ROBYN HOOD: SPAWN OF NYARLATHOTEP – Comic Review

ROBYN HOOD: SPAWN OF NYARLATHOTEP, from Zenescope Entertainment on 5/31/23, leads Robyn to the New York waterfront to stop a monster responsible for the kidnapping and death of innocent citizens.

The Details

• Written by: Joe Brusha
• Art by: Alessio Mariani
• Colors by: Juan Manuel Rodriguez
• Letters by: Taylor Esposito
• Cover art by: Al Barrionuevo (cover A)
• Comic Rating: Teen+
• Cover price: $5.99
• Release date: May 31, 2023

Is It Good?

ROBYN HOOD: SPAWN OF NYARLATHOTEP is a surprisingly thoughtful and introspective one-shot pitting Robyn Hood against one of Nayarlathotep’s tentacled Starspawn before more innocents become monster food. Joe Brusha’s latest tale creates a parallel narrative where Robyn fights monsters now while battling her metaphorical demons in the past, causing her to find the resolve to keep fighting.

Joe Brusha’s script centers on Robyn Hood reluctantly deciding to battle the monster occupying New York’s sewer system. The story ties into Zenescope’s cross-title theme of an impending invasion by the old ones of Lovecraftian lore, so the monster in question is the legendary Starspawn of Nyarlathotep. When Robyn goes on the hunt, she finds overcoming her insecurities is just as difficult as fighting a 25-foot-tall monster.

There’s the rub that turns this one-shot into something more than a standard creature feature. Brusha uses flashbacks to recount a troubling time in Robyn’s past that parallels her struggles in the present. By creating two plots that mirror each other in theme and emotional depth, Robyn grows as a person by choosing to overcome, even when all hope is lost.

To be clear, regular Zenescope fans will be pleased with the amount of fighting action and general heroics in this issue, but readers who like their standard action and vigilante heroics to have a little more maturity have a treat in store.

How’s the art? No complaints. In fact, it’s nice to see an artist like Alessio Mariani return to craft the regular Zenescope characters with an art style that’s a little outside of Zenescope’s house aesthetic. Mariani’s lines are expertly detailed to give the figures wrinkles, crinkles, and texture. Mariani’s penchant for giving female characters button noses adds a cute charm to the characters. And Rodriguez’s colors are masterfully blended to provide extra depth to contoured shapes. This issue looks great.

Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

We begin with Robyn waking up from a nightmare about a troubled time in her past when she had a bullying problem when her mother was hospitalized for a terminal disease. Suffice it to say Robyn didn’t passively accept taunts and teasing.

Now, Smitty implores Robyn to head to the epicenter of NYC disappearances after increasing reports of a tentacled monster snatching people off the streets. Robyn agrees and heads to the waterfront where a trail leads to an abandoned cargo ship. Inside, Robyn finds the monster she’s been looking for while memories of her past remind her about the monster she faced in her younger years by a gang of bullies.

We conclude the issue with getting knocked down, getting back up, and going all out.

Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.

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