Three Thieves Book One: Tower of Treasure

Writer / Artist
RATING:
Three Thieves Book One: Tower of Treasure
Three Thieves Tower of Treasure graphic novel review
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  • North American Publisher / ISBN: Kids Can Press - 978-1-554534-14-2
  • Volume No.: 1
  • Release date: 2016
  • UPC: 9781554534159
  • Contains adult content?: no
  • Does this pass the Bechdel test?: no
  • Positive minority portrayal?: no

Tower of Treasure is the first instalment in the Three Thieves series written and illustrated by Scott Chantler and “Winner of the Joe Shuster Comics for Kids Award.” Canadian creator Chantler possesses a distinctive art style well suited for this entertaining fantasy tale for all ages.

In Tower of Treasure, we meet Dessa Redd, an orphan at fourteen, arriving in the large city of Kingsbridge with a travelling circus. Dessa is the acrobat of the group, befriended by a short pickpocket “Norker” named Topper and a large, laconic, good natured one-headed “Ettin” named Fisk. We never learn why Fisk is one headed, unlike other Ettins. Dessa is searching for her twin brother, kidnapped by a villain who also murdered her mother, and the dragon heraldry of soldier uniforms calls forth foggy flashbacks of traumatic events in her childhood. Meanwhile, Topper and Ettin want to steal some treasure from the tower of Queen Magda. Captain Drake lives to serve the Queen but follows the lead of Master Maarten Greyfalcon. Dessa recognizes Greyfalcon as the villain haunting her memories, but he soon disappears, and events throw Dessa back on the road with a mysterious notebook to guide her. We have ourselves a quest, complete with loyal, sarcastic friends resourceful enough to dodge obstacles in creative ways. There is plenty of action and humour to boot.

Tower of Treasure introduces a seven volume series with wit and sufficient plot hooks to ensure continuation. Chantler’s artwork imbues his characters with affability, decency, curiosity, greed and many other attributes with an agile eye. We quickly learn to like Dessa even if the company she keeps is somewhat roguish, while Master Greyfalcon seems a hesitant villain, not fully committed to evil. Captain Drake laments the death of the noble King, serves the Queen loyally, but remains decent. Chantler’s illustrated facial expressions lend a lot to the emotion, the pace, the actions and the motivations of the characters, making even the bad guys seem likeable. The quest continues in The Sign of the Black Rock.

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