Dynamite; $3.99

A new Xena #1 has arrived, which naturally opens with Xena and Gabrielle saving people on a dangerous road. After their heroics, they meet Mason, another man who is in need, though he has much bigger problems than thieves.

He tells Xena and Gabrielle that the goddess Discord has appeared in the village of Sideros and has threatened to take the children during the next new moon. If the town doesn’t give up the children, Discord will kill everyone. The pair reassure him that they can help and set off for the village. But the situation proves more complicated than the townspeople initially explain and Xena must make a very hard decision.

This was a pretty good first issue, written by Vita Ayala, with art by Olympia Sweetman and colors by Rebecca Nalty. It has gods and magic, good and evil, with Xena and Gabrielle situated in the center of the conflict. So far the characters are pretty sympathetic and Discord is fairly intimidating, getting things off to a good start.

-Amanda Sheriff