Publisher: Zenescope
Writer: Joe Brusha
Artist: Sami Kivela
Cover artists: Pasquale Qualano and Victor Bartlett
Colourist: Maxflan Araujo
Release date: 6 May 2015
Price: $3.99

Zenescope has had a fair amount of success with its formula of presenting adult versions of children’s book characters, along with its “come for the pinups, stay for the story” approach. Zenescope covers are among the sexiest in comic history, are generally beautifully drawn and coloured; often the best part of the magazine.

The current entry is no exception. The Pasquale Qualano/Victor Bartlett cover variant is sensual and stylish enough for any voyeur and will move it off the racks. The interior art, while serviceable and having a few nice panels, isn’t quite up to that standard. But artist Sami Kivela is a capable storyteller, even if a few pages have some clunky figures and faces. Unfortunately, there’s lack of imagination showing beyond how much skin can be revealed, or how round the ladies’ butts are. But you have to give points for a background sign reading “Brusha Comedy Club” (referencing this issue’s writer and Zenescope co-founder Joe Brusha). Unfortunately, that’s the highlight of the book.

The story’s setup is heroine Sela now processes weapons powerful enough to defeat the unbeatable “Blood Knights” and is now in the position to take the fight to the villain. Thus the meat of the issue is an epic battle between heroine Sela’s forces and The Dark Queen (one of the most unoriginal names in comics), and the reader may feel cheated. Movies due to budget constraints may not be able to show large armies. But comics don’t have that limitation, so it’s hard to understand why the fight wasn’t scaled up. The streets look almost empty, and only a few figures on either side of the battle are shown. Decidedly non-epic; very pedestrian.

This ninth instalment of the ambitious Age of Darkness crossover saga feels like more of a turn of the screw than anything else, introducing the necessary elements to move the story forward to its conclusion. While there are hints of interesting and entertaining dialogue (“He always was a big pussy.”) the vast majority of it gets lost amid clichés (“I’ve got your surprise right here, bitch.”) and 1940s-style comicbook childish banter (“Sorry, but I can’t play anymore.”). Most of the speech is utilitarian, adding nothing except to move the story along.

Likewise the villain the Dark Queen in this instalment is a crashing bore. And like too many evildoers she does not know the difference between “impossible” and “improbable.” Inconceivable!

Unless you’re a fan of the characters Sela, Cinderella and the rest, you may not find this comic on the right side of the good entertainment scale.

And, if you don’t mind that, there are always ladies to look at.

Reviewer: Joe Lovece
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker