Trust can be found anywhere … even within a former enemy.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Joe Brusha
Artwork: Eman Casallos
Colors: Jorge Cortes
Letters: Taylor Esposito
What They Say:
As a long-hidden tribe of trolls living beneath New York City prepares to attack the humans who live above, Skye and Samantha form an uneasy alliance with the Black Knight to try to stop them. Don’t miss Part 2 in the war against the trolls.
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
After the fiasco within the troll tunnels under New York City, Skye is at a loss as what to do in order to rescue her friends Sam and Shang. With her sword Lysraseri and the Book of Fables in Merlin’s hands, she has no allies left and time is running out as the Troll King and his priest prepare a gruesome ritual to proceed their invasion of the surface world. Although most would panic in lieu of a sensible plan, the Guardian has an ingenious idea which may prove to be the key to saving both companions and the people of the Big Apple, if the catalyst is willing to agree to the proposition. Mathers has met this person once before, as she was the rampaging crusader who ran through the streets in a blind rage for justice, public defender Peyton Parks, otherwise known as the Black Knight. And while both may be skeptical as to this new partnership, it appears neither has a choice in the matter, for the time being.
After a quick change, the two heroines enter a labyrinthine maze in search for nocturnal dwellers, with the blonde chevalier pessimistic of any such creatures living beneath her city. But this disbelief is soon extinguished once they peer over a rocky ridge and see the troglodyte army lurking in the darkness … much to the chagrin of both. However once Oberon and the Troll King renew their vow, it is only then do they become horrified by a shocking turn of events – the ghastly executioner wielding a mammoth blade is swiftly bringing the weapon down toward a weaken Shang. No longer able to wait quietly, his former student swiftly leaps into the fray, easily swatting the brute aside and setting to work severing her friends’ bindings. But Peyton herself cannot stand idly by once her presence is recognized, cruelly given a barbaric welcome by the human collaborator and his partner O’Fal, the impact slamming the woman into a nearby cavern wall. With fights erupting all around them, the Troll King and his priest know the ceremony must be completed if they wish for success, thus they sneak away hoping the chaos will be enough to cover their escape. Although both sides struggle for an advantage, there can only be a single victor … with the winner being able to create a mastery for the situation, and thus claim the ultimate prize of the above world.
In Summary:
Although the first segment of this mini arc was intriguing, the conclusion loses most of the momentum which allowed Oberon to become an interesting character; to see him constrained to the role of a second tier villain is a shame, with Merlin once again thrust into the main protagonist, the effort which writer Joe Brusha used to create a captivating back story is lost, leaving him to be consumed within a forgettable ending with a convenient plot device. And while I can appreciate the investment in weaving the threads to fabricate an elegant tapestry, to drop him by the wayside once his purpose is served is a waste, especially given how much of a history the two had with the Order of Tarot and the origins of Camelot. However what is most puzzling is how this man was able to swallow his pride after being denied vengeance for the murder of his wife, but the item of his quest was necessary for the finale, which somehow ended in the right hands, all in time to save the day. On the whole, it appears Oberon’s involvement was an opportune means to an end, just to provide another stepping stone for a certain mage’s ambitions. But at the same time, if you have read The Musketeers, it makes one wonder why Merlin would need all of these items when he had limitless power … just adding another piece to the overall power of this conundrum.
And thus with such a somber story, when you first view the opening page, you are spectacularly greeted by a gloomy and sinister appearance, all thanks to the illustrations of Eman Casallos. The effort by which he creates Stygian images are extenuated by his heavy inks, allowing for environments which evoke an atmosphere of danger, all evolved from a lack of sunlight and the hatred of the trolls. Then to emphasize these forboding depths, the subdued palette of Jorge Cortes anchors everything with a sullen richness appropriate to the caverns of these under dwellers, allowing their anger to swallow all, including their prisoners. However at the same time, all of this blackness also works against the marvel of Casallos’ portrayals, giving the impression tunnels are sapping strength of the characters and also distorting proportions in comparison to foreground figures. While bright ethereal colors do balance out some of the murkiness, all of this overwhelming presence of ink drags down detailed portrayals with distorted expressions which seem unnatural, even for the creatures which are supposed to be monsters. Although it is understandable to see human sized figures dwarfed when pitied against creatures many times larger, there are moments when the artwork is consumed by colors which are too dark and nuances made muddy by overenthusiastic inking. This is a shame since the images would be more focused on tension if there were less urgency communicated via heavy handed detailing.
With the end of this story arc, we are presented with a pair of issues which appears to be a transitional narrative more than one which takes an opportunity to represent a strong character like Oberon. While I appreciate his prior development, all of those details are swallowed by the undying necessity to allow Merlin to be the focus of the Age of Camelot, and thus promote his need to gain as much power in the shortest amount of time. With this approach, everything is sacrificed, including meaningful tales which made the title worthy of attention, thus relegating everyone, including the person who is supposed to be the main character, Skye Mathers, into secondary roles. Then add artwork which is obsessed to communicate the tension, and we end up with an illustrative presentation which is stifled under its own weight. Hopefully with the next issue we will return to what we expect with Grimm Fairy Tales, and not something which gives us what they think we need.
Grade: C+
Age Rating: T (for Teens)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: July 18, 2018
MSRP: $3.99
