Boom! Studios 2017
Created & Written by Delilah S. Dawson
Illustrated by Becca Farrow
Coloured by Rebecca Nalty
Lettered by Jim Campbell
I dunno what it is but there’s this borderline silly girl power all-ages kind of over the top fun happening here. I mean I get that in the past women were pretty much told what to do, how to do it, to be seen and not heard if that so yeah they’ve got a chip on their shoulder and anything a man can do they can do, possibly better. So why is it something so girly and yet sending such a positive message while it’s also being kind of too silly for words? Because Delilah is a genius that’s why!
I think sometimes we want to see messages and role models in way too much stuff these days. There has to be some stuff that is being made sheerly for the fun of making it and to me this is that. I mean yeah we get that girls are just as good as boys no matter what it is that’s put before them. So this is fun because we see that there are no men and only women left at ladycastle, well except for the lone man to return from the King’s death. Delilah takes this setting and does something pretty marvelous with it, she’s showing us that stepping up isn’t always as easy as it sounds and making it humorous along the way.
The characterisation is spectacular as the women find themselves free of the men and not being entirely sure what it is they have gotten themselves into. I love that King Merinor stepped up but she’s just as vulnerable and emotional as anyone else and while being King sounded great the reality is lonely for her. What’s the old saying “be careful what you wish for….” there’s a reason it’s lasted as long as it has. Princess Aeve finally free of her father and his desire to wed her off is trying to find herself and having been locked away for six years well that’s going to be easier said than done as well.
The interiors here are great! I love these kind of modern looks with the old timey clothes. Seeing the Library was one of those wow moments and that the librarian, Yanni, is in a wheelchair well it’s even better. The way we see these characters through their hairstyles, dress and facial expressions really helps the diversity we see and how we identify with them. Princess Aeve seems more like a boy now then a girl and it’s kind of fun to see that. The use of page layouts through their angles, perspective and use of limited backgrounds really help sell the moment for me.
I love that this is a superbly written all-ages title. I mean smaller kids can read this and be inspired to be whatever they want to be while big kids can read this and just enjoy the sheer madness of what’s happening. The solution to the Werewolf problem this issue, the curse of course, was hysterical to me and the set-up for whom they will be facing next well that was wonderfully done.
This is all around one of the most interesting, intriguing and fun books to be reading right now!