Erstwhile: The Clever Farmer's Daughter

From the random unread comics stack.

Title: Erstwhile: The Clever Farmer's Daughter
Date: May, 2008
Publisher: Strawberry Comics
Writer: Gina Biggs
Artist: Gina Biggs

Gina Biggs adapts the story of the Clever Farmer's Daughter from the fairy tales of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.

The daughter of a poor peasant tries to help her father by convincing him to appeal to the king for some land to farm. The young king becomes impressed with the girl's cleverness, and challenges her with a riddle to solve. If she succeeds, he will marry her and make her queen.

Unusually for the Brothers Grimm, there is are not fantastical and magical elements in the story, and relatively little violence. Velinda (the characters are unnamed in the Brothers Grimm version, but fleshed out and given names for the comic) uses her wits, with a sprinkling of ambition and a touch of ruthlessness to get what she truly wants from the King and secure her own happiness.

This is an enjoyable story to begin with, with multiple plot twists and turns, and Gina Biggs' illustration style is a lovely addition to the tale.

I'm definitely interested in checking out more of this series.

Rating: 8.5/10

Red String Volume 1

Here is another of my Anime Boston purchases.

Title: Red String
Issue: Volume 1
Date: December, 2006
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writer: Gina Biggs
Artist: Gina Biggs
Editor: Mike Carriglitto

Red String is Gina Biggs' shojo webcomic that explores the theme of destiny in love. Set in Japan, the story centers on high school student Miharu Ogawa, who is suddenly informed by her parents that they have arranged a marriage for her.

Her first instinct is to rebel against the decision, but things get more complicated when a chance meeting with the boy she is to be engaged to leads to a real attraction.

As Miharu questions the nature of destiny and her own ability to choose her path in life, her new romance is complicated by a boyfriend-stealing cousin, school rivals, and even the arrival of a second arranged fiance.

The plot is complex but never to the point of being confusing, and the book features a really strong supporting cast with their own subplots going on. Biggs' art is lovely, and this American-made shojo contains a believable rendition of life in Japan and plenty of good details in between the story's more dramatic turns.

Rating: 8/10