Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick
Artist: Emma Rios

Pretty Deadly is a title I have been really excited about, but honestly, this first issue left me a little confused.

First things first, this is a great looking book. Emma Rios’s artwork is gorgeous, and suits western style of Pretty Deadly. The layouts especially work very well, consisting of mostly large panels, but utilizing smaller box panels to highlight lot of the story’s intricacies.

Kelly Sue DeConnick’s writing is as sharp as always, and some poetic storytelling in the first few pages provides a cool origin to what is sure to be awesome main character in this book. The second half of the issue, however, while clearly intending to plant the seed of a larger story, actually ends up falling a little flat, with a ‘Someone took something they shouldn’t have, and now they’re in trouble’ vibe. No doubt there is slightly more to it than that, but the issue doesn’t finish up as strongly as it starts.

I have full faith in the creative team going forward, but despite the good looks and interesting premise, this first instalment of Pretty Deadly doesn’t quite do enough to ramp up the interest after the midway point of the issue.

Rating: 7/10.

The writer of this piece was: Alan Shields (aka Al)
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