“Though she be but little, she is fierce!” –William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Fey is a young girl just trying to make sense of the dark world encroaching upon her life. Her father is in treatment for Stage 4 cancer, and her mom is trying to hold everything together at home to provide a sense of normalcy. Both of them are in deep pain, and they cling to each other like brittle leaves in a slow-moving hurricane.
Then mom brings home a friend for Fey: a teddy bear. He looks unremarkable at first, but that night, when a demon of the night-land of Nod tries to do her harm, the teddy comes alive and fights for her. Defends her. Protects her. Sends the demon packing.
In the morning, the teddy has a new rip in his face, courtesy of tiny demon claws. And, after a quick repair, a new name: Patches. And Patches vows to do anything in his power to keep Fey safe.
The Ballad of Nod is the first issue of a six-part series (the talented author, James Burton, has set up a Kickstarter to help finance this worthy endeavor) from Scattered Comics. The character of Fey is a plucky little girl, hurting and sad but never self-pitying. When Patches is whisked away at the end of this first issue, she bravely does the only thing that can be done: she straps on her boots, shrugs into her jacket, and heads out to kill the monsters. It’s what Daddy taught her.
I really liked the beautiful drawings by Burton (all moody blues and inky blacks), and the conversations between mom and Fey ring true and are pure and heartfelt. The art and writing come together like a warm hug to present this fantasy tale, and I am really looking forward to the rest of Fey’s journey. She’s a special girl, with a special friend.
