Dynamite Entertainment's Official (Bafflingly Constructed) Press Release:
In DAMSELS #1, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, and Snow White come together with other damsels in a new adventure filled with danger and intrigue. In DAMSELS, the alluring princesses of classic fairy tales take up arms to save their kingdoms from war. Rediscover the darkness at the heart of fairy tales and why they'll be no happily ever after. Damsels opens with Rapa wishing she had not got out of bed that morning, if she had a bed to get out of that is. The day began badly and has gone rapidly and literally downhill ever since. A series of peculiar and baffling encounters throw obstacle after obstacle into her path, intent it seems on preventing her progress. The thing is, until today she had no idea she was trying to make any progress, toward anything! A collection of hazy memories and bewildering tattoos are all she has to help her figure it all out, and to be honest, she'd just as soon not bother. Around her, we see the mountain city of Caumont thrown into overdrive by the arrival of Queen Talia and King Aurore of Perrault. The streets are thronged with cheering people, does it matter they aren't exactly sure why they are cheering, or for whom?
Dynamite Entertainment is probably most well known as publishers of the Vampirella series, the protagonist of which is not exactly a paragon of "women are people, not objects." But just because they publish one questionably sexist comic (or several since they also produce Witchblade) doesn't render them incapable of quality comics starring women FOR women.
The story is being penned by veteren Dynamite writers Leah Moore, daughter of Alan Moore, and John Reppion who have worked on numerous projects together including Witchblade, Wild Girl, and Doctor Who.
Cover art by is the original artist of Danger Girl J. Scott Campbell who is well known for his hyper-sexualized portrayal of women and, surprisingly, Sean Chen who drew Iron Man for over three years for Marvel.
Interior art is by Aneke, who appears to be a relative unknown.
So based on this evidence, coupled with the promo images, we have competent writers and an interior artist that seems to have a good grasp on female anatomy and clothing with some well-known cheesecake artists to grab you in with T&A covers.
Final verdict: Hesitantly optimistic.
