100 Word Hits – Comic Reviews #3
Welcome to the third installment of our new column 100 Word Hits, in association with comics retailer The Unreality Store, in which Matthew De Monti brings us short, sharp reviews of the latest books to hit comic stores over the past month or so!
The Cimmerian – Hour of the Dragon #3
Written by Julien Blondel | Art by Valentin Secher
Escaping from the clutches of Xaltotun of Python, Conan rescuer Hadrathus explains that Conan and Xaltotun are destined to be immortal enemies and the only thing that can stop him is destroying the heart of Ahriman. The dastardly Valerus engages the services of some undead warrior monks to track down and kill Conan and secure the heart of Ahirman for Xaltotun.
Conan enters Messantia, clashes with the monks, falls into the sea and is picked up by an Arosian slave ship. Leading a mutiny and overcoming the slave masters he leads the ship to Khemi – the City of the Snake!
Rating: 8/10
Past The Last Mountain #2
Written by Paul Allor | Art by Louie Joyce
Willa the dragon, Kate the faun and Simon the juvenile troll continue their journey to the mythical Dragon Lake. Willa takes down a helicopter and Kate clashes with the pilot but spares her life. A friendly human offers the trio refuge and we learn that his best friend as a child was a faun and he believes that humans and creatures should be able to live in harmony.
Warden Neil Cutter is under pressure to capture the escapees and the issue concludes with him reluctantly making a deal with the goblins to track them down. Great story, perfect Netflix material!
Rating: 8.5/10
Quests Aside #2
Written by Brian Schirmer | Art by Elena Gogou
Retired adventurer Barrow has problems. Ray the skeleton cook has stock problems and Zuzanna the barmaid has relationship problems with Ray. The attendees of his regular Adventurers Anonymous meeting all have their own problems in readjusting back to normal life. And his entertainer has a night off which may cause Barrow a whole host of problems! Oh and the King still wants to knock the bar down and redevelop. Whoever said running a bar like Quests Aside was easy?
Schirmer and Gogou deliver up a hugely entertaining second issue from what is clearly another winner from the Vault Comics team.
Rating: 8/10
Promethee 13:13 #1
Written by Andy Diggle | Art by Shawn Martinbrough
Darla Clemenceau is a special guest at a UFO symposium and is going to tell the audience of her abduction as a child by aliens. Except she has lied all these years and is taking medication for psychotic episodes. Collapsing on stage Darla has a vision of the world being destroyed by robotic monsters. As she’s about to be rushed to hospital she’s kidnapped, drugged and ends up at a container ship where she hears someone say ‘The world ends in two days’
Ablaze are publishing some excellent comics at the moment and Promethee 13:13 is another great read!
Rating: 8.5/10
The Last Session #5
Written by Jasmine Walls | Art by Dozerdraws
The members of the group finally come to the realisation that Cass (and her character Kezz The Bard) has become an indispensable team member. Apologies are made and the group get together to finally finish their long running adventure. In game, Kezz manages to trick the dastardly Lord Avalon into confessing he was trying to stockpile all the magestone in the land and the group win out.
This has been a heart warming mini series about friendships old, new, lost and rediscovered. The art by Dozerdraws is superb and Walls leaves the door ajar for a sequel. Roll for initiative!
Rating: 8/10
Invincible Red Sonja #9
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner | Art by Moritat
In the arena Sonja fights the monstrosity that is the son of Tezzah despot ruler of Capellia. In true fantasy fashion Sonja literally claims victory in the jaws of defeat and then despatches Tezzah forthwith. Victorious Sonja learns that by tradition she is now the ruler of Capellia but after long contemplation and some between the sheets action, she bestows the crown to her lover Tuma. Sonja sets sail to deliver Prince Ederik and Princess Zaria to her home city of Belanj only to find it ablaze!
It will be disappointing to see this hugely entertaining comic conclude next issue.
