Broken Frontier

King Arthur’s child searches for her destiny in this new all-ages fantasy series.

Daughter of the legendary King Arthur, young Megan lives a sheltered life on the mystic island of Avalon. Her world is a beautiful, unchanging paradise presided over by her aged mentor, Morgan. Unfortunately, utopia proves insufficient for Megan’s father and one day he vanishes through the mists to explore the worlds beyond. Megan wants nothing more than to leave Avalon in search of her father and anything else that the outside world has in store. Her teachers fear they can no longer contain this free spirit or keep her safe.

In his introduction, Joe Pruett promises Desperado Publishing will deliver quality in talent, production and work, and indeed, Beyond Avalon does this in spades. This is a thoroughly entrancing first issue with a charming sense of innocence and intriguing hints of a bigger picture. Pruett’s story sets up Megan’s world and situation admirably. We get a sense of her restlessness and the staid, unwavering (though beautiful) environment of Avalon. The knowing glances and gentle wisdom of her teachers, Morgan and Joseph, create a feeling of inevitability and of coming change. Like all parent figures, they know their child is slipping away from them. I found it interesting that this change in their world is accompanied by a storm, a phenomenon that is completely alien to Avalon, and to Megan herself; her reaction to rain is a rather humorous moment. My only criticism with the issue is the interlude with an elf and a dragon. This will surely be developed in future issues, but for now, it feels out of place and breaks the rhythm of the story.

The most surprising aspect of Beyond Avalon, however, is Pruett’s use of Arthurian legend. The inspirations for the story are merely hinted at in the script. Arthur’s name is only mentioned once and the sentence is cut off in mid-word. Morgan looks back on a past she regrets but speaks no more of it. Megan finds a sword in a lake and is told it is a family heirloom. Fans of the Arthur stories are sure to be fascinated by these subtle moments. Are we seeing a repentant Morgan le Fay? Is Joseph in fact Joseph of Arimathea, keeper of the Holy Grail? By not dwelling on these details, Pruett creates an accessible story, but one which also presents numerous possibilities for delving deeper into this world.

Co-creator Goran Sudzuka has a lovely and graceful art style that resembles the illustrations of classic children’s books. The white border on certain pages and the open, airy feel of a few borderless panels contributes to the overall layout of the comic. The medieval design of the armor, clothing and village looks like something right out of Bulfinch’s Mythology or a book on the Middle Ages. Like Pruett’s script, Sudzuka’s art implies more than it outright tells us. He presents an older, weathered Arthur with an intense look. The reader is left wondering just what lies behind that piercing stare. Though Arthur does not speak in the issue, Sudzuka’s art makes him a commanding presence nonetheless. Similarly, the sadness in Morgan’s eyes leaves you wanting to know what haunts her.

Beyond Avalon #1 is a promising beginning for the series. It is well worth investigating for any fan of fantasy, Arthurian legend, or something a little different in their comics reading.

-Eric Lindberg