‘Robyn Hood: Reprieve’ Comic Review

If there’s anything comic books (and Supernatural) have taught me, it’s that all the monsters seem to enjoy popping up around the holiday. No wonder heroes are always sighing dramatically and saying things like “Merry Fudging Christmas.”

Robyn from Robyn Hood: Reprieve is no different here. She has a philosophy, and that philosophy is simple: Christmas is cursed.

Robyn’s feelings on this matter are brought up frequently throughout the issue. She mentions it to the witch, Marian, right after Marian details her plans for the upcoming holiday. When the two get a client requesting their help, she brings it up yet again, and of course, she mentions it while fighting monsters and trying to save her own skin.

When you think about everything that Robyn’s been through, and consider how this issue is a flashback to the previous holiday, readers have to wonder: maybe Robyn’s not completely wrong about Christmas being cursed. After all, having Santa’s terrifying counterpart show up and try to dole some justice out isn’t exactly the image of holiday cheer most people imagine.

Throughout the issue we’re treated to Robyn’s badassery as she slays through monsters, never letting defeat get the best of her even when she’s been knocked to the ground. Even though she thinks Christmas is cursed, there’s a turning point where Robyn recognizes the need to help others, catalysed by a mystery client who comes seeking her and Marian’s help.

Said client ends up making all hell break loose (of course), infuriating Robyn because now she has to clean up the otherworldly mess that he made. But this also makes our progatonist see the struggles others are going through, makes her maybe not reconsider her stance on the holiday, but certainly makes her reevaluate the struggles that others are going through as well. Through all her toughness and believing that Christmas is cursed, we’re also given a Robyn who believes in helping others.

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The characters are animated, cheerful, and each with their own slight sarcastic streak. The perpetually grumpy Robyn is offset by the genuinely sweet and charming Marian. By comparison, Robyn wants nothing to do with Christmas where Marian wants everything to do with the holiday. Their relationship is sweet and funny throughout the entire issue, from Marian’s attempts to siphon off some of her holiday cheer onto Robyn to Robyn noting at every possible moment that Christmas is cursed.

There’s a great couple of pages in this comic where Robyn is battling Krampus, and then in the next panel it cuts to Marian frolicking around a shop, picking up holiday sweaters and being pleased as punch that it’s Christmas. The contrast between them is adorable and that’s what makes it so believable. It’s a Christmas trope that’s been done time and time again but doesn’t get old; as is mentioned in the comic itself, think of Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas in relation to these characters.

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Overall, Zenescope’s Robyn Hood Holiday Special: Reprieve  is entertaining, the characters and monsters alike pop off the page, and the issue is filled with heartwarming moments — even when Robyn’s being a total badass while fighting ice monsters and Krampus himself. It goes to show that even someone like Robyn, a girl that’s been faced with such hardship and firmly believes that Christmas is cursed, can see past the darkness and uncertainty that shrouds her life, even if just for an evening. The moral of the issue is sweet and genuine and the pages carry a little something for everyone — action! adventure! sarcasm! destruction! — a true holiday tale for even the grumpiest of readers.

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