COMIC REVIEW: SALLY OF THE WASTELAND / WRITER: VICTOR GISCHLER / ARTIST: TAZIO BETTIN / PUBLISHER: TITAN COMICS / RELEASE DATE: MARCH 31ST
Penned by Victor Gischler, who wrote the dazzling Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth run for Marvel, Sally of the Wasteland marks his first creator-owned property, in idea at least, superseding everything that he’d put out before. Made up of five issues and published by Titan Comics, the book is set in Southern Louisiana 82 years after the devastating nuclear fall which wiped out 99% of the world’s populace. Yes, it bears more than a passing resemblance to the Fallout franchise, but it’s a book as much about the screwball humour and sly satire as it is the ravaged environment.
Kat, the sole survivor of a top notch salvage team who discover a high-tech tablet, is forced to take shelter in a dive bar, where she recruits its occupants to help her get to New Orleans (AKA The Forbidden City) to find the power source keeping the device active. Of course, nothing goes quite to plan, as peculiar mutants, pirates and Mad Max-style bandits hound the group. Sporting lashings of grindhouse violence, lovingly brought to life by artist Tazio Bettin, there’s hardy time to catch your breath with action sequence after action sequence.
Gischler plays with various archetypes in a story that is both subversive and playful; the ‘Bamazons in particular are a stroke of genius. But it’s sassy Sally, unsurprisingly, who takes centre stage in Lara Croft shorts, military boots, leather jacket and crop top, armed with her 12-gauge Bertha. Enjoying various costume changes, whether it’s the skirt and shirt combo or just plain naked, Sally joins a long tradition of pin-ups who kick all kinds of ass. With Vampirella and Lady Death, she’s definitely in great company.
