Writer/Artist: Mark Oakley ("M'Oak")
Here's what I thought...
After Heath's adventure preceding her arrival in her present surroundings (the dragon Rogue's dream-realm), which was told mostly in traditional comic book graphics-plus-balloons style, M'Oak returns to a primarily heavy-text-with-illustration issue to fill readers in on various events pertaining to the book's background and hints on Heath's journey ahead. The letter from Quinton was intriguing, especially the part wherein he spoke of his periods of forgetfulness punctuated by his brief "flash of clarity"; always neat to see a wizard who suffers from Sieve-Brain!
I thought it was a bit unfair of M'Oak to tease us by having Heath find then lose Quinton's book, however well done the scene (one of only seven pages done in traditional comic format this issue). The layouts are detailed and the panels numerous without feeling crowded, the balloons are legible and well placed, and the sound effects nicely done, but I'm still pissed about the book. It would have saved Heath and the readers a lot of investigative work. Couldn't she have at least retained the map to which we're privy on page, um, 10 (hey Mark, why don't you number your pages?)? Anyway, I like the rock creature, he was set up as scary but good comic relief at the same time, and M'Oak made that work well.
M'Oak's use of tone sheets has improved a great deal as well, and the text illustrations are quite impressive, particularly the two-page spread on pages 14-15, which made a good transition into the chapter catching up with Rubel. The text font is small but clear, and there's plenty to read. One thing about T&K, you sure get a lot for your money!
Nice exposition/revelations on what's been going on with King Rillion, and I like the way M'Oak manages to run his illustrations together so they depict more than one scene at once. Interesting that Rubel doesn't believe Soracia and Locumire to be one and the same, but I tend to agree with him that the sorceress isn't entirely evil. Also, doesn't Rubel suddenly sound just a little too sure of himself? This confident young man who boasts "I can see clearly the way of things beyond what others can. I have been trained by a wizard..." doesn't seem to be the same scared boy running from the evil prince's troops a few issues back. Inconsistency, or character growth?
I'm glad Heath and Rubel finally meet at the end of the issue, but M'Oak's tease on the cover seemed to indicate they'd hook up before that. Still, they make a good pair of adventurers, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens when they put their talents together.
So, what did y'all think?
- Elayne
--
This review is copyright 1997 Elayne Wechsler-Chaput, reprinted here by
permission