Welcome to our Legendary Comics column, where we rhapsodise about comics we believe have reached legendary status over the years. Today, we discuss Castle Waiting by Linda Medley.
If you’ve visited Comics Bulletin before, you may know my love and admiration for Linda Medley’s comic series Castle Waiting. This fantastical, fairytale work is easily one of the finest works in the medium I’ve ever read, and I’ll continue to sing its praises until the end of time.
Both written and illustrated by Medley, Castle Waiting was originally self-published in the 1990s before being picked up by Fantagraphics. The story is set in a world of fairytale and myth; it even includes some characters you may recognise, such as Simple Simon and Iron Henry. Some stories directly reference or even remix classic tales, such as The Cruse of Brambly Hedge, which is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty.
The main setting is Castle Waiting itself — a sanctuary for outcasts and travellers. Our protagonist is Lady Jain, a pregnant lady who seeks refuge in the castle after fleeing her abusive husband, Sir Hathmar, where she encounters her found family.
It’s worth noting that this comic isn’t filled with conflict. It’s a feel-good, nostalgic and sentimental series about a group of unlikely characters living under one roof. Medley employs a narrative structure akin to The Arabian Nights, or The Canterbury Tales. For narrative similarities in the comics medium, look no further than The Sandman Volume. 8: The World’s End. There’s no real overarching story; it’s a group of characters, all recounting their histories, trials and tribulations.
Some of my favorite characters include Rackham (the steward of the castle), Sister Peace (a bearded nun), and Dr. Fell (an eccentric character and comic relief).
The series was compiled into a volume in 2006, comprising of an origin tale — The Curse of Brambly Hedge (which was also published separately) — and the introduction of our protagonist Lady Jain, the Castle Waiting itself, and the numerous characters who inhabit it. Chapters 13-18 also cover the standalone story arc Solicitine Nuns, which follows the touching story of gentle, bearded nun, Sister Peace, and her religious journey.
The series continued into a second volume, collected in 2010, which expanded Jain’s backstory and introduced numerous new characters. Despite over a decade passing since we last got Castle Waiting content, a full-colour third volume was being worked on, but it seems Medley had to step back due to personal reasons. Medley does have a Patreon page, but it’s been inactive since 2023. Whether a third volume happens or not, nothing should stop you from reading Castle Waiting. It’ll forever stand as a masterpiece of the comics medium.
I could go on about Castle Waiting, but you simply need to read this warm, gentle hug of a comic to understand how good it is. You can buy Volume 1 on Amazon here. The individual issues can be difficult to come by, but it’s always worth checking sites like eBay.
