Star Wars: Legacy, Vol. 2 #1
Prisoner of the Floating World, Part One
Script by Corinna Bechko & Gabriel Hardman
Art by Gabriel Hardman
Colors by Rachelle Rosenberg
Lettering by Michael Heisler
Cover by Dave Wilkins
Designer: Jimmy Presler
Assistant Editor: Freddye Lins
Editor: Randy Stradley
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: March 20, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99

In Star Wars: Legacy, Vol. 2 #1 we return to the universe created by John Ostrander and Jan Duursema based on George Lucas’ Star Wars universe. I have to admit, although I really liked the original series, I did stop reading after awhile, so I went into this series fresh, but filled with excitement.

Writers Corinna Bechko & Gabriel Hardman immediately brought me back to that “sub universe” of Star Wars that I loved so much. This is SO different that any Star Wars setting that we’ve seen in that past, that you almost don’t recognize it immediately as Star Wars. Thankfully, some of the trademarks fall into place rather quickly and you’re reminded of just where you are. There is a LOT of story in this issue, but not too much, and the whole premise behind it is pretty shocking, and no, you won’t get spoilers here. Sorry.

Alabaster: Wolves #3
Written by Caitlin R. Kiernan
Art and Letters by Steve Lieber
Colors by Rachelle Rosenberg
Cover by Greg Ruth
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: June 20, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

Set in the deep South, this is the tale of Dancy Flammarius and her quest to destroy the evil that haunts this world. Alabaster: Wolves #3 is a story within a story, another stepping stone on the path to redemption. Unfortunately for her, Dancy had a parting of ways with the angel who originally stood at her side.

Imagine a time, in the not too distant future, where society has collapsed, magic and monsters are real, and no one is to be trusted. Simply wandering through a town can be deadly if you cannot defend yourself. So what teenage girl in her right mind would take on the task of traveling about in these conditions? Perhaps that is the real dilemma. Dancy is armed with not just her wits and skills, but also travels with a talking raven for a guide and a companion in the form of a ghost (of the werewolf she killed).

Alabaster: Wolves #2
Written by Caitlín R. Kiernan
Art and Letters by Steve Lieber
Colors by Rachelle Rosenberg
Cover by Greg Ruth
Designer Amy Arendts
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: May 9, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a strange title pounced out of Dark Horse last month and leaped onto comic review sites (including this very one), causing critics to shout their approval for Alabastor: Wolves. People spoke of the art by Steve Lieber and the writing (the dialogue in particular) by Caitlín R. Kiernan as being strong and fresh and unique. What particularly piqued my interest, however, was just how vague folks were in describing what actually happens in the book. Most reviews I read went something like this: “It’s about a little Albino girl who speaks with a southern drawl, walking a wasteland filled with werewolves and other monsters, who talks to a bird and an angel who tells her who to kill. Oh, and she might be crazy.”

“Heck,” I thought, “I can describe a comic better then that.”

Alabaster: Wolves #1
Written by Caitlin R. Kiernan
Art and Letters by Steve Lieber
Colors by Rachelle Rosenberg
Covers by Greg Ruth, Michael Avon Oeming
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: April 11, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

As luck would have it, I just randomly chose some of the comics up for review this week. And I scored with this one, let me tell you. I read this and loved every moment of it. Alabaster: Wolves #1 stands out from the average comic book in a multitude of ways.

Caitlin R. Kiernan‘s protagonist, Dancy Flammarion, is a remarkable character in that she is both an atypical teenager and a complete badass. Backed by one of the creepiest looking angels ever, she is a dangerous slayer of all things evil. Her no nonsense attitude and inability to back down from a fight makes her a very deadly opponent, indeed. Add to that her albino skin and total disregard for niceties and you get one of the best anti-heroes I have ever seen or read.

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Annual #1
Written by Larry Hama
Art by Ron Frenz, Ron Wagner, and Herb Trimpe
Inks by Sal Buscema
Colors by Rachelle Rosenberg
Letters by Shawn Lee
IDW Publishing
Released February 29, 2012
Price: $7.99

I said plenty of times how much I am loving IDW’s line of G.I. Joe comics and one of the things I love the most is the Real American Hero series, which picked up from the end of the classic Marvel comics run, and wisely brought back G.I. Joe writer Larry Hama to bring back some of the old magic. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Annual #1 is a great one-off story that perfectly captures the feel of those old stories and speaks straight to the 10-year-old in me.