Mariah McCourt
with art by Soo Lee, colors by Pippa Bowland, letters by Rob Steen, and covers by Jill Thompson
Ash & Thorn: Volume 1
(Ahoy Comics, October 2020)
Featured on First Comics News‘s 2020 Christmas Gift Guide
The apocalypse is nigh! The world needs a Champion, and the only heir to a sacred mystical lineage is…a little old lady? Meet Lottie Thorn, reluctant savior of the world, and her also-elderly trainer Lady Peruvia Ashlington-Voss. They might not look it, but these women are prepared to take on any Big Bad that comes along. But first, perhaps a nice cup of tea?
“Everyone knows Chosen Ones are supposed to be young and extremely expendable, but even the Universe makes mistakes sometimes,” explained McCourt. “And sometimes the mistakes are big ones. Like when it taps an 80+ year old retired art teacher to be the Champion who fights the next Apocalypse. Can an octogenarian overcome age and arthritis to save the world from cosmic monsters, world eaters, and gross creepy crawlies?”
ASH & THORN is a 5 issue mini-series by bestselling writer Mariah McCourt (True Blood, Stitched), artist Soo Lee (Mine!, Charlie’s Angels vs. the Bionic Woman), and colorist Pippa Bowland, with lettering by Rob Steen, and covers by legendary artist Jill Thompson (Scary Godmother, Wonder Woman: True Amazon).
Issues #1-5 included in Volume 1:
Praise for Ash & Thorn
“What if the Chosen One isn’t a nubile young girl, a hot young dude, but a mature woman with life experience, some attitude, and no f*#cks given. ASH & THORN answers that question. Very amusing, fun and highly recommended.”
–Colleen Doran, New York Times Bestselling cartoonist and illustrator
“ASH & THORN has an engaging, offbeat heroine, an amusing supporting cast, and a fun premise that suggests life experience counts, especially when demons are about to overrun the world. Come for the company, stay for the adventure. You’ll be glad you did!”
—Louise Simonson
“How refreshing to see women of a Certain Age be heroines for a change, says this woman of a Certain Age! You don’t have to be a teenager to battle demons!”
—Trina Robbins, author of Gladys Parker: a Life in Comics, a Passion for Fashion, and The Flapper Queens.
“ASH & THORN takes the trope of the supernatural female champion and stands it on its head in the most delightful way possible. By turns both cozy and horrific, McCourt, Lee, and Bowland give us a tale that is both familiar and entirely new. I can’t wait to see what happens next!”
—Lilah Sturges
“Grandmas explode-splattering demons with cast iron skillets is now my new favorite fantasy sub-genre. Excellent work by writer Mariah McCourt and artist Soo D Lee on ASH & THORN, which offers a fresh take on hero narratives and the limitations of age.”
—Samuel Sattin, writer of Bezkamp and Glint
“McCourt weaves a tale unlike any other. A story where, unlike all our normal muscle bound or nubile heroes, sometime all it takes is stubbornness and a whole lot of wisdom. Some super strength doesn’t hurt either. Lee keeps the panels moving with energy and her own unique style. Above all else, it looks like a lot of fun.”
—Geek Vibes Nation
“McCourt does a good job of balancing the jokes with the demons so that the story never feels too silly. It really hits that Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibe of spooky and funny. … ASH & THORN is another stellar addition to the Ahoy Comics lineup… This is the issue for some good honest escapism from the outside world.”
—AIPT Comics
“Incredible… Humorous, intelligent, engaging and just a pure delight to experience…. I am really impressed.”
—Reading with a Flight Ring
“‘Buffy’ Meets ‘Golden Girls’”
—The Hollywood Reporter
“Entertaining… This is an adorable take on the classic prophesied champion fantasy trope. … Mariah McCourt and Soo Lee combine to deliver a cohesive introductory issue that includes well laid out action sequences. Pippa Bowland contributes some lovely color execution that aids in the overall storytelling.”
—Pop Culture Squad
“Written & co-created by Mariah McCourt, ASH & THORN is a sleeper hit waiting to happen, much like the Vampire Slayer herself. … ASH & THORN is the classic tale of reluctant hero joins zealous mentor to thwart the forces of evil. What it does with those tropes, turning them ever so slightly askew, brings something new to the genre and to comics. …. And in the age of representation, we who are beyond the range of our thirties & forties have a hero to admire.”
—The Pullbox
“Murder She Wrote meets H.P. Lovecraft.”
—The Comicon
“I love stories that take familiar fantasy tropes and twist them into something new thanks to amazing execution and a clear, entertaining point of view. ASH & THORN, the new Ahoy Comics series from writer Mariah McCourt and artist Soo Lee, is exactly that kind of story, and the first issue is one of the most delightful starts to a comic that I’ve picked up so far this year. … This is a series that doesn’t have first issue jitters, doesn’t need time to figure itself out, and doesn’t take its time making with the monster action. It arrives with a big magical flourish, and it’s an absolute delight to read thanks to beautifully paced dialogue and absolutely gorgeous art that has me itching to see what kind of monsters Lee will dream up next.”
—SYFY WIRE
“Delightful.”
—Comics Beat
“The hook here is a strong one, and the creative team of ASH & THORN #1 really brings their a-game in both the art and the story, delivering a new angle on the Katniss/Buffy/Harry Potter archetype, with clever dialogue with a wry sense of humor, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars overall. If nothing else, the image of a grandmother-figure with locs flying through the air to bisect horrible monsters from beyond is worth the price of admission.”
—Major Spoilers
“We’ve all read stories written around some grand apocalypse that means one person has been tagged to be the saving grace, and for years I’ve been waiting for it to shake out like this. … This first issue is so good, I cannot wait to see what happens next.”
—Fangirl Nation
“[In] Ahoy Comics’ latest supernatural series, ASH & THORN…the savior of the day isn’t some muscle-bound superhero or a scantily-clad femme fatale but instead, a little old lady named Lottie Thorn…I mean, you gotta have something to do between knitting and baking. Why not fight eldritch horrors?”
—io9
“A post-apocalyptic comedy that subverts the typically young female protagonist in favor of Lottie, an octogenarian, retired art instructor trying to live out her golden years.”
—Multiversity
“It’s a good time for elderly protagonists in comic books….and Mariah McCourt and Soo Lee have a new septuagenarian action-adventure coupling.”
—Bleeding Cool
“Sometimes heroes can be two proverbial “little old ladies” who are tasked with, well, saving the world. AHOY Comics’ ASH & THORN — by Mariah McCourt, Soo Lee and Pippa Bowland, with covers by Jill Thompson — runs with that concept much like other titles from the boutique publisher do: with intelligence, wit and irreverence.”
—13th Dimension
“The coming of the Apocalypse and two little old – but nowhere near defenceless – ladies who could very well stand in the way. But, only after a nice cup of tea, of course. Sound like my kind of people.”
—The Comicon
“A sharp and engaging, darkly comedic apocalyptic fantasy.”
—Comics Now
“A fantasy-adventure series …. with sharp character and stunning visuals, all wrapped up with a gorgeous Jill Thompson cover.”
—Comicwatch
“[ASH & THORN] brings the wit you’d expect from an AHOY comic to a plot that’s equal parts “Golden Girls” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Plus there are recipes in the back!”
—WMQ
“McCourt and Lee have brought something fresh to a genre that sorely needed it. … You might think you’ve heard the story before, but you haven’t. The world’s protector who isn’t sure about world saving yet. The mentor figure. The sidekick. Sound familiar? Think again. … Our heroes, Lottie and Peruvia, are in their 70s and will tell you themselves, they’re getting too old for this world-saving business. It’s an inventive idea strengthened by Soo Lee’s artwork. In fact, the all-female creative team brings this book to life. Praise must also be given to Pippa Bowland’s colors and Jill Thompson’s fantastic cover.”
—AIPT Comics
“There is a quality sense of humour here that falls somewhere between the Golden Girls and Lethal Weapon. … Soo Lee and Pippa Bowland really bring these characters to life, maintaining the humour and fantastical elements of the story without things ever becoming too cartoony and reducing the whole to farce (although I did really enjoy seeing Lottie opt for an old iron skillet as weapon of choice in the first battle). There is tension and there is drama in this story and Lee and Bowland balance this nicely with the humour in the way they deliver the artwork to the page. … I desperately want to read more.”
—Big Comic Page
“ASH & THORN #1 takes the well-worn story of a champion standing up for the planet and delivers something new… If you just want a kick-ass world-saving story, it’s all here. But, McCourt fills the comics with moments that it’s hard to not laugh and take it for the comedic tone it’s going for. … Soo Lee provides the art and is able to balance the serious and humor. … A fun debut featuring some interesting protagonists you don’t see every day.”
—Graphic Policy
“The first issue, out June 24, is an absolute blast to read, with witty, snappy dialog by Mariah McCourt, beautiful, textured artwork by Soo Lee, a gorgeous color palette by Pippa Bowland, and letters — including some wonderfully disgusting sound effects — by Rob Steen. I thoroughly enjoyed the first issue and look forward to seeing what sinister delights the series holds.”
—WWAC
“A lot of fun… I love that the focus is on two septuagenarian women. As an avowed fan of the Golden Girls, this was just a real delight to read. It’s always nice to see stories that center older women and give them real personality. … The drawings are extremely vivid; there’s so much movement and color that they seem to leap off the page at you.”
—Comic News Insider
“Pretty sure not even Blanche Devereaux herself got up to that kind of mischief.”
—AIPT Comics
“A comedic horror tale that pokes fun at the genre.”
—Smash Pages
“Intersectional Golden Girls mixed with a hero’s journey urbany fantasy story.”
—Comics Bookcase
“A comic about a pair of retirees charged with saving the planet from Lovecraftian annihilation… The overt comedy and irony of this pair of old women tasked with defending the world from eldritch horrors while bickering and baking makes for a charming read. … The lo-fi but detailed art works wonders in establishing the tone this comic is reaching for.”
—Monkeys Fighting Robots
“ASH & THORN crackles with promise. … Lee’s line work is graceful yet has a dense quality that is highlighted by her dramatic shading. The art suggests that these characters are rugged and ready for anything — from quietly painting to hurtling full-tilt at a spider demon armed with nothing but a frying pan. … Meanwhile, Bowland’s colors make the world feel lived-in and textured: comfy like a warm sweater. … The book’s first installment is a cozy peek into an exciting new universe — and even if there’s a lot left unsaid, I’m eager for the next slice.”
—Soda & Telepaths
“It’s up to this 80-year-old to take on the demons plaguing planet earth, and she’s determined to do it one swinging skillet at a time.”
—Hollywood Soapbox
Read the announcement of ASH & THORN on Smash Pages
Bleeding Cool announces ASH & THORN
Graphic Policy previews ASH & THORN
See io9 Gizmodo‘s preview of ASH & THORN
Listen to Mariah McCourt’s interview with WMQ Comics
Read about ASH & THORN on But Why Tho?
Read Geek Vibes Nation‘s review of ASH & THORN
Read AIPT Comics‘ review of ASH & THORN
Hollywood Soapbox interviews Mariah McCourt
Reading with a Flight Ring reviews ASH & THORN
Pop Culture Square reviews ASH & THORN
Read Mariah McCourt’s interview with Pages and Panels
Read The Pullbox‘s reviews of ASH & THORN
Listen to Mariah McCourt’s interview on Outside the Panels
Read Comic Watch‘s interview with Mariah McCourt
Syfy reviews ASH & THORN #1
Read The Hollywood Reporter‘s interview with Mariah McCourt
Read Fangirl Nation’s review of ASH & THORN
Smash Pages interviews Mariah McCourt
Read Mariah McCourt’s interview with Comics Beat
Read DoomRocket‘s review of ASH & THORN
Read Comics Now‘s interview with Mariah McCourt
See the preview of ASH & THORN #3 on Pop Cult HQ
Read Comic Watch‘s interview with Mariah McCourt
Mariah McCourt is a New York Times bestselling writer and Harvey award nominated editor of comics and graphic novels. As a writer, her credits include the creator-owned children’s graphic novel Stitched #1: The First Day of the Rest of Her Life, the New York Times bestseller True Blood: All Together Now, Anne Rice’s Servant of the Bones. As an editor, she’s curated the Papercutz CHARMZ line, edited The Sandman: Endless Nights by Neil Gaiman, the New York Times bestselling graphic adaption of The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, Doorways with George R.R. Martin, Fables by Bill Willingham, and Angel, Spike, and Illyria: Haunted (writer and editor).
She was a contributor and editor of one of the top-funded Kickstarter comics projects, the anthology Womanthology: Heroic, featuring over 100 women artists and writers of all ages and experience. The follow-up collection, Womanthology: Space! was nominated for a Harvey Award for Best Anthology. She lives in Los Angeles with her family.