Happy Comic Release Day!
A few months ago, Radical Publishing sent review copies to several GeekDad writers. Jonathan Liu wrote an overall post about the company's comicsand I reviewed the title Caliber.
But just last month, I received a preview issue of a new graphic novel, Legends: The Enchanted, coming from them in April and was intrigued enough to make it this week's spotlight.
Summary:
The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world populated by fairy tale characters. The Enchanted are those with special powers, especially of healing, who fight monsters. Jack (of Jack and the Beanstalk fame) specializing in killing giants though he charges a fee. His magic beans in this world are colored pills. Red Riding Hood keeps her woods safe from monstrous wolves. They are opposed by a yet unknown force intent on wiping out their powers. In the preview issue I read, Pinocchio does not fare well after being captured.
What Kids Will Like About It:
There's a lot of action, a lot of violence, and a decent amount of gore--which may appeal to some teenage readers but is definitely not for younger kids. The murky artwork and the grotesque monsters put the comic very close to the horror category. For teens that are fans of zombie movies, this could be just their thing.
What Parents Will Like About It:
I loved the cross-genre concept. In some ways, it's similar to Vertigo's Fables series in its use of 'realistic' fairy tale characters but Legends seems far more intent on the action and menace than Fables. I like the black humor of much of the dialogue as well.
The only complaint I have is that sometimes the artwork is a bit too murky for my taste, even given the grim setting.
Best Panel:
There's a fantastic two-page spread of Red Riding Hood fighting some magically altered wolves.
Nick Percival is the sole creator, writer and illustrator of Legends. He's a UK-based graphic artist who got his start in comics selling artwork to 2000AD. He spent six years running a CG animation studio that developed original properties and his artwork is featured on many collectible cards produced for World of Warcraft, Magic, and the Cthulhu mythos.
