The Whisper Queen is a follow-up to The White Trees, an Image Comics mini-series by powerhouse team Chip Zdarsky, Kris Anka, and Matt Wilson. While it’s a continuation, one doesn’t need to be familiar with The White Trees to enjoy The Whisper Queen. The Whisper Queen is perfect for new readers looking for a mature, fantastical entry point into comics.
The Whisper Queen: A Blacksand Tale #1
Kris Anka (line art), Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (letters), Matthew Wilson (color art), Chip Zdarsky (script)
Image Comics
May 1, 2024
In the land of Blacksand, someone has killed the king. While bounty hunters pursue leads on the killer and their accomplices, Javro — the king’s most skilled assassin — has other plans. Javro and company pursue the killers on their own, hoping to spare the others from the wrath of the Dark Whisper.
While it will be significantly shorter than series like Monstress or Saga, The Whisper Queen will still appeal to fans of those series thanks to its lived-in, fantastical world and dynamic characters. Javro is an elvish, older woman of mystery. Quickly, Zdarsky establishes that Javro is a woman not to be toyed with. She has a strong moral code and convictions that match her decisive actions. Meanwhile, Anka’s design adds to the mystery: she appears complete with a regal coat, Ronin-like hat, and an eyepatch alluding to a troubled past.
Speaking of that past, Zdarsky delivers a nice balance of flashbacks and present storytelling. He delivers enough backstory to give some context to Javro’s past, her loyalties, and her fears without spoon-feeding readers. He also holds back enough to maintain the mystique around the roguish Javro. (The characters of The Whisper Queen would make any Dungeons & Dragons player happy.)
Javro is not the only captivating character. There is a reason Waltax is the cover girl for the open-order variant covers by Fiona Staples and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell. Anka designs a woman who commands attention and respect thanks to her imposing, muscular build, charming smile, and incredible, horned silhouette. Waltax has not seen much action in The Whisper Queen issue #1, but I have faith she will pack a punch when that time comes.
Rounding out the group is Telkwa, Waltax’s mother, a magic user who seems sweet at first but is a powerhouse underneath her motherly, gentle design. Like Javro, there is so much more to her that readers can’t wait to learn about. She is also proof that Zdarsky has carefully thought out this cast of characters.
Every member of this party brings something unique to the table. Some threats call for brute force, some call for magic, and some call for trickery. Javro, Waltax, and Telkwa have these bases thoroughly covered. Zdarsky has not just thought of how they interact as a group. He has also thought of what their dynamics would be.
Case in point, Telkwa’s relationship with Waltax is that of a mother and daughter. Meanwhile, her relationship with Javro is that of old friends and sisters-in-arms. So much thought has gone into their pasts together that the group quickly endears itself to readers.
What is also well thought out is the tone of this world via the colors, courtesy of Wilson. There is a clear intention behind the palettes Wilson uses for each setting. For instance, the flashbacks to Javro’s life before everything went downhill are hot reds and dark shadows. The warmth implies a longing for days of yore. The blacks and shadows, on the other hand, convey that there is something else afoot — something sinister.
Similarly, when Waltax is introduced, she is participating in a queer-friendly, sex-positive party. The colors are a mix of purples, blues, and pinks. These colors match the regal, sensual vibe of the party. However, when she leaves this sexual sanctuary, the colors shift to more subdued yellows and browns.
The Whisper Queen is a well-thought-out first issue. It has strong world-building and instantly captivating characters and relationships. Whether or not you’ve already visited Blacksand, these protagonists all stand on their own and make a dynamic ensemble. The Whisper Queen is a must-read series for new and old comic readers, especially those looking for their next fantasy fix.
