Vagrant Queen is the latest comic series to be adapted for television or film. The television series is based on the comic from writer Magdalene Visaggio and artist Jason Smith. The comic series is published by Vault Comics.

Starring Adriyan Rae in the lead role of Elida, Tim Rozon as Isaac, and Paul du Toit as the menacing Commander Lazaro, the series follows Elida. Elida is an orphaned queen turned scavenger who keeps one step ahead of the Republic government attempting to kill her.

The first notable thing of the series is the visuals which feel like a cross between The Fifth Element, Doctor Who, and Red Dwarf all in a slight dayglo coloring. The visuals are both high quality and low quality at the same time. While some characters like the Republic soldiers look great, some aliens look like bad cosplay.

The longer the show went on the more the visuals grew on me, even with flaws. There’s a vision for the show and it’s consistent and is cohesive. Still, it’s an interesting mix since some things are so good and others are so bad. For every one thing that works, there’s another that doesn’t. That aspect seems to pass that along to the cast too.

Rae, Rozon, and du Toit all seem to be having fun in their roles at times going over the top and overall just having fun. Rae as Elida has a charm about her that is inviting and brings the entertaining aspect to this entertainment. Du Toit especially chews up the scenery with an over the top performance which has a fun villainous wink to it, especially compared to Rae and Rozon’s delivery.

The show has the “Syfy aesthetic,” a certain quality and style that seems to be consistent of shows on the channel. Things are both good and bad, interesting and not so much. It’s fascinating how consistent show are. And that consistency brings with a certain amount of cheese but that cheese is also fun.

Vagrant Queen does a solid job of setting things up and by the halfway mark, you have a good idea of where it’s going. The show is excellent in jumping between the past and present introducing us to Elida. Even with its predictable twist, the first episode is enjoyable and characters have their charm.

Vagrant Queen knows what it is. It wears its style on its sleeve. There’s good and bad about it and the result is good popcorn television. Even when parts are bad, there’s still something fun about it. Think the Enterprise being hit and crew knocked around for quality. There’s a cheese factor but velvety goodness.

I have no idea how well the show sticks to the comic source material but the first episode makes me want to find out. It’s Friday fun television that delivers some sci-fi escape.

Overall Rating: 7.75

Purchase Vagrant Queen Vol. 1: Paperback – Kindle