Review: Sky Doll: Sudra #1 (of 2)
Sky Doll follows the story of Noa, an android “doll” who recently escaped a world (read: planet) torn between two religious sects: the followers of the Holy Mother Ludovica, and the acolytes of the banished Agape. Noa, who exists somewhere between a living being and an inanimate object, escapes her life as a commodity by stowing away on the ship of two of Ludovica’s ‘missionaries’, and on her adventures discovers new truths about faith, desire and the human soul.
She ventured into the world of Aqua where she made quite a spectacle and now it is such that she not only houses the spirit of Agape in her doll-body, but also the spirit of Aqua. It was all collected in an amazing HC by Titan Comics called Decade (preview, review) which I can highly recommend.
Barbucci and Canepa are the creative force behind this title and their personal view of religions and the world order are what propels this tale of tales. Add in the European free-spiritness in sexuality in comics, this tale has a fun yet liberating, thought-provoking yet escapism-quality to it, which is admirable, to say the least.
Between all the panels with beautiful art, amazing characters, tears and moments of joy, pleasure and pain, there is the audacity to ask the tough questions about conglomerates, marketing, entertainment-industry, mass-induced icons and the mind-numbness of sheep aka followers.
This is the story of Noa and her friends and how they all find are on their own personal quest of ‘self’ and survival. It is all wrapped around the most beautiful of art with the perfect coloring to match not only art, but also atmosphere, drama and characterization. There is suspense, love, lust, betrayal and many rat-like creatures who might or might not add an extra layer of intrigue to the story.
This… remains a treasure, a must-have and a must-read. Feel the joy, the love, the lust, the pain….
SKY DOLL: SUDRA #1 (OF 2)
Writer: Barbara Canepa
Artist: Alessandro Barbucci
FC • 32pp • $3.99
On Sale – March 8, 2017