Mini Review - Sentinel Issue #17: The Call Her Trinity

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Sentinel heads into its 17th issue and the mini-digest shows no signs of slowing down…



One of the things I’ve always appreciated about Sentinel is its simplistic standalone format. From what started as a homage to the classic Starblazer digests, Sentinel has grown into its own entity. Within each issue is a complete self-contained story, that’s driven by big ideas with surprisingly detailed character work. More importantly, with each new addition you never quite know what Alan Holloway is going to throw at you. Issue #17 is no exception. Teaming up with Mal Earl, Holloway delivers ‘They Call Her Trinity’ in a way that panders to both his sense of what makes a comic book a worthy read and Earl’s unique art style. It’s a story that offers just the right blend of atmosphere, character, and reflection to leave an impression long after the final panel. And whether you’re a long-time fan of Sentinel, or this is your first issue, ‘The Call Her Trinity’ is a worthy addition to anyone’s comic book shelf. 

Starting off and as I write this review ‘They Call Her Trinity’ has smashed its Kickstarter campaign target and as such the issue will become reality. While this is certainly good news to the 129 people who backed the campaign, the £1,612 amount raised shows Alan Holloway and Ed Doyle that their brainchild is still relevant within the (now) crowded independent comic book scene. 

Anyway, shall we take a trip to the planet Fribzz and see what the fuss is about? 




From the very first page, ‘They Call Her Trinity’ grabs you with its visuals. I’ve been a fan of Mal Earl since first discovering him within the pages of The77 and here his art is just as spectacular. Earl knows how to guide your eye, and his soft lines help to build scenes that feel cinematic without ever overloading the page. There’s a lot of energy placed into each panel but it’s never chaotic. Not only do we get dynamic movement in the action, but there’s also room for the slower moments to land. Shadow work is also spot on with Earl not just using it for mood but to complement Hollway’s storytelling. 

When it comes to the tale being spun, Alan Holloway shows no signs of slowing down. For ‘They Call Her Trinity’ we get all those classic western tropes, albeit with a sci-fi twist. While it does have the feelings of a classic Clint Eastwood movie, Holloway manages to keep things feeling fresh and wholly unique from the previous 16 issues of Sentinel he’s written. Trinity herself is an extremely likeable and well fleshed out character and her personality oozes from every page. Without going into spoilers, she’s both charming as she is dangerous, and in this debut outing, she’s more than made a name for herself within the Sentinel universe.




Overall and ‘They Call Her Trinity’ is a classic example of how the mini digest format is still relevant in today’s comic world. Alan Holloway has crafted an excellent sci-fi western that feels familiar, yet brand new for both western and sci-fi aficionados. If you like your tales with a grand sense of adventure, with a badass female protagonist then this comic is one for you. 

Ultimately the real question is when will Mal Earl grace the pages of Sentinel? 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)

Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow us on TikTok, Facebook, and Bluesky?




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