Ladycastle is a fantasy comic book by Delilah S. Dawson that twists the fantasy conventions with strong female protagonists! It was published in 2017 by Boom Studios! As a four issue limited series and collected as a trade paperback. Dawson is the author of the steampunk romance Blud series that began with Wicked as They Come (2012), Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire (2019), and the one-shot comic book Forces of Destiny: Rose & Paige #1 (2018). The artwork is by Ashley A. Woods and Becca Farrow. Woods previously worked on the fantasy series Niobe: She is Life (2015-2016) and Tomb Raider: Survivor’s Crusade (2017-2018) for Dark Horse. Farrow has worked on covers for various publishers. The cover of the trade is from the first issue by Woods. It has the three women, a regal woman, one in armor standing confidentially on the parapet, and the young girl hefting a heavy sword. Almost everything you need to know is on that cover.
It begins with a princess in a tower, Aeve, asleep with a two-headed pet snake, the snake has many symbolic meanings and may represent indecision. It appears she is trapped in the tower, sings in a parody of Tangled (2010) and other fairy tales, and goes about her chores. Aeve is interrupted by the blacksmith, Merinor, with her unicorn tended by her younger sister, Gwneff. Merinor reminds her that King Mancastle will return. Gwneff hopes to become a knight. Aeve looks about the castle to see the citizens, all women, and finally Gwneff who is angry that she hasn’t gotten married. Merinor tries to speak to her, but then there is the announcement of the return. It is a lone, older knight, Sir Riddick, who explains what happened to the men. King Mancastle’s knights were met by a dark figure, the women remark that the king is always rude, and the figure cursed them. A dragon appears and destroys the men. Sir Riddick expects to be made king. The Lady of the Lake, from Arthurian legend, emerges from a fountain explains that the castle is cursed. She has the sword that will make the next king. It is given to Merinor making her king! This is a fine response to men out for battle and the importance of those back at the castle.
King Merinor is carried around by the cheering citizens. She goes to the tower and frees Aeve who was locked away for six years. First, Aeve, cuts her hair into a short bob, and the princess sleeves and hem of her dress. It is now dubbed Ladycastle! Sir Riddick tries to take over the planning of the defenses, but King Merinor puts him in his place. She organizes the women to act without the rule of King Mancastle. The women can volunteer to train with Sir Riddick as knights which Aeve joins. King Merinor dubs Aeve her king’s champion. The sister speak about their parents including their mother who they lost giving birth to Gwneff. The knights assemble as they are attacked by swarms of salamanders, the lizard-like elemental spirits of fire. The king’s champion thinks of a way to take care of the threat. The thinking strategy is better than Sir Riddick’s kill everything that is the old way. The next issue has the invasion of Ladycastle by werewolves with Farrow continuing the art with the same charm. It is up to Gwyneff to come up with a solution with her pegasus, Swan. The artwork by Woods is light, great expressions by characters, the Ladycastle is a fun world! Then, there are harpies (my favorite of the stories) and a final threat that seems right out of Monty Python and the Holy Grail! Very fun seeing the medieval conventions turned like a reviewer mentioned about the sci-fi Y: The Last Man. There is still an opening for more Ladycastle and I’m waiting for it!
Four Salamanders out of Five!
#Ladycastle, #DelilahSDawson, #AshleyAWoods, #KingMerinor, #KingsChampionAeve, #SquireGwneff
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