by Whitney Grace
Staff Writer
[email protected]
Upon her arrival in Victorian London, Tessa Gray is kidnapped by the Dark Sisters who want to use her shape-shifting abilities to empower a being known as the Magister. Tessa has nearly given up all hope of escape, when the Shadow Hunters, a group dedicated to protecting humanity from the supernatural, rescue her. She is taken to the Shadow Hunter headquarters, where she learns that all members are descended from angels. She strikes up a friendship with Will Herndale and Jem Carstairs and with their help she is drawn into London’s supernatural underbelly. The Shadow Hunters plan to thwart the Magister, but a familial tie and growing love triangle makes the situation even harder for Tessa.
In volume two, romantic tensions mount as Jem proposes to Tessa. Will longs to be with Tessa and hints at his love for her. She refuses to see past his past actions and plans asweet, albeit short life with Jem. Romantic entanglements aren’t the only problems the Shadow Hunters must face when their leader is pressured to leave her post and someone from inside the organization is betraying them.
The Infernal Devices is adapted from Cassandra Clare’s popular young adult fantasy series. The first volume does a superb job of character development and establishing the world, but as with any adaptation space is limited so readers aren’t given the full scope. More details are hinted out between characters’ conversations and one wants to learn more about them, but they aren’t there. Count on seeing more action in the first volume than the second, as romance takes over the plot. The romantic triangle between Jem, Tessa, and Will is not a sappy, lovey-dovey escapade, but rather a driving force that influences many of the greater high points. Not all romance is happy, though, as love is used as a manipulation tool to break the Shadow Hunters apart from within.
Hyekyung Baek was most likely attached to the project, because her art falls under the shojo umbrella. However, she doesn’t copycat the current styles in Japan (probably due to being Korean) and offers readers a fresh perspective about what can be done in girl fantasy comics. Each character is distinct and their personality is conveyed through their appearance and actions. Jem and Will are a little too bishonen, but neither can be mistaken for a female as that happens so often. In some panels, the textures and shading are reminiscent of Edward Gorey or maybe its too much of a long shot.
The Infernal Devices will please all fantasy fans and is a great way to introduce the reluctant teenage girl to the medium.
