Courtney Crumrin #7 Cover by Oni Press
In a dark, magic-filled world, Courtney Crumrin is the last of the Crumrin witches. An intriguing story, written by Ted Naifeh, features just a little girl who is trying to fully master her powers. However, as Great Uncle Aloysius attempts to capture Courtney, she has to rely on the help of others to stay safe.
I was immediately drawn to this comic by its cover art. I found the giant steampunk-looking creature mixed with a cartoonish charm to be incredibly aesthetically appealing. With drawing done by Ted Naifeh and coloring by Warren Wucinich, their combined talents do not just impress on the cover. The entire issue displays very calm background shades of blue, grey, and black, but gives main characters and important panels more color. This contrast really makes the art pop with true definition, which I thought worked very well for the story.
For those that may remember this story from the past, Courtney Crumrin was originally published in 2002 by Ted Naifeh and Oni Press. The series consisted of 3 main books: Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things, Courtney Crumrin and the Coven of Mystics, and Courtney Crumrin in the Twilight Kingdom. Two shorter books and a one-shot title have also been published, but the series was recently revived in April 2012. However, this 2012 series is the first time Courtney Crumrin has been featured in color.
After only reading one issue, I enjoyed this story. The beginning features a small recap, designating a few bubbles explaining where they are in the story. However, I wish there was more. I really appreciate when comics provide an adequate summary page that allows new readers to jump into the story at any time, so I wish this series provided that. Although I had trouble understanding what was fully going on, Courtney Crumrin definitely kept my attention. The story is fast-paced, only has a few central characters, and as I said before, the art is really appealing to me. My main complaint was that I wish the comic was a bit longer. As soon as I got really sucked in, the issue was already finished. Perhaps this is a prime example of ‘leaving the reader wanting more’.
Gamenomics & Comicology 