Nov 1983
The Uninvited
by Dan Mishkin, Gary Cohn, Ernie Colón, John Costanza, Tom Ziuko, Karen Berger
Citrina and Lord Garnet brief Princess Amethyst about some of the other guests (Lord Aquamarine, Lord and Lady Moonstone, Lady Emerald and her remaining daughter Princess Emerald, Lady Turquoise, Princess Topaz) she we will meet at the wedding of Lady Sapphire and Prince Topaz. Citrina tells them that it is vitally important that they not allow the wedding ceremony to happen.
Dark Opal uses his magic to kill Lord Topaz from a distance, just before the gathering of royalty begins. A doppelgänger of Lord Topaz talks to Prince Topaz. He insists that his “son” must proceed with the wedding.
Princess Amethyst, disguised as a Diamond Priest, secretly visits Prince Topaz before the ceremony begins. She tells him that things aren’t going to go exactly as his father and Dark Opal have planned. She has to run before he gets a chance to tell her anything.
Carnelian is drunk. Princess Amethyst makes her grand entrance. Everyone takes notice but Lady Turquoise is the only one to celebrate Princess Amethyst’s arrival. Dark Opal shows up next. Lady Emerald is ready to stab him with a dagger but Lord Garnet convinces her that the time is not right. Lord Moonstone and Carnelian almost get into a fight but the fake Lord Topaz defuses the situation.
The ceremony begins but Prince Topaz brings it to a screeching halt when he refuses to play his part and marry Lady Sapphire. Princess Amethyst uses water from the Well of Vision to reveal the truth about fake Lord Topaz. Prince Topaz slays what passes for his father and accuses Dark Opal of treachery.
Princess Amethyst calls for the others present to join her in standing against Dark Opal. Lady Turquoise and Lord Moonstone quickly step forth to join Princess Amethyst. Prince Topaz attempts to cross swords with Dark Opal but Lord Garnet steps between them. Lord Garnet and Dark Opal fight briefly but Dark Opal chooses to flee. He opens a portal and escapes through it.
The issue ends with Princess Amethyst’s declaration as she flies off on her winged steed: there is a battle coming and the nobility must decide which side of the fight they will line up on, Dark Opal’s or Princess Amethyst’s.
Thoughts
This is a stirring read with some wonderful layouts. There is some real variety to the way pages are composed with just one double page spread in the middle of the issue. I love all the twists and turns. It was really neat to see how the royal houses of Gemworld lineup next to one another.
The meeting between Princess Amethyst and Prince Topaz was kind of abrupt. The way that she ended it made me laugh. I really like this cover. It isn’t my favorite but I love how it gives you just enough to know what’s going on inside the comic without spoiling anything.
A number of people seem to have laid their cards on the table. It is now abundantly clear to me that Princess Topaz and Lady Sapphire both side with Dark Opal, as does Sardonyx. Garnet, Moonstone, Turquoise, and Emerald seem to all stand with Amethyst. Diamond seems to be taking a neutral stance. Aquamarine does not seem to have declared an allegiance but I’m guessing that Lord Aquamarine will either remain neutral or side with Amethyst in the upcoming conflict.
I’m unsure as to whether all 12 houses of the Gemworld have been revealed. There are 11 so far by my count but there are two more birthstones (Ruby, Pearl) that have yet to get a mention. There are a couple men in this issue who appear in one panel on page 20 and one panel on page 23 but have yet to be identified. My guess is that they are from one of the missing houses of Gemworld. The coming attractions text at the bottom of page 23 includes the phrase Ruby Ruins. Hmmmm…
Here are the gemstones which have shown up in the series up to this point
- Amethyst
- Opal
- Topaz
- Garnet
- Aquamarine
- Moonstone
- Sardonyx
- Turquoise
- Sapphire
- Emerald
- Diamond
DC Comics Presents 63 (Nov 1983), in which Superman teams up with Princess Amethyst, is referenced a couple times in this issue. First it is mentioned by Karen Berger in an editor’s note and then again on the letters page. I do not own it and have not read it even though I own and have read the issues immediately before and after it.
Purple Prose
There are eight letters from excited readers spread across two pages. Karen Berger has some responses to their questions but for the most part she just lets them gush about how much they have enjoyed the first four issues of Amethyst.
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