This aggressive looking gentlemen is Gunner, an Iraq war veteran and professional wrestler for TNA, as well as a former television and tag team champion.
This is Tom Siddell’s Gunnerkrigg Court, a well written fantasy comic starring two plucky girls who strike up a close friendship despite their radically different personalities, and discover secrets about themselves and their magical school. Today I’m here to explain why it’s time to switch out your old Gunner for this newer, sleeker model.
TNA’s Gunner, sadly, does not have the intrigue or likability of either Antimony Carver, a cool headed but still passionate girl with the ability to both see and interact with the supernatural (as well as some other powers revealed later), or Kat Donlan, a tomboyish technical prodigy. Their relationship arguably becomes even stronger than the one their parents shared, and eventually Annie opens herself more to her fellow students and teachers. Gunner the wrestler just tries to make friends by looking intense a lot, and it only works about 1/5th of the time.
Annie might not have much choice otherwise to reveal more about herself, as her past is both an obstacle and an asset while dealing with the various odd creatures around her. She shares a rather antagonistic relationship with Reynardine, a jerkish fox demon trapped inside a stuffed toy (shades of Bleach?) who once knew her mother. At times even that’s preferable to her dealings with Coyote, the mischievous and arrogant ruler of the forest outside the court, and his tree bark henchman Ysengrin.
The other students get a change to shine at times, and their stories can go from hilarious (look up the term “tsundere” and I’m pretty sure you’ll find Parley’s picture by it) to heartwrenching, as Siddell whips the mood back and forth. Luckily, the humor’s strong and intelligent enough to where I was happy to let that happen. TNA’s Gunner doesn’t seem to be the joking type in general, judging by his reaction to $5 Wrestling.
Most of Gunnerkrigg’s chapters are enjoyable enough as standalone stories. The mysteries and controversies of the school, along with the overall arc, are pieced together slowly over the course of the comic’s run. There’s never a sense that there’s too much to digest.
The cast and the development of their relationships are the glue that holds everything together. Annie and Kat each have a naughty side, the former especially who can’t stay out of detention for too long. Still, they’re generally appealing, sweet characters who are courteous enough to try and make amends anytime they slip up too badly, and they change believably over the course of the story. Gunner, on the other hand, tried to reform a convicted stalker on the grounds of dealing with soldiers suffering from PTSD. Because yeah, that’s totally the same thing.
I also wasn’t expecting the romantic subplots to be so good. The characters are endearing enough, and there’s enough comedy sprinkled in it to where it never feels like a chore.
The different concepts and aspects of the court and its surroundings are creative, but not too complicated that readers might get lost. Siddell’s art, always stylized, gets sharper and more detailed over time, and the action and magical sequences become more impressive as a result. Gunner? He’s got some tattoos, but not very interesting ones.
I don’t have anything against TNA’s Gunner in particular, but I know a good teen fantasy comic when I see one. Its ideas are all its own, but Gunnerkrigg Court could be thought of as a more genre savvy, female led Harry Potter at times as far as its atmosphere. Sorry, Mr. Intensity, but there’s a faster, more efficient and durable “Gunner” on the market now. Click this link to make the switch.