Widow Warriors #1
Written by Lloyd Chao, Christine Chi-Long To
Pencils and Cover by Pat Lee
Inked by Troy D. Zurel, Craig Yeung, Sergion Anaya Arevalo
Colors: Michelle Lo, Pat Lee
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: July 14, 2010

Widow Warriors takes a plot that would be at home in a Shaw Brothers Asian Cinema DVD and brings it to life on the printed page. When the story begins, the men of the Yang family are ambushed by the soldiers of the Lao family. Only one male escapes, and he informs the women of their husbands’ fates. Led by the elderly Grandma Sheh, the women decide to protect their home and family name by engaging the Lao in battle. Before that can happen, though, they have to convince the other males in the Yang family and the greater Sung Dynasty to let them go into battle.

Lloyd Chao and Christine Chi-Long To have written a very interesting tale of survival and determination. Grandma Sheh and the rest of the women have the potential to be fully realized, fleshed-out characters as the story progresses. They are certainly not the typical “damsel in distress” stereotype, nor are they the “tough girls.” The female protagonists show compassion, rage, and anger. They fight out of duty as opposed to bloodlust or a need for destruction. Also, Pat Lee‘s pencils are decent, though feel a little rushed.

Widow Warriors #1 has a small caption box on the last page that reads “End Book One,” indicating that there are many more stories to tell about these female soldiers and the obstacles that they will encounter on their quest to face the Lao in combat. I would enjoy reading more stories set in this universe.

Widow Warriors #1 does an excellent job of introducing the main characters, settings, and conflict, while whetting the reader’s appetite for further installments.