This book is a diamond in the rough. If I had never picked up "Mouse Guard," I never would have heard of "Cursed Pirate Girl" and my life probably could have continued along without major complication. When I saw this title on the list of releases anticipated for this week, I gave it a quick circle, figuring I'd check it out. I intended to check out the first issue, but somehow my local comic dealers missed the book. So I jumped into this issue with both feet.

Honestly, while I'm not one hundred percent certain of the events that transpired in the first issue, I do know that this issue is a fabulous read. Chock full of painstakingly-rendered black and white art -- detailed in a manner that would make M.C. Escher green with envy -- this story tells the tale of a pirate's daughter who is searching for her father, but finds herself living up to the title of the book as she is besieged with problem after problem.

Equal parts "Snow White," "Peter Pan," "Alice in Wonderland," and "Pirates of the Caribbean," this story is unlike anything else on the stands today. The tale holds some tense moments and difficult situations -- the issue starts off with the young lady wondering where her right eye went off to -- but those situations are treated in a light-hearted manner by the star of the book. Accompanied by a parrot named PepperDice, the Cursed Pirate Girl finds her adventures leading to a cliffhanger ending.

If you're a fan of "The Stuff of Legend" or "Mouse Guard" and happen to be looking for something to hold their place until their next issue, this book is worth looking at. Bastian's art is intense, detailed, and inspiring, giving this title a distinct look that is sure to charm readers looking for something different. I look forward to what Bastian has planned for the next issue as he continues to build the world of "Cursed Pirate Girl."

This title is a little more complex than standard "all ages" reads and would be better received by more experienced readers who may have recently discovered Lewis Carroll's works about the adventures of young Alice. The action and adventure is on par with "Pirates of the Caribbean," but on a more personal scale. Bastian has provided a timeless tale that will surely be beloved by those who read it. While this issue may seem pricey, it is unburdened by advertisements and clocks in at thirty-five pages of story with enough artistic detail for seventy-two pages.