Lady Baltimore: The Witch Queens #1 Review
Writers: Mike Mignola & Christopher Golden
Artist: Bridgit Connell
Colours: Michelle Madsen
The debut issue of Lady Baltimore starts on the cusp of the Second World War which is fitting at its parent series, Baltimore, started off at the end of the First World War. We find our heroine fighting off horrific monsters, summoned by a witch. It’s a great action scene which manages to be both reminiscent of Baltimore and stands on its own two feet. While it’s still early days in the series this issue does a great job of (re)introducing the cast, comprised of a mixture of old and familiar faces, and a few new ones as well. No prior knowledge is required however as just enough information is given for new readers to understand these characters without it being overwhelming.
When it was announced that Baltimore and Joe Golem existed in the same universe, an Outerverse as it’s being called to separate it from Hellboys Mignolaverse, it was an exciting time for fans of both series. Lady Baltimore is a logical first entry into this newly established larger universe, and it manages to live up to the legacy of Baltimore whilst also standing on its own two feet. Baltimore told a complete story with a beginning, middle and end, and this series doesn’t change that. It respects that story, even going to pains to confirm that Baltimore is dead, and that this tale is very much its own story set in the same larger universe. This issue is filled with some of his iconic weaponry and locations which will be familiar to readers of Baltimore, and is an excellent legacy to that iconic series. It’s established here that where Baltimore was inhuman at times, his heart locked away in a tin box, that Sofia is much more human than her late husband, even if she tries to lock her feelings away.
Bridgit Connell does an excellent job with the art, the action scene that readers find themselves thrust into within the first few pages is filled with unique creature(s), suitably monstrous and horrific. She does a fantastic job bringing them all to life. Her style fits in nicely with the style that the Baltimore series created. Michelle Madsen does a great job with the colours, managing to set the tone easily knowing when to use darker colours to really create a menacing scene. When she colours magic it works really well too, bright blues contrasting nicely with duller backgrounds.
This issue does exactly what first issues should, it introduces readers both new and old to the cast of characters, sets up the ongoing plot without giving too much away, and is above all good fun. Clearly following in the legacy that Baltimore created it takes pains to establish itself as its own series with a cast of both new and old characters. It’s filled with plenty of promise for the future and will have fans desperate to see where these new Outerverse tales go.
Artist: Bridgit Connell
Colours: Michelle Madsen
The debut issue of Lady Baltimore starts on the cusp of the Second World War which is fitting at its parent series, Baltimore, started off at the end of the First World War. We find our heroine fighting off horrific monsters, summoned by a witch. It’s a great action scene which manages to be both reminiscent of Baltimore and stands on its own two feet. While it’s still early days in the series this issue does a great job of (re)introducing the cast, comprised of a mixture of old and familiar faces, and a few new ones as well. No prior knowledge is required however as just enough information is given for new readers to understand these characters without it being overwhelming.
When it was announced that Baltimore and Joe Golem existed in the same universe, an Outerverse as it’s being called to separate it from Hellboys Mignolaverse, it was an exciting time for fans of both series. Lady Baltimore is a logical first entry into this newly established larger universe, and it manages to live up to the legacy of Baltimore whilst also standing on its own two feet. Baltimore told a complete story with a beginning, middle and end, and this series doesn’t change that. It respects that story, even going to pains to confirm that Baltimore is dead, and that this tale is very much its own story set in the same larger universe. This issue is filled with some of his iconic weaponry and locations which will be familiar to readers of Baltimore, and is an excellent legacy to that iconic series. It’s established here that where Baltimore was inhuman at times, his heart locked away in a tin box, that Sofia is much more human than her late husband, even if she tries to lock her feelings away.
Bridgit Connell does an excellent job with the art, the action scene that readers find themselves thrust into within the first few pages is filled with unique creature(s), suitably monstrous and horrific. She does a fantastic job bringing them all to life. Her style fits in nicely with the style that the Baltimore series created. Michelle Madsen does a great job with the colours, managing to set the tone easily knowing when to use darker colours to really create a menacing scene. When she colours magic it works really well too, bright blues contrasting nicely with duller backgrounds.
This issue does exactly what first issues should, it introduces readers both new and old to the cast of characters, sets up the ongoing plot without giving too much away, and is above all good fun. Clearly following in the legacy that Baltimore created it takes pains to establish itself as its own series with a cast of both new and old characters. It’s filled with plenty of promise for the future and will have fans desperate to see where these new Outerverse tales go.
A Look Inside
