Writer: Alex Segura
Art: Emiliana Pinna and Ellie Wright
Letters: Jeff Eckleberry
Publisher: Dynamite Comics
Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 12th, 2022
Classic characters Masquerade, Lady Satan and The Woman in Red team up in Scarlet Sisters #1, where they battle The Cabal, a secret organization of druids who are responsible for tragic events in the three heroes’ lives. Hold on tight, because this one-shot boasts lots of gunplay, sorcery and good old fashioned revenge!
If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any of the others mentioned, then simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon as you read Scarlet Sisters #1 Review.
The Story
I really wanted to love Scarlet Sisters #1. I love the three main heroes of the story (especially Masquerade), and I looked forward to seeing them work together. Ultimately though, it ends up being a disappointing book. The plot is strictly by the numbers, with the trio seeking to stop the Cabal, both for personal reasons and to protect a city Councilwoman after she learns about the Cabal and aims to expose them to the world. There are the predictable setbacks and moments of “detection” (which amounts to paging through some police files).
The dialogue throughout the book is stilted and never feels natural. It’s the kind of dialogue you’d see on a Saturday morning cartoon back in the 80’s. It wasn’t enough to completely throw me out of the story, but with the issue being dialogue heavy, it was definitely noticeable. On the plus side, we get to see the three main characters in their “down time”. We get some more valuable insights into each of their characters, as well as their motivations. Their unique personalities shine throughout the book, with Masquerade being the analytical and wealthy Bruce Wayne-type, Lady Satan ironically being a very wholesome and innocent young woman who had her powers forced on her, and The Woman in Red being a world-weary police officer.
Also, I enjoyed the final showdown with the Cabal, where the trio and the Councilwoman work together to take the Cabal down. Lady Satan especially shines in this moment as we get to see her in full command of her powers.
The Art
I wasn’t a fan of Emilia Pinna’s art on Scarlet Sisters #1. Her art style is almost impressionistic. At times, the characters’ faces seemed twisted in unnatural ways or weren’t fully fleshed out. There are a couple of good splash pages though, and the panel layouts are versatile enough to keep the story rolling. Ellie Wright’s colors are alternately vibrant and dark, reinforcing the visuals of three crimson garbed heroines fighting crime in a film noir-type world. Silhouettes and shadows are abundant throughout.
Final Thoughts
Scarlet Sisters #1 does a good job giving us more insight into the three heroines of the book, but the story and dialogue come off as strictly generic. Get the book only if you’re a fan of Masquerade, Lady Satan or The Woman in Red, or if you’re curious about learning more about the characters.