Although Barbarella debuted as a comic book character, I’m sure most people who are familiar with her discovered her via the iconic 1968 film starring Jane Fonda.

Boy, did that film make a lifelong impression on my probably-way-too-young-at-the-time mind when I first saw it.

Dynamite Entertainment has been publishing Barbarella comics for several years now, and for this latest edition, they’ve chosen Blake Northcott to navigate her newest adventures.

The main plotline for this issue is that Barbarella has been vacationing on Planet V, a pleasure planet where she’s happily indulging her erotic appetite with the locals. Unbeknownst to her, all of her intimate encounters are being secretly filmed and broadcast throughout the galaxy for the entertainment (and arousal) of billions of paying viewers. When she finds this out after being confronted by the director, who has the nerve to criticize her performance, Barbarella immediately intends to leave. But since her ratings have been so good, the director won’t let her go that easily and decides to switch the scenario from erotica to an action-thriller. The next thing you know, Barbarella’s spaceship is blown up, stranding her on Planet V, and she’s been placed in a dangerous action sequence straight out of Raiders Of The Lost Ark. But just when she thinks she’s gotten to safety, her circumstances get even worse, until she meets an unlikely ally who may be able to help her escape the planet.

The subplot involves a remote Earth colony on a distant planet facing an unexplained calamity that has engulfed the world’s population. A representative for EarthGov, the galaxy’s governing body, wants to find Barbarella to handle the situation. But she has to survive her ordeal on Planet V first. I’m curious to see how these two plots eventually collide.

Blake Northcott is always best at writing clever dialogue, and this issue is no exception. From the smartass lines of Vix, Barbarella’s little alien pet/traveling companion, to the pretentious and overly alliterative wordplay of the director, every character has their own unique voice. There’s also some clever commentary on show business in several scenes, such as when one character is revealed to be a former writer who was replaced by a machine called the Scriptotron, which rapidly churns out generic but cost-effective plots to entertain the masses. Anyone paying attention to the entertainment industry’s increasing embrace of AI can recognize the allegory.

The artist on this title is Anna Morozova, whose style perfectly fits the story’s tone. She knows how to draw Barbarella as sexy without coming off as cheesecake (not that there’s anything wrong with cheesecake art, but this isn’t that kind of book). Whether she’s illustrating Barballa in bed with her bluish-green alien lover or being pulled down a waterfall to her probable death, Morozova’s panels are gorgeous.

This creative team is crafting a cosmic tale that I think will please old and new Barbarella fans alike. I can’t wait for the second issue!

Chacebook rating: FIVE STARS

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