Red Sonja? Rat Queens? Lara Croft? Anne Bonny!

[matt levin]

I thought perhaps I should be mentioning this title over on a Red Sonja or Tomb Raider board but here's a good wide open public place.... and I think Rat Queen fans might enjoy this, too: strong, well-defined lead woman character in a believable fantasy setting with a good bit of interpersonal conflict developing, maybe even a touch of the ol' rich v. poor politics in the offing as well. Ariana has escaped drudgery in a sorcerer's palace by stealing what's likely her birthright: a magically driven sailing ship, the pirate vessel of the long-feared pirate queen, Anne Bonny.

Crisp, clear, exciting (!) art work supports some snappy dialogue from readily well-rounded characters, Ariana and her wicked sorcerer nemesis, and, wordlessly, the bow-spirit of her ship.

Anne Bonny, from Blue Juice comics: you'll probably have to ask your LCS to special order it--but it should be still around. Issue two just became available, and it's pretty much on a quarterly schedule. I actually am glad for titles like this, which I enjoy greatly, which publish often only quarterly: this gives me a chance to try several new titles with the $$ I don't spend on any one title month after month.

Now issue two didn't grab me as much as the first, all too often the case with a second issue. Still wonderful artwork and terrific coloring, but somewhat more scatter-shot than the opening issue, set-up for what's to follow rather than of substance and depth itself. Did really enjoy the bow-spirit's control of the ship, and her expressions doing so--facial expression continues to be a BIG strength of the artwork. I wish Ariana was more aware that the ship is the entity saving them over and over again, rather than much of Ariana's doing. Hoping this'll become a focal point in the story soon and be resolved, as it makes the Ariana I really enjoyed reading about last issue more irritating than anything, this issue.

If you're reading Sonja, Lara, or the Rats, and you like well-written, fun comics... you KNOW what to do!

[Kencana]

Thank! I've already read Red sonja. It's quite good. I have yet to read Rat Queens and Anne Bonny. Will check those series.

[Groo Odyssey]

Thank! I've already read Red sonja. It's quite good. I have yet to read Rat Queens and Anne Bonny. Will check those series.

Highly highly recommended.