Isola (comics)

Isola is an American ongoing fantasy comic series created by writer Brenden Fletcher and writer/artist Karl Kerschl, published by Image Comics.

Isola
Cover of Isola – Chapter One
Art by Karl Kerschl and MSassyK
Publication information
PublisherImage Comics
ScheduleMonthly (#1–5)
Bimonthly (#6–present)
FormatOngoing
Publication dateApril 2018 – present
Creative team
Created byBrenden Fletcher
Karl Kerschl
Written byBrenden Fletcher
Karl Kerschl
Artist(s)Karl Kerschl
Letterer(s)Aditya Bidikar
Colorist(s)MSassyK
Collected editions
Chapter OneISBN 9781534309227

The series is set in a mystical land, where the queen’s brother enacts a treacherous plot to transform her into a tiger. The captain of the guard, a woman of great skill, brings swift and lethal vengeance, unaware the wicked prince alone has the power to reverse the spell. The two women—one on two legs, one on four—must undertake a perilous journey halfway across the globe to the fabled island of Isola, gateway to the underworld, where they hope to find the spirit of the queen’s late brother who has the power to return his sister to human form. [1]

Publication history

Isola was first announced at the 2016 Image Expo.[2] Writer Brendan Fletcher explained he and writer/artist Karl Kerschl had been working towards the comic since elementary school. The story follows two women, Queen Olwyn, and Rook, her captain of the guard, on a journey to the island of Isola in hopes of reversing a curse that transformed the queen into a tiger. Kerschl and Fletcher cite the films of Hayao Miyazaki as an influence on the tone of Isola.[1] Kerschl worked closely with colorist Michele Assarasakorn (MSassyK) to create a cinematic feel, mapping out colors in advance to reflect the characters’ journey.[3]

The series was originally scheduled for launch in the spring of 2017, but was delayed until spring 2018. Motor Crush, another Image Comics series also written by Fletcher, ran a five-part prologue to Isola as a back-up feature. The prologue was later made available on the Isola official website.[4]

Issues
Chapter Issue Release date
Prelude Motor Crush #1[5] December 7, 2016
Motor Crush #2[6] January 11, 2017
Motor Crush #3[7] February 8, 2017
Motor Crush #4[8] March 8, 2017
Motor Crush #5[9] April 12, 2017
Chapter One #1[10] April 4, 2018
#2[11] May 9, 2018
#3[12] June 6, 2018
#4[13] July 11, 2018
#5[14] August 29, 2018
Chapter Two #6[15] January 16, 2019
#7[16] March 27, 2019
#8[17] June 26, 2019
#9[18] September 11, 2019
#10[19] February 5, 2020

Collections
Title Release date Collects ISBN
Isola – Chapter One October 24, 2018[20] Isola #1–5 9781534309227
Isola – Chapter Two July 1, 2020[21] Isola #6–10 9781534313538

Reception

Reception to the first issue was mostly positive. Jenna Anderson of Comicbook praised the world building and way Isola’s characters are defined through their actions.[22] Molly Barnewitz of Comicsverse particularly praised Rook’s characterization.[23] However, David Pepose of Newsarama felt the story was too decompressed and that its only selling point was Kerschl’s art.[24] Karl Kerschl and MSassyK’s art received universal praise.[25]

The Eisner-winning digital comics magazine PanelxPanel selected Isola as its feature comic for April 2018. This was particularly notable, since PanelxPanel normally selects comics with longer runs, specifically avoiding comics with only a single issue out. Editor Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou explained in his introduction that he had made an exception for Isola #1 since it is markedly different from most other first issues, specifically that it was “more contemplative and less expository, but deeply interesting and worthwhile.”[26]

Awards
Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2019 Eisner Awards Best New Series Brenden Fletcher and Karl Kerschl Nominated
[27]
Best Penciller/Inker Karl Kerschl Nominated
Best Cover Artist Karl Kerschl Nominated

References
  1. Baker-Whitelaw, Gavia. "There's a dark new fantasy comic on the way from the creators of 'Gotham Academy'". The Daily Dot. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  2. Salazar, Kat. "April 2016 Image Expo Announcements Revealed". Image Comics. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  3. Image+ Volume 2 #6. Image Comics. January 31, 2018. pp. 53–55. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  4. "Prologue". Isola.ca. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  5. "Motor Crush #1". Image Comics. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  6. "Motor Crush #2". Image Comics. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  7. "Motor Crush #3". Image Comics. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  8. "Motor Crush #4". Image Comics. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  9. "Motor Crush #5". Image Comics. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  10. "Isola #1". Image Comics. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  11. "Isola #2". Image Comics. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  12. "Isola #3". Image Comics. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  13. "Isola #4". Image Comics. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  14. "Isola #5". Image Comics. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  15. "Isola #6". Image Comics. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  16. "Isola #7". Image Comics. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  17. "Isola #8". Image Comics. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  18. "Isola #9". Image Comics. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  19. "Isola #10". Image Comics. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  20. "Isola, Vol. 1 TP". Image Comics. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
  21. "Isola, Vol. 2 TP". Image Comics. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  22. Anderson, Jenna. "Isola #1 is a Heartfelt Start to a Beautiful Fantasy Epic". Comicbook. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  23. Barnewitz, Molly. "A Wild Adventure Begins in the Advanced Review of Isola #1". Comicsverse. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  24. Pepose, David. "Best Shots Advance Reviews: Xerxes #1, Isola #1, Sonic the Hedgehog #1". Newsarama. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  25. "Isola #1". Comicbook Round Up. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  26. Otsmane-Elhaou, Hassan (April 4, 2018). "PanelxPanel". 1 (10): 2. Retrieved May 14, 2018. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  27. "2019 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees". Comic-Con International. Retrieved June 4, 2019.

Category:Image Comics titles Category:2018 comics debuts

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