Allies should never be fully trusted … especially when dealing with Camelot.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Joe Brusha
Artwork: Leo Rodrigues & Jason Muhr
Colors: Jorge Cortes & Robby Bevard
Letters: Taylor Esposito
What They Say:
Taking over after the death of her mother Sela, Skye Mathers is the new Guardian of the Nexus. With the help of Shang, her mentor, she is learning the extent of her new powers, and trying to figure out the mystery of her connection to the book of Fairy Tales. Now with Merlin in control of the book of Fairy Tales, the Age of Camelot has been brought to the Grimm Universe. Skye must find a way to get her book back and put an end to the misuse of its power on our world.
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
After their last infuriating defeat at the hands of Merlin, Skye and Sam decide to do more research into this menacing magician and his allies. Although they do make some progress as to his newest compatriot Oberon, the tale they have is incomplete, until Shang and Lance arrive with the remaining conclusion. It appears he was once a normal human who married a fairy princess, both living a happy life until she was struck down by a mysterious illness, which he pledged to go by lengths to find a cure. During his travels, he heard many times of a hidden realm and the magnanimous Emperor who would help those in need, for an unknown price. Oberon would do anything to save his wife, no matter the cost and made his way to the mystical land of Camelot to met the king, who acknowledged he could save the princess. But there was only one thing which could be proof against the sickness – a feather from the last golden eagle.
As he continued on his journey, Oberon heard of this bird, but the fables told of a creature which no mortal could approach, due to it living on the highest peak which none could climb. After surpassing many dangers and surviving numerous trials, he finally made it to the mountain, and through sheer determination mounted the summit, thereby claiming his prize. Upon returning to Camelot, Oberon presented the panacea to the Emperor and asked for the cure, whereby the sadistic man laughed callously, thanking him for adding to his power. In between fits of laughter, the madman pronounced there was never any cure, but as reward for his loyalty, the knowledge of the princess’ death by his men should be enough to keep Oberon pacified as he spends the rest of his life in the dungeon. Now devastated and with nothing left to live for, he was at the lowest depths of despair, however someone saved him – the estranged brother of the Emperor … Merlin the Magician. With these two men seeking vengeance against a common foe, who knows what they have in store – for Camelot or the world?
In Summary:
For someone who I originally thought would be a throw away character, Oberon is getting a very interesting origin, and by interweaving his history with Merlin, writer Joe Brusha is able to flesh him out in an usual but refreshing way. To have a lowly human now elevated in seeking revenge against the Emperor of the Order of Tarot is ambitious, but at the same time, the history is a bit disturbing, especially with the warped breakdown of what happened to the true ruler of Camelot. After seeing childhood favorites reduce to being a minion and a traitor, even though we saw the sorcerer’s fate revealed previously, this showing of how far the Emperor’s grasp reached to corrupt one of the most promising kingdoms is unsettling. And while I like how Brusha incorporates the past into the present, thus blending Oberon and Merlin’s interactions into a solid alliance which anchors their shared desires, there is still one event which is confusing – how his partner survived his last encounter with the Emperor. While this development is perplexing, at the same time to see most of the heroes captured does add tension for this worthwhile cliffhanger. Hopefully this corundum will be solved in the next issue, as will the anxiety of seeing Skye all by herself, with no Book or sword by her side against such impossible odds.
With this split reality reflecting a shared narrative, it would seem appropriate to use two artistic teams to illustrate the Past and Present, however while it does succeed at times, it also works against the narratives as well. To open the issue we have artist Leo Rodrigues and colorist Jorge Cortes presenting Oberon’s journey to see the Emperor, and while the splendor of a forest turning into the grandeur of Camelot may be wondrous, it is not until we see the depictions of our main characters do we see a rather simplistic design in their portrayal, especially the sadistic king. The amazing atmosphere is elegantly accented with an array of organic colors, but the humans take on a superficial style with portrayals which appear to be toned down and lacking any true realism in way of expression. However once the story returns to the Present and allows us to bathe in Jason Muhr’s marvelous illustrations, and the intensity of Robby Bevard’s captivating palette, the narrative takes on a different and more forceful direction. The first thing you notice is the strength and definition of Muhr’s characters, every face has a tangible expression which easily comes across on the panel, shadows and darker lines emphasizing each feature, in not only the actors but also his outstanding atmospheric displays. Then add the organic richness of Bevard’s colors, they not only a sternness to the pages, but also a magnify the austerity of the story itself. And while the Past team’s efforts do become more stolid once darker tones are used, you can clearly see a difference when those same characters are on opposing pages, lighter colors seeming to lack any strength and the darkness allowing for the actors to become more themselves. It is only when the transition between the Past and Present merges into one cohesive narrative, with somber colors synergizing the two artistic teams, does the issue seem united, until we are reminded with an odd accent of light and impassive faces. The artwork has its moments, but only when the teams are combined, when they are separate, they fall.
The Age of Camelot story arc takes a sinister turn and within it, we are exposed to the distortion of familiar Arthurian legends which only Zenescope could produce, with mixed results. While the inclusion of the Order of Tarot is an interesting development, to see the departure from beloved archetypes is perturbing to say the least, and unsettling once the results are later shown in another title. And while the development of Oberon is a surprising departure, what I cannot wait to see is how Skye fabricates a plan to free her friends and puts a stop to Merlin once and for all.
Grade: A
Age Rating: T (for Teens)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: June 27, 2018
MSRP: $3.99
