Writer/Artist/Letterer: Mark Oakley
M'Oak gives us more text-pages-with-illustrated-backgrounds to catch us up on the life of the dragon Cespinarve Rogue, who apparently created the dreamspace in which Rubel and Soracia find themselves. It's a fascinating fairy tale, and quite establishes the difference in scope between dragons, real Dragons, and the people who share their world. We then cut to the gate leading into the dragon's dream garden and Soracia's and Rubel's efforts to enter the premises. The guards won't let them in, and the Gorgon's Head is fast upon them. Finally Soracia makes a physical leap to save herself and Rubel, which drains her, then suddenly, almost inexplicably, pours her heart out to Rubel, which needless to say drains her even more, but in a different way. One would think, after such an outburst, we now know more about her than before, but M'Oak makes this seem like just the tip of the iceberg. The Shadow Lady's ways remain mysterious at their heart. And we're left wondering about her connection with Quinton and with Heath (the girl in the cave from last issue) and it's all enough to drive one crazy. And then she rests, and turns to dust as her hold on her dream state slips away. And Rubel is left alone, to talk to Princess Katara's father in order to find her. Lots of nuances in Soracia's and Rubel's words, much harder to summarize than the plot, and still one of the more wondrous books about.
So, what did y'all think?
- Elayne
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This review is copyright 1996 Elayne Wechsler-Chaput, reprinted here by
permission.