Princeless Vol. 1: Short Stories Collection

The first ever collected edition of Princeless short stories is finally available from Action Lab! Want to know more about Bedelia Smith?  Curious about what happens to Prince Wilcome after King Ashe throws him in jail?  Want to spend more time with the Princesses Ashe?  Get all this and more from a variety of hot young artists as we collect the first four issues of short stories from the Eisner-nominated world of Princeless!

Some of us just can’t get enough of Princeless, like me for instance, and Action lab always seems to deliver.  Whether it is the ongoing series, or fun short stories like this title, one can count on more adventures in this charming fantasy world.  For those that love the latter, Princeless Vol. 1: Short Stories Collection is a fantastic way to enjoy further content.

I’ve actually had the fortune of reading some of what’s included in this collection, so for this review I’ll be focusing on just the first two sections (see reviews on Tales of the Family Ashe and Tales of Girls Who Rock for more)  As for what I am getting my first chance at checking out, it was equally as great to read as the rest.  Stories for Warrior Women 1+2 shows us four stories from the pasts of different characters, and is an excellent way to introduce people to Princeless.  Even being a long time fan, I really love seeing these background tidbits that tease just enough to draw in new fans.

Once again showcasing the amazing talents of different artists, the four flashback stories offer us their own distinctive artistic interpretation of Princeless characters.  And of course along with the great art in the stories, we get more wonderful pinups mixed in.  As much as I love the main series, I think the one shots are my favorite for the art simply to see new ways of showing us the world.

If you at this point have not checked out any of the short stories, or even the continuing series, this is absolutely the best way to break into Princeless.  It is by far one of the most endearing books that I’ve read in quite a long time, and would easily be one of the first books I’d recommend to anyone.  With such an entertaining and often hilarious story with art that always delivers, there’s really no reason to pass up on this title.

For more information on the Princeless comics or other Action Lab books, check out Action Lab Comics.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.