It’s been a few weeks now since the last Slavic Saturday post, but I’m back this week with a review of a new web comic based on Slavic folklore: Marya Morevna. Then, in my next post, I’ll talk more about Marya Morevna, Ivan Tsarevich, and their foe Koschei the Deathless in the original tales.
Note: If you enjoy Slavic mythology, check out A Dagger in the Winds, the first book in my Slavic fantasy series called The Frostmarked Chronicles. You can also get a free eBook copy of the prequel novella, The Rider in the Night, via most retailers throughout the world.
The Folktale
While I’ll talk more about the folktale in the next post, Marya Morevna’s story along with that of the sorcerer Koschei the Deathless is one of the most famous “skazki” from Russia. Ivan Tsarevich, another major character, is also a famous bogatyr (hero) who appears in Marya’s tale as well as many others. Marya herself is also no common princess, being known as a war leader to be feared by many.
The main story the web comic Marya Morevna is based on is the folktale by the same name: “Marya Morevna” (also called “The Death of Koschei the Deathless”). In that story, the focus is on Ivan’s fight to save Marya after he accidentally releases Koschei, allowing the sorcerer to steal Marya. The tale has made Koschei incredibly popular, and the story also includes perhaps the most famous character in Slavic myth: Baba Jaga/Baba Yaga.
At the start, however, the Marya Morevna comic focuses on the meeting of Ivan and Marya as well as Marya’s backstory. That alone is a fun take on the old tale, and it will be interesting to see how they venture into the more popularly known areas of Marya’s story.
Art
I have to begin by saying I don’t read many web comics, but reading this series (as of now the first six episodes have been released on Webtoon Factory) has me ready for more. The art style of the Studio Myrà team is absolutely stunning. Going from adorable to sweeping and magical in seconds, they truly capture the aesthetic of the Russian tale. I especially have to comment on the clothing styles. Whether it’s young Marya in a kokoshnik crown and royal robes that she hates or a grown one who truly looks like a queen at war, each outfit fits the scene perfectly.
So many times after reading through an episode I go back again just to take in each piece of art. The details of simple things like chess pieces to grand landscapes that are worthy of being a phone wallpaper capture me each time.
The characters themselves are also incredibly cute. Ivan Tsarevich’s massive tuft of hair, Marya’s stubbornness, and Koschei’s eccentric head movements make me smile every time. Koschei especially is awesome to see, somehow combining that cute element while still maintaining the fierce appearance he very much should have as an immortal sorcerer.
Writing
Rare for Slavic works, Marya Morevna was first created in French and then translated to English. I’d initially had worries about how that would impact readability, but after six episodes, I can say I am impressed! There have been no mistakes that I have seen so far, and the writing meshes so well with the art style to create a cohesive aesthetic. I really love as well how the text plays with the art instead of being a separate element much of the time.
The writing itself and story line is well done so far. Each character has their personality both shown in the art and in how they speak, and even only six episodes in, some of the side characters already have distinct voices. I look forward to how the story evolves and we get to see more of Marya’s character to see how she responds to certain events.
Unfortunately, I love the art so much that the writing occasionally takes a back seat. That isn’t an insult to the well-done writing at all. Instead, it just speaks to how much I love the style of art and the execution of it.
Do I recommend it?
Definitely! Whether you’ve tried web comics or not, Marya Morevna is a fantastic little tale that I look forward to reading every Thursday during my lunch hour. The first three episodes are free on Webtoon Factory to read if you’re curious. Those alone were enough to sell me, and I’ve been hooked ever since. There are few works out there that can make you wonder, smile, and be in awe of at the same time. Marya Morevna truly does that.
That’s all for this week’s Slavic Saturday. I’ll be likely doing more reviews and recommendations of Slavic mythology related things as part of the series, so let me know what you think of these being mixed in every now and then. Be sure to keep a lookout for more posts soon, and if you haven’t seen the full series of posts, be sure to check them out.
*As always just a quick disclaimer. Slavic mythology is broad and not written in many if any primary sources, so there’s a variety of interpretations. The interpretations I’m using here are from the sources I’ve found to be reliable.