This April 2019, Image Comics is sending readers on a case-solving mystery ideal for fans of fantasy with Fairlady. The new series is led by Brian Schirmer, artist Claudia Balboni (Star Trek), and colorist Marissa Louise.

“I realized that there wasn’t a fantasy series that focused on a female private detective, and then I realized how much I needed that to be a thing,” said Schirmer. “I took a love of ’70s and ’80s shows like Magnum, P.I. and The Rockford Files, poured that into a big bowl of Middle Earth, and added dashes of China Miéville, Michael Moorcock and [Mike] Mignola, and Barbarians Conan and Thundarr. Then we dropped in a tough outsider in the form of our protagonist, Jenner Faulds, the land’s only female private investigator. Let the limitless stories begin!” 

In Fairlady, after posing as a man to join the army, Jenner Faulds returns home to The Feld for a new start as a “Fairman” – a specially licensed private investigator. But sexism didn’t end on the battlefield, and as the only “Fairlady,” Jenner gets stuck with the cases nobody else wants. Hitting the streets to solve The Feld’s overlooked mysteries, Jenner finds that the smallest cases hide the biggest secrets.

Fairlady blends the procedural case-solving of Magnum, P.I. and Fables, but is set in a vibrant, Rat Queens-like high fantasy world. This debut issue and each following issue will feature a complete 30-page story.

Fairlady #1 cover A by Balboni and Louise and Fairlady #1 cover B by Tula Lotay will be available on Wednesday, April 10. The final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, March 18. Fairlady #1 will also be available for purchase across many digital platforms.