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[Comic Review] “Lantern City” #1 Will Please Steampunk Fans

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“Lantern City” #1 is a good comic, it’s not quite great, but it’s not awful either. It’s a thoroughly competent affair the benefits from rich world building but suffers from bland, uninteresting characters. There are also a few questionable choices that threaten to break the reality that’s being so carefully constructed. At its root, the story deals with humanity’s eternal class struggle, the rich and powerful oppressing the poor and downtrodden. It’s a universal theme that anyone can relate to and there’s enough nuance here to make it engaging.

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WRITTEN BY: Paul Jenkins & Matthew Daley

ART BY: Carlos Magno

PUBLISHER: BOOM! Studios
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: May 13, 2015

As you may have guessed from the title, Lantern City takes place in a steampunk world. One complete with all manner of airship and gasmask. It’s not as conspicuous as steampunk usually is, as in this isn’t a “steampunk” story as much as it is a story being told in a steampunk world. Personally I’m none too big on steampunk, I find it often cultivates the same cookie cutter tales, but Lantern City handles it admirably.

We follow Sander, a low-class peasant who works in the yellowberry fields to support his wife and son. Comparatively he’s got a cushy job, picking berries in a field all day while others must toil inside. We’re not shown any of this back breaking work, instead told through a voice over which significantly lowers its impact. Which is incredibly important when the entire story hinges on fighting back against these horrible work conditions that we’re only vaguely aware of. To be fair they are living in truly awful conditions but why we’re only shown what a cushy job look like and not the shit ones I don’t know.

Sander himself is a passive protagonist so all of the plot progression comes from others, especially his brother-in-law Kendal. Kendal is the leader of a rebellion against the forces that be. Sander is quickly wrapped up in it all, although reluctantly. He’s soon too deep to back out and begins on his way to becoming the hero his people need.

Lantern City is an easy recommendation for steampunk fans, but a bit harder sell for everyone else.

 

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‘The Wicked Trinity’ – Preview New Archie Comics One-Shot Inspired by ‘The Craft’ [Exclusive]

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From Sabrina’s Magical World, Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon that Archie Comics will be releasing brand new one-shot comic The Wicked Trinity this coming June.

You’ll be able to meet The Wicked Trinity in the 32-page comic on June 12, 2024.

In The Wicked Trinity, “Sabrina’s magical nemesis Amber Nightstone and her sidekicks, Jade Kazane and Sapphire Gill, are intent on becoming the most powerful witches in the world. Isolated from so many around them, the three have formed a coven based on their individual needs for vengeance and true freedom.

“But when there is some dissent among the ranks, their small coven is threatened to be obliterated from within.”

The Wicked Trinity features a script by Sam Maggs, art by Lisa Sterle, colors by Ellie Wright, letters by Jack Morelli, main cover by Lisa Sterle, and variant cover by Soo Lee.

Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante tells Bloody Disgusting, “When Editor-In-Chief Mike Pellerito came up with the idea of the Wicked Trinity—Amber Nightstone, Jade Kazane, and Sapphire Gill—I was immediately intrigued. I even had the good fortune to work on the script for Jade and Sapphire’s first appearance in last year’s SABRINA ANNUAL SPECTACULAR comic for younger readers. What I especially loved about these magical teens is that they could seamlessly transcend from classic-Archie stories into more mature, even horror stories. I was eager to start developing their world with a modern sensibility, taking cues from the great work of Kelly Thompson and Veronica Fish on our SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH series, and Sarah Kuhn and Carola Borelli on our recent DARKLING one-shot. Inspired by series like Charmed and films like The Craft, I knew there was so much potential to build up this coven in a story that beautifully blends magical fantasy with horror.”

Writer Sam Maggs previews, “Real witches writing real witches—that’s how we do things over at Archie Comics! I was named after a famous witch—Samantha from Bewitched—and so I grew up absolutely obsessed with everything witchcraft, devouring every book series I could about teen witches. That makes WICKED TRINITY a dream project for me. The power and energy of teen girls is absolutely unmatched (just look at the engine behind fandom culture) and being able to harness that metaphorically for a story like this is such a delight. Everything I write focuses on the power of female friendship, and this story is no exception. And what’s better than a morally grey female character? I struggle to think of anything. Cat familiars, maybe? Also, I’m totally a practicing witch now. So maybe if you read this, you’ll find yourself imbued with magical powers, too.*

Artist Lisa Sterle adds, “I can’t wait for people to be re-introduced to The Wicked Trinity! Witches, fashion, and Archie Comics; this is truly a magical trifecta and I’m so happy to have the opportunity to put my own personal stamp on this. I love to create stories in which girls find their own power, both from within themselves and through their friendships and coven. If you’re a fan of my Modern Witch tarot, you’ll find this comic just as magical.”

Exclusively check out the two covers for The Wicked Trinity one-shot comic below!

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