The Scarlet Rose GN No. 1 - I Knew I'd Meet You

What do you when you fall for a Robin Hood-type rogue who is terrorizing the countryside, stealing from the rich to give to the poor and needy?  Why, you don a mask and costume yourself and assume a new identity to help the rogue in his nightly adventures, what else?

Writer/artist Patricia Lyfoung introduces readers to The Scarlet Rose in the American translation of her first two graphic novel tales, combined in "I Knew I'd Meet You," published by Charmz, a division of Papercutz graphic novels.  Maud is a young girl who relishes life, and who, even moreso, loves the adventure and the mystique that the man known only as "the Fox" brings to the countryside.  But when her father is murdered for a book, and she is forced to go live with an overly strict grandfather who has very specific ideas on how young ladies should behave, Maud finds herself in a quandry.  She's not interested in book-learning or manners or fancy balls - she's only interested in practicing with the sword her father made her before he died and avenging his death.

After she helps the Fox escape capture one night, Maud dons a mask and creates the persona of "The Scarlet Rose" as a means to attract the Fox's attention, while at the same time, searching for the man who killed her father.  But nothing works out quite as she planned.

She chances upon a man who looks like her father's murderer at a ball, but he doesn't have the scar she gave him...

She nearly gets captured as the Scarlet Rose, but when the Fox comes to rescue her, instead of being her knight in shining armor, he tells her to give up this life of adventure...

Her grandfather grows concerned over her actions, and Maud is sent to a convent to protect and teach her...

As with any true hero, Maud overcomes each and every obstacle, determined to be who she wants to be!  With the help of Guilhem, Count of Landry, her skills with the sword grow every day.  But not everything is what it seems, for Guilhem betrays her trust when he aids her grandfather in sending her to the convent, and even more when he reveals the most unexpected secret of all...

The Scarlet Rose is a story of adventure, mystery, and a bit of romance thrown into the mix.  There is no lull in the story, there are no cardboard characters (even the minor characters have personality and story that make them just as interesting as the main cast), and there are enough subplots to leave you wanting for more.  The art is just this side of Manga, with some magnificent backgrounds and settings, and some truly beautiful clothing for all of the characters.  It's clear Lyfoung did not rush through any panel, but gave careful thought to each character's look, expression, action, and the setting of each scene, so as to bring each page to life in such beauty as to easily draw the reader into the Scarlet Rose's world.

So glad I picked this one up, and looking forward to the second volume (since this first book does end with a shock of a cliffhanger...)

RATING:  9 travel diaries out of 10 for introduction another strong, new female lead into the world of comics!