Oni Press 2016
By Ted Naifeh
Lettered by Aditya Bidikar
For the first time in his life, the Magus did something unselfish—he doused a few Black-sheares agents in liquid fire when they demanded payment from the bankrupted temple where the Acolyte lived. Unfortunately, the flames soon spread throughout the temple, and the Magus himself was seriously injured. Before long, the whole company was back together: Emerane, Asp, Magus, Bard, and Acolyte. But it seemed too late to save the temple. At least until the citizens of Umber began picking up buckets of water, working together under the Bard’s leadership to douse the flame. Their bigger worry, however, was the undead army approaching from the Tower of Uhlume.
I liked the opening here with these leaders of the cult and their sometimes androgynous looks, okay well a couple of them. There’s something going on here in the grander scheme of things but what that it is well we’ll have to wait and see.
Meanwhile out in the city sections are under siege by the dead. The walking dead are doing the bidding of Uhlume though under whose direct control i’m not sure of. As our cast of characters try to unite the townsfolk, wake up an old god, see Fizban but not, and find safety for those who cannot, or will not fight the streets are getting crazy. For me it’s great it really is like a great campaign where the assembled heroes face overwhelming odds against an undead horde and it’s all about the roll of the dice to see if you survive!
As the group makes themselves known to the guard and the Night reveals herself publically Furie joins the fray. It really is the beginning of an epic battle and it starts off so incredibly well. I love that this has such an epic feel to it and that it has that all or nothing feel to it as well. This is the fight for the city and it’s up to our intrepid heroes to keep it safe.
Ted has this so under control here he does all the writing and art chores here so everything we see is exactly what is intended. His use of page layouts with their angles, perspective and backgrounds really bring us into the action. The creativity and imagination on display here is magnificent to see. The style of his work is beautifully suited to the genre and the subject matter.
With it’s ever ongoing characterisation and the unrelenting horrors the team seems to face Ted really is bringing this nonstop action. Every time we feel like we’ve got a handle on any one of these characters he brings something about them to light either through what they say or what they do to mix things up and keep us thoroughly entertained.
The Bard still remains a mystery to me and at some point i’m hoping the team has an adventure that focuses on him until then my own suspicions will have to suffice. Oh and that is one way to keep me coming back.
Fun and full of adventure this is what being entertained is all about.