Battle Chasers: Return of Joe Mad's Fantasy Epic!
By Liam McGuire
June 14th 2023
Battle Chasers is back more than two decades after its last issue, with the fan-favorite Joe Madureira Image Comics series returning this week.
Twenty-plus years ago, Joe Madureira worked with a series as part of Wildstrom’s Cliffhanger Label - the same imprint which produced J. Scott Campbell’s Danger Girl. Madureira’s Battle Chasers followed Gully, a ten-year-old girl who inherited magical gloves after he father disappeared, and a group of characters, including a swordsman, golem, rogue, mage, in a fantasy, in a steampunk fantasy world. After nine issues, Madureira left the series for the video game industry, leaving the events of the book hanging for some time. This year it was revealed the talented creator would return to Battle Chasers alongside artist Ludo Lullabi and continue the story long after readers thought it might never be concluded.
The 10th issue will continue Battle Chasers and follow the characters who have been sidelined for years. The 36-page extravaganza is all killer and no filler, with each page weaving new stories in the beloved universe.
NEW STORY ARC JOE MADUREIRA's beloved fantasy series returns in an action-packed new story, with art by game and comics sensation LUDO LULLABI! "Martial Law" tells the bloody tale of retired swordsman Garrison and the fugitive Red Monika as they face off against Maestro's gang of supernatural killers-the Martial Paladins! This long-awaited tenth issue is bursting at the seams with 36 pages of story and no ads!
Battle Chasers #10 features a murders row of talented artists doing covers for the series return, with Lullabi drawing a tantalizing cover featuring Red Monika. Madureira’s variant cover features the entire cast of heroes together. J. Scott Campbell brings his signature style to a variant cover featuring Red Monika sitting on top of some of the weapons of the main characters.
Humberto Ramos variant features another team shot with Gully standing in the front with her magical gauntlets. Chris Bachalo draws a sandily clad Red Monika in his stunning variant cover. Skottie Young’s variant features Gully standing in front of Calibretto, who towers over her. Lastly, Mirka Andolfo shows off Red Monika and Garrison with their own weapons drawn.
For those who are unable to dust off their old issues and are looking to read the original Battle Chasers series, several issues of the first run are available on the CaptCan Comics website right now. The new Battle Chasers series isn’t just a one-and-done with multiple issues planned for 2023 without a twenty-year wait like before. Don’t forget to pick up Battle Chasers #10, and pre-order future issues now!
Read More