Isabellae, from Dark Horse Books, brings us the astonishingly detailed saga of Isabellae Ashiwara.
It’s feudal Japan. Isabellae, accompanied by the ghost of her dead father, is looking for her sister. It’s a quest that takes her, wielding her sword, into forests, towns, villages, on ships and everywhere in-between.
Volume 1 of this series actually collects the first three original French-language volumes (Le Lombard, Belgium) into one translated hardcover.
Isabellae is written by Raule, and illustrated by Gabor, both from Spain. And it’s a densely packed adventure. The panels are small, the dialogue involved. You need to follow this one closely; there is information in the sentences, in the backgrounds, in the subtext. The characters are strong and well defined. Gabor’s graphics are complex, multicoloured and create the ideal land and seascape for mystical adventure. There is a lot of well-paced action, historical symbolism, and treachery in this story!
Dark Horse Books, Isabellae, Volume 1, $29.99 for 156 pages. Mature rating, adult situations.
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