Jun 1983
Cat and Mouse
by Dan Mishkin, Gary Cohn, Ernie Colón, John Costanza, Tom Ziuko, Karen Berger
Thirteen year old Amy Winston becomes twenty year old Princess Amethyst, once again, when she returns to Gemworld. She is captured by Carnelian, Dark Opal’s son. He takes her gemstone thus depriving her of her magical abilities. Holding a dagger to Princess Amethyst’s neck he urges Citrina to cast a spell that will temporarily prevent any one from following them. Carnelian and Amethyst depart for Fortress Opal on his mechanical, black-and-white striped cat.
Taffy, Amy’s golden retriever, makes its way to Gemworld with some help from Citrina. Taffy is not bound by the spell that Citrina cast. Sensing that the dog belongs to Princess Amethyst, Citrina sends her after her mistress. Taffy encounters a very unfriendly pack of slasher beasts. Taffy proves to be tougher than she looks as she fights and kills the leader of the pack.
Amy parents notice that she is missing and worry about what has become of their daughter and her dog. They wonder if the woman in yellow (Citrina?) has come to reclaim her.
Carnelian pauses their trip long enough to start molesting Princess Amethyst. His antics are interrupted by a giant snake. He deals with the snake and then they continue their trip.
Carnelian pauses their trip a second time to once again attempt to have his way with Princess Amethyst. This time they are interrupted by Taffy, who has caught up to them, and launches herself at Carnelian. Amethyst gets her hands on her gemstone while Taffy fights with Carnelian.
Princess Amethyst joins the fight. Her knowledge of her magical abilities only tips the odds in her favor momentarily. Carnelian soon gains the upper hand and threatens to kill both her and Taffy. Carnelian does not get a chance to take advantage of the opportunity as the pack of slasher beasts responds to Taffy’s call for help and drive him away.
Carnelian makes one last ditch effort to take control of the situation but he is driven off my Citrina and a complement of soldiers who arrive just in time. Carnelian reports his failure to his father. Dark Opal who has recently signed an agreement with the Varn, beings from another dimension, decides that he will have to deal with Princess Amethyst himself.
Thoughts
It is unclear at this point if the trip to Gemworld changed Taffy in any significant way. It can probably be argued that Taffy has already been changed by becoming the leader of the pack of slasher beasts.
Carnelian is beyond creepy. Princess Amethyst is repulsed by the way he gropes and kisses her but she doesn’t freak out or lose her cool.
Amy’s origins aren’t a complete mystery to her parents but it is unclear how much they know.
There are a few panels where the placement of word balloons confused me and caused me to read them (initially) in the wrong order.
Who are the Varn and what role will they play in the story?
This is good. I’m still on board.
Purple Prose
It is unclear who wrote this one page text piece about this series. My guess would be editor Karen Berger, even though she is referred to in the third person in it but then so is everyone else.
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