READING WITH A FLIGHT RING
  • About
  • reviews
  • Contact
  • Cosplay of the Day 2
  • Company News
  • Entertainment Section
  • Convention News/Updates
  • original artwork
  • My Best Books of the Week
  • Cosplay of the day!
  • FCBD
  • Interviews
  • Webcomics

Today's reviews!

Reviews for 19-12-21 
​Reviews for 18-12-21 Reviews for 17-12-21 Reviews for 16-12-21
​Reviews for 15-12-21 Reviews for 14-12-21 Reviews for 13-12-21
​Reviews for 12-12-21 Reviews for 11-12-21 Reviews for 10-12-21
​Reviews for 09-12-21 Reviews for 08-12-21 Reviews for 07-12-21
​Reviews for 06-12-21 Reviews for 05-12-21 Reviews for 04-12-21
​Reviews for 03-12-11 Reviews for 02-12-21 Reviews for 01-12-21

Facebook Link

Merry Men #2

7/29/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Merry Men #2
Oni Press 2016
Written by Robert Rodi
Illustrated by Jackie Lewis
Coloured by Marissa Louise
Lettered by Jon Cairns

    Robert continues his story here with a closer look at the past.  Scarlet’s arrival and questions have forced Robin to explain how things have come to be where they are.  Robin’s relationship to King Richard and how Guy of Gisbourne had come have to such a loathing for him.  It’s told here and while some parts read like a historical romance novel other parts read like a story of hatred and intolerance and the contrast and blending of the two are extremely well done.  

    I like how Guy is portrayed here and how far he’s willing to go to gain power.  He’s definitely characterized well as a power hungry jealous loser of a man.  Basically a weasel in its most true form so the way Robert is writing the past to portray why he and his men are now outlawed and living in the woods well it comes across with a nice clarity.  Also the idea that a man like Robin who should live the life he leads is the target of such ire and hatred from him well that’s another aspect of this whole story.

    Jackie and Marissa’s interiors also do a lot to tell the story here.  From the whole look and feel of how the past story is told to the face, dark circles under Guy’s eyes, to the clothing they make it read visually like a tragic love story.  The use of pages and panels through angles and perspective help that tragic kind of flow happen.  The attention to detail we see is marvelous and that Richard is a hairy man or that they have those bloodstained clothes it all has this almost fantasy feel.   Then there’s Scarlet who has that whole gender fluidity and transexual style and look which is very well done.

    From the discovery Guy’s deeds to how he got away we get all the background information needed to understand why there is such animosity between them.  Then there’s Scarlet’s love and what has become of him.  Scarlet just can’t understand why the hatred is there and Robin does his best to try to make her understand.  From the Sheriff and his evil ways and bond with Guy to the rounding up and murder of any of those men who favoured men which forced the men to the woods.  It’s all laid out here only Scarlet is young and cannot see what is being told to her as many young ones are prone to being.

I do like the whole insert by Robert about the Queer History of England.  Love that it feels like some old parchment or book from history.  It feels a lot like that which happened but was glossed by or rewritten to fall in line with the church’s plans to eradicate such behavior.  I think it has a colourful edge to it that could be read the right way and how these men were at the time trying to stay ambiguous.  Kind of like the worst kept secrets of the age.  

As it goes this really is a great re-imagining of the circumstances that led Robert to become Robin Hood.  It’s very smartly written with great characterization, interaction and few unexpected twists that keep the plausible history making sense.  It’s an extremely well done book that exceeds my expectations.  

​

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.