Three Thieves, Vol. 1: Tower of Treasure by Scott Chantler

What a terrific way to kick off a Middle Grade fantasy adventure comic series!

Dessa Redd is a circus acrobat whose two closest friends are likely her co-workers: the juggler (and thief) Topper and the one-headed giant and strongman Fisk. Their circus isn’t super successful, barely scraping by with enough for all the hands to eat. But they’re hoping their prospects will improve as they enter the town of Kingsbridge, the royal seat of Queen Magda of North Huntington.

Dessa is surprised and appalled by how poor most of the populace look, partially because it means a poorer gate for their circus. But Topper has his eyes set on a far richer prize: the royal treasury itself. Against her better judgment, Dessa gets swept into Topper and Fisk’s plan to rob the queen. Traps she expects, but little does she know that going along with Topper’s plans will bring her once again into the path of the man who already took so much from her. Will Dessa be able to get her revenge, with the help of her friends? Or will she be doomed never to discover the fate of the people she loved the most?

This fast-paced low-fantasy adventure (so no magic, but definitely non-human races) is a great introduction to the genre for advancing/reluctant readers. In the interview included at the back of the book, Scott Chantler says he took a lot of inspiration from Jeff Smith’s Bone in writing this, essentially at the behest of his kid, who wanted a story with knights and a castle. I appreciated the excellent balance of backstory with humor, action and hooks for future installments: this was a really well-rounded book!

Again as with Bone, the art serves the story well. The style is reminiscent of old-school comics like Tintin and Prince Valiant, but with modern tweaks for 21st century sensibilities, making for a smooth and enjoyable read. I definitely want to find out what happens next as Dessa, Topper and Fisk continue with their found family adventures.

Three Thieves, Vol. 1: Tower of Treasure by Scott Chantler was published February 4 2025 by Papercutz and is available from all good booksellers, including