REVIEW: 'Octobriana with Love' Anthology by Various

 

Octobriana with Love Anthology

Writers: Stu Taylor, Stephanie Phillips, Andrea Towers, Petr Sadecky

Artists: Simon Fraser, N. Steven Harris, Marc Laming, Stephen Byrne, Bohumil Konecny, Andy Belanger, Ellie Wright, Pippa Bowland, Tatto Caballero

Letterer: Josh Reed, Simon Bowland, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Editor: Stu Taylor

Publisher: Dead Good Comics

Price: $9.99, 64 pages

Octobriana debuted in the controversial book 'Octobriana and the Russian Underground,' written by Petr Sadecky in 1971, who claimed that the titular Amazon was created by an underground anti-Soviet group. Sadecky’s elaborate tale was soon debunked and the truth revealed that he had stolen and doctored the artwork of two prominent Czech artists to create the Octobriana myth.

Score:

★★★★☆ (4/5)

Octobriana is a character I never knew existed and now she's being reintroduced by editor Stu Taylor and a host of modern creators to the masses with a riveting oversized new anthology 'Octobriana with Love.' The origin of this Amazonian revolutionary goes back fifty years and to celebrate this anniversary it's being told in this beautiful edition from Dead Good Comics. 

From the press release: The anthology celebrates the enigmatic freedom fighting Russian superhero Octobriana, with original strips from Stephanie Phillips (Harley Quinn), Marc Laming (Star Wars: Boba Fett), Simon Fraser (Judge Dredd), Andy Belanger (Swamp Thing), Andrea Towers (Geek Girls Don’t Cry), N. Steven Harris (X-Force), Stephen Byrne (Joy Operations), Stu Taylor (2000AD) and more. The main cover illustration is by Marguerite Sauvage, with limited-run variants from Joyce Chin and Michael Cho.

What unfolds is a wild ride through different time periods complete with magic, dinosaurs, a talking gorilla, and science fiction. The only thing more strange than her adventures is the true story of the creation of Octobriana. Petr Sedecky introduced the character in the 1971 book 'Octobriana and the Russian Underground' and claimed it was created by an anti-Soviet group. Soon, his story was proven to be false when it was discovered that he stole the concept and altered the art of two prominent Czech artists. Despite this, Octobriana found fame as an underground comic that became popular enough to have David Bowie consider adapting it for film and inspire Billy Idol to get a tattoo of the "Russian Devil-Woman." As an avid reader of powerful female characters who lead their own books like Red Sonja, Vampirella, and Deja Thoris, Octobriana fits right in with being an affable but ass-kicking hero.

The beginning of the issue finds Octobriana getting captured and is strapped down to a chair. Her memories are then forced out of her and thus begins the anthology of her origin and many different missions over the decades. With each new memory, a different creative team takes over and it's the perfect vehicle to display not just a different time period but what Octobriana is all about. Each creative team brings their own style and approach to the character with most having a wild fight scene or Octobriana firing a big gun. She's funny and empathetic with a passion for justice and revolution. Whether fighting Nazis or some other oppressive regime, Octobriana is there to back freedom fighters. 

'Octobriana with Love' introduces us to a powerhouse character that's been underground for far too long. Octobriana is a revolutionary whose story is pliable to all kinds of genres - action, adventure, science fiction, superhero, fantasy - and deserves a place in the U.S. comic market. This anthology is a coming-out party that shows all of her facets in an action-packed super-sized issue. Let's hope this is just the beginning.