Adobe Kroger: Dame Commander
Adobe Kroger: Dame Commander is one of the three initial launch titles for the Mythoverse shared comic universe. The series details events in Adobe Kroger's life one year prior to the events of Adobe Kroger: Knight Errant.
Development
Adobe Kroger: Dame Commander was conceived as a prequel to the events of Adobe Kroger: Knight Errant, the original novel featuring the same protagonist. In the novel, Adobe Kroger briefly mentions and describes events that took place during her early days as a low ranking member of the Order of The Carolingian Cross; Dame Commander was intended to depict those events and adds greater context outside of Adobe's point of view. Whereas in Knight Errant Adobe is placed in a situation with scarce resources and equipment, in Dame Commander she will be seen in full combat kit and at the peak of her potential as a result. It was the creator's intention to depict Paladins of the order this way, in hopes of illustrating the power that enabled the order to gain and maintain control over the human world.
Plot
Issue 1
In 2012, the Order of the Carolingian Cross sends a team headed by Neophyte Paladin Adobe Kroger to rescue a group of captive young women from an evil cult. Adobe is accompanied by Reese Connelly, a myrmidon, and Casey Crumb, a wizard. Adobe Kroger is a lowly Acolyte Sentinel, third class, the lowest ranking member of the Order of The Carolingian Cross permitted to lead a combat or infiltration mission. It is established that Adobe has a stutter, which can potentially impede her efficacy due to her need to verbalize in order to manifest her holy powers.
The skyscraper in which the Cult resides is guarded by formidable magical wards, which prevent Adobe's team from using their powers. Thus, Casey must attempt to disable the wards before the team can infiltrate; upon doing so, Casey realizes that the wards are far more resilient than she had anticipated, and she must remain outside the building and continue her efforts while Reese and Adobe move in. Adobe's plan is to engage from one side of the building, drawing the attention of the building's well equipped security, while Reese attempts to infiltrate from the opposite side and locate the captive girls.
Adobe gives chase to Mason, the cult leader. Mason attempts to delay Adobe by pushing a female party goer between them, forcing Adobe to shield the innocent woman as Mason opens fire with a pistol. Mason flees as reinforcements from his security detail arrive, who then pin Adobe down with automatic weapons fire, forcing her to remain in place to protect the woman.
Realizing that Mason is escaping, Adobe attempts to instantiate a shield prayer on the woman long enough to throw her to safety. After a bout of stuttering, Adobe manages to do so, and turns on the security detail and defeats them both.
Reese reaches the captive girls, only to discover that they are imprisoned by some sort of electrified cage surrounded by mystical symbols. He also notices that the girls do not appear to be fully human, and informs Adobe of this. Adobe acknowledges, and then notices a huge contingent of security guards approaching. Adobe then calmly turns to the woman and instructs her to run, just before turning to face the new threat.
Issue 2
Picking up directly from where Issue 1 left off, Issue 2 continues the events of Adobe Kroger's first mission. The threats faced by Adobe escalate, and Adobe faces a crisis of confidence which threatens to endanger the mission.
Themes
As in the novel, many of the themes in Adobe Kroger: Dame Commander will revolve around the effects of abuse and addiction, as well as the importance of strong and present fathers. Self erasure from unprocessed trauma figures prominently in the main character's psyche as well.
Reception
Reception for Issue 1 was generally positive, with most reviews praising Leandro Panganiban's art, the action, and that the protagonist was relatable due to her vulnerability. There was a general consensus that the cliffhanger left the story feeling too short, and Dan promised more content and a deeper dive into Adobe's character in issue 2.
Trivia
- Dame Commander is a real knightly title given to females, established June 4, 1917. It was in this year that female Paladins began appearing in the Order of The Carolingian Cross.
- Adobe wields two sabers in combat. In her left hand is a model 1860 cavalry saber, and in her right is a talwar. That her swords do not match is attributed to, as the creator put it, "Her mental tick which requires her to break symmetry".
- Adobe's character design was inspired by a young Neve Campbell.
- The title Adobe Kroger: Dame Commander follows the pattern which creator Dan Sacharow established with the first novel and intends to carry on through all works featuring Adobe Kroger as lead; that is, The name Adobe Kroger followed by a designation or title.
- The marble golems Adobe Battles in issue 2 were initially very different. They were changed to match the designs of two main characters from a fellow creator's novella, as thanks for promotional efforts during the initial Mythoverse crowdfunding campaign.
