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Review: Another Castle #1

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Ashley Leckwold

Confession: I’m not much of a gamer. Well, a more casual one. I never really played Zelda or Mario growing up, so my attachment to the characters is more of an overall cultural one. I’ve spent more time playing Zelda in Super Smash Bros than traversing with Link across Hyrule.

It’s easy to imagine that a book titled Another Castle would be filled with gaming references, but the new Oni Press book by Andrew Wheeler and Paulina Ganucheau also has just as much in common with books like Princeless and shows like Adventure Time as it does with The Legend of Zelda.

The book follows Misty, the princess of the kingdom of Beldora. Ten years after the death of her mother at the hands of Lord Badlug the Terrible, Misty is expected to marry Prince Peter. However, despite her love of “dresses and carriage rides,” Misty is frustrated by the fact that seems to be it for her while princes like Peter get to command armies and battle monsters. Which is probably why she takes the opportunity to face Badlug face to face with a sword made from his soul and lets herself get kidnapped in the process.

Wheeler’s writing for Another Castle strikes a fine balance between establishing and action as well as funny and heartbreaking. Even with all we know about Misty so far is her headstrong nature, her resourcefulness, and just a bit of the sadness in her past, she feels like a character we’ve known for ages. One that you want to see succeed as she gets deeper into Badlug’s lair as she makes her own escape. The charming introductions of the characters of Gorga and Fogmoth also give the book a sense of atmosphere and the hope that maybe Misty will make actual friends on her journey.

Taking a turn for more high fantasy than magical girl in this story, Ganucheau’s art is still delightful as ever. With a certain video game colorfulness and expression, the characters and the world of Another Castle really do come to life under her pen. It’s especially complimentary to Misty, an admitted girly girl who also likes to fight, is looking for something beyond being the typical princess, and has to learn the more diplomatic parts of her position on the fly. Plus, there are little details that make the book extra fun on a second read, like one of Gorga’s hair snakes eating a scone after Misty knocks it away from Fogmoth. Not to mention the send up of Sheik towards the end of the issue.

If you’re intimidated by or are expecting a straight video game send up from Another Castle, you may be pleasantly surprised that while the first issue does have a fair amount of video game vibes, the story fits well along the line of women-centric fantasy comic books like Princeless, Princess Ugg and Rat Queens while still being its own thing. Wheeler and Ganucheau have created a bright and fun universe that is easy to get lost in and makes you root for your heroes right off the bat. No apologies here, the princess you seek is in Another Castle.

Story: Andrew Wheeler Art: Paulina Ganucheau
Story: 8.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Preview: Another Castle #1

Posted on February 27, 2016 by Graphic Policy Team

ANOTHER CASTLE #1

(W) Andrew Wheeler
(A/C/CA) Paulina Ganucheau
Retailer incentive variant cover illustrated by Irene Koh
Price: $3.99
Age Range: 8 and up
Genre: Fantasy

Princess Misty of Beldora longs for a more exciting life, but gets more than she bargained for when she is captured by Lord Badlug, the ruler of the neighboring kingdom of Grimoire. He intends to marry her and conquer Beldora, leading the land into ruin and chaos. Together with the long-suffering citizens of Grimoire and a certain bumbling prince, Misty must fight to protect her kingdom and free both realms from Badlug’s tyrannical rule.

Preview: Coming Soon to a Comic Shop Near You

Posted on January 10, 2016 by Graphic Policy Team

COMING SOON TO A COMIC SHOP NEAR YOU

(W) Andrew Wheeler, J. Torres, Natalie Riess
(A/CA) Paulina Ganucheau, Corin Howell, Maarta Laiho, Natalie Riess

Exclusive previews of three of our upcoming spring titles, complete with behind-the-scenes photos and artwork! First up, ANOTHER CASTLE by Andrew Wheeler (Editor-in-Chief of Comics Alliance) and Paulina Ganucheau (Zodiac Starforce). This sword and sorcery fantasy epic will surprise you at every turn! Next, J. Torres (Teen Titans Go!, Brobots), Corin Howell (Bat-Mite, Jem and the Holograms, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) and Maarta Laiho (Lumberjanes, Adventure Tiime: Candy Capers) join forces with THE MIGHTY ZODIAC, an action-packed adventure set in a rich fantasy world. Finally, enter SPACE BATTLE LUNCHTIME by Natalie Riess—a high-stakes cooking competition in the far reaches of space!

Oni Press Exclusive First Look

Posted on October 17, 2015 by Graphic Policy Team

Oni Press has announced Coming Soon to a Comic Shop Near You, a full-color 32-page exclusive preview of three spring 2016 titles: Another Castle, The Mighty Zodiac, and Space Battle Lunchtime, complete with behind-the-scenes photos and artwork.

Another Castle is a sword and sorcery comedy starring a damsel in distress who doesn’t wait to get rescued, brought to you by writer Andrew Wheeler and artist Paulina Ganucheau.

Princess Misty of Beldora longs for a more exciting life, but gets more than she bargained for when she is captured by Lord Badlug, the ruler of the neighboring kingdom of Grimoire. He intends to marry her and conquer Beldora, leading the land into ruin and chaos. Together with the long-suffering citizens of Grimoire and a certain bumbling prince, Misty must fight to protect her kingdom and free both realms from Badlug’s tyrannical rule. This series is perfect for fans of Lumberjanes, Princeless, and Zodiac Starforce.

Writer J. Torres, artist Corin Howell, and colorist Maarta Laiho join forces with The Mighty Zodiac, an action-packed adventure set in a rich fantasy world, perfect for fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Usagi Yojimbo and Kung Fu Panda.

After the Blue Dragon dies and the stars fall out of the sky, it’s up to the Zodiac Clan to collect them before the evil Moon Rabbit Army takes them for their own dark purposes. But there’s another hitch: the leader of the Zodiac Clan, Master Long, has fallen ill, and the stars could be the only thing strong enough tho save him.

Last but not least, enter Space Battle Lunchtime by newcomer Natalie Riess, a high-stakes cooking competition in the far reaches of space!

Peony dreams of being a world-renowned pastry chef, but for now she works at a bakery to get herself through school. But then she gets the opportunity of a lifetime – a recruiter is looking for contestants to a large cooking competition. What Peony doesn’t know is just how large – the contestants come from every corner of the universe, and the show is broadcast all over space! Peony may be out of her element, but with a passion for desserts, nerves of steel, and a little help from her friends, she might just have a shot at victory.

Coming Soon to a Comic Shop Near You arrives in local comic book shops on January 6, 2016.

SDCC 2015: Oni Press Announces Three New Series

Posted on July 18, 2015 by Graphic Policy Team

Oni Press announced at their San Diego Comic-Con Editorial panel three new 2016 titles: Over the Surface, by Natalie Nourigat, Another Castle, by Andrew Wheeler and Paulina Ganucheau, and The Mighty Zodiac, by J. Torres and Corin Howell.

Working with Natalie Nourigat, Paulina Ganucheau and Corin Howell, Oni Press is extremely pleased to be able to support incredibly talented women creators in each of their new titles. Natalie Nourigat has become a star to watch since her early collaboration with Oni Press on A Boy and a Girl, Paulina Ganucheau has gone from success to success and anticipation could not be higher for her upcoming Zodiac Starforce series, while Corin Howell continues to receive glowing critical praise for Transformers: Windblade.

In Over the Surface, written and illustrated by Natalie Nourigat, Ava Lefevre longs to be a pilot but the Solveran Army doesn’t allow women into its ranks. However the country is at war with a neighboring country, Isolestra, and needs all the help in can get. Taking advantage of this, Ava boasts to a recruitment party that she can outfly their best pilot, Victor. A dogfight is set up between the two and Ava comes out on top – buying her enrollment into the military. Ava finally has everything she’s always wanted but soon discovers that there’s more to the war than what the government is telling civilians – especially after she’s tasked with taking down the growing resistance movement in Solvera. Can Ava keep her dream of flying while there’s so much turmoil on the ground?

Another Castle, written by Andrew Wheeler and illustrated by Paulina Ganucheau, is the story of Princess Misty, captured by the evil Badlug, who quickly mounts an escape and is nearly out the door when she discovers that her disappearance would have terrible consequences. Because without a princess, the prince won’t come, and without the prince, the legendary sword that can kill Badlug also won’t come. And if Misty leaves, Badlug will be infuriated, and take it out on the citizens of Grimoire. It’s happened before, when Misty’s own mother died while she was Badlug’s prisoner, and he blew up his own castle. So Misty returns to captivity, and conspires with the citizens of the castle to bring a regime change to Grimoire. Together, they team up with the bumbling prince, get the sword, and free the kingdom.

The Mighty Zodiac, written by J. Torres and illustrated by Corin Howell, begins when six stars fall out of the sky to earth. Master Long sends a message to his students, all members of the Zodiac Clan, to collect the stars and return them to their base. However, the Moon Rabbit Army is also after the stars, and will stop at nothing to make sure they don’t get back to Master Long – even if it means snuffing them out. It’s up to the Zodiac Clan to not only collect the stars but protect their ailing Master Long from the Moon Rabbit Army’s might.