Time may change the body … but it cannot evolve the spirit.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Meredith Finch
Artwork: Ig Guara
Colors: Triona Farrell
Letters: Cardinal Rae
What They Say:
With a fire raging in Millhaven, Rose is desperate to rejoin her companions. While Rose searches for her friends, Thorne struggles to accept Rose’s new knight protector. A ghost from the past brings startling revelations, and Will’s commitment to the rebellion is challenged with the news of Ila’s loss. Secrets long hidden are finally revealed in the next exciting chapter of ROSE.
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
It was only a short nine years ago when a young auburn-haired girl named Rose came running home, crying and carrying something in her dress folds. Her mother knew of her child’s kindness and was not surprised when she saw the obvious depression within that once white cloth. Disappointment at once crossed her face and while she attempted to chide her daughter, the headstrong girl would not have any gentleness passed onto her without taking care of her new friend. An injured ivory bird was secluded within the fabric, its body battered by rocks thrown by local boys, with only Rose to save it from further danger. But as the mother looked over a crumpled body, she knew it was too late and tried to comfort her child, only to be answered by denial and a gentle kiss upon the avian’s head … followed by a soft glow and the warmth of life returning. Frightened by this sign of magic, the woman quickly ushered her daughter inside, where they bandaged the fowl and Rose gave it the name of Ban.
So too is was only eleven years ago when the princess of Ttereve named Drucilla tried to change her father’s mind concerning her upcoming marriage. While her prospective groom Philip of Lenchter was a political ally, she did wish for such partnership, instead wishing for the throne after her father stepped down. Her foolish brother Felix did not deserve the honor of ruling over the kingdom, but no matter what she said, he would not change his mind. Even as she was sulking in the stables, her happy-go-lucky sibling thought of her complaints as a joking matter, all for his amusement and tried to comfort Dru she would still have her own kingdom. But this was not enough for the spoiled lady, brooding in her room that night she could not get her own way – wanting to be queen of her homeland. However as she pouted and her handmaiden Dolora brushed her luxurious hair, the vile crone listened to her mistress and assured the vain woman there might be another way. And so it came to pass … a kind child became the Guardian and a jealous princess overcame all obstacles to become the ruler of Venta Belgarum.
In Summary:
While it may have been three arduous months since we last were embraced by writer Meredith Finch’s literary elegance, Rose has not lost any of the zeal which made readers cherish it as one of last year’s breakout titles. After an exhaustive cliffhanger, we are once again launched back into the land of Ttereve, but from a different approach, giving us a glimpse into the past and how our protagonist and antagonist became who they are now. It is this refreshing change of pace which gives the readers a chance to see how either virtuous or wicked choices can reflect onto the present, likened to the Snowball Effect, with each action building unto the person they are to become. You cannot but smile as you see an innocent Rose, tender and caring brighten up the page and then how a once promising princess named Dru descended into the irredeemable depths of the queen. It is this balance of good versus evil, naïvety against spoiled attitudes, innocence and a conniving spitefulness – all of these polar opposites which make this story so rewarding to its core and yet still is a classic tale of morality to see how two equally balanced women can see the world from different points of view. This balance never shifts too much to one scale, allowing for the audience to understand each person as an individual and how small decisions can mount until we see the final result. A buildup which is greatly satisfying, and with each nuance of personality, we can see how they are the person they are now. Whether you wish to embrace or despise them, Rose and Drucilla are forces unto themselves and people we cannot but acknowledge as a powerful heroine or villainess which make this story all the more wholly fulfilling.
And even with this forced break, the title does not suffer due to a lack of exposure as witnessed from the spectacular opening page by Ig Guara. The simplicity of the initial artwork is so eye-catching, the majesty of an open plain with a single moving object projects the focus onto that solitary actor, and even with this domineering image, it would all be for naught if not for the grandeur of the organic color scheme. It is Triona Farrell’s mastery of this digital palette which grabs your attention, the grounding essence of this natural atmosphere fills you with a placid serenity as we watch in awe. Even within all of this artistic wonder, there is one factor which seems out of place – the white framing which separates the panels; in most instances, this absence of color would attract any errors which either talent made, but in this issue, it does the complete opposite – it concentrates the purity of each artistic element. As we look back into the past, this bright delineation makes every visual component all the more essential to the narrative, especially when we flashback to Rose’s most charming traits: her compassion, innocence and determination to help anything which is suffering. You cannot but smile seeing her charming face, that bright auburn hair, all framing peach tinted skin expressing her honest emotions in deepest details. Guara and Farrell’s synergistic talents bring Rose to the forefront, her initial exposure of her gifts and in turn, the granting of her winged friend Ban, with it all summarized by her sincere personality of sadness and happiness in saving an innocent. This is how you create a heroine the reader can care for … and in turn cheer for when she needs encouragement the most.
But as we become adjusted to those striking images of gentleness and honesty, this artistic team flips the coin by showing us a polar opposite in Drucilla. We are struck by the drastic change in the visual details, even though nothing has changed aside from darker tones for all the elements. This morbid switch magnifies Guara’s illustrative audacity of supplementing his attention to detail, the minor need to use close up shots causes the reader to focus on every component, each telling their own story. It is amazing to see how Farrell is able to ratchet up the tension by using more shadows and allowing the white frames to emphasize those darker colors, which in turn allows for more drama within these telling moments; even if these shades where brightened by a few degrees, those changes would make all the difference, showing the audience an entirely different story. To see the Queen within this moment of vulnerability is striking, making the reader almost feel sorry for her, even as we know how she will turning everything to her favor. Even musing this as the same person seems almost impossible, Dru showing a personality which is indicative of her future, but at the same time is reflective of Rose, although she is only thinking about herself. The vulnerability of a princess – all framed within a solitary shell of vindictiveness, signaling what she is to become.
These sojourns into the past are so pronounced that they make the present all the more powerful, the imagery becomes an emotional landscape upon which Rose is able show her truest feelings and Drucilla reveals her every fiber has been turned towards cruelty. Whether they be Guardian or Queen, you cannot but feel more connected after seeing their developmental moments, and in turn … become close to them – for better or worse.
Each woman is steadfast in their mindset, able to defend their principled selections and yet, we can see where either could have strayed due to one singular event. It is this kind of narrative which makes Rose worthwhile to read and savor, if not for a moment, but for all time. The details in story development, illustrations, and colors breathe fresh life as we begin a new chapter, and I for one cannot wait to see how these two women will mold the future of Ttereve. If this is how they start the second arc … then how will they shape what is to come?
Grade: A+
Rating: T (for Teens)
Released By: Image Comics
Release Date: January 10, 2018
MSRP: $3.99
