Just when we thought Robyn was out … the city keeps pulling her back in!
Creative Staff:
Writer: Lou Iovino
Artwork: David Lorenzo Riveiro
Colours: Grostieta
Letters: Taylor Esposito
What They Say:
Since she left Myst, Robyn Locksley’s life has been defined by the dizzying highs and crushing blows. She defeated a mysterious and powerful cabal bent on death and destruction and served as Maid of Honor at her best friend Marian’s wedding. But these triumphs were tempered by great loss. The deaths of friends Avella and Nicky continue to resonate through Robyn’s days, casting a shadow over all that she does.
This is the story of what comes next. It’s the story of Robyn on her own for the first time, making her way toward an uncertain future. But most importantly, it’s the story of a growing love affair between this unlikely outlaw hero and the greatest city on Earth, New York City – and how it saves them both.
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
After all of the madness of the Cabal and Marian’s wedding, now Robyn Locksley is all alone … stuck in the city she used to call home – New York City. This monotony of a solitary existence with nothing to do but roam the streets, stopping hoodlums and otherwise making a nuisance of herself. That is until she meets a young schoolgirl named Gabby, a streetwise admirer who reminds her of a past she had long forgotten. In her own sarcastic tone, this optimistic child opens an abandoned door which the flaxen archer had thought was long closed, the opportunity to help those who needed her assistance. The tranquility of the neighborhoods had been taken over by drone operating dealers, preying on the weak and selling to those who wanted a cheap fix. The police can’t do anything without evidence, but there is someone who can.
Robyn knew she had stood by for far too long, watching these parasites feeding on the downtrodden. Whereas the authorities couldn’t do anything if not for lack of trying, she knew she could at least help. But how long would it take for one set of leeches to be replaced by another after she had cleaned them out? As Commissioner Gengrich so courteously reminded her, Robyn is not one to leave a problem unresolved; if she is going to abandon these people after in one situation, then why do anything at all? But even as this avenger cleans off an old shingle, one has to wonder if this step was the right one? If she tries to reclaim the streets she once knew, who else can step in to fight back for what they claim is their property?
In Summary:
When we heard that Robyn Hood was coming to an end, of course, many fans thought that this would be the last we would see of our favorite fair-haired heroine. But that was proven wrong when Zenescope announced that a new team would pick up the book, lead by writer Lou Iovino, his last work being Red Agent. It is appropriate that he would transition from one anger challenged blonde to another, then who else could it be than our bow wielding champion? But how could he replace a series which was four years in the making? No one ever said that he had to, and if not, why not just expand onto the myth of this cornerstone and make it his own? And to say that this first issue is a wonder is to state it mildly.
The narrative could have been continued in many ways, but the monologue, which was stable in the previous series, helps to anchor the present with the past. Since Robyn is all alone now, there is no one through which she can react to as a sounding board, so this technique is the best opportunity to reflect on our protagonist’s emotional state. The chance to hear her thoughts and reactions to the various memories and irritations which she must now face is a golden opportunity for the story to expand from what could have been something shallow which relied on illustrations alone to convey emotions into something which has more depth and impact. Iovino made a wise choice since this also allows introspection, with Robyn mulling over her own decisions while being able to see what triggers each outcome and thus, leads us further into her subconscious and further understanding, but never leaving behind the snide comment or staying true to her own convictions.
And while this literary style may seem familiar, the artistic style opens up a new portrayal by David Lorenzo Riveiro, accented by the colorings of Grostieta. In the past, we were given a darker atmosphere, one which was defiled by the villainy which Robyn and Marian were forced to contain in order to keep the city safe. But now, as she begins a new journey, the sunlight is allowed to shine in, illuminating her with a new aura, but all the while keeping the snarkiness within arm’s reach. A new gentleness has graced her face, projecting a sense of disinterest, but at the same time, Riveiro is able to give her the spring to a practiced step, allowing her to confront anything which might cross her path. Everything is different and yet things seem familiar, which is wonderfully shown by the bull’s eye page: Robyn walking with her hands in her pockets, trying to hide from the past she is trying to forget; the image as a whole is creatively alternated by pictures of the cheery and bright present which tries to intrude into the grim and dusk tainted past of her memories. This one illustration captures the entirety of the issue – Robyn in solitude, running away from her past while trying to shield herself from the promise of an unknown future.
Robyn Hood: I Love NY is a marvelous new beginning for one of the foundations of the Zenescope mythos. The team of Iovino, Riveiro and Grostieta is able to breath new life into this fan favorite while staying true to her core sentiments of justice tempered by honesty in her actions. The illustrations and colors bring the story to life while the narration encapsulates everything into a neat and yet beautifully precise mélange of Robyn’s signature temperament bound to a new outlook for a promising future. I cannot wait to see what kind of trouble our flaxen archer will stumble into next!
Grade: A
Rating: T (for Teens)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: July 6th, 2016
MSRP: $3.99
