By Gabe Gonzalez — In the world of comics, the use of both time travel and espionage are very popular within the medium. However, the mixture of both in a single book is few and far between, which makes Artemis and The Assassin a standout on the shelves of comic shops. If you’re unfamiliar, the book is about two women, Maya and Virginia Hall, the former being an agent for an organization that goes into different time periods and kills a variety of renowned historical figures (such as Gregori Rasputin). The latter is an actual historical spy who worked with the Allied forces in World War II, although slightly dramatized for entertainment purposes. It uses a buddy-cop dynamic to give both of these women a characterization to adhere to and make their own. Maya understands the world around her as well as time travel, while Virginia is an audience surrogate, a newbie, and we get to experience the same feelings of awe and wonder that she does.

The writing within the book is pretty great. Every character big and small has their own unique voice, whether it be the stoic Maya, a dumb outlaw in the Wild West, or the villainous Isak. They’re all given their own unique character without having any form of stagnation. Also, in terms of character, with the three issues we’ve had so far, the two leads play off each other well, fostering excitement and humor that inspires the audience to root for them and laugh alongside them. Stephanie Phillips clearly has a knack for character, and it shows within each panel here.

The art also stands out, as Fantini’s linework and Affe’s colors work together to create a sense of vivid artistic expression that enhances the action and the environments the characters inhabit. I was really taken aback by the third issue because it’s probably one of my favorite artistic representations of the Wild West that I’ve yet seen. Far too many books use orange hues to showcase this time period, which works in some cases, but Affe and Fantini create one that’s easy on the eyes and really allows you to see the two main characters there without distraction. And, whether it be the bluish-black time travel portal or bouts of action, each stroke of color and drawn line looks effortless and expert. In short, I’m very interested to see the future of this book.

Also, I know Virginia Hall was a real individual and the creators based this version off of her. But, it’s wonderful that one of the best spy books on the shelves has a disabled protagonist. When I was seven, my mother lost her leg in a motorcycle accident, and it really tore her up because she was used to having that mobility. Later, she was able to get a prosthesis to help her and grant her some internal semblance of her past, but we’ve always talked about disabled representation in the media and how there’s no true kick-ass characters with a prosthetic leg… So, I just wanna thank the team of Artemis and The Assassin, because they’ve done something that my mom has yearned for for years, and it truly is a dream come true!

Artemis and The Assassin #3

Artemis And The Assassin #3
Writer: Stephanie Phillips
Artist: Francesca Fantini
Colorist: Lauren Affe
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Publisher: Aftershock Comics
Price: $3.99
Transported to the Wild West, an infamous WWII spy and a time-traveling assassin have to contend with outlaws, drunkards, and even a fifteenth-century ninja in order to return to their respective time periods
Release Date: June 3, 2020
Buy It Digitally: Artemis and The Assassin #3

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Gabe Gonzalez