And now it’s time once again to turn to one of my favorite topics: warrior women!
I’ve previously expounded upon my love for the genre in multiple articles, roots that I think can be traced back to a combination of my childhood love for comics like Wonder Woman, novels like the John Carter of Mars series, and, or course, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Whatever it is, I am always excited when a new entry into this genre is released, and when that release comes from one of the modern masters of Lovecraftian horror, Mike Mignola, well, that just makes it all the more special.
So let’s dive into Miss Truesdale and the Fall of Hyperborea #1 from Dark Horse Comics!
| Here’s the blurb: |
| One of the last followers of a failing Heliopic Brotherhood of Ra, the unassuming Miss Truesdale, finds herself on the receiving end of Brotherhood leader Tefnut Trionus’s final vision. Connecting her life in Victorian London to a young gladiator’s in ancient Hyperborea, Truesdale discovers she now has the chance to change the future by altering the bygone past. Mike Mignola, creator of the Hellboy Universe and artist Jesse Lonergan team up tell an all new, supernatural-horror tale. * Award-winning creator Mike Mignola with acclaimed artist Jesse Lonergan! * The beginning of a new Mignolaverse series! |
Now, right off the bat I need to include a little bit of clarification. While Mike Mignola does have a history of regularly pulling from eldritch horror, Miss Truesdale and the Fall of Hyperborea is much more in the vein of Clark Ashton Smith and Robert E Howard, friends and collaborators with Lovecraft, but ones who, especially Howard, were more focused on Sword & Sandal-type barbarian tales than stories of elder gods and monsters.
And honestly, I am here for that. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some elder gods, but like I said, Sword & Sandals tales of Lady Barbarians always win my heart, and so having an author like Mignola, who can blend all of these genres into a compelling narrative, set in both the ancient past and the “modern” Victorian era, is definitely going to be a treat for fans of both.
And all the classic Mignola tropes are here. An ancient society, evils forces, memories of lives from the distant past; Miss Truesdale and the Fall of Hyperborea is a beautiful distillation of the best qualities of an author who has honed his craft for a decade, and now is bringing all of that to bear on a new and fascinating ongoing series.
Plus, I have to give major props to artist Jesse Lonergan, who does a brilliant job of matching Mignola’s signature style. Reminiscent of the art on BPRD, this style is a hallmark of Mignola’s work, and makes the story feel like we are once again diving into a world that we are immediately acclimated to, while also incredibly curious to explore.
It goes without saying that if you love the work of classic authors like Lovecraft, Smith, and Howard, as well as the work of Mike Mignola, Miss Truesdale and the Fall of Hyperborea is going to be a must read for you. If you love ancient lore, secret societies, and powerful, warrior women, this one is need to be on your weekly pull.
Alright friends, that’s it for me. Until next week, stay safe!
