ubba’s path.” “Van der Steen succeeds brilliantly in this.”
9e Kunst: Salto & Ubba shows people “who follow their hearts, engage in unconventional cultural activities, destigmatize the (imperfect and half) naked male body” “turn out to be very ordinary, relatable people, and with all this encourage society to self-reflect”
Marc Legendre, Belgian author/cartoonist: “Just as there are restaurants where you can eat well, but which are not included in any guide, there are comics that deserve a star. Salto & Ubba from Wilbert van der Steen is such a delicious dish.”
De Gouden Mus: “With the ‘Salto & Ubba’ series, Wilbert creates something that his heart belongs to, and you feel that on every flowing, expressive page. How Salto’s fears and insecurities are depicted is beautiful. And we wish everyone such a nice, supportive circle of friends. Wilbert maintains a high level of quality in text and drawing, with lifelike and self-developing characters.”
Justin Hall, editor No Straight Lines: “I absolutely loved Salto and Ubba! Your characters have delightful personalities and designs and really light up the pages, and I’m already drawn into the world you’ve created. Your background in children’s books comes through in wonderful ways, as you’ve managed to hit this sweet spot with an engaging cartooniness that still illustrates a real diversity of body types and genuine emotion in the faces.”
David Shenton author Forty Lies : “I want the books to be turned into a Bearlesque musical. It would be a great night out. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and liked the baddies very much (the bastards) and admire your consistency of style and gripping plot line from start to finish.”
Two great reviews on Insta and Etsy. Both in English about the Dutch edition.
Insta: Review time! ? ? Salto & Ubba 3
The third volume of this beautifully queer comic series is another labor of love by Wilbert van der Steen. Salto is the bearly built gay artist finally making his dream come true. A Bearlesque talentshow. With the help of his loving and supportive boyfriend Ubba they take the plunge. But rival entertainer Ponky has his own ways of setting up a show.
In this third volume Ubba gives up his job to focus on the Bearlesque show with Salto. Along with the help of Mizz Froufrou and friends they start building up the show. But Salto feels overwhelmed and the bombastic theatrics of Ponky make him feel like he can’t make it.
New Born Gym decides to make their own profit of both parties, but fail horribly in the promotional work for their new gym. Will they take down Ponky in the process? This third volume brings the series to new hights with beautiful panels, color work and humor. You can really feel the love and want Salto and Ubba to succeed. A joyfully queer read.
Etsy: I recently had the pleasure of diving into the colorful world of Salto and Ubba, and I must say, it was a truly delightful experience. As I sat in the sun with a cup of coffee, this gay comic transported me to a place where I could momentarily forget the world around me, and I couldn’t be more grateful for it. The characters are nothing short of fabulous. Each one is meticulously designed with unique looks and fashion that speak volumes about their personalities. What truly sets Salto & Ubba apart is its ability to engage and warm the heart. The storyline is both entertaining and meaningful, with moments that made me laugh out loud and others that touched me deeply. It’s a testament to the creators’ ability to blend humor, romance, and everyday life in a way that feels both authentic and delightful. Highly recommended!
