Pretty Deadly Volume 1: The Shrike
Kelly Sue DeConnick (Avengers Assemble, Captain Marvel) and Emma Rios (Dr. Strange, Osborn) present the collected opening arc of their surprise-hit series that marries the magical realism of Sandman with the western brutality of Preacher. Death's daughter rides the wind on a horse made of smoke and her face bears the skull marks of her father. Her origin story is a tale of retribution as beautifully lush as it is unflinchingly savage.
"It's a perfect match for the gorgeous, dizzying artwork in a sumptuous palette-overlaid panels add intricate choreography to fight scenes, and detailed, whirling splash pages beg for long-lingering looks. Couple that, along with a handful of Eisner nominations, with a multicultural cast of tough-as-nails women who all fight for their own honor, and this is a series to watch out for." - Booklist
"It's ambitious and challenging (two qualities that are not often valued, but that probably should be), under a façade of violence and sacrifice. Rio's art is lush and detailed, and is more than capable of keeping up with the far-reaching story." - PW
"It's a perfect match for the gorgeous, dizzying artwork in a sumptuous palette-overlaid panels add intricate choreography to fight scenes, and detailed, whirling splash pages beg for long-lingering looks. Couple that, along with a handful of Eisner nominations, with a multicultural cast of tough-as-nails women who all fight for their own honor, and this is a series to watch out for." - Booklist
"It's ambitious and challenging (two qualities that are not often valued, but that probably should be), under a façade of violence and sacrifice. Rio's art is lush and detailed, and is more than capable of keeping up with the far-reaching story." - PW
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Community Reviews
Finished vol 1 two days ago, been told it makes more sense with a second read thru, once I know where this vol ends.
Doesn’t feel like I picked the right place to start with DeConnick, the art by Rios wasn’t enough to keep me engaged.
The western with magical elements stuff feels like it’s still playing by the rules of John Ford with the outsiders wondering a vast sandbox, to mix my metaphors.
Comparatively, the twisting narrative was complex enough to make me perk my ears, try to figure it out.
Feels like it’s going towards a downer ending where the heroes are defeated and or with a victory with brutal sacrifices. Based on what I read here, the ladder would be a cop out. Could be wrong!
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