I was excited about the book since I enjoyed Johnston's past work on Coldest Winter/Atomic Blonde. This is a similar vibe. I enjoyed it, but it didn't feel particularly new to me.

'Codename Baboushka, Volume 1: The Conclave of Death' by Antony Johnston with art by Shari Chankhamma is a spy comic about a very capable female Russian spy who now lives in the US. The similarities to another more famous female Russian spy in the comics can't be helped.

Contessa Annika Malikova lives in Manhattan and runs in a rich crowd, but she hides a secret. She used to be a gang leader in Moscow known as Baboushka. She's been in retirement, but there's really only one way that old spies can retire. She is coerced into joining a group of spies on board a cruise ship, but that ship is about to be taken over by pirates.

I like the character, but the comparisons to Black Widow have to be made. I like her ops guy Gyorgy. His scarred face tells me there is more to his story. Baboushka herself is capable, running about in elegant clothes and tossing around exploding matryoshka dolls. I just wish the art were better. It's cartoony at times and this story should have more realistic art. The figures can sometimes change dimensions and when a group of people get beat up, they all appear to have gotten a black eye on the same side of their face.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Image Comics, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.