Title: Swanblade: Year One

Author: D.K. Kristof

Genre: Graphic Novel

 

The year is 1958 and the city of New Radion Bay looks to heroines like Swanblade to protect the city from the mischief of miscreants. Kayla McAllister, daughter of the legendary Buck McAllister, carries on the legacy of her father, while disguised as the vigilant warrior Swanblade. Despite her previous victories over various malevolent forces, the underworld of New Radion Bay is restless after the apprehension of criminal mastermind Steel Maw. Various underworld figures are urging men like Dominic “Dime Bag” Lucetti to make a move and ascend to the top of the criminal hierarchy. As New Radion Bay plans to celebrate the late Buck McAllister, criminals with vengeance on their minds such as Testudo plot to strike with ferocity against the citizenry of New Radion Bay and conduct a reign of terror.

The continued exploits of a strong but reluctant superhero Kayla McAllister form the backbone of this explosive action-packed narrative. Author D.K. Kristof has written a well-developed sequel to Swanblade: Year Zero and allows Kayla to further grow into the role of chief protector while bringing both old and new adversaries for her to battle with. There is enough drama interspersed with rousing moments that propel this story forward with velocity from start to finish.

While Buck McAllister is gone, his ghost-like presence is evident throughout the story. A palpable sense of sadness hovers over Kayla as memories of her recently passed father cling to her. The author skillfully allows this grief to serve as a motivator to Kayla even when she sees her responsibility as almost more of a chore. Kayla is a humanized superhero in that despite her abilities, she still has doubts and wishes for a life of her own, yet her selfless resilience won’t allow her to walk away. Kristof allows his protagonist to be identifiable with her complexities.

One of the key elements of the book relates to fear, a tangible feeling that is well conveyed throughout the story. Despite the imprisonment of a few criminal masterminds, New Radion Bay is not free from crime. A conspiracy is afoot to bring the city to its knees and each attack alarms the public. As Buck saw Kayla as his charge to protect, Kayla must look out for Abby, her friend and burgeoning vigilante. Instead of being deterred by trepidation, Kayla further embraces her role as watcher of New Radion Bay and reaches out to former foes to help fight the latest threat. Kayla’s transformation into a superhero continues in a gradual and transfixing manner.

A war for control of a city between benevolent guardians and assorted blaggards forms the crux of the well-coordinated plot of Swanblade: Year One. The tension is taut, the villains are occasionally covert and the crimefighters are stretched to the limit. While the story has a few confrontations with Kayla’s bête noires, a chance to see more of the creepy Archivist in this installment would have put this graphic novel over the top, in terms of intensity.

Swanblade: Year One is a non-stop page turning graphic novel that is both edgy and gritty. The book is full of both rich imagery and vibrant dialogue that combine to make this story even more compelling than its predecessor. By the time of its conclusion, the reader will be clamoring for more from the immensely talented author.

 

 

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