by M'Oak (Mark Oakley)
(Published bimonthly by I Box Publishing)
Here's what I thought...
Congrats to M'Oak who, like Batton Lash of WOLFF & BYRD fame, has made it into double digits in independent publishing this week! This issue is somewhat of a departure for M'Oak, in that only pages 2 and 3 consist of mostly text surrounded by a single frame (and very funny text, at that), and the rest of captionless art, then quiet dialogue between Rubel and his demon friend, then a couple more pages of art without dialogue or captions... a very interesting pace. And it works well - this is the most plot advanced in awhile.
Rubel manages to escape from the palace, more through luck and a few slapstick-type moves than anything else (no no, I concede, it's his skill as a Thief <g>), and takes refuge in an alley, still bleeding from the wound inflicted upon him by the Shadow Lady. He and the demon (gah, I can't remember I've forgotten the li'l fella's name, and pooh on M'Oak for not having Rubel use it even once this issue) discuss how to remove the magic-poisoned arrow, and what to do if the Shadow Lady comes for him.
They formulate an admittedly weak plan, half a plan really (but at least Rubel, and through him M'Oak, reminds us that there are three things in the world that can make the Shadow Lady Bleed, and Rubel has one of them - a lock of Princess Katara's hair), and Rubel finally steels himself and pulls the arrow out...
...only to lapse into unconsciousness and find himself in a magical maze/garden, dressed very fancy and face-to-face with--
Well, we don't know. That's where the issue ends. Great cliffhanger. And incredible art, as usual. Really spot-on stuff, lots of movement, lots of plot advancement this time. Feels like things have picked up speed for the better. I hope M'Oak can keep up this pace.
So, what did y'all think?
- Elayne
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This review is copyright 1996 Elayne Wechsler-Chaput, reprinted here by
permission