An enjoyable comic that sets up the story with care and confidence. A young woman comes to speak to the ringmaster of a most unusual circus, Miss Medusa. Miss Medusa is a Gorgon with snakes for hair. All the acts in the circus are mythical monsters of one type or another. Managing the troupe is a difficult job that is well able to handle. It becomes clear that the young woman is not quite all she appears to be. She has a reason for wanting to talk with Miss Medusa.
Any number 1 comic has a lot of work to do. It must establish the context and cast and give enough story to entice the reader to pick up issue 2. Miss Medusa’s Monstrous Menagerie #1. Manages all these items with confidence. The central idea is a clever one. Hiding all the creatures in plain sight in a circus. This gives the cover to everyone to be themselves and for the audience to see them and feel safe.
Matt Frank’s art is lovely and friendly. All the cast are individual and expressive. The details of the context at the circus create a strong physical location which anchors the story. The vivid colours by Rob Cloma bring out the details of the art and give the story a bright atmosphere that suits the circus setting.
Matt Krotzer’s letters are easy to readd and flow naturally with the story.
Good fun comic and an enticing start.
