Action Lab Entertainment 2015
Written by Robert Tinnell & Aaron J. Shelton
Illustrated by Brendon & Brian Fraim
I don’t know what it is maybe it’s because i’ve gotten older but i’m really enjoying this take on the whole Knights of the Round Table. I’ll forgive it’s not a British thing and more American in nature because these three kids are rather interesting and have such different personalities and interests that really do help to bind them as friends. The characterization and that we are treated to here is pretty amazing stuff and transcends this being a book for young adults and moves into really appropriate for all ages.
Last issue Kevin and his friends, Maggie and Ben, fell through the portal taking them to the world Merlin made to keep magic alive after the fall of Camelot. Imprisoned by Morgan Le Fay Kevin has been tasked by the Lady in the Lake to take Excalibur and free Merlin from his prison. So the first thing that happens to our trio in this new land is they meet an ally, Merlin’s apprentice Niv. There’s a lot questions that need answering here but fear not some of the big ones do get answered and in the most unlikely and interesting of ways.
I do love seeing Morgan in her lair where she’s reading the entrails of a sheep while the other looks on shaking in fright. I get the sense however that her cockiness and arrogance is going to be her undoing thinking that these mere kids are no match for her. I mean after all she knows nothing about them and that doesn’t bode well for her.
So what Niv tells them while they are on this journey and inside Merlin’s cave also kind of sets the kids temporarily at odds with one another. I do like the writing here though as they realize this may be a one way ticket and getting home again may not be possible. Then when they finally calm down enough I thought the fact that they kind of realize that it’s their own unique strengths and differences that they have are exactly why they were chosen to be here.
The visuals by the way and the whole deal with the round table was wonderfully portrayed by the boys. Actually the boys do an amazing job on the interiors of this book. I like the wide eyed innocence of the kids which give off this hope and optimism for the future of the story. Slipped into all this is the hieroglyph style renderings on the table and the menacing terror of the riders that seek them and Excalibur out.
All around this is a great tale it’s very much a modern day remastering of an old classic or the take of such, though while A Kid in King Arthur’s Court comes to mind disregard that kind of thinking this is much more akin to the awakening of one’s self and destiny and finding the inner strength, courage and wisdom that can only come through this type of adversity.