Broken Frontier

The Warrior Princess of ancient Greece returns in this new series spinning out of the cult t.v. show. Ready those high-pitched war cries!

In ancient times, a sailing vessel comes under attack by a monstrous multi-headed hydra. Standing against it is the famed Warrior Princess, Xena, and her ally Gabrielle. But the hydra is but one manifestation of a conflict raging between the Olympian and Egyptian gods. To settle their differences, the immortals agree to choose a human champion to represent them. But Lord Zeus’ choice may not be who you think…

I must confess that the Xena t.v. series was something of a guilty pleasure for me, a show whose mix of Greek mythology and light-hearted camp I found frequently entertaining. With the recent resurgence of both fantasy comics and licensed properties, the time was apparently ripe for Xena’s return and I was intrigued to see what Dynamite would do with her.

Fresh off the company’s Red Sonja/Claw crossover, John Layman delivers a script that emulates the tone of the show, giving us a dose of high fantasy with tongue planted firmly in cheek. This lends the issue an amusing feel though it also leads to a few awkward dialogue exchanges that don’t quite reach their target. The current war of the gods throws Xena and Gabrielle into action from the opening pages on however, which makes for a rousing read. Issue 1 only establishes the most basic premise but enough information is given to keep new readers and old fans with hazy memories on track. Additionally, a number of familiar faces sure to please fans of the show are given screen time and contribute to the humorous tenor of the story. A few jokes fall flat here and there but Xena #1 is an overall solid first effort.

While Layman’s script has a few minor flaws, artist Fabiano Neves never falters. His illustrations are suitably sleek and he captures the likenesses and expressions of the original actors well. His brief renditions of the god war indicate that he will be a good choice to bring the more fantastical elements of the series to life. Richard Isanove’s colors lend the images a richness and texture that also serves to elevate the art.

Xena #1 is to a great extent entertaining fluff but then, so was the show. If you were a fan of the character or are enjoying the adventures of Dynamite’s other warrior woman, this may be a series to watch.