When The Blood Has Dried #1 - Out 10th April
Mad Cave Studios
W: Gary Moloney
A: Daniel Romero Ulloa
L: Becca Carey
Thoughts…
As soon as I saw the cover of this book I was drawn to it, there was just something about it. So of course I jumped at the chance to read an advance copy. As soon I as i started to read the story had me hooked, the first few pages are on Mad Caves website so I had a little idea of what was coming at the start of the issue but the story shifted to the more peaceful setting of the solicitation just after this and I pulled further into the setting and the lives of our cast of characters.
The majority of the story that we are presented with is very tranquil and has a very relaxed tone. The world in which the characters exist seems very idyllic, though there are hints that things are not always the happiest but that life overall for the residents of Carraig an Bhun is one of peace. As the issue continues there are moments that show that things might be about to change. I really liked the way the story grows, we are taken on a tour of the town and we are made to feel comfortable and then that comfort is tainted by a glimpse of what is to come. The way the tension rises is done in such a simple way but the impact hits you hard when you see it. I found this worked really well to establish an emotional connection to the characters and then feel fearful for what is to come as we have knowledge the characters do not and this could really shatter their whole world.
The art style is perfect for the setting and tone of the comic. The colours are bright and vivid. The village is a bustling and lived in space, the panels depicting a myriad of different residents all very different representations of the races that make up this world. In the tavern you can feel the glow of the candles, which lends a warmth to the scenes. All of this adds to the feel of comfort that the story is giving us through the narrative.
This issue does a really good job of setting the scene and giving us a reason to feel for the characters. We are shown a place of peace and joy, where there can children play in the streets and people going about their normal everyday lives in safety but we know that all that is about to change. Already we are invested in the setting and that is hard to do so quickly with a brand new series. The sense of impending doom is there as the issue comes to a close and I think the next issue will really ramp up the tension. I was really impressed with the issue, it really took me by surprise and I can’t wait to read more. I would give this a score of 9 out of 10.
Solicitation…
Years ago, a stranger came to Carraig an Bhun, a little town on the edge of the Southern Territories. The locals eventually came to see this “blow-in,” Meabh of Cklonia, as one of their own. Now, Meabh has taken over as proprietor of The Lough Inn, finding a semblance of peace after a lifetime of adventuring…however, the proposed opening of a branch of the Adventurers’ Guild risks dragging her past into the present. What would the townsfolk do if they discovered their beloved barkeep was once part of a ruthless band of rogue sell-swords masquerading as noble heroes? It’s a tragic tale of loss and redemption that asks what’s left behind long after the bodies are buried and When the Blood Has Dried.
