Saturday, January 10, 2009

Kull #3

The comic book starring Robert E. Howard's barbarian king, Kull, has been very good so far - but it just got better.

That's because the pieces of the opening story, The Shadow Kingdom, are finally moving into place, and a life-and-death showdown is about to begin.

I usually rave about the writer first, but let me give a nod to the incredibly detailed work on this series by artist Will Conrad (with colors by Jose Villarrubia). He really brings the city of Valusia to life through wonderful cityscapes - and a splash panel that looks at the ancient history of mankind is not to be missed. Some of the art is a bit gory - perhaps too much so for young readers - but it captures perfectly the violence of Howard's stories.

Now I'll rave about the writing. Arvid Nelson has done a great job capturing the primal feel of Howard's story. As the plot against humanity begins to unfold, the writing brings home the horror - and perhaps, the hopelessness of the situation facing Kull and his new ally.

The best compliment I can give is: they're doing Robert E. Howard proud. If you're not reading this series, you're missing a good one.

Grade: A

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