Lumberjanes #1 began in media res, so we never knew how this motley crew came together until now. Issue #13 of Lumberjanes takes us back to where it all began, as April, Mal, Molly, Ripley, and Jo (and Bubbles the raccoon) meet for the first time at the Lumberjanes Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types and friendships are immediately formed.

This issue provides a fascinating look into the backgrounds of each of the characters. Jo is the genius child of an endearing pair of genius men whose love, support, and incredibly cool James Bond-esque gadgets solidly place them in the box of Kristine’s favorite characters. Ripley is one child among a dozen, having to struggle and fight for attention (a skillset which will come in handy when faced with three-eyed foxes and other terrors of the forest). Mal has to pay a cabbie to take her out to the camp, as her parents are absent figures. And, so on.

The girls click together immediately, with several of the characteristics we’ve come to know and love about the Lumberjanes created by the forming of their friendship. As a single issue, it has the capacity to stand on its own as an introduction issue for the series or as another story providing further details into the characters for fans who have read every issue.

Original series artist Brooke Allen is back for this issue, which is all too appropriate when telling the origin story of the series. As always, Allen’s art is amazing and fits the world of Lumberjanes so well. Everything from Jo’s dads to Ripley’s stuffed unicorn toy oozes character, emotion, and fun.

Putting it simply, this issue is adorable, but saying that about the Lumberjanes is like saying an issue of Batman gets angsty; it’s a guarantee. Of note, if you haven’t hooked your friends on Lumberjanes yet, this is a fantastic issue to get them started with.

Five Lonely Raccoon Hats out of Five