Amala's Blade: Spirits of Naamaron

A lot of fun!

Since I am more of a superhero fan, I was a bit reluctant to purchase this, but I had heard good things and had read good reviews so I gave it a shot and was not disappointed. This is one of those comic books that is refreshingly different. From what I had seen, I had assumed that this was going to be a little too steampunky, a concept that I find interesting in itself, but one that has never been a setting for good stories. This book is not that at all, but more of a deconstruction of the notion, with the Purifiers living simpler than traditional steampunk and the Modifiers on the tech side, but more advanced. It is the antagonism between these two peoples that sets the stage for Amala's story. From my knowlege, Amala age and personality is what makes her novel among such adventurers. This is not a young Kitty Pryde or a Peter Pan. She's deadly by purpose, with the battle skill that equals that of her enemies more than twice her age and with more experience. From the beginning she is pure adventure, a precocious assassin, who is haunted and overwhelmed by ghosts, including that of her father who tells her that she has an important role in ending the conflict between the factions. With that goal in mind, the story then progresses well, with plenty of action to a satisfying climax. The penciling/inking style is very good and fits the tone of the story well. Dialynas' art is top-notch and he doesn't take the easy route, but includes great designs for even the most minor of characters, even those that are background. Hoping for a sequel. Read more