Holy Warrior
100 Words Or Less
The Magdalena line has existed for a thousand years, with one girl child selected each generation to be the servant of the Church. Every Magadalena has wielded the Spear of Destiny, up until the current one, Patience. But now Patience has turned her back on the Church after they tried to kill her. Kristof, a Knight of Malta, must convince Patience to return to the Church, for a great evil is about to arise, one who could bring about the end of the world.So Then I Said...
I really like comics with a strong female protagonist. Magdalena is arguably one of the most strongest female protagonists there ever was. As such, I love what Ron Marz has done with the character. This is Vol. 3 so there's been some history to the character but Marz did such a good job with this first issue to allow for the reader to catch up on what's happened. In the first couple of pages, there's a brief history lesson of the Magdalena and throughout the issue, the reader is filled in on Patience's past. Finally, on the last two pages, there's a brief bio on five previous Magadalenas, along with the current one. This is what a #1 issue should be all about. Helping the reader get acclimatized to an existing character and integrating them into the story thus far.While I was reading this issue, I couldn't help but feel like as if it was just like a movie. From the fight scene while Kristof is speaking with the church to when he goes to find Patience in Elba, I could literally see the comic happening in movie format. And that's a great job by Marz. Nelson Blake II did the art this issue and though I've heard some folks say they didn't like it and they felt the skintone was too pale (Sal Regla on inks and Dave McCaig on colours), I loved it. I loved Blake's stuff in this issue, especially the two-pager with all the Magadalenas to the first fight scene and even just that simple pane where we see Patience atop the mountainside restaurant. Good cover, too, an image of a strong fierce woman wielding the Spear of Destiny.
The issue ends with a mini-cliff hanger that will be resolved in the next issue and a more meaty cliff-hanger for the greater story arc and I thought that was very well done. It obviously makes you want to get the second issue ASAP.
