amalasblade0cvrby Steve Horton and Michael Dialynas

Weird steam-punky world, cyborg pirates, and a female assassin plagued with the constant nattering of four ghosts from her past. Amala’s Blade is a bit out there, but inventiveness will win over fans faster than you can say Michael Dialynas. As the comic market has seen a bit of an uprising of steam-punk comics in the underground, it’s not surprising to see those influences trickling into bigger indie titles. What might be surprising is that it’s a very unique take on steam-punk, in that it focuses more on pirates and sword fighting than it does on big cities run by gears and steam. If this short description isn’t enough to convince the skeptical then proceed with the rest of the review.

The first thing to take note about this issue is that it is a #0 issue, meaning it gives a bit of background, but the rest of the series probably won’t rely on it very much. Essentially Amala’s Blade #0 is a very basic introduction to the main protagonist and her skill set. You definitely get a very firm grasp on who Amala is and what she’s all about, including what makes her very unique. As far as a #0 issue goes, this is a great way to expand on the series, giving attentive comic buyers a bonus story, but also convincing them on if Amala’s Blade #1 will be something worth investing in.

As far as Amala’s Blade being well scripted and appealing, it is safe to say that Steve Horton (Monstrous) has a firm grasp on making a fun story with a bit of a dark side. The inclusion of pirates in a feel good story like this makes it appealing to fans of darker comics, but also makes it very fun to read. There is a lot that makes Amala an intriguing character, all of which things are well showcased in this issue. The script also leaves a lot of mystery to the world Amala lives in, while still explaining the main things that make it unique. All in all, Steve Horton has definitely delivered a very fun and fascinating comic that abounds in creativity.

Along with an innovative story is a very unique art style, drawn and coloured by Greek artist, Michael Dialynas (Swan Songs.) He draws with a very thick and rough line, and a dreary steam-punk like colour scheme. He illustrates everything very well, but with a very stylized form it is hard to judge whether something is drawn correctly or just fitting the style. All of the major elements of flow and readability apply, making the comic a very enjoyable viewing experience. His style is definitely not like anything on the comic market right now, which makes this series even more appealing.

Amala’s Blade #0 is a very unique comic, taking elements from many different genres to make something special. This issue introduces the main character in a very appealing way, and does so with exciting bouts of action and suspense. It is a bit of a different taste, so it may not be for everyone, but if you are looking for something out of the ordinary give Amala’s Blade a shot.

Writing: 7/10
Art: 7/10
Overall: 7/10

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Tommy Lutz

Tommy Lutz

Reviewer at ReadComicBooks
Tommy Lutz, born in Michigan, moved to Alberta at age 1. Raised on a farm, worked on a farm, and you won’t ever get the farm out. Trained in musical theory on guitar for over 8 years, played in 4 bands, always lead guitar and lead vocals. He got married at age 19, and is a family man to 3 boys and a girl. Although he is passionate about his hobbies, family is always first for Tommy Lutz. Even though Tommy’s review and editorial writing career started in video games, it quickly lead to his next geek hobby, comic books. Writing wasn’t a new thing for Tommy, having written songs for his bands and poems and stories with high grades in high school. He started reading Sonic the Hedgehog when he was 6, but gave it up by age 10, only to return to the hobby at age 23 at the advice of his best friend. He enjoys a wide variety of comics from a wide variety of publishers, and has fully immersed his wife in the process. When he’s not reading or writing, he’s playing RPG video games, the longer the better.
Tommy Lutz

@tommylutz

Tommy Lutz
Tommy Lutz

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