Comics can be a personal journey. On the podcast, I interviewed Steven Yu about his personal journey. We discussed his connection to his characters and what he created this book for. I promised I’d give it a review, and that’s what I’m going to do with this column.
The Book
Joan
Written and Illustrated by Steven Yu
Story Editor and Flatter: Robert Romeo
Publisher: Steven Yu Design Studio
Joan is about Joan of Arc. The story takes place after her death. She wakes up and is chosen by God to be an avenging angel. She has new abilities that help her fight and get revenge for the people who killed her.
Issue one opens with a commentary on film, which is a very fitting take on the whole look of the book. Joan is seeking El Rey and QT Bandaparte. She finds them and battles them. Talking about movies creates a very specific tone for the story. The idea that this is kind of rehearsed, and maybe that this story has been told before. It’s an interesting start to the story.
The action is intense. Joan can’t die, and uses that to dispose of the two countrymen before seeking out the wizards who were responsible for her being crucified. The Burgundians are a group of wizards who had made sure Joan didn’t survive Orleans.
What I like about it is their obituaries for Joan. The idea that she set her fall is a great take on Joan’s life. Was she used by them? Or was her bloodlust something to deal with for them?
This is explored in issue two with Joan’s fight with Akebono. Her powers, while impressive, are finite, and they fade in this battle. The recurring theme of the same story being retold about Joan’s life in this comic resonates here, as Henry shows up to try and finish her off. That doesn’t happen, and that sets up the last piece of the story, which is the origin story of what happened in the past and why Joan died the last time. This is where the volumes end.
Joan is about confronting one’s past and examining how people get here. Steven Yu is writing about the nature of where Joan is coming from and where she is going. There are shades of Western movies and other famous movies like Kill Bill throughout the design. Yu has designed a fun book. There’s some clever design and world-building. How the story ends is a question for later issues, but the journey so far is a fun one. If you like the man with no name, or the Dark Tower, or are a fan of Kill Bill, you will like this series. Check it out.
The Business
Cana, da here I come. I was thinking about this as I was writing this column about why I’m hesitant. It’s because there is so little of the US in front of me. I’m going to miss it. At this time, I know a lot of people tend to downgrade the United States because of its politics, but I’m going to remember the kindness of many Americans across the country who were there for me when I needed it. I want to thank the US and be thankful for this journey in general.
If you’re curious about it, check out my Substack at JoshuaPantalleresco dot substack dot com if you want to check out the journey. Everything from how I became a pro wrestler to sleeping on concrete is here. I think it’s been a heck of an adventure. Check it out.
If you need editing services or writing services, give me a holler. Alright, that will do it for this column. Next, I go back to a simpler time. I hope you guys like demons, devils, and magic. That will be the focus for the next column. Until then, though, stay inspired and keep rocking the good fight.
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