Originally released in 2022, Espada: The Will of the Blade by Anabel Colazo is a gorgeous Spanish graphic novel that will finally get an English translation thanks to Oni Press. And Comic Book Club has your first, exclusive look at the new take on the modern classic.
“Espada started as many fantasy stories, with a chosen hero that was bound to fulfill their duty… but never did,” said Colazo via PR provided to Comic Book Club. “Our main character just happens to be in the right place to take her chance and complete the quest that the hero left undone. Through the eyes of this character I wanted to explore the many ways in which power affects people, and the possible outcomes that come with those who embrace it. I really like playing video games, where exploring worlds feels like everything is a piece of a bigger picture in the story that’s being told, so I tried to bring a pinch of this feeling to Espada as well.”
In the book, a demon from another world has destroyed all magic. Or perhaps there’s another version of the story, where a hero carrying a sword comes to the Kingdom to guide its people — leaving only the queen of the kingdom capable of using magic. Enter Ania, a princess who is looking to find her own destiny. Over the course of Espada: The Will of the Blade, she’ll try to unravel the truth behind the fables… Thanks to her discovery of the mysterious sword, that might indeed be the sword of the lost hero.
Colazo has been working in comics for years now, starting with the fanzine Nimio, before graduating to solo comics work starting in 2015 with The Impossible Crystal, then Close Encounters, Don’t Look Back, and most recently Espada. The latter has already received a French and German translation. And now, Oni Press will release Espada in English, in comic book stores and bookstores, in May of 2025.
