I read a fair number of graphic novels, but Fairlady: Volume One written by Brian Schirmer and illustrated by Claudia Balboni, departs from most of the Super Hero, SF, and Fantasy graphic novels I usually buy. Jenner Faulds, who disguised herself as a man to fight in a war, returns home to The Feld for a new start after the war ends. Jenner decides to become a “Fairman,” a licensed private investigator. But, Jenner calls herself a “Fairlady”–the only one–and tackles cases the other Fairman won’t touch.
So Fairlady is a mashup of police procedurals and fantasy. Each of the five issues collected in Fairlady: Volume One includes a self-contained story. My favorite adventure was “The Case of the Missing Page.” If you’re looking for mystery with a fantasy setting, I recommend the Fairlady series. GRADE: B
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
The Case of the Blue Rock
The Dead Fairman Mystery
The Case of the Barbarian’s Secret
The Case of the Missing Page
The Case of the Missing Murderess
Never heard of this one, but then I could say that of most graphic novels these days.
A “B” grade from George is usually a “C” for anyone else, so be warned.
Jeff, I want to read more FAIRLADY mysteries before I give a definitive grade. This volume is a promising start.
Sounds interesting. Worth looking into, I think.
Steve, I think FAIRLADY, VOLUME ONE is a promising start to a graphic novel series.
I got and read this on your recommendation and enjoyed it. Love the art, love the creativity of the world and characters. Stories were fair to good, with the only issue being that I didn’t feel the writer knew how to wrap up stories clearly. The limits of single issue comics are troublesome if you don’t know how to quickly and concisely wrap up a story in the few panels remaining at story’s end. Sadly the series had ended with a cliff hanger, quite literally, that won’t be wrapped up because the series was cancelled. So these 5 stories in one volume are all we’ve got
Carl, I’m glad you got some enjoyment from FAIRLADY. I thought it showed promise, but it got canceled anyway.