Her Name is Savage - a Graphic Novel

So, apparently back in 1968, comic book artist Gil Kane (known to me for his work on the Green Lantern series by DC Comics) created, drew, and published a one-issue, digest-sized comic called "His Name is Savage."  The story centered around an espionage agent named Savage who has to stop a crazed villain from starting World War III.  I had never heard of this comic or character (although I had heard of the character Doc Savage, who is no relation whatsoever) when I came across this graphic novel in an issue of Previews not so long ago.  Her Name is Savage! The title caught my eye (since I love hard-hitting female leads), and the cover showing a dark-haired woman jumping out towards the reader, firing her gun with bullet holes shattering what looks to be glass (or perhaps the actual cover to the comic).  She reminded me so much of another favorite of mine (Ms. Tree) that I had to get it.

Written by Katie Batchelor and Shane Riches and drawn by Jesus Antonio Hernandez Portaveritas, Her Name is Savage! is the story of a tough-as-nails female espionage agent known only as "Savage" - and she definitely lives up to that name. While the story opens with her apparently trying to protect an orphanage in the Ukraine, as it progresses, the reader quickly learns that there is much more to Savage's ultimate goal than meets the eye.  Everything she does seems to come back to the Naude family, who have their hands in more illegal operations than one can imagine. Savage has ties to that family, and every move she makes, every action she takes is carefully calculated to bring the head of the Naude empire out in the open. Nothing Savage does is by chance.

Batchelor and Riches give readers a truly wild ride of adventure with this story - every time you think you know what Savage has planned, you (along with the characters in the story) discover that Savage has deeper ulterior motives and that she has been moving people and situations around like chess pieces to achieve her ultimate goal.  But despite that tough exterior, Savage has a soft side (although she doesn't necessarily like it), and she'll do whatever it takes to protect her friends.

I could easily see this as more than just a graphic novel, but as an ongoing series.  The character is strong and likeable, the tales of espionage and danger are certainly stories that would appeal to a lot of comic readers, and the art by Portaveritas fits nicely with Batchelor and Riches' narrative.  In fact, with the writing and art combined, the graphic novel has a very cinematic feel to it - no unnecessary, drawn out back stories; the pages and panels move the story at a fast pace to keep the action going; and while the story itself is constantly weaving this way and that, it is easy to follow and keeps the reader turning page after page.  (And that three-page "origin" story at the end of the graphic novel makes for a nice "post-credit" scene!).  Plus, I have no doubt the writers could come up with plenty of evil villains for Savage to take down (after all, let's face it - the world has plenty of evil men and women in the criminal underworld that need someone like Savage to take them out).

Unshakable. Irrepressible. Undefeatable.  Savage.  She definitely lives up to her name!

RATING:  9 pacifiers left behind out of 10 for a new, strong female lead that without a doubt can carry her own book!