Never get in Xena’s way when she wants something … or Gabrielle’s.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Meredith Finch
Artwork: Vicente Cifuentes
Colors: Triona Farrell
Letters: Cardinal Rae
What They Say:
Gabrielle’s capture forces Xena to delve into the shady underbelly of Athens in search of clues. Dark forces stalk the warrior princess, intent upon revenge and captivity results in an unexpected discovery for Gabrielle. Redemption wears many faces in this city of gods.
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
Xena has now become involved in Gabrielle’s escapades in Athens, not that she has much choice after receiving a ransom note from Jax. With her anger now properly motivated, the former warlord is after only one thing – finding her pesky friend. And while she may have been annoying, the Warrior Princess cannot over look the fact it was her former colleague who created the situation and therefore it is partially her fault. Knowing the scoundrel’s habits makes it all the easier to track him down, and with a swift to the right pressure point, this cowardly lackey is all the more talkative when his own worth is on the line. Thirty small seconds is what he has left until the blood to his brain is completely cut off, that is how much life remains unless he gives what she needs. Afraid for his worthless existence, a loose tongue spills forth all the information she needs – this brave warrior took the bard to a ship run by a woman named Callisto.
But as Xena is trying to uncover necessary information to start a rescue, a certain blonde musician is not willing to wait patiently, especially when she discovers her own sister Lila is also being held prisoner. After a tearful reunion, the siblings jokingly trade barbs as Gabby learns how others were lured in, but it is not long before she concocts a plan for escape, which fails miserably. After a painful collapse and bruises to prove their failure, the resourceful girl devises a new scheme, but before she can enact it, a group of ominous guards enter, wanting to know who is causing the noise. Although everyone else is submissive to their demands, Gabrielle is not one to bend at the knee to such bullies, even after an aggressive slap across the cheek. Still not willing to yield to her captors, it is her biting wit which once again causes more problems, as Lila watches her bloody and beaten sister being dragged from the room to an uncertain doom.
In Summary:
This is how I remember Xena, with all the frenetic flourish and dynamic but calm under pressure demeanor, and thanks to writer Meredith Finch we finally return to those roots. While have taken some time, the wait was worth it as we dive back into those beloved scenes, but at the same time the intensity is mellowed out by Gabrielle’s unusual comedic antics to disguise her clumsy attempts of her own brand of heroism – perhaps to impress her sister. Although this departure from her character is a bit strange, at the same it is also shows the other side by which she tried to impress upon us within early on in the show – as one of a sidekick, trying to temper Xena’s violence with a bit of humor as she tries to imitate her idol. It is amusing to see how the Warrior Princess is gradually beginning to tolerate the bard, someone who is so irritating, but now she goes out of her way to save her to ease guilt by association. To see the budding relationship now starting to form is welcomed, but at the same time, it makes one wonder how it will ever blossom thanks to such disparate personalities from two equally contrasting women.
The darkness of this issue puts a whole new spin on the attitude for this story thanks to Triona Farrell’s excellent manipulation of the palette being able to suppress what normally would have been an intense narrative. This ability to set the pacing for illustrator Vicente Cifuentes’ delightfully expressive depictions of the forceful Xena is what directs the book, especially that of her imposing figure within the opening page, propelling the reader into the intensity of the narrative. And while that mood may be momentarily quenched by a lighthearted reunion between Gabrielle and sister Lila, even these tranquil scenes cannot quench the oppressive hatred between the Warrior Princess and those she considers to be in her enemies. But as we close with Gabby’s futile attempt in freeing captives, the bright atmosphere is once again smothered by the futility of security within a hopeless escape, all allowing us to see how trapped they are, even as the bard tries to joke her way out of certain doom. Whoever said only men can be cruel never saw how much vengeance can poison a soul … making a twisted beauty as detestable as any vile villain.
As we finally reach the climax for a certain destined confrontation, I for one cannot wait to see Xena’s battle cry plastered across a double page spread, and I know I am not the only reader waiting for that event. While the build up to this battle may have made its anticipation all the more noteworthy, it was the clues shown in a previous issue which made the inevitability worth the wait. Fans of the show always knew Xena and Callisto would meet thanks to the former’s destruction of her village, but to have the latter manipulate circumstances to make the confrontation that much more dramatic shows an appreciation for the original show. With what I imagine will be something to remember for times to come, this issue’s cliffhanger makes the obligatory month’s delay all the more painful to see what will happen.
Grade: A
Rating: T+ (for Teens Plus)
Released By: Dynamite
Release Date: May 09, 2018
MSRP: $3.99
