Connect with us
Is It Good? Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot Review

Comic Books

Is It Good? Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot Review

The best one-shot comics are those anyone can pick up and enjoy. Even if it’s not an established character, people should be able to read it from cover to cover and get a whole experience. With that expectation in mind, and having read not a single Damsels comic, I went in to answer the question: is it good?


Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot (Dynamite Entertainment)


Is It Good? Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot Review

Listen to the latest episode of our weekly comics podcast!

Thankfully this story can be enjoyed by everyone as the story doesn’t use any established characters and is completed by issue’s end. Dynamite’s summary reads:

Queen Jacquelyn of Villeneuve is a benevolent ruler, a loving mother, a devoted wife, and a woman with a monstrous score to settle. Set more than a century before the events of Damsels, this gigantic one-shot tells the tale of one woman’s quest for ultimate revenge. By sword, or by sorcery, all shall be slain.

Protip: this story is based on Jack and the Beanstalk, at least the background is based on it. The characters are not, but the bad guys are giants and there is assuredly a beanstalk to climb. The issue opens with the queen “20 leagues up” preparing an army for battle. It then quickly cuts to a flashback taking place a few hours before the queen mounted up her army.

Is It Good? Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot Review
Yeah, you moron!

It’s no spoiler to tell you she’s got her wizard working on a sick mech to help her chop some giants down to size. The mech serves as the centerpiece of action, but the real enjoyment you’ll take from reading this issue is the strong female lead. Writers Leah Moore and John Reppion do a great job solidifying her as a woman who will stand her ground. The first flashback shows her mothering her son and for all intents and purposes appears to be another woman who knows her role. But when it comes to her attention that she can finally seek justice, she constantly tells her knight, “would you question the judgement of your king?” She says it a few times, and the repetition solidifies her character and helps separate her from the damsels you see in Disney flicks.

Is It Good? Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot Review
Shut up insolent peasant!

The art by Deitrich Smith is well rendered throughout. His giants are just the right amount of grotesque and disturbing. I was surprised by the design of the head giant, because he looks somewhat similar to the Rancor. At least the mouth is the same. The mech suit on our queen looks cool, but the way he’s drawn her head makes it look a bit goofy. It’s like her head was pasted onto the frame of the thing. Considering how fantastical it all is, though, it shouldn’t bother readers too much.

Is It Good? Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot Review
Nice wings.

Two things bothered me with the art: The first is how Smith draws the flashbacks. It’s not immediately obvious they are flashbacks, as there’s no segue or text to say it’s a different time from the opening pages. The blue haze at the right and left of the page do give the pages a sense something is different, but it looks rudimentary and hastily added. The second thing is the layouts. They’re much too simple, especially for a fairy tale story of this caliber. Every panel spans the width of the page with two to four panels per page. It makes the story feel linear and very by the numbers.

Is It Good? Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot Review
Good thing the forecast calls for clouds.

Is It Good? Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot Review 8.5

Is It Good? Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot ReviewIs It Good? Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot ReviewIs It Good? Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot ReviewIs It Good? Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot ReviewIs It Good? Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot ReviewIs It Good? Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot ReviewIs It Good? Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot ReviewIs It Good? Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot ReviewIs It Good? Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot ReviewIs It Good? Damsels: Giant Killer One-Shot Review
  • Giants look great
  • Strong female lead
  • Boring layouts
  • Odd technique to convey flashbacks

Even though the art is well rendered, the layouts are boring and the flashbacks not immediately obvious. The story is good enough to make up for that though, as the queen is a strong female lead in an industry of weak female characters. The mech element, while a bit crazy to see in a fairy tale, works because it makes sense in this world. The giants also look fantastic and the concluding battle is balanced well with flashbacks.

Is It Good?

Yes. A good one-and-done read anyone can enjoy.

Join the AIPT Patreon

Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:

  • ❌ Remove all ads on the website
  • 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
  • 📗 Access to our monthly book club
  • 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
  • 💥 And more!
Sign up today
Comments

In Case You Missed It

I Heart Skull-Crusher! #1 I Heart Skull-Crusher! #1

‘I Heart Skull-Crusher!’ #1 review: Apocalyptic squad goals

Comic Books

Full June 2024 DC Comics solicitations: Gotham by Gaslight sequel and more Full June 2024 DC Comics solicitations: Gotham by Gaslight sequel and more

Full June 2024 DC Comics solicitations: Gotham by Gaslight sequel and more

Comic Books

Marvel reveals new X-Men era titles, art, and more, launching July 2024 Marvel reveals new X-Men era titles, art, and more, launching July 2024

Marvel reveals new X-Men era titles, art, and more, launching July 2024

Comic Books

DC reveals 'DC: Pride' and 2024 Pride Month celebrations DC reveals 'DC: Pride' and 2024 Pride Month celebrations

DC reveals ‘DC: Pride’ and 2024 Pride Month celebrations

Comic Books

Connect
Newsletter Signup