Review - Raven The Pirate Princess Year 3: Monsters of the Deep #1 (@ActionLab)

"Look, I love you and I know you love me."

Relationships are hard. Being a pirate is harder. Being a pirate in a relationship amidst other pirates in relationships is pretty near impossible, but that doesn't stop them from trying like in Raven The Pirate Princess Year 3: Monsters of the Deep #1 from Action Lab Entertainment. The issue is written by Jeremy Whitley, penciled by Xenia Pamfil, inked by Christine Hipp, colored by Lexillo and lettered by Justin Birch.

Raven’s crew has faced all sorts of trials – from mermaids, to rival crews, to Raven’s own treacherous brothers – but none of that has prepared them for what’s coming next. Because tonight they don’t have any villains to fight. Tonight they have nothing to face but each other and their own feelings, because tonight is date night!

Whitley has always emphasized the intricacies of relationships in just about all his writing and that's no exception in Raven The Pirate Princess Year 3: Monsters of the Deep #1. The thing is, Whitley takes the concept to the extreme in the issue, pairing just about every crew member up with another crew member amidst a backdrop of confusing signals and missed connections. It makes for a very intimate read that will serve as a springboard for countless storylines down the road while the characters seek to figure out what (and who) they want in life. Whitley's dialogue is very personal in its delivery, offering heartfelt exchanges between the characters that add some weight to the proceedings. From an overarching storyline perspective, there's a minor plot twist at the end that will be interesting to watch unfold, but it still hinges on another relationship previously detailed in the issue.

Pamfil's pencils are very soft and delicate, giving the characters a very feminine look that feels appropriate for the issue. That being said, Pamfil does a great job of making each character feel unique in their appearance, providing a great sense of diversity to the crew that makes them feel well-traveled. The backgrounds feel somewhat plain and two-dimensional, but there's certainly enough where the characters feel as if they're actually on a ship. Hipp's inks are subtle, providing enough contrast between the characters to keep things clean. Lexillo helps out with the colors reinforces the notion of diversity by giving each character distinct wardrobe colors.

Raven The Pirate Princess Year 3: Monsters of the Deep #1 picks up where the previous series left off--only now the characters are more deeply involved with one another. Raven is seeking happiness for herself, but also realizes that everyone else could use a break as well. Whitley's script is chock full of intimate exchanges between crew members. Pamfil's illustrations are the perfect fit for the book in its simple presentation. Raven The Pirate Princess Year 3: Monsters of the Deep #1 is another solid issue in a very progressive series.

Raven The Pirate Princess Year 3: Monsters of the Deep #1 is available now.