Review: Damsel from D.I.S.T.R.E.S.S. #1-5

Much like last week, this week I've been spending some time focusing on a comic 'property' which I had been fortunate to be introduced to in my past life.

However, unlike moving onto a whole brand new comic like I did with And I Love You, this week saw me burn through the entire story of a comic series which, previously, I had only read the first few issues of.

That said, with the Kickstarter pledges for it's issue one to five campaign being sent to backers being just around the corner and (no doubt) the campaign for the trade around the corner just beyond that, I figured I take a moment to read through the story in its entirety and see if the early issue opinions of Andrew Clemson, Mauricio Mora and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou's Damsel from D.I.S.T.R.E.S.S. still rang true by the end.

This series tells the story of Bec, a young woman who, having orphaned and abandoned from an early age by her mother and father respectively, has fought her way to being a top operative for the Kingdom's top spy agency to become the titular Damsel from D.I.S.T.R.E.S.S. However, far from being a rescued princess, Bec is a kick-ass hero whose life is given a thrown a curve ball when the kidnap of a Dwarven Princess leads her on the trail of her long disappeared adventurer father. So now, it is up to Bec, along with a couple of travelling companions she meets along the way, to find the princess and come to terms with her chaotic family ties in order to solve the mystery behind their loss.

With Damsel, I really believe that Andrew Clemson has weaved a fun story, lighthearted story, one that feels like Dungeons and Dragons has been crossed with Austin Powers (though without the innuendo). What really makes this a terrific story are the likeable, but relatable characters which Clemson places the series on the shoulders of, without even a hint of flinching. Up front and centre is Bec, whose wit and charm equals that of the spy greats like James Bond and Napoleon Solo but does so without leaning on the more 'chauvinistic' tropes those characters rely on. However, what makes the character really compelling to follow on this journey is how she shows her struggles and trauma (with this story essentially being a journey in search of her family) with abandonment issues, without making them the pure focus and putting readers of, instead levelling her out with the aforementioned wit.

Of course, she's not alone in holding this series, with some great supporting characters, such as her amphibian boss Henry, POV Knight-in-training Dave and the standout in Hilde, the fallen Dwarven bodyguard who doesn't let her stature stop her from winning a fight ... or hitting on any guy she encounters.

That said, Damsels story isn't perfect as some of the story beats feel a little off to me. These include the focus around the princess' kidnapping which, upon her being reunited with the heroes, the rationale behind it appears to be almost forgotten. Meanwhile, the finale does seem to tie off any and all traumas caused through the story a little too neatly for my taste. Of course, these don't impede the plot as is read, but, upon reflection, they are threads which feel forgotten and will hopefully be dealt with in any (hopefully) future issues.

As for the art, well, Mauricio Mora's artwork within the pages of Damsels is just downright magical. With a style which vibes a lot  like Jim Cheung (Avengers: The Children's Crusade) meets Fin Cramb (White Ash), these visuals have a look incredibly magical like the latter (which makes sense given their focus on the mythological) but a vibrancy and energy (particularly in the action scenes) which imbue more of the latter. As a result, the overall look is one of lighthearted fun which is perfectly in keeping and expertly reflects the tone of the story.

I feel like I've rambled on a bit (again) so, let me cut to the chase a bit. With some likeable, well rounded characters and set in a colourful and fun world, Damsels from D.I.S.T.R.E.S.S. is a truly fantastical, swash-buckling adventure story. While the first five issues have their faults, they are far too few to make this anything less than a captivating read.

I just hope these five issues aren't the last we see of the Damsels from D.I.S.T.R.E.S.S.