“Barbarella Dejah Thoris” #3 is the latest delightful entry into the princess duo’s underwater adventures and features ozone, warfare, flirting and a whole lot of delicately balanced fun. Warning: minor spoilers ahead.
Written by Leah WilliamsCover by Laura Braga
Illustrated by Germán García
Colored by Addison Duke
Lettered by Crank!
Barbarella and Dejah Thoris make their way across the vast, endless seas of the mysterious water planet they find themselves marooned upon. But after encountering all manner of never-before-seen creatures, they find there’s not one but two dominant species here… and they’re at war! And if that isn’t enough to rattle our heroes, the discovery of just what planet they’re on surely will!
“Barbarella Dejah Thoris” is a book that, frankly, shouldn’t work. Re-casting previously exploitative or niche female characters as modern badasses has had some variable results in the recent past, and it’s hard to strike a balance between honoring the origins of the character while avoiding further exploitation of audience identities. Put more simply, there’s a lot of content out there aimed at the LGBT community and at female readership that overshoots the mark and makes much out of the most shallow aspects of queer, trans and femme identities, and it’s made by folks inside and outside of those communities alike. Putting Barbarella and Dejah Thoris together in a story sounds like it’s going to be another entry into the “You Tried!” category, but Williams, García, Duke and Crank absolutely nail this book. Issue #3 continues that trend.
Williams’s scripting is ingenious. By playing up Barbarella’s intelligence and her keen understanding of Dejah Thoris’s emotional state, Williams bridges the tropes of uber competence and flighty female to make Barbarella a completely convincing, charming and unique character while paying homage to her origins. Rather than remaining cold and calculated, Barbarella is keenly curious, and, as she says at one point, entirely capable of intense emotion. She chooses not to show it, and chooses to support Dejah Thoris as she tries to make sense of her surroundings. Likewise, Dejah Thoris doesn’t devolve into smashing with her sword or fiery rebuttal, but merely seems off-balance in a believable way that doesn’t diminish her power or character. The two have lovely banter and a genuine interest in getting to know each other, and even a little flirtation in this issue that adds interest without baiting. The moments feel fresh and natural, and if they pass without consummation of some sort? Not a problem, because there’s so much else going on that the camaraderie feels well-placed, and expertly timed.
All this and a war to win, too! Dejah and Barbarella’s dynamic is perfectly balanced by the fun, high-stakes situation they find themselves navigating. García’s art is really stunning, with a lovely and subtle command of cartooning that doesn’t deprive Barbarella or Dejah Thoris of their most famous assets. Everything’s in proportion and the costumes provide gentle humor at certain moments and gravitas at others. Throughout, facial expressions range from deadly serious to cute and their abilities are on fun display as Dejah stabs her way through a few alien critters and Barbarella’s science knowledge keeps them, well. Alive. The backgrounds are gorgeous, with the omnipresent ozone adding a nice textural element to the page as well as helping the clock tick down on their efforts. It’s worth noting Barbarella’s costume texture here as well. The sea creatures are imagined as just a little off-center from what we’d recognize on Earth, and the detailing on their injuries is at once heart-rending and lovely. And finally, the layouts are well balanced, with a lovely creative spin on the underwater montage that features bubbly panel borders and some nice accents to differentiate from the regimented, narrow panels in the previous part of the book.
Duke’s colors are phenomenal, and really make García’s art come to life. We’ve got more of a purple and fuschia Mars than a red Mars, and the choice to accent these deeper colors with turquoise, pink and a few other pops really helps the landscape come to life. Dejah and Barbarella’s costume colors complement the landscape without blending in, and Barbarella’s blaster cuts a pretty blue path through the flying invaders. The white sterility of the lab gives way to a more familiar lavender and grey backdrop, and nowhere is the synergy between the artistic team more apparent than in Doctor Gitu’s little avatar. Made out of his notes, he’s a perfect shade of post-it yellow dialed down to suit the book’s overall palette, and that kind of subtle nod to a mundane office notion adds gentle visual humor and warmth to the tension in the final page. Just what the doctor ordered.
Continued belowCrank’s lettering is perfect for the book, with a nice font that’s wider than what normally works in a comic with so much dialogue. There’s a very nice left curve to the letters that suits the underwater locale and the musing quality of Barbarella’s inquiry. Balloons are economical with a nice, subtle stroke to give them that hand-drawn look. It can blend into darker backgrounds but stands out nicely when the princesses approach the lab. Both Crank and García use fantastic, unique sound effects that’re bubbly for underwater movement and blocky and fun for Dejah and Barbarella’s action scenes. There are so many, in fact, that the style ranges just a bit too wide, but they’re so well-integrated on the page it’s hard to notice unless you’re paying very close attention.
“Barbarella Dejah Thoris” #3 keeps the action ticking along nicely, with enough character development, banter, exploration and fun to make this a must-have for any comics fan, new or not to these beloved characters. The book doesn’t pander or rely too heavily on the beauty of its visuals, but neither is it over-written or too self-aware. Williams, García, Duke and Crank are making something that feels effortless and entertaining with a boatload of skill behind it. This one should be on everyone’s pull lists, so get to it!
Final Verdict: 9.0 – “Barbarella Dejah Thoris” #3 delights with more underseas intrigue, effortless banter, gorgeous art and top-notch pacing.
