ARC Review: Ash & Thorn: Volume One: Recipe for Disaster by Mariah McCourt, Soo Lee & Jill Thompson

Ash & Thorn: Volume One: Recipe for Disaster by Mariah McCourt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The apocalypse is nigh! The world needs a Champion, and the only heir to a sacred mystical lineage is…a little old lady? Meet Lottie Thorn, reluctant savior of the world, and her also-elderly trainer Lady Peruvia Ashlington-Voss. They might not look it, but these women are prepared to take on any Big Bad that comes along. But first, perhaps a nice cup of tea?

Collecting issues #1-5 of the hit series by writer Mariah McCourt (True Blood, Stitched) and artist Soo Lee (Mine!, Charlie’s Angels vs. the Bionic Woman), with covers by Jill Thompson (Scary Godmother, Wonder Woman: True Amazon). Plus extra features—including recipes!

A duo of senior citizens as the ones to save the Earth from an apocalypse? That alone makes it a unique premise, while it is also subverting established tropes like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where the champion is a young woman. In Ash & Thorn, Lottie is surprised to find Peruvia at her doorstep, proclaiming her to be the Champion who is to save the world. Now, Lottie isn’t exactly in for it, since she prefers her life as it is, but needs be, and if she will have to save the world, she will do it. Peruvia tries to train her, but she herself doesn’t believe in Lottie being a true Champion, nor do the forces of evil. Not a spoiler alert, but lot of people comment on Lottie being too old for the role. It is a charming take on the tropes, and Lottie being a no-nonsense so-done-with-this-shit kind of person, it makes for an interesting story with both Lottie’s arc and Peruvia’s misgivings. Her grand-daughter being a sidekick and the fae comedic relief were also nice additions. The artwork is good for the most part, and I love the character designs; the coloring though could have been more aesthetically pleasing. One thing though – the magic system of this didn’t really explain itself, with the spells and all. Overall, it is an entertaining start to what I hope is going to be a fantastic series.