If the stories you like aren’t necessarily always about superheroes who punch their problems away, then you might want to cruise on over to Image Comics. Their policy of creator-owned content allows for more serious, in-depth looks at the wide range of emotions and unique scenarios available to a multitude of characters, as well as fabulous artwork done in various styles that simply aren’t displayed by The Big Two. Isola is one of these comics, intricately written by Brenden Fletcher and Karl Kerschl, stunningly illustrated by Kerschl and Msassyk, and lettered by the talented Aditya Bidikar. There aren’t enough adjectives to describe how gorgeous this comic looks, and barely enough modifiers to illustrate the breadth of the world-building that has gone into the storyline. It’s a true-blue high fantasy tale that’s more than worth the read.
Isola pits friend against friend
In the last issue, our protagonist Rook and her magically-transformed-into-a-tiger queen/lover, Olwyn, were found by Miluse, a seemingly helpful woods-witch. By the end of the issue it was revealed that not all was what it seemed, and Miluse was drugging Rook, keeping her like a pet. This issue picks up where the last one left off, with Rook and Miluse harvesting fruits and Olwyn sulking in the corners, apparently forgotten. Rook bites into one of the delicious-looking fruits, only to discover that it is rotten. Miluse then tells her that she must be feeling ill, and brings her back to her home to drug her with more potions. The wedge being driven between Olwyn and Rook is wonderfully depicted in Isola, evoking deep sympathies from anyone who ever watched their friend be deceived. Olwyn wakes that night and heads to where Miluse keeps her animals, making a horrific discovery.
Spider-women and butchery
Olwyn discovers that all the animals Miluse keeps are actually transformed children, much as Olwyn herself is trapped in the form of a tiger. Understandably outraged, she breaks all of their cages and frees the children. Miluse awakens and catches Olwyn red-pawed, but is grabbed by the spider-thing that has been following our heroines. Olwyn and the child-animals flee, as Miluse and the spider wrestle. The action is strongly framed by Kerschl and Msassyk, with wonderful linework and coloring. The spider transforms into the one-eyed woman who lost her child in the seventh issue, revealing that Miluse is her daughter, apparently banished for being a child-transforming jerk. Miluse gets the upper hand, drags her mother back to the house, and murders her. Isola doesn’t hesitate to get gritty, real quick.
In Isola, nothing is what is seems
Olwyn and the rescued animal kids make their escape, heading back to the children’s’ home, and as Miluse drinks her mother’s blood, the younglings are transformed back into human form. They thank Olwyn for saving them and pray that she will be returned to her original form as well. She flashes back to her brother putting the curse on her and glances at her paws, which have become ghostly human hands. Rook is out looking for her missing queen, hating on herself for losing her in the first place, and the final page of the issue shows Olwyn, returned to human form, comforting her beleaguered guardian. A fantastic finale to a wonderful issue; y’all need to get your hands on Isola, for real.