Comics
Review: ‘Amala’s Blade’ #1
Previously featured in issues #9 through #11 of “Dark Horse Presents,” steampunk enthusiasts can finally enjoy the first of 4 installments of Amala’s Blade in full epic glory. With Steve Horton expertly scripting the series, and stylistically charming art by Michael Dialynas, this book promises a great dystopian adventure as it follows a defiant, female master assassin on a suicide mission.
WRITTEN BY: Steve Horton
ART BY: Michael Dialynas
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: April 24th, 2013
To shed some light on the civil war torn fantasy world in which the story takes place, provided on its opening pages is a Tolkien-esque map of the Naamaron Kingdom, which is rancorously divided into warring factions. On the West, covering the more traditional aspects of the steampunk genre, are the low-tech Purifiers, powered by steam and scornful of the high-tech Modifiers to the East. These Modifiers cover the Biopunk subgenre well, in that they seemingly value genetic engineering and enhancements in order to become one with the machines they worship.
Both sides are fearful and aware of the prestigious Vizier’s sword-wielding master assassin, Amala. And by the time Horton and Dialynas are finished introducing the character within the first seven pages, readers will understand why. Anticipate some engaging cut-throat action. Literally. For all her successes as a deadly, unremorseful assassin, she’s become reckless and unpredictable on assignments due to her dissatisfaction with being used by Vizier. Unfortunately, the great Vizier isn’t too happy with her carelessness either, and resorts to sending her on a suicide mission to teach her a lesson. And so begins the main plotline and lead-in to Part 2.
The pacing of the issue is perfectly informative without being overbearing, and features interesting side plots which appear to hold symbolic and psychological significance for Amala in the main story. It’s very unique in comparison to most steampunk fiction where the genre tends to have an elegance and romantic appeal to it, but Horton adds his own splash of romance as we’re introduced to Amala’s love interest.
Dialynas created something special when illustrating Amala. From clothing to figure, she’s drawn in logical and realistic propriety. Not once is she graphically or impractically sexualized, which is a refreshing bonus. His work on the opening pages is gold, in terms of details, action, and colouring. There isn’t an abundance of blood and fiery destruction, but his aim towards a more realistic take on both is of particular note. Moreover, how he manages to make Vizier look both futuristic and Victorian simultaneously is a hilarious mystery. Dialynas’ style is very interesting and definitely worth checking out.
All in all, “Amala’s Blade” seems like it’s going to be another hit for Dark Horse, and the first issue is definitely one worth buying for those interested in steampunk fantasy epics with ass-kicking female protagonists. Though, a little more ass-kicking would have been appreciated. Personal taste of course. No doubt there will be more in the coming installments.
4/5 Skulls
Reviewed by – ShadowJayd
Comics
[Review] Graphic Novel ‘Tender’ Is Brilliant Feminist Body Horror That Will Make You Squirm & Scream
Beth Hetland’s debut graphic novel, ‘Tender,’ is a modern tale of love, validation, and self-destruction by way of brutal body horror with a feminist edge.
“I’ve wanted this more than anything.”
Men so often dominate the body horror subgenre, which makes it so rare and insightful whenever women tackle this space. This makes Beth Hetland’s Tender such a refreshing change of pace. It’s earnest, honest, and impossibly exposed. Tender takes the body horror subgenre and brilliantly and subversively mixes it together with a narrative that’s steeped in the societal expectations that women face on a daily basis, whether it comes to empowerment, family, or sexuality. It single-handedly beats other 2023 and ‘24 feminine horror texts like American Horror Story: Delicate, Sick, Lisa Frankenstein, and Immaculate at their own game.
Hetland’s Tender is American Psycho meets Rosemary’s Baby meets Swallow. It’s also absolutely not for the faint of heart.
Right from the jump, Tender grabs hold of its audience and doesn’t let go. Carolanne’s quest for romantic fulfillment, validation, and a grander purpose is easy to empathize with and an effective framework for this woeful saga. Carolanne’s wounds cut so deep simply because they’re so incredibly commonplace. Everybody wants to feel wanted.
Tender is full of beautiful, gross, expressive artwork that makes the reader squirm in their seat and itch. Hetland’s drawings are simultaneously minimalist and comprehensively layered. They’re reminiscent of Charles Burns’ Black Hole, in the best way possible. There’s consistently inspired and striking use of spot coloring that elevates Hetland’s story whenever it’s incorporated, invading Tender’s muted world.
Hetland employs effective, economical storytelling that makes clever use of panels and scene construction so that Tender can breeze through exposition and get to the story’s gooey, aching heart. There’s an excellent page that depicts Carolanne’s menial domestic tasks where the repetitive panels grow increasingly smaller to illustrate the formulaic rut that her life has become. It’s magical. Tender is full of creative devices like this that further let the reader into Carolanne’s mind without ever getting clunky or explicit on the matter. The graphic novel is bookended with a simple moment that shifts from sweet to suffocating.
Tender gives the audience a proper sense of who Carolanne is right away. Hetland adeptly defines her protagonist so that readers are immediately on her side, praying that she gets her “happily ever after,” and makes it out of this sick story alive…And then they’re rapidly wishing for the opposite and utterly aghast over this chameleon. There’s also some creative experimentation with non-linear storytelling that gets to the root of Carolanne and continually recontextualizes who she is and what she wants out of life so that the audience is kept on guard.
Tender casually transforms from a picture-perfect rom-com, right down to the visual style, into a haunting horror story. There’s such a natural quality to how Tender presents the melancholy manner in which a relationship — and life — can decay. Once the horror elements hit, they hit hard, like a jackhammer, and don’t relent. It’s hard not to wince and grimace through Tender’s terrifying images. They’re reminiscent of the nightmarish dadaist visuals from The Ring’s cursed videotape, distilled to blunt comic panels that the reader is forced to confront and digest, rather than something that simply flickers through their mind and is gone a moment later. Tender makes its audience marinate in its mania and incubates its horror as if it’s a gestating fetus in their womb.
Tender tells a powerful, emotional, disturbing story, but its secret weapon may be its sublime pacing. Hetland paces Tender in such an exceptional manner, so that it takes its time, sneaks up on the reader, and gets under their skin until they’re dreading where the story will go next. Tender pushes the audience right up to the edge so that they’re practically begging that Carolanne won’t do the things that she does, yet the other shoe always drops in the most devastating manner. Audiences will read Tender with clenched fists that make it a struggle to turn each page, although they won’t be able to stop. Tender isn’t a short story, at more than 160 pages, but readers will want to take their time and relish each page so that this macabre story lasts for as long as possible before it cascades to its tragic conclusion.
Tender is an accomplished and uncomfortable debut graphic novel from Hetland that reveals a strong, unflinching voice that’s the perfect fit for horror. Tender indulges in heightened flights of fancy and toes the line with the supernatural. However, Tender is so successful at what it does because it’s so grounded in reality and presents a horror story that’s all too common in society. It’s a heartbreaking meditation on loneliness and codependency that’s one of 2024’s must-read horror graphic novels.
‘Tender,’ by Beth Hetland and published by Fantagraphics, is now available.
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