Princeless: Raven the Pirate Princess #8 Review

Writer: Jeremy Whitley / Artists: Rosy Higgins, Ted Brandt / Action Lab Comics The title of this issue is “Have Fun Storming the Castle.” There is nothing like a good Princess Bride reference (Buttercup is one of the foremost rescued princesses of my media life) to get things started. This is one of the many things I love about Jeremy Whitley’s writing. While the story of Raven the Pirate Princess is definitely all-ages appropriate, there are allusions for we older readers sprinkled throughout. My kid loves Raven and the gang, without having to know who the Dread Pirate Roberts is. So how does Raven and the crew fare in Free Woman’s Castle? Wellllll… Things start out with Ximena and her half of the pirates scoping the joint. Cid and Amirah come up with a plan.

Yes, that’s American Sign Language depicted in the panels. Yes, that’s a deaf woman fully participating in the rescue of her teammates. This isn’t just inclusion for the sake of a quota. This is diversity of ability and experience integrated at every level. Have I mentioned today how much I love this comic? Meanwhile, inside the castle we meet Crow and Magpie, Raven’s two brothers. Crow is the more aggressive, physical brother while Magpie is manipulative and aristocratic.

Both are equally evil. Nothing like meeting the bad guys to move a plot along. And move along it does. With Cid’s plan, Sunshine’s acrobatics, and Jayla’s explosives, they are all quickly inside the walls and making the pretender pirate princes scat…