Season of the Witch

(Image, 2005-2006)
™ and ©2005 Jai Nitz

In the fantasy realm of Asmando, 14-year-old Jessica (who goes unnamed in the story) is a queen and something called a “spell sword,” apparently a warrior equally adept at sword and sorcery. She kills orcs because they’re bad, then kills a bunch of helpless female orcs and their children.

Zero issues are supposed to introduce upcoming series, but this doesn’t do a very good job of establishing the characters and situations of Season of the Witch. If the premise is (as suggested in solicitations for the first issue) an ordinary Earth thrown into a magical medieval world, readers won’t find any of that in this 12-page story. And if Jessica really is 14, I’m uncomfortable about how she dresses. (Not to mention having her slaughter the defenseless and feel really good about it.)

Basically, this is Buffy the Barbarian, a professionally executed (not particularly original) fantasy—and, for what it is, it’s not bad. This reasonably priced package also includes character designs, pinups, and an introductory text page.

— S.A. Bennett

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