Comics Review: "BATTLE CHASERS #11" Raises the Stakes

BATTLE CHASERS #11

IMAGE COMICS

STORY: Joe Madureira

ART: Ludo Lullabi

COLORS: Ludo Lullabi

LETTERS: Richard Starkings & Comicraft's Tyler Smith

COVER: Ludo Lullabi

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Joe Madureira with Billy Garretsen; Jonboy Meyers

MISC. ART: Ludo Lullabi; Jonboy Meyers; Andrew Cockroach; Chris Bourassa

28pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S. (July 2023)

Rated “M/ Mature”

Battle Chasers created by Joe Madureira

“Martial Law” Part Two

Battle Chasers is a fantasy comic book series created by artist Joe Madureira.  The series, originally published from 1998 to 2001, returns via Image Comics.  It is written by Madureira; drawn and colored by Ludo Lullabi; and lettered by Tyler Smith.

Battle Chasers focuses on five main characters.  There is Gully, a ten-year-old girl who has a pair of magical gauntlets.  Garrison is a legendary swordsman who possesses a powerful magical sword.  Knolan is a mighty 500-year-old wizard, and his companion, Calibretto, is a towering “Wargolem.”  Also aboard is Red Monika, a voluptuous outlaw who is the target of King Vaneer of the Unified Territories.

Battle Chasers #11 opens in Sirene Valley.  Red Monika has awakened to find herself badly injured and her savior, Garrison, missing.  Before she can start looking for him, she still has a fight on her hands – a fight for her life.

Meanwhile, Maestro and his Master Paladins have cornered Garrison.  Maestro is willing to make a deal, but Garrison must give up Red Monika, which for him means no deal.  The powerful sword that Garrison possesses may be possessing him, and it may not be in his hands for much longer.

THE LOWDOWN:  I have previously written that I was a huge fan of Joe Madureira a.k.a. “Joe Mad” in the 1990s.  I was also a huge fan of Battle Chasers, and I am glad that the series has been revived, even if Mad is no longer drawing it.

That is not necessarily a bad thing.  Current artist, Ludo Lullabi, perfectly captures the madcap energy of Madureira's wild and kinetic storytelling.  For Battle Chasers #11, Ludo's art dances and flits across the page like lightning bolts, which makes the action move so quickly that I couldn't stop reading.  Also, the lettering by Tyler Smith is the perfect accompaniment to Ludo's storytelling.  I miss seeing the big symphonic lettering of Comicraft as much as I once did, so it is good to see the widescreen and potent sound effects that one of its artists, Tyler, brings to the series.

Old fans must be happy to have Battle Chasers back, but I hope new readers discover it.  This series is open to newcomers, dear readers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of artist Joe Madureira and of his former comic book series, Battle Chasers, will want to read the revived Battle Chasers.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

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