The charming first volume of Purpah's Suitor Armor, originally released on Webtoon, introduces readers to an exciting world of humans, fairies, mages, and an enchanted suit of armor. Its protagonist, Lucia, is instantly lovable, and she and the other characters gain depth and complexity as the story progresses.
Lady Lucia was taken in by Lady Kirsi's father when both girls were young, and she has served as Kirsi's lady-in-waiting and best friend ever since. Humans and fairies are at war, however, so she must hide her fairy wings and pointed ears from everyone. In the days leading up to Kirsi's wedding to the king, several events challenge the status quo. First, an imposing suit of armor enchanted by the king's mage, Norrix, defeats the champion, Sir Baynard, in a tournament, sparking intense curiosity from Lucia. Then a fairy gets into the castle, and Lucia sees an opportunity to learn more about her nature as a fairy. Lucia's explorations lead to some rule-breaking, despite her usually demure demeanor, and she treats the enchanted armor as a sentient being--despite Norrix's insistence that "it" is just an empty suit of armor--which yields delightful surprises.
The art in this graphic novel intertwines flawlessly with the text to create action and emotion, with small touches such as the word "lean" in light pencil perfectly conveying the movement of someone peeking around a corner, or the phrase "eye contact" forming a bold line between two adversaries squaring off. The story's steady pace and intriguing connections between characters will leave readers satisfied and eagerly awaiting the second volume. --Dainy Bernstein, freelance reviewer