CALAMITY KATE #1 Written by Magdalene Visaggio, Art by Corin Howell, Color by Valentina Pinto
Synopsis:
Kate Strand reboots her destructive life and moves to LA to be the superhero she always wanted to be–Calamity Kate: gun-toting monster killer. With her latest career change, she faces new challenges, relationships, and competition; desperate to show she’s worth a damn in a world overrun by zombies, vampires, demons, goblins, and the ultimate monster bounty: the Seven Fabled Beasts of Yore.
From the Eisner and GLAAD Media Award-nominated writer of the breakout hit KIM & KIM and DC Comics ETERNITY GIRLwith Gerard Way, and artist on IDW’s GHOSTBUSTERS and X-FILES, comes this modern-day, adventure of heroes and monsters.
Thanks to Dark Horse Comics for providing a copy of Calamity Kate #1 for review.
There are really no two ways about it, Kate Strand (aka Calamity) is a bad-ass. The opening of this series reads like the introduction to a video game. There’s a tragic backstory, an epic mission, and of course plenty of monster slaying. This world feels like a blend of classic monster movies, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Conan the Barbarian, and a dash of…Friends? It’s clear that a lot of the dramatic tension is going to come from the strained friendship between Calamity and her old friend Vera. They have both been through a lot in life, and time will tell if they can reconcile their past differences in the present.
The art style is so much fun! The monster designs are highly detailed and just fun to look at. The action is easy to follow, and each panel flows well into the next. I love the character design for Calamity herself. You learn so much about her just by looking at her. She is incredibly expressive and full of vigor.
I’m excited to continue reading about these ladies who love ladies, and also slay literal monsters. This is exactly the kind of diverse storytelling I want on my reading list. I hope that Calamity continues to be tough, yet vulnerable. I’m also interested to see if she can work on a team or if she’ll always be a lone wolf.
Calamity Kate #1 is available on March 13th.
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