ADVANCE REVIEW: “Princess Ugg #1″ A Tale Worthy of Royalty

Writer: Ted Naifeh

Artist: Ted Naifeh

Cover Artists: Warren Wucinich, Joelle Jones

$3.99

Oni Press

At first, it seems obvious that “Princess Ugg #1″ is directed towards a certain audience. A feisty princess, refusing typical duties and getting into mischief, who never wanted to join the royalty clique she was destined for. There’s more than just a few Disney movies on that topic. But then something surprising happens. Princess Ugg slowly subverts the genre, using cliches but skewering them in the process. By the end of the first issue, any typical judgments fade away into a single thought: This is really good. Written by a man, in a category apparently meant for young girls, this series takes all those antiqued concepts, mercilessly throws an ax through them, and heads down the other path.

(W&A) Ted Naif
(C) Warren Wucinich
Variant – Joelle Jones
$3.99
Oni Press

Ted Naifeh is no stranger to great writing. His other series, Courtney Crumrin, was nominated for a prestigious Eisner award. He infuses classic viking tropes with medieval castles and swordplay, making a fun fantasy world to play in. Whether it’s a dark, empty snowbank or sun-dappled towers overlooking a river, each setting helps to make the story feel alive. Speaking of, Princess Ulga is an excitingly well-written main character, and one readers should be happy to follow. Forget Anna and Elsa, Ulga is the new queen of the frozen tundra. There’s a hilarious sequence that alternates between royal life in the two kingdoms, highlighting why most folk would probably choose to live in Atraesca. But as far as pet sidekicks go, a woolly mammoth is much more entertaining than a little fluffy dog (“Snorri, I dinnae think we’re in Grimmeria anymore.”).

With the way things are setting up, it almost feels like we’re going to get a princess school designed as a prototypical high school comedy, complete with the popular kids and cruel pranks. Even the unlikable characters are enjoyable to watch. It’ll be interesting to watch them (hopefully) grow up and become friends/enemies/frenemies. The dialogue has an excellent sense of humor, and even the battle scenes are slightly satirical. “Is not dressmurder a hanging offense, milady?” continues to be my favorite line. If the creators goal is to challenge the typical “princess genre” structure, they’re succeeding already. Don’t expect a silly scene where a girl bests the boys at archery, but do expect said girl to put a sword in someone’s face. Thankfully, this is just as much a story for younger teens as it is for any adult. This first issue sets up a future tale full of potential.

Naifeh also handles the illustration duties for his books. This is a good thing, because the story wouldn’t be the same without its painstaking level of detail. There are panels showing off the kingdom that are almost amazingly thorough. Rows and rows of houses and villagers. Some spots even contain each brick drawn out. It’s easy to see the amount of effort that went into creating everything. Definitely one of the biggest strengths in a book full of them. Warren Wucinich’s colors bring everything to vibrant, sparkling life. The art has to switch between different areas frequently, but handles it with perfection.

Verdict:

Princess Ugg receives a debut issue full of thoughtful writing, beautiful artwork, and a capable main character. This is indeed a series full of promise, and one to watch in the future. Throw away any preconceived notions you have from previous entries in the genre, because Ulga will surprise you. More than just a curiosity, Naifeh has given us a tale fit for royalty. A spunky, unique type of royalty. While searching for your usual issues at the comic shop, keep an eye out for this one. Highly Recommended.

“Princess Ugg #1″ receives a 9/10

Alex Smith

Alex Smith is a news and reviews writer for Capeless Crusader. When not wasting away in class, he spends all his free time with comics, movies, and video games, and has been since birth. He can spend hours discussing Saga, Hawkeye, or Game of Thrones. Lying Cat’s number one fan.

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