**I received a free electronic copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Use of images for review purposes only.**
Lottie receives a strange knock on her door and discovers she is the chosen one. Perhaps the oldest chosen one ever called. Can she train fast enough to prevent the oncoming apocalypse?
This Lovecraftian tale of sassy cursing elders fighting supernatural monsters was right up my alley. I have read a few reviews of this title already and many say it is Golden Girls meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I love that comparison and the similarities become clear immediately. (Please note that I say this not knowing if the elements were actually based on the two television shows.) However, I do not see this as an entirely good thing. I enjoyed reading something familiar but I didn't feel like there was enough back story injected in the narrative in the five issues collected here to fully distinguish itself from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Meet Lottie Thorn, a reluctant chosen one called to save the world. She is a retired art teacher in her 70s, and not eager to take on a mission that would typically require a spry young girl. I found this twist on the "chosen one" narrative delightful and new. She is very much like Buffy, the occasional reluctant hero with sassy retorts. Lady Peruvia Ashlington-Voss is Lottie's trainer of sorts and even her name reminds me of Buffy's stuffy British "watcher" Rupert Giles. I could not get this out of my head while I was reading.
Their relationship has a push and pull, with Peruvia being the strict and more adult voice, and Lottie as the down-to-earth brassy trainee. They are great foils to play off each other, like Buffy and Giles. I think if we just had more of a glimpse of Lottie's past it could help distinguish this story a little better. Did Lottie's past art foreshadow her fate? Had anything odd happened in her life to make her believe she could be different? If not, does being called come as a larger surprise? One thing I can say is that I've never seen Buffy slice a demon in half with a frying pan! Or used baked goods as a weapon!
Overall, this is a solid read if you are looking for a fun/self-contained story with the possibility of more storylines. It wraps up with a nice bow at the end, and it perfect for the Halloween season.
Despite my critique, I still had a ball reading Ash & Thorn and hope to see more adventures from these tough broads in the future.
For fans of: sassy grandmas, tentacle monsters, and unlikely heroes
Verdict: 4/5
This book in 1 GIF:
Ash & Thorn Volume One: Recipe for Disaster
Writer: Mariah McCourt
Artists: Soo Lee & Jill Thomson
120 pages
ISBN: 978-1-9520-9000-4
Published by: Ahoy Comics
Publish date: October 27, 2020
Now available from these retailers:
*Please note that any links included are to support the author. I do not receive any compensation for link traffic or purchases.*